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Wallabies Deny Clean Sweep with 22-12 Victory in Final Test; British & Irish Lions Secure Series 2-1 The British & Irish Lions clinched the 2025 Test series against the Wallabies, despite a determined performance by Australia who won the final Test in Sydney 22-12 on Saturday. The result at Accor Stadium, played out in difficult conditions punctuated by a lightning delay, confirmed a 2-1 series victory for the Lions—their second successful tour of Australia in the professional era. The decisive scoreline in the final match, which saw the Wallabies dominate territorially and defensively, ensures a measure of national pride is retained by the Australian side. However, the overall success belongs to the touring side, who secured the series lead in the dramatic Second Test in Melbourne, making the Sydney clash a contest for a clean sweep rather than the trophy itself. Final Test Score Reflects Wallabies' Resilience Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt had called for a response following the gut-wrenching defeat a week earlier, and his side delivered a tenacious display. Australia capitalised on early Lions indiscipline and handling errors, setting a fast pace despite torrential rain that swept over the stadium, forcing a 37-minute suspension of play during the second half due to a lightning threat. Australia built an early lead through a Dylan Pietsch try and a penalty from Tom Lynagh, giving them an 8-0 advantage at the break. Their intensity continued into the second half when full-back Max Jorgensen scored a superb opportunistic try after gathering a loose ball following a Lions breakdown, extending the lead to 15-0. Tate McDermott added a third try later in the half, confirming their control of the game.
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The Lions, already guaranteed the series win, struggled to find the clinical edge that had defined their earlier matches. Tries from Jac Morgan and Will Stuart provided late consolation, but they were insufficient to overturn the Wallabies’ dominant performance, which ultimately settled on the final scoreline of Wallabies 22 - 12 British & Irish Lions. Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt acknowledged the importance of the result after the match. "I’m just relieved, and incredibly proud of the effort tonight," Schmidt told reporters. "We asked them to fight for the jersey and their supporters, and to deny a clean sweep on home soil is a small but important step for this group. That 22-12 scoreline reflects the character we needed to show. " Dramatic Second Test Secured Series Victory The ultimate fate of the Tom Richards Cup was sealed during the sensational Second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where a record Lions attendance of over 90,000 witnessed one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tour's history. The Wallabies had burst out of the blocks, scoring three tries in a blistering period to lead 23-5. Yet, a heroic resurgence from the Lions saw them chip away at the deficit, propelled by tries from Tom Curry and Huw Jones before half-time.
Crucially, Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne scored his side's fourth try, and in the final minute of the match, full-back Hugo Keenan crossed the line in a moment of high drama to clinch the victory with a score of Wallabies 26 - 29 British & Irish Lions. That result gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead, marking only the third time in history they have won the first two Tests of a series against Australia. Context and Outlook for Both Squads For Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell, the 2-1 series victory solidifies his legacy in charge of the composite side. The result is the Lions’ first series success since their 2013 triumph, also against Australia. It provides a huge boost to the touring concept, which occurs only once every four years to one of the three major Southern Hemisphere nations. Rugby analyst and former Scotland international John Barclay noted the strategic significance of the tour for the northern hemisphere nations. "This series win, particularly the mental fortitude shown in Melbourne, proves the Lions concept still produces world-class rugby," Barclay stated. "While the final wallabies-vs-lions-score of 22-12 will be a sore point for Farrell, the series victory ensures the momentum and funding for the Lions brand remains robust heading toward the 2029 New Zealand tour. " For the Wallabies, the series defeat places further scrutiny on their rebuilding phase under Schmidt, despite the encouraging performance in the final Test.
The team’s inability to close out the Second Test, coupled with a 19-27 loss in the opener, highlights ongoing issues with consistency and composure under extreme pressure. However, the final 22-12 result offers a psychological reprieve. Key young players, including Pietsch and Jorgensen, demonstrated that the Australian production line remains capable of delivering Test-match quality talent. The financial and cultural impact of the tour has been vast, with tens of thousands of travelling supporters—the famed 'Sea of Red'—filling stadiums across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The next Lions tour to Australia will not be until 2037, giving the Wallabies a significant period to consolidate their efforts before the next instalment of this historic rivalry. The immediate focus now shifts to the Rugby Championship for the Wallabies, while the victorious British and Irish Lions squad will return to their respective nations, having etched their names into the long and storied history of this global sporting contest. The wallabies-vs-lions-score is definitively settled for 2025, with the tourists ultimately prevailing.
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