Duncan Casey: Wallabies restore some pride but they were too late to Lions party
FAMILAIR FACE: Australia's head coach Joe Schmidt and Lion's Dan Sheehan shakes hands after the match. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
I’m fond of nailing my colours to the mast with a strong opinion but equally, I’m happy to hold my hands up and accept defeat when I have been proven wrong. I had to do a bit of the latter on Saturday, as it became clear my prediction of another armchair ride for the Lions was way off the mark. I was actually sending WhatsApp messages to people prior to kick-off, bemoaning what I thought was an over-the-top effort from Sky’s pundits to hype up a contest that had been such a dud seven days earlier.
If anything, the pre-match hype didn’t do the ensuing 80 minutes justice at all. We were treated to a proper test match between two well-drilled, organised sides, each with its own version of talent and physicality. From Australia’s perspective, it turns out welcoming the likes of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini – weighing 150kg and 117kg respectively – back to the fray does, in fact, add a very destructive dimension to your game. Both men got the Wallabies enough front-foot ball in the first half to keep the Lions on their heels, struggling to impose themselves defensively.
Take us with you this summer.
