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Rugby's rich rewards Lions were unlucky losers Down Under
It's a shame that someone had to lose. In reality, the Lions series could have gone either way down to the final second, as two evenly matched teams produced some champagne rugby. In the end, it was their composure under pressure and a parting masterstroke by coach Rod Macqueen that swung the deciding third test in the Wallabies' favor. His late decision to leave the coaching job after the Lions' series instead of at the end of the Southern Hemisphere season undoubtedly inspired Australia to greater heights. Unlike the great All-Black teams of the 1980s and 1990s, which performed with clinical precision in all situations, the Australians seem only able to produce at their best when the stakes are high. But when has there been a bigger "crunch-match" than the series-decider before 84,000 fans at Sydney's Olympic Stadium? Australia had a chance to beat the Lions for the first time in history as a beloved, World Cup-winning coach stepped down after four years. There's no doubt the tighter and cozier climate of the Wallaby camp -- compared with the rather fractious atmosphere of the Lions' party -- helped John Eales' side survive a tough, final assault in the dying stages of the match. Already, after just one test, rookie lock Justin Harrison is a national hero. With less than two minutes to go and with the tourists in a strong attacking position deep in the Wallaby 22, Harrison leapt high to steal a crucial Lions' lineout from captain Martin Johnson. Australia was able to kick the ball to safety up field and hung on for a 29-23 victory. As if playing for his country wasn't already enough a motivation for Harrison, he was further driven to his inspired performance by the prematch comments of Lions utility back Austin Healey, who wrote off the ACT Brumbies' novice as no more than a "plod" and a "plank." Even in defeat, the Lions proved that the gap between the two hemispheres has narrowed significantly since Australia won the 1999 World Cup. Graham Henry's 2001 Lions were close to the finest squad ever to set foot on Australian soil and probably would have comfortably beaten other Tri-Nations teams South Africa and New Zealand. Irish centers Brian O'Driscoll and Rob Henderson were stunning in the Lions' midfield. Jonny Wilkinson is a complete fly-half, the equal of World Cup-hero Stephen Larkham. In the forwards, Keith Wood seems to be getting better with age, Danny Grewcock soared high, and Richard Hill was highly effective before being forced out with injury in the second test. Even though the Lions will disband for another four years, the sterling performances Down Under of so many English, Irish, Welsh and Scots will bring confidence to the national teams of the British Isles. As for the Wallabies, they're entering a new era with ACT Brumbies coach Eddie Jones taking over from Macqueen. It's a hard act to follow, but I believe Jones will be a success with Australia. He helped develop many of the intricate backline moves that helped the Brumbies win the Super 12 title this year and is good motivator of men. His challenge will be to keep the Wallabies sharp in the lead up to the defense of their World Cup title in 2003. His first assignment is a daunting one: guiding the Wallabies through what promises to be a grueling Tri-Nations campaign. You can be sure that New Zealand and South Africa want to bring down Australia a notch or two after its first-ever series win over the Lions. Jason Dasey is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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