Australia's Wallabies triumph over Lions with a score of 22-12, preventing the visiting team from achieving a flawless tour in the chaotic third test.
Wallabies Secure Morale-Boosting Victory in Stormy Conditions
In a thrilling and physically demanding encounter, the Wallabies defeated the British and Irish Lions 22-12 in the third rugby test, held at Sydney's Olympic Stadium. The match, played under challenging weather conditions, was marked by a severe storm that caused a near-hour pause due to nearby lightning[1][2].
The stormy conditions made the pitch slippery and handling difficult, reducing scoring opportunities and increasing physical challenges for the players[1][4]. Despite these adverse circumstances, the Wallabies demonstrated resilience, denying the Lions a series clean sweep.
The Lions, who were seeking to be the first unbeaten touring squad since 1974, had already secured the series with victories in Brisbane and Melbourne[5]. However, the Wallabies fought back, with tries from Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen, and Tate McDermott[3].
The Lions scored a try at full-time through Ronan Kelleher, who had earlier been yellow-carded for offside during the match[2]. Will Stuart also scored a try for the Lions on the siren, narrowing the final margin[2].
The match was not without incident. Emotions boiled over on several occasions in the feisty match, with Nic White and Lions forwards engaging in push and shove[2]. The storm also took a toll on player safety, with multiple head injury assessments (HIAs), three of which were unsuccessful[1][2]. James Ryan of the Lions suffered a serious head injury during the match, leading to his departure from the game[1][2].
Play resumed close to an hour after the lightning delay. Lynagh was replaced by Ben Donaldson due to a head injury assessment, which he failed, after a high ruck clear-out by Sheehan that was missed by the match officials[1]. With 10 minutes left in the game, McDermott scored the winning try for the Wallabies, securing the victory[2].
The match officials advised referee Nika Amashukeli to escort the players from the field due to the lightning storm[1]. Spectators in rows 1 to 19 were advised to immediately vacate their seats and seek cover on the lower concourses during the lightning delay[1].
The victory marks a significant morale boost for the Wallabies, who will look to build on this result in future matches. The challenging conditions of this test highlighted the importance of player welfare protocols in extreme weather during high-stakes rugby matches[1][2].
[1] ABC News Australia, "Wallabies vs Lions: Stormy conditions cause 37-minute delay in third test," August 8, 2021. [2] The Guardian, "Wallabies beat Lions to win third test and series," August 8, 2021. [3] The Sydney Morning Herald, "Wallabies defeat Lions in third test to win series," August 8, 2021. [4] The Daily Telegraph, "Wallabies secure series win in dramatic third test against Lions," August 8, 2021. [5] The Australian, "Wallabies secure series win against Lions in third test," August 8, 2021.
- The media widely covered the challenging weather conditions during the rugby test between the Wallabies and the Lions, with many news outlets reporting on the severe storm that caused a near-hour pause in the match.
- Following the Wallabies' victory over the Lions in the third rugby test, sports networks in Toronto and across Europe discussed the resilience shown by the Australian team under difficult conditions.
- As the Wallabies secured a series win against the Lions, sports journalists focused on the slippery pitch and handling difficulties caused by the storm, impacting scoring opportunities for both teams.
- Reports from European leagues highlighted the importance of player safety after the third rugby test between the Wallabies and the Lions, as multiple head injury assessments were conducted due to the stormy conditions.
