Prop was brought in from cold for stormy affair that can act as staging post for Australia’s improvement
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.
