Wallabies star left thinking ‘what could have been’ after Test Two defeat as side urged to ‘put it behind them’
Wallabies back Max Jorgensen following their defeat to the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.
Wallabies back Max Jorgensen insists his side have to put the dramatic 29-26 defeat in Test Two against the Lions behind them, as they aim to end the series on a high in Sydney.
The hosts led for 79 minutes in Saturday’s clash in Melbourne, but a dramatic late score from Hugo Keenan was enough to see the Lions clinch a famous win and seal the series victory in the process.
‘It’s a tough pill to swallow’
Joe Schmidt’s side were a team reborn at times at the MCG. Buoyed on by the physical work of the returning Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, alongside silky skills from the likes of Jake Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i and Tom Wright, they led 23-5 after 30 minutes, but they only added three more points to their tally in the remaining 50 minutes of the game, as the Lions clawed their way back to secure victory.
“All the boys are pretty gutted after that result,” said Jorgensen. “We put in such a big effort.
“We were leading for 79 minutes of the game. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but there’s a big focus on this weekend now.
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“To have to wait another 12 years to have the chance of getting a series win, it’s obviously devastating. You look at it and you go ‘what could have been, how different it could have been’.”
He added: “To see them celebrate, it hurts.”
‘You’ve got to put it behind you’
That win in Melbourne now leaves the tourists on the verge of a historic series whitewash heading into Saturday’s clash at the Accor Stadium, but the Wallabies will by no means let them off without a fight as they seek to end the series on a positive note.
“You’ve got to put it behind you and really focus on this weekend,” said Jorgensen. “You can’t sit here and complain about what happened on the weekend.
“I think the boys have really changed their mindset to focus on this weekend and getting that job done.”