Roar Guru
The Wallabies and British and Irish Lions clash tonight in the third Test at ANZ Stadium in the deciding game of the 2013 series. Join us for live scores and commentary from 8.00pm AEST.
It’s been 12 years since we last saw a deciding match in a Lions series.
That final test match, played at Stadium Australia in Sydney, saw Rod McQueen’s Wallabies side defeat a Lions tam that had gone 1-0 up.
That Wallabies side is viewed by many to be the best ever, and had a full trophy case to justify that label.
Just over a decade later and the Wallabies side finds themselves back in Sydney in an uncannily similar position.
Granted, this side is yet to achieve a huge amount on the international stage, having been doing the old one step forward, two steps back routine ever since Robbie Deans took over the coaching role in 2008.
But what they have lacked in continuity and line breaks they have made up for in sheer determination and grit.
The great thing about this side is that they are young with an average squad age of just 26 years and with this youth comes great enthusiasm and the urge to impress at every opportunity.
Only one Australian player remains from the winning side in 2001, backrower George Smith, who has been recalled to face the Lions.
It is the opinion of many that his winning mindset and career experience could just be the straw that breaks the Lions’ back, and this is what Robbie Deans will be hoping for.
One player from the 2001 Lions tour also remains for the men in red, but he has been dropped to the confusion and anger of fans everywhere – Brian O’Driscoll will play no further part in the tour.
Sam Warburton, who has lead from the front for the tourists is also out, a troublesome hamstring meaning that mammoth second-rower Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Lions.
Wallabies fans have had their hopes boosted by the news that captain James Horwill has been cleared for a second time of any wrongdoing in the first Test.
The talismanic Queenslander will be as hungry as ever to lead his side to victory in the final Test and the series win.
These young Wallabies have a chance to silence a lot of people with a win here, as does coach Robbie Deans, whose job security would be greatly increased with a victory come Saturday.
Interestingly, the Wallabies have won just one of their last six Tests at ANZ Stadium, but hold a good record overall having lost just nine times in 31 Tests.
This is it, winner takes all. Will it be the confident Wallabies or the desperate Lions? Find out from 8.00pm AEST.
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