Beale slips hand Lions close win over Wallabies
Source: Agencies |
June 23, 2013, Sunday
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THE British and Irish Lions just held out to beat the wounded Wallabies last night, clinging on to win the first test 23-21 after Australian utility Kurtley Beale missed two penalty attempts in the last five minutes.
Big Welsh wingers George North and Alex Cuthbert scored tries and fullback Leigh Halfpenny landed both conversions and kicked three penalties.
Israel Folau scored two first-half tries on debut for Australia to erase any questions over his ability to handle international rugby. Flyhalf James O'Connor missed three shots at goal and recalled Beale pushed a shot wide in the 75th minute and slipped as he tried another long-range shot in the last minute.
"That was entertaining, that's for sure - way too close for comfort," Lions captain Sam Warburton said. "The last 20 minutes were so close ... we can expect a lot more of this in the last two matches. Both sides were pretty even today, it went down to the last 10 seconds."
The Lions maintained their unbeaten run in Brisbane, where they also won the opening test in 2001 before the Wallabies rebounded to win the second and third tests and claim the series. But the Australians have serious backline injury concerns and will have to regroup quickly before the second test next Saturday in Melbourne, with center Christian Leali'ifano lasting one tackle and fullback Berrick Barnes and replacement Pat McCabe also leaving the field with head injuries. That forced Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to shift openside flanker Michael Hooper into the midfield and allowed the Lions room for their second try.
Wallabies skipper James Horwill said the narrow defeat was a bitter disappointment. "We were right in it, a couple of little errors. In the end we have to be a lot more clinical and take advantage of our opportunities."
The highlight for the Australians was Folau's two tries.
"He is a freak of a talent, he has the X factor," Horwill said. "When he gets his hands on the ball, things happen."
O'Connor never really settled into the pivotal No. 10 role, starting nervously when he missed penalty attempts in the fifth and seventh minutes.
The Wallabies absorbed plenty of pressure from the Lions forwards in phase after phase of pick-and-drive and rolling mauls before getting a penalty in their own quarter in the 13th. The Australians took a quick tap and scrumhalf Will Genia dummied and swerved in and out to beat his opposite Mike Phillips before sprinting down the right line, looking for somebody to run inside before dropping the ball onto his toe for Folau to pick and cross untouched for a try on debut.
Halfpenny made no mistake from 37 meters with his first goal in the 25th and the Lions hit the front in the next minute with North's counter-attacking try after receiving an aimless deep kick from Barnes.
Big Welsh wingers George North and Alex Cuthbert scored tries and fullback Leigh Halfpenny landed both conversions and kicked three penalties.
Israel Folau scored two first-half tries on debut for Australia to erase any questions over his ability to handle international rugby. Flyhalf James O'Connor missed three shots at goal and recalled Beale pushed a shot wide in the 75th minute and slipped as he tried another long-range shot in the last minute.
"That was entertaining, that's for sure - way too close for comfort," Lions captain Sam Warburton said. "The last 20 minutes were so close ... we can expect a lot more of this in the last two matches. Both sides were pretty even today, it went down to the last 10 seconds."
The Lions maintained their unbeaten run in Brisbane, where they also won the opening test in 2001 before the Wallabies rebounded to win the second and third tests and claim the series. But the Australians have serious backline injury concerns and will have to regroup quickly before the second test next Saturday in Melbourne, with center Christian Leali'ifano lasting one tackle and fullback Berrick Barnes and replacement Pat McCabe also leaving the field with head injuries. That forced Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to shift openside flanker Michael Hooper into the midfield and allowed the Lions room for their second try.
Wallabies skipper James Horwill said the narrow defeat was a bitter disappointment. "We were right in it, a couple of little errors. In the end we have to be a lot more clinical and take advantage of our opportunities."
The highlight for the Australians was Folau's two tries.
"He is a freak of a talent, he has the X factor," Horwill said. "When he gets his hands on the ball, things happen."
O'Connor never really settled into the pivotal No. 10 role, starting nervously when he missed penalty attempts in the fifth and seventh minutes.
The Wallabies absorbed plenty of pressure from the Lions forwards in phase after phase of pick-and-drive and rolling mauls before getting a penalty in their own quarter in the 13th. The Australians took a quick tap and scrumhalf Will Genia dummied and swerved in and out to beat his opposite Mike Phillips before sprinting down the right line, looking for somebody to run inside before dropping the ball onto his toe for Folau to pick and cross untouched for a try on debut.
Halfpenny made no mistake from 37 meters with his first goal in the 25th and the Lions hit the front in the next minute with North's counter-attacking try after receiving an aimless deep kick from Barnes.
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