What kind of alternate reality are we experiencing?
There was a period when teams from the northern hemisphere epitomised the ruggedness of rugby, thriving in the murky trenches of muddy pitches, scrapping for points in threes.
Meanwhile, Australian teams were expected to yearn for hard, dry grounds to flaunt their skill and speed, reminiscent of their glory days.
Andy Farrell at Allianz Stadium. Getty
However, there was Andy Farrell on Saturday evening, accusing the NSW Waratahs of deliberately soaking the Allianz Stadium pitch to impede the pace of his dynamic British and Irish Lions, who had amassed 50 points in their earlier two matches on tour.
The Lions triumphed 21-10, and following the game, Coach Farrell—who had eyed the surface with evident doubt before kickoff—sparked what he dubbed “Watergate 2.0.”
“For some reason, and frankly, I couldn’t care less—it worked in our favour—the pitch was extremely wet,” Farrell stated in a bustling press conference.
British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell checks the pitch. Getty
“I asked [Mike Catt] about it after the match and he just laughed it off.”
Catt, a former England and Lions player, is now serving as the Waratahs’ assistant coach.
“But it’s a clever tactic from them, isn’t it? The ball’s slick, the breakdown is undeniably intense and their line speed is explosive. I reckon it could be wet again on Wednesday [for their next tour match in Canberra], so we’ll be ready for that.”
Andy Farrell checks the grass on the pitch. Sportsfile via Getty Images
“It’s been brilliant weather. Absolutely glorious. The pitch was decent, and we’re not grumbling. It’s what you’d do if you’re gearing up for a pivotal match; it’s significant for all the clubs involved.
“We’re aware of what’s ahead, and we must be prepared to adapt to any situation.”
The Waratahs displayed a determined defensive effort, with flanker Charlie Gamble excelling by winning four breakdown turnovers.
When asked for his thoughts on Farrell’s allegations, NSW coach Dan McKellar was interrupted by captain Hugh Sinclair.
“Did you catch the weather on Tuesday? It was horrendous, mate,” Sinclair quipped.
The Lions triumphed with a resounding performance against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane midweek and flew to Sydney on Thursday to take on the Waratahs.
McKellar refuted the accusations.
“Andy was likely enjoying the sun in Brisbane on Tuesday, while it was definitely unpleasant in Sydney,” he remarked.
“No. I have far too much on my plate to worry about watering the pitch.”
Hugh Sinclair of the Waratahs thanks British & Irish Lions players. Getty
The Lions led 14-5 at the break, and despite dominating possession and field position, they had to work hard for an 11-point victory.
“The Waratahs executed a strong, combative gameplan, which made it particularly tough for us, especially at the breakdown and in contact, with their rapid line speed,” Farrell noted.
“This is beneficial learning for us. We ultimately found a way to win, but with such substantial possession, territory, and numerous turnovers, we recognise the need to improve.”
Jac Morgan of the British and Irish Lions fends off Charlie Gamble of the Waratahs. Getty
Centre Huw Jones notched tries in the 12th and 35th minutes to give the Lions a 14-0 advantage, although the Waratahs had a try by flanker Charlie Gamble disallowed by the TMO for a lineout infringement.
Following the second kick restart, the Waratahs sent the ball to the short side where winger Darby Lancaster weaved past a few defenders and, despite being knocked off balance by Hugo Keenan’s cover tackle, managed to score in the left corner.
This brought the score to 14-5 at halftime.
The Lions had not conceded a second-half point in their first two victories, but that streak came to an end within two minutes of the second half when Waratahs hooker Ethan Dobbins powered over following a driving maul from a lineout.
The Lions were denied a swift try in response by a resilient defensive effort before halfback Alex Mitchell crossed the line in the 55th minute, darting to the short side from a ruck following sustained pressure from a scrum penalty and multiple Waratahs errors.
Fin Smith converted to extend the lead to 21-10, as the Lions appeared to gain momentum once more, particularly when man-of-the-match Mitchell executed a 50-22 kick, setting up a prime attacking position.
He later made the final pass that allowed replacement prop Ellis Genge to crash over the tryline, but the ball was lost in the tackle, and the Waratahs held firm.
The Lions pushed for another try in the 76th minute but had it disallowed due to a lineout obstruction, preventing them from adding to their score in a match that was scrappy and filled with errors.
Lions 21 (Huw Jones 2, Alex Mitchell tries; Fin Smith 3 conversions) Waratahs 10 (Darby Lancaster, Ethan Dobbins tries). HT: 14-5
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