Wallabies claw back some pride, but the Boks will test their defence and resolve

A victory over the British & Irish Lions gave Australia a confidence boost, but the upcoming clash against South Africa will reveal whether it was a true turning point

- By Craig Ray

Fortunes in elite sport can change quickly - in either direction. The Wallabies provided a perfect reminder of that with a stunning third-Test mugging of a seemingly complacent British & Irish Lions team in Sydney on 2 August.

Before the Test, a video played featuring Wallaby captain Harry Wilson extolling that a new dawn for the team would start in Sydney, with the goal of lifting the World Cup at the same venue in 2027.

Wilson’s delivery was sincere and steely, but given the Wallabies’ recent woes, it also felt hollow for non-Australians. Yet, several hours later, on the back of a deeply passionate and hugely physical performance, Wilson's statement carried more weight. The Wallabies had backed it up with something tangible on the field, beating the Lions 22-12.

Yes, the Lions had clinched the three-match series a week earlier, going 2-0 up. Yet the hyperbole, admittedly not from their own camp but from fans and media about how “great” they were, curdled quickly in torrential Sydney rain.

Great teams don’t get taken apart like the Lions were at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush. Australia dominated almost every aspect of the game, from the scrums and line-out to the breakdown and everything in between.

This was not a great Lions team. They had some great players, but they never reached any significant heights.

The Lions had a chance to win the series 3-0 and blew it through their own sloppiness and fierce Wallaby resistance in Sydney.

It felt like a seismic moment for the Wallabies, especially in the context of a series in which they lost the second Test 29-26 on the back of a marginal late refereeing call in that match.