Jeremy Guscott: North and Folau made this a truly great Test

What a match, what an occasion. So many times these events don’t live up to the hype. But the entrance price was worth it just to watch Israel Folau and George North go at each other and they produced everything we wanted them to.
It’s easy to forget how special the Lions tour is until the Test matches. It wasn’t quite the same level of red in the crowd as 2001, but there was a lot of British and Irish supporters and the noise in the stadium was off the chart. It was just sensational.
I was with Michael Lynagh before the game and the Aussies weren’t too sure what to expect from Folau. But he has so much talent. How many people can play top level Rugby League, Aussie Rules and then switch to Test level in Union. He showed he wasn’t overawed by the occasion and took his opportunities magnificently.
His first, following Will Genia’s quick tap, was sensational. Genia was sharp and realised that Mike Phillips was shattered having been through about 20 phases of play and Folau made the most of it and took his chance.
But North’s response was simply tremendous. A kick is only as good as your chase defence, and the Australian defence was pretty shabby. But few wingers could score a try like that. The ball came down and off went North. He skipped past Pat McCabe, James O’Connor had a little pop at him but couldn’t get there, and then he gassed Berrick Barnes – in, out and around and it was just a wonderful try. And you thought wow, this could really be on and the Lions could go away – especially if North’s second chance had not been disallowed for an elbow in touch.
It was only great defence from the Wallabies that prevented it, Folau in particular. Genia went low and you thought he’s never going to stop North, but then Folau came over the top and his extra weight pushed him out. But it was just millimetres away from being a very good try which could have pushed the Lions clear.
But as we would find out, that was to be the ebb and flow nature of the game. Folau’s second try on 33 minutes was pure genius with his stepping, swerve and speed. This guy is just magnificent to watch. I am a Lions supporter but I got up an applauded an amazing bit of rugby.
So many games these days are dominated by defence. But when you have players like North and Folau on the pitch you know it is not about defence. They do that in their sleep. It’s about making the most of your opportunities, and when these two get a bit of space they want to run into it.
If Leigh Halfpenny hadn’t missed the kick at goal just before half time the score line would have been fairer and offered the Lions that extra bit of comfort…13-12 wasn’t a true reflection on nearly 70 per cent possession and 70 per cent territory for the Lions. Most sides would be fairly disappointed with that and I think the team talk would have been about making the most of that advantage in the second half.
The Lions were helped when Pat McCabe went off around the 48 minute mark and openside michael Hooper had to switch to the centre. But fair play to Sexton, he was aware of what was in front of him and called the move that we’ve seen Wales do time and again.
There was a question that Brian O’Driscoll had obstructed O’Connor – but that occurred only when the ball had gone way past O’Driscoll and he didn’t take O’Connor out so the Aussies have no reason to feel aggrieved. Hooper came out too far and left a gap in a dog-leg defence and Alex Cuthbert just gassed everybody. His limitations in defence are well known, but essentially a winger is there to score tries. You are remembered for the tries you score not the tackles you make. It was another great try and pushed the Lions out to 20-12.
But there was still 30 minutes to go at that stage and the Lions must realise they can’t close up shop with that much left on the clock. Momentum swung back to the Aussies.
Kurtley Beale came on for Barnes and O’Connor kicked a penalty and you just started to think ‘are the Lions going to let this slip away by not playing any rugby?’, especially when it closed to 20-18 and it was in the balance.
Halfpenny kicked another three-pointer shortly after to earn a cushion and you started to think one more will be enough. But then Paul O’Connell conceded a penalty after Beale had made a great run up the middle and then slotted it for 23-21, and the signs looked ominous.
But then inexplicably Beale missed the next two. It would be harsh to blame Beale for the defeat. From the bench, he would never have thought he would be in a position to win the game. But then the Aussies’ two front-line kickers are taken off and the heat is on. We have seen him kick goals from further out than that – I remember a couple of years ago in the Tri-Nations against South Africa he kicked one from 55 metres – so the Lions will know they have been a bit fortunate to win.
But these games are amazing when they go down to the last minute, and you get the feeling like in 2001 it could go down to the last set-piece of the last game to decide the series.
You could tell from Robbie Deans’ body language post-match how disappointed he was. His voice was low, giving quite short answers and he needs to pick himself up before naming next week’s side because there aren’t many teams that could put in a performance like that after seven months out. They could quite easily have won.
Warren Gatland was annoyed about the second half performance against the Country XV when the Lions couldn’t finish them off in the second half. And he will be concerned his replacement front row was ‘done’ like that at the end in the scrum battle. You know there will be some heavy scrum sessions this week – or they may be put out on Tuesday to earn their place on the bench. It was lucky escape and could have cost us the game.
But other than the final few scrums, there were very few negatives for the Lions.
Mike Phillips was caught a few times when he should have shifted the ball quicker and I never like seeing a scrum-half at the bottom of a ruck. And the Lions must wise up to the Aussie tactics of quick turnovers at the ruck when the Wallabies let them run into their defence and isolate the ball carrier. They can’t go into contact on their own or they will lose the ball.
The squad will be focused to get it all right for Saturday and I know the Lions will be wanting to put them away in Melbourne, but it will hard. Their job has been made easier with injuries to McCabe and Barnes but Christian Leali’ifano should be fine providing he passes the concussion test – and he will be a big bonus for them.
Mentally it’s brilliant for the Lions to get over the line and secure the first win, but it will be easier for the Wallabies to come back than it would have been for the Lions. I applaud the Australians. They produced a game of rugby full of excitement; it was truly one of the great Lions Tests that we have seen.