British and Irish Lions legend highlights what the tourists must do ‘to be properly celebrated for decades’
British and Irish players celebrate after beating Australia in Melbourne and ex-Lions scrum-half Matt Dawson.
Former England and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Matt Dawson has highlighted the importance of a 3-0 series whitewash for the famous touring team against the Wallabies.
On Saturday, the Lions wiped out an 18-point deficit to deny the Wallabies at the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, with full-back Hugo Keenan scoring the match-winning try in the final minute to snatch a 29-26 victory.
This, after the tourists clinched a 27-19 triumph in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last weekend, means the tourists will be presented with the series cup at Accor Stadium in Sydney following the third Test on Saturday.
The last time the Lions won a series 3-0 was in 1904 and Dawson has urged Andy Farrell‘s troops not to take their foot off the pedal by emulating that achievement.
The Wallabies have been struggling in recent years and came into Saturday’s Test in Melbourne occupying sixth position in World Rugby’s official rankings.
Dawson admitted that he has thought that it would have been better for the Lions to have faced either the Springboks or All Blacks, who are currently ranked as the top two teams in the world.
‘They need to whitewash the Wallabies’
“The British and Irish Lions have achieved something truly special by winning a Test series, but for this squad to be properly celebrated for decades to come, they need to whitewash the Wallabies,” he wrote in his BBC column.
“How good are they, compared to the series-winning teams of 1989, 1997 and 2013?”
“It’s hard to judge given the opposition. Australia have had a tough few years. Part of me would love to have seen the Lions taken to the edge in three high-intensity Test matches in New Zealand or South Africa.
“But you can only beat what is in front of you, and while Australia didn’t turn up in Brisbane, they did in Melbourne and showed they can be a very decent Wallaby side.
“Is that the level Australia are at now? Or was it a spike in performance born out of desperation? We’ll find out a lot more about them next weekend and through the rest of their international season.”
Since losing their opening clash against Argentina in Dublin last month, the tourists have gone on to win all their matches on their Australian tour.
Dawson, who went on three tours with the Lions in 1997 (South Africa), 2001 (Australia) and 2005 (New Zealand) and represented them in seven Tests, believes if they manage to beat the Wallabies in Sydney they can justify legendary status amongst the famous touring team’s various sides in their 137-year history.
“A couple of hours after full time on Saturday, the Lions players gathered in the centre of the pitch to reflect on what they had achieved in the sporting mecca that is the MCG,” he added.
‘The proper stuff of dreams for those players’
“Sitting there would have been the proper stuff of dreams for those players and I would like to think during the course of that night – even if at 4am – they spoke about how they can take themselves to a Lions status that hasn’t been done in a century.
“The last time the Lions won all their Test matches on a tour was 1927 in Argentina (4-0 series victory). That’s almost a century worth of history. They are putting themselves in a position to be remembered for many years to come.
“It reminds me a bit of when the European Ryder Cup team won in Italy in 2023 and all 12 of the victorious players were sitting at a press conference after regaining the trophy.
“Yes, it was great to win at home, but winning at home has been done a lot before. So it was telling Rory McIlroy quickly turned his attention to Bethpage, New York, and a chance to really cement their legacy later this year.
“On a similar note, I hope the Lions players have been saying to each other at the start of this week: ‘We could be a proper legendary side if we win 3-0.’
READ MORE: British & Irish Lions: Match-winner’s candid revelation on his late heroics in Wallabies thriller