The British and Irish Lions have secured a decisive 21-10 victory against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, marking their third win on the tour and improving their record to 3-0 in Australia. This match was notably the most challenging of their campaign thus far, following comprehensive victories against both the Western Force and Queensland Reds, where they scored 50 points in each encounter.
Commentator Sean Maloney referred to the Waratahs’ performance as a remarkable comeback, especially considering they finished eighth out of eleven teams in the Super Rugby Pacific. Despite the loss, NSW captain Hugh Sinclair expressed pride in his team’s effort, especially given the media’s predictions of a heavy defeat, which they effectively countered. Sinclair remarked on the performance, urging the media for more positivity in their upcoming coverage.
In the match, Scotland’s Huw Jones was a standout player, scoring two tries, while England’s Alex Mitchell added a third try that ultimately sealed the victory for the Lions. The Waratahs managed to score through winger Darby Lancaster and hooker Ethan Dobbins, but it was not enough to clinch a win. Maloney noted that although the Waratahs did not win, they had earned back a significant number of fans in Sydney with their spirited display.
Looking ahead, the Lions will face the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday, while the Wallabies are scheduled to play against Fiji in Newcastle. The final scoreline was Lions 21, Waratahs 10, with the halftime score standing at 14-5.