"Lightning Delay" - 5 Talking Points from Lions vs Australia 3rd Test in Sydney

After a heroic performance last week at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where the Wallabies showed incredible fight, but ultimately it proved not to be enough. This time around after overcoming a heartbreaking defeat and adverse weather conditions Joe Schmidt’s side ended the 2025 edition of the Lions tour with a joyous victory.

Players such as Nic White, Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou were instrumental in Australia’s triumph as the Lions were unable to record a first series whitewash since 1927.

The British & Irish Lions could not secure the whitewash in Australia, with the Wallabies winning the third test of the series. Joe Schmidt's side stepped up in Sydney to win the physical clash 22-12, as the tempers hit boiling point between the Lions and Australia. The torrential rain hindered the attacking flow from both the Lions and Australia, yet it was the Wallabies who struck first. Dejected from having lost the series overall, Joe Schmidt's side were fired up to deny the Lions a clean-sweep and came out hot from the gate.

Joseph Sua'ali'i was once again at the heart of the Wallabies' move, with the dual-code superstar finding Dylan Pietsch out wide with a lovely pass. The wing then dove over the tackle attempt of Finn Russell, to find the try-line and score in style. A missed conversion held the score-line at 5-0 for the best part of the first half, before Tom Lynagh added three points from the tee in a low-scoring first 40 minutes.

There was an underlying tension between the Lions and Wallabies, with plenty for referee Nika Amashukeli to quell as the tempers repeatedly hit a fever-pitch out in Sydney. The physicality took a telling toll upon the Lions, as both captain Maro Itoje and wing Tommy Freeman failed their Head Injury Assessments following some clattering hits. The match was postponed for half an hour, as a thunderstorm rolled into Sydney to postpone the play in dramatic fashion. Max Jorgensen ignited the Wallabies' offensive after the break in the action, as the wing collected an intercepted pass following some miss-communication from Blair Kinghorn and Bundee Aki.

The Lions rallied back, with Jac Morgan in the spotlight once again in a Test match. The back row was on fire from the bench, with a try from close range breathing life into the men in red. There were some question marks raised on the grounding yet the try stood, with Russell adding the conversion.

The Wallabies would take the match out of reach for the Lions, with replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott sniping for a try following the on-field retirement of Nic White. The Lions closed out the final Test of the series with a score from close range, as Will Stuart drove over from close range, and his Bath teammate and Player of the Series Finn Russell slotted the conversion.

TRIES: 2 (Morgan 62', Stuart 80'

CONVERSIONS 2 (Russell 62', 80)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Kelleher 68')

RED CARDS: 0

STARTING XV: 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Huw Jones 12. Bundee Aki 11. Blair Kinghorn 10. Finn Russell 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Maro Itoje 5. James Ryan 6. Tadhg Beirne 7. Tom Curry 8. Jack Conan

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Ronan Kelleher 17. Ellis Genge 18. Will Stuart 19. Ollie Chessum 20. Jac Morgan 21. Ben Earl 22. Alex Mitchell 23. Owen Farrell

TRIES: 3 (Pietsch 7', Jorgensen 55', McDermott 71')

CONVERSIONS 2 (Donaldson 55', 71')

PENALTIES: 1 (Lynagh 33')

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

STARTING XV: 15. Tom Wright 14. Max Jorgensen 13. Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i 12. Len Ikitau 11. Dylan Pietsch 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Nic White 1. James Slipper 2. Billy Pollard 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Tom Hooper 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 17. Angus Bell 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Jeremy Williams 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Tate McDermott 22. Ben Donaldson 23. Andrew Kellaway

With the wet conditions being increasingly difficult, as the rain came down in torrents. Despite the slippery surface and challenging ball handling it was the hosts who broke the deadlock. Winger and standout Wallaby, Pietsch crossed the whitewash after a pass to the outside from Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii.

Outside half, Lynagh was unable to add the extras but prior to the interval he slotted three points from the tee as the hosts went 8-0 up in an old school fashioned first half. Then after coming out for the final 40 minutes of the tour without both Maro Itoje and Tommy Freeman who both failed their respective HIA’s, both sides quickly headed back inside due to adverse weather.

However, after the delay in play it was clear that nothing was clicking for the tourist as they were unable to find an opening. Winger, Max Jorgensen quickly pounced on a loose ball and scored and this came from the Lions fumbling possession and the Wallabies extended their lead to 15. Minutes later the visitors reduced the deficit as the sole Welshmen on the tour, Morgan crossed with Russell adding the extras.

The Lions found themselves a man down prior to the final 10 minutes with replacement, Kelleher being yellow carded. The hosts took full advantage of the extra man and McDermott scored with Donaldson regaining the 15-point lead. Replacement tighthead, Stuart powered over right at the death but it wasn’t enough as Australia handled the conditions better and claimed the spoils.

After James Ryan was stretchered off, all the players also left the field of play after referee Nika Amashukeli brought proceedings to a pause after 42 minutes. This was due to a lightning strike within 10 kilometres of the stadium.

There was a minimum delay of 30 minutes, where players headed into the dressing rooms, trying to keep warm, focus, take on more analysis or if you are Fin Russell sit down and have a quick nose on your phone. Completely bonkers it was. It happened in England’s last summer tour Test against the USA in Washington D.C. last month, where the game had delays of almost two hours because of lighting strikes.

In this instance, it was a lightning protocol, even supporters who were in rows 1-19 were told to head to the concourse. But those who still had money to waste entered the field fully clothed and poncho on to entertain those remaining fans in the stands. However, those actions will come at a hefty price of a 5,500 Australian Dollars fine.

In a game that had so much of an old school feel with so many different players having altercations. When you look closer at the breakdown area there were elbows. Lots of talking and niggle. At times there was even wrestling and with the conditions it just added to what was an enthralling encounter.

However, it must be said that Dan Sheehan was incredibly fortunate after a hit on Lynagh around the breakdown. Where was the television match official. If he had stepped in and shown the replay the touring side would’ve definitely found themselves a man down, but the question would be for how long.

Lynagh left the field of play for a head injury assessment after the clear out from the Lions’ hooker. It was remarkable how this hit was not checked.

Conditions were always going to be a problem in Sydney this evening for both sides, with an emphasis on forward play and the territorial battle was key. Prior to kickoff it was so wet, that the yellow pitch markings had washed off and needed to be repainted. Real monsoon feel.

In the opening 40 minutes the tourists and the hosts were guilty forcing little flat passes, that in normal circumstances would look brilliant. But this evening was not the night for those quick, sharp offloads. Russell and Lynagh’s boots needed to be instrumental, by kicking the ball down field and giving the opposition the ball instead.

Those little offloads were simply not going to win the game for both sides, as the conditions were torrid. This was also a major factor in the Lions’ being poor when it came to lineout time.

Speaking to Sky Sports after an enthralling contest Lions head coach, Andy Farrell said: “ I can’t wait to get in the changing room.

“Although I’m disappointed, we should be unbelievably proud of what we’ve achieved.

“Lions tours are tough and how we got the job done last week in that theatre is something, and these lads have been an absolute joy to work with.

“Australia thoroughly deserved to win, they played the conditions brilliantly and their set piece was better today.

“This has been the time of our lives and that sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth.”