Australia vs Lions 3rd Test: Match Thread

[nathan]

First topic message reminder :

Thought i'd create this thread as there wasn't one already.

My prediction: One of two things will happen, Australia will hammer us or we'll win on penalties.

[nathan]

ooh, ozzy cheating they pretending to be injured to slow the game down.

[wales606]

Connor Murray has gone up so much in my estimations this series

[wolfball]

What's pleasing to see is the Lions have really won this through enterprising play. They've counter attacked through running and not with the boot. They've gone for the jugular finally and they've probably won over the doubters with this second half performance. Or at least they've made the doubters lower their protests to an inaudible whisper. Good result for rugby to see attacking initiative awarded.

Exactly. Its what we've been waiting for.

[2ndtimeround]

Bod only ever would of wanted to win and my money is on hin congratulating JD2 later.
Wish this was later in the day. Its way to early to celebrate. :-)

[RDSguru]

Albeit with major support from Ire & Eng, I really hope this gets the monkey off Wales's back... great for NH Rugby and Rugby in general

[GLove39]

Imagine 1/2p agent's phone will be ringing off the hook. What's his contract at the Blues like? How much longer on it?

[nathan]

Connor Murray has gone up so much in my estimations this series

i think he has, but you have to remember the pack we're playing behind today is miles better than the last two tests.

[tatterd]

All the Gatland haters, the ones spouting absolute vitriol. Man enough to come back and admit he was right? The man has been totally vindicated. A great day to be British or Irish.

[mckay1402]

I hour gatland Just comes out afterwards and says Told ya so

[tatterd]

The people who said "even if we win, Gatland has runied the lions as a concept". Idiots, buffoons and berks to a man.

[maestegmafia]

What a second half performance...!

[Cadair Idris]

Strange thing is we've only played well for half the game...

[rainbow-warrior]

All the Gatland haters, the ones spouting absolute vitriol. Man enough to come back and admit he was right? The man has been totally vindicated. A great day to be British or Irish.

Well said Tattered, well said. 

[Rory_Gallagher]

The people who said "even if we win, Gatland has runied the lions as a concept". Idiots, buffoons and berks to a man.

Come on, lets not ruin the thread please.

[wolfball]

All the Gatland haters, the ones spouting absolute vitriol. Man enough to come back and admit he was right? The man has been totally vindicated. A great day to be British or Irish.

He was right to change the gameplan. Inventive attacking rugby. I said selection didnt matter, that the quality of Gatland ball that made me despair. But Gatland Ball turned into structured adventure which has been fantastic to watch. So fair play to him for altering the game plan for the better and winning a test series.  

[alfie]

Reckon the best thing that happened to the Lions was having their lead cut to three so quickly after half time : they were forced to abandon the conservative options and play ...and bingo !

[Rugby Fan]

Oh, thank the Lord. I'm not sure my fragile psyche could have handled losing to the Australians after being one match up.

[nathan]

Well done to Make at the end, he's scrummed well in this half of the game.

[markb]

Gatland made some huge calls, and they have all come off if you ask me

Hibbard, Corbs, SOB, Murray (from the bench), JD2, take a bow

I think JD2 was the only big call there. Murray should have started after he came off the bench for the last test, wrong call to go back to Phillips. SOB should have been in the starting XV from the first test. Corbisero was a no-brainer. Probably a bigger call to stick with Parling.

[Cadair Idris]

The kicking game in the 2nd half has been so much better, combined with counter-attacking at the right time. Also, Murray with hindsight should have started all 3 tests at 9.

[flyhalffactory]

Wonderful inventive punt by Farrell

[Guest]

 The LIONS have done it!!!!!! YES!!!!  

[nathan]

Well done to every single player, all played there part in the series win!

[Rugby Fan]

Who is man of the match?

[GLove39]

Who is man of the match?

1/2p

[Rory_Gallagher]

Who is man of the match?

Not sure but Halfpenny was awarded the man of the series, deservedly so.

I hate to admit it, but Wales probably have the best back three in the world. Cuthbert, North and Halfpenny. They just need to use them more. So dangerous, and Halfpenny is just a genius at 15. His positional play is world class.

[alfie]

Only regret is BOD wasn't out there to be part of it...

But it was the right call.

[Rugby Fan]

I wonder if that's the first time the in the postwar period the tour captain hasn't been on the pitch when the series has been won.

[Scrumpy]

Well Done LIONS

Great performance, at last the players took it into their own hands and played how they wanted to play.

[Ozzy3213]

Who is man of the match?

Not sure but Halfpenny was awarded the man of the series, deservedly so.

I hate to admit it, but Wales probably have the best back three in the world.  Cuthbert, North and Halfpenny.  They just need to use them more.  So dangerous, and Halfpenny is just a genius at 15.  His positional play is world class.

 I may be slightly biased, but the platform for that win was built by the forwards, in particular at the scrum, so I would give MOTM to Corbisiero.

[flyhalffactory]

Proud moment for everyone connected and also us lot on here............. we all make up the Lions.

Well done Gats with some big calls Warbs as captain, AWJ today, Foxy in at 13, Corbs back in.

Fantastic send off to some players Lions careers........ POC, BOD, Adam Jones, Phillips, amongst others probably wont tour again.

Superb last test

[Cadair Idris]

Great to see how genuinely delighted the lions who weren't in today's squad are, esp BOD and POC. AWJ stepped up today as well it has to be said - played very well too.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Who is man of the match?

Not sure but Halfpenny was awarded the man of the series, deservedly so.

I hate to admit it, but Wales probably have the best back three in the world.  Cuthbert, North and Halfpenny.  They just need to use them more.  So dangerous, and Halfpenny is just a genius at 15.  His positional play is world class.

 I may be slightly biased, but the platform for that win was built by the forwards, in particular at the scrum, so I would give MOTM to Corbisiero.

Yes, Corbisiero was simply outstanding, just as he was in the first test. England have some fantastic depth (and at just the right age) in their front row for years to come.

[Scrumpy]

Corbs should have been man of the match.

[nth]

Congratulations to the Lions, great stuff, really happy for the players.

Where did that 2nd half performance come from?

I just hope this doesn't mean Gatland and most of this coaching squad is in charge for 2017, because the bulk of this tour has been poor quality rugby and tactically inept, taking too long to come to conclusions like Murray & O'Brien.

[SecretFly]

Congratulations to Lions, Gatland, the team, the squad, the Captain.  Total destruction.

Commiserations to the Wallabies.  They gave as good as they could.  They're just not good enough in the scrum and therefore are handicapped in the creative game they excel at.

[Cadair Idris]

Corbisiero - best loose head in the world right now? Just brilliant, hope he can now stay injury free as he deserves a great international career.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Corbisiero - best loose head in the world right now? Just brilliant, hope he can now stay injury free as he deserves a great international career.

Steady on - Cian Healy may have a word to say about that.  

[boomeranga]

Congratulations Lions team and all you fans. Far, far too good tonight.

[Ozzy3213]

Pure class from James Horwill there.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Congratulations Lions team and all you fans.  Far, far too good tonight.  

Thanks brother!  

[Guest]

Halfpenny   

[Cadair Idris]

Yeah and Gethin. Ok Lions - 3 best loose heads in the world right now...!

[Comfort]

a lot was said previously about the selections and what gatlands done to the lions ethos. I think the scenes at the end of the game summed up how wrong and bitter those comments are better than words ever could.

A great game of rugby and a deserved man of the series for halfpenny.  

[GLove39]

fairplay Horwill, good speech.

[Ozzy3213]

Corbisiero - best loose head in the world right now? Just brilliant, hope he can now stay injury free as he deserves a great international career.

Steady on - Cian Healy may have a word to say about that.  

Cian Healy can say what he wants, it won't make the words he's speaking true though! 

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Pack absolutely hammered them. Gatland mostly vindicated in his selections. Halfpenny will deservedly gla meant plaudits but SOB and Falateau were best players in the pitch

[bsando]

Congratulations lions fans! Well deserved victory. That second half performance was very good, especially the skill from halfpenny. Sexton having a much better game definitely made a difference and the impact of having a true scrummager at loose head really helped too. My worries pre match were definitely realised with what was a pretty clinical performance from the lions.

Wallabies let it go. Some poor defence from tomane and others killed it. No answer to the lions pressure. Deans will surely go now.

But enjoy the victory lions fans, it was well deserved in the end  

[Ozzy3213]

Nice touch letting POC and BOD take centre stage there and lift the trophy.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Zebo is a feckin legend

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