Lions Tour 2001

Try time: Jonny Wilkinson goes over to score in the 2nd Test

The Lions' 2001 tour to Australia saw the tourists go down to a 2-1 series defeat after three combative Tests that were overshadowed by a split in the camp.

New Zealander Graham Henry appointed Martin Johnson as captain and he became the first, and so far only, person to lead The Lions on two tours.

The team started their preparations for the 2001 tour by playing six warm-up matches against Australian provincial sides, winning five and losing one.

The tour had created great excitement back home and over 20,000 travelled over to support the squad.

Captain Johnson was the pack leader supplemented by experienced hands such as Keith Wood, Neil Back, Richard Hill and Scott Quinnell.

Jonny Wilkinson supplied an all-Irish midfield consisting of Brian O'Driscoll, the rising star of Irish rugby, and Rob Henderson.

The wing positions were packed with pace in the mould of Jason Robinson and Dafydd James.

After comfortable wins in warm-up matches the squad was confident as the first Test approached.

However, a defeat against Australia 'A' was swiftly followed by accusations of discontent in the camp caused by an apparent distinction between the Test and midweek sides.

The rumours didn't seem to affect the team though. In the first Test match it took Jason Robinson just two minutes to score in the corner and send the travelling fans into raptures.

This was followed by tries from James and Quinnell before the highlight of the game arrived early in the second half.

O'Driscoll picked up a pass and broke through two Aussie players before skipping past another as he raced 50 yards to score and kill the contest off and seal a 29-13 win as The Lions got their tour off to a perfect start.

Austin Healey scored two tries and Matt Dawson kicked 15 points as the midweek side scraped by the ACT Brumbies with a 30-28 victory.

The Lions headed into the second test looking to seal the victory that would win them the series. The squad were buoyed by confidence from the first Test and it showed as Wilkinson kicked six early points to put The Lions ahead again. Australia replied with a Matt Burke penalty but that only spurred The Lions on and Back went over to give them their only try of the match and an 11-6 half-time lead.

It was the second half where The Lions capitulated. Unnecessary mistakes let Australia in and they managed to score 15 points in 10 minutes as Joe Roff scored two tries. Wilkinson kicked another penalty to give The Lions brief hope but Burke went over to score a try of his own and kick two more penalties to see the game out as Australia tied the series 1-1 with a convincing 35-14 victory.

The series came down to a dramatic final Test and both teams battled hard in a close contest.

The scoring opened in the third minute as a penalty was kicked by Burke.

Wilkinson was doubtful for the final Test due to injury but he kicked a penalty of his own to tie the scores up.

Burke scored another two penalties before a converted Robinson try gave The Lions a 10-9 lead. Daniel Herbert scored a converted try to put the Aussies back in the lead but Wilkinson closed the gap to three points with another penalty.

Wilkinson then converted his own try to put The Lions ahead by four points. Another converted Herbert try was followed by a Wilkinson penalty to draw the match level at 23-23. However, Burke kicked another two penalties which eventually decided the series as Australia ran out 29-23 winners to claim the series.