The series is over with a game to spare, and the Lions have won few Tests in such dramatic circumstances.
Not since Jerry Guscott's late drop-goal sank the Springboks in Durban in 1997 have they won a series in as epic a fashion.
Hugo Keenan wrote himself into the history books, the Ireland and Leinster full-back's try with the final play of the game sealing the 29-26 win and the series, and completing an incredible 18-point comeback against Joe Schmidt’s side.
It was a harsh return for the Wallabies, who had been 23-5 in front after 30 minutes after a sensational 10-minute spell which saw James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright all score, as thoughts turned to a potential series decider in Sydney next Saturday.
The hosts were a different beast compared to their Brisbane showing a week ago, and Will Skelton and Rob Valetini’s return saw them physically ruffle the Lions in that first half, but their departures were sorely felt in the second half, as a valiant Australian effort came up just short.
Dan Sheehan had grabbed the first Lions try, but the game was won and lost in the minutes before half time as the Lions cut their 18-point deficit back to just six, with Tom Curry and Huw Jones getting in for tries.
Tadhg Beirne’s score with 20 minutes left set up a grandstand finale, which the 90,307 crowd at a roaring MCG were treated to when Keenan dived over to score the winner, although the Lions had to survive an agonising TMO decision, the Wallabies furious that Jac Morgan wasn’t penalised for his clear-out on Carlo Tizzano.
The day didn’t start well for the Wallabies, arriving 20 minutes late to the MCG after getting caught in the Melbourne traffic, but they started brightly, manufacturing clever touches for Skelton and Valetini in the first two lineouts, before winning a penalty which Lynagh tapped over, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead on four minutes.
The Lions were out of sync in the opening 10 minutes, summed up by Finn Russell throwing a pass into touch as he searched for Curry and Beirne on the right wing, and when Curry gave away a penalty for offside in the ninth minute, Lynagh doubled the lead to 6-0.
Great work from Jack Conan secured a turnover at the restart, and a dominant scrum then drew a penalty, prompting the first minor melee of the game after Skelton hit Tadhg Furlong with a cheap shot after the whistle.
Conan lost possession as he was about to score, but the Lions were playing with penalty advantage, and they eventually made their pressure count as Sheehan took a five metre tap and go, diving over the Wallabies' tacklers to score, much to the displeasure of the Australian players.
Russell’s conversion hit the post, and the hosts were soon back on the attack as the Lions struggled to deal with a far more impactful carrying game, and the penalties kept flowing.
Andrew Porter and Jones were pinged for not rolling, with Andrea Piardi giving the tourists a warning, and from that second penalty the Australians worked their way to the line through Gordan and Len Ikitau, before Slipper burrowed over in the corner.
Lynagh missed the conversion to leave it at 11-5 in his side’s favour, but that was little consolation for the Lions as they lost Freeman to the sin-bin, and it proved to be an expensive yellow card, as the Wallabies hit them for two tries during that 10-minute spell.
First, Wright sent a stunning 50:22 deep into the Lions’ territory, and from the resulting possession, Gordon caught Porter and Furlong with their eyes off-ball, sniping between the two to score.
Lynagh made it 18-5 with the conversion, and just two phases later the Wallabies were in for their third try, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii stepping inside Bundee Aki to break from deep, and he passed off to Wright who sprinted clear to score and make it 23-5, sparking wild scenes in the MCG.
Freeman made up for his yellow card as soon as he returned on 32 minutes, showing power down the right wing to bring the Lions within five metres of the Wallabies line, from which Curry dived over in the corner. Russell’s conversion pulled left, but the Lions were back into it at 23-10.
An incredible half of rugby still had time for a sixth try, with Russell drilling a penalty down to within five metres of the Wallabies line on 37 minutes, and after some great work from Itoje and Sheehan, Jones snuck in to score, as his out-half set up a big second half, the Wallabies leading 23-17.
The Wallabies landed the first blow of the second half, when Lynagh kicked his third penalty of the game on 51 minutes to make it 26-17, but with both Skelton and Valetini now off the pitch, they were facing into a final half-hour considerably depowered up front.
Shortly after, the Lions also went to their bench, with Ellis Genge, James Ryan and Jac Morgan all having an instant impact to help win a scrum penalty.
An explosive break from Aki brought the Lions up to the Wallabies’ territory, and after 13 phases and some great carries by Genge and Itoje, Lowe found Beirne (below) on the touchline with an offload, and the Ireland international carried three Australians over the line with him to score a fourth try for his side, which Russell converted to reduce it to a two-point game heading into the final quarter.
Heading into the final 10 minutes the game was balancing on a thread. The dominant Lions pack worked another penalty to get back up into the Australian half, but after a weaving break from Blair Kinghorn, Will Stuart handed a penalty back to the Wallabies for a double-movement after he was tackled.
Stuart played his part in the winning score with a powerful, rumbling run, and as the Lions edged their way closer to the line, the Wallabies defence sucked in, and Keenan put his head down and sprinted towards the space to dive in and score a try that will live forever in Lions' lore.
Scorers:
Australia: Tries: James Slipper, Jake Gordon, Tom Wright
Cons: Tom Lynagh (1)
Pens: Tom Lynagh (3)
British and Irish Lions: Tries: Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry, Huw Jones, Tadhg Beirne, Hugo Keenan
Cons: Finn Russell (2)
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa; Nick Frost, Will Skelton; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson.
Replacements: Billy Pollard (for Porecki, 56), Angus Bell (for Slipper, 40), Tom Robertson (for Alaalatoa, 40), Jeremy Williams (for Skelton, 46), Langi Gleeson (for Valetini), Carlo Tizzano (for McReight, 61), Tate McDermott (for Potter, 19), Ben Donaldson.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 60), Ellis Genge (for Porter, 54), Will Stuart (for Furlong, 60), James Ryan (for Chessum, 54), Jac Morgan (for Curry, 54), Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell (for Jones, 60), Blair Kinghorn (for Lowe, 60).
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR).
