Taniela Tupou let the tears flow. Months before, the Wallabies prop wondered if he had forgotten how to play the game. The Tongan Thor had been reduced to mortality of late, injuries and errors clouding his mind and finding him exiled by Test selectors.
Now he was arm-in-arm with his brothers, singing the Australian anthem in the gold jersey for likely the final time before 80,312 fans. Why not let a few fat salty ones break their moorings? After all, occasions did not get much bigger. A full house at Sydney’s old Olympic stadium.
The British & Irish Lions were chasing history – back-to-back series victories for the first time since 1989 and a 3-0 sweep of Australia, a feat of domination not achieved since 1904. The Wallabies wanted respect – proof they are still a rugby power despite slipping to No 6 in the world rankings and revenge for a controversial defeat in the 80th minute of the second Test last week.
Against the odds, Australia did it. In driving rain and swirling winds they brought the thunder, dominating the Lions from the outset to run out convincing 22-12 winners. Given the shattering defeat last week, this was one of Joe Schmidt’s greatest triumphs. Somehow he picked his broken men off the canvas of the MCG, shrugged off the loss of their best player, Rob Valetini, and swung a series of inspired team changes driven by heart not head. Such daring inspired a victory full of grit, aggression that pegged the series back to 2-1.
In the elevator up to the packed rafters, Adam Ashley-Cooper – who scored a try to secure a decider in the 2013 series – had offered his Wallabies scarf to a young fan in a Chicago Bulls hoodie. The kid handed it back. For Australian rugby it had been that sort of week. After watching their side surge to a 23-5 lead only to get run down at the death, fans had had to grapple with another opportunity squandered and the ignominy of not forcing a decider.
“It’s the only time in my coaching that I’ve circled up the players on the field. They looked so forlorn out there,” Schmidt said. “[But] I think we can get our spark back.”
To do so, he confounded everyone by lapsing into what many regarded as sentiment, recalling Tupou from his doldrums and handing a final Test to the 35-year-old spark-plug half-back Nic White. Tupou’s emotion before kick-off was echoed in a roaring crowd dominated by red, but riven by gold.
As lightning crackled in the distance, Angus and Malcolm Young – who grew up 3km from here – lit the fuse with Hells Bells over the PA. The heavens soon opened. Worms emerged and turned.
Despite the Lions fielding their strongest team of the tour, Australia started faster and harder. Will Skelton, all seven feet and 140kg of him, scruffed Jamison Gibson-Park and grinned. It was a declaration of war. The Australia forwards barrelled upfield then spun it wide where the Wiradjuri winger Dylan Pietsch speared into the corner.
First blood on the scoreboard was important, but seeing the real thing was more important for home fans. When the captain, Harry Wilson, copped hooves on the deck in the 22nd minute, White bristled like his moustache and went into fighting bantam mode. Skelton rumbled in and Len Ikitau followed. Punches flew and fire met brimstone. No cards were shown, but when the dust finally settled, the Lions knew they were in for the fight of their life.
By the time an electrical storm delayed play, the casualty ward was full, with Maro Itoje and Tom Lynagh suffering concussions and Tommy Freeman leaving the field on a medi-cab. White was bandaged up, but kept bouncing. Australia followed his lead for the rest of the game, staying true to their DNA to attack from all quarters.
Three times the Wallabies spurned easy penalty goals to chase tries. Their courage was rewarded, all while defending their line with steely determination. In Brisbane, they missed 29 tackles, another 23 in Melbourne. Here, they aimed up, hitting hard and often, hurting the Lions runners over and over.
For Rugby Australia, as for Schmidt and his players, this win is bittersweet. Even without a live decider, the 40,000 Lions tourists in town will probably clear their Aus$38m (£18.5m) debt and set up the “golden decade” of the men’s World Cup in 2027, the women’s RWC in 2029 and the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
But for Wallabies fans, starved of success for so long, the only currency worth a damn on Saturday was winning. This victory, along with highest attendances for a Lions tour , is worth its weight in gold.
For too long, the Wallabies have been a rocks and diamonds side. Now they can march into the Rugby Championship this month battle-fit and full of beans. If they can shock the Springboks draw that series, sails will be full for a sweep of Argentina in two home Tests before a tilt at the All Blacks.
With all credit to the Lions, bringing home the Bledisloe Cup after 23 years is Schmidt’s priority. History is written by the victors and the Wallabies, with pride salvaged, must keep winning or risk losing fans like tears in rain.
