Before the tables turned and heartbreak ensued, The British and Irish Lions enjoyed a historic start to their 2001 Tour in Australia.
A last-minute 30-28 victory over the ACT Brumbies ensured that Australia A remained the only side to defeat these 2001 Lions ahead of their second Test in Melbourne and provided one of the greatest Lions comebacks in over 100 years of touring.
Graham Henry’s side might have been pushed to the very limit, but the sight of Matt Dawson gripping his badge after kicking the match-winning conversion will live long in Lions history.
The build-up
The Lions arrived in Canberra with their heads held high having just won their first test of the series 29-13.
However, off the field, Dawson found himself in the spotlight over a newspaper diaries that was front and centre of every Australian paper.
Against the Brumbies, the Lions found themselves going face-to-face with Eddie Jones, taking charge of the side for the final time before he took up the Wallabies top job.
How it unfolded
It was more than a rocky start for the Lions, trailing 22-10 at half-time before Austin Healey and Matt Dawson roared into action.
The reigning Super 12 champions had a perfect start in the capital with Mark Bartholomeusz crossing the whitewash after just seven minutes to put his side ahead.
And as they added a second and third try, it seemed that the Lions would be in for a long night.
The tourists registered their first try minutes before half-time courtesy of Healey and as David Wallace added another and Dawson finally found his kicking feet, the gap slowly narrowed down to two with 10 minutes of play left only for the Brumbies to stretch back clear thanks to a Travis Hall penalty.
But the Lions would not be denied, Healey getting over at the death to give Dawson the chance of a match-winning conversion – an opportunity he grasped with both hands.
And as Darren Morris reflected, man of the match Healey’s final try just moments after the hooter had sounded was the fairy-tale ending they so desperately needed.
“I was in the right place at the right time for Austin’s try,” he reflected.
“Big Jim Williams and I bounced off each other and I gave a pass out the back door to Austin Healey to go over in the corner.
“For Matt Dawson to then kick that goal, you couldn’t have written it better yourself.
“The conversion was like a pressure valve being released,” added Dawson.
“It blew out all the emotions of the previous few days. I did break down in the dressing room reflecting on all the negatives of the preceding 72 hours.
“Dai Young and Scott Gibbs had given a very important and passionate team talk at half-time, reminding us all what it meant to wear the Lions jersey. There was 40 minutes left for me to make amends.
“I realised that this was a great opportunity to put some things to rights. I cleared my head and went through all the routines I’d spent hours and hours doing on the training field.
“I blocked it all out and let rip.”
What happened next
The victory put the Lions on the front foot ahead of their second meeting with the Wallabies in Melbourne, but it was a Test that ultimately ended in heartbreak as they fell 34-14.
And despite a battling effort in the decider, Justin Harrison – who spent much of this tour game exchanging pleasantries with two-try hero Healey – provided the crucial lineout steal to clinch the series for the Wallabies.
Teams and scorers
ACT Tries: Bartholomeusz, Gordon, Tuiavii. Conversions: Hall 2. Penalties: Hall 3.
Lions Tries: Healey 2, Wallace. Conversions: Dawson 3. Penalties: Dawson: 3.
ACT Brumbies: Bartholomeusz; McInally, Bond, Holbeck, Gordon (Pither 77′); Howard, Hall; Scott, Freier, Weaver, Harrison, Vickerman (Pusey 47′), Ryan, Tuiavii, Williams (capt; Samo 54′).
British & Irish Lions: Balshaw; Cohen, Taylor, Gibbs, Healey; O’Gara, Dawson, Morris, West, Young (Capt; Leonard 70′); Davidson, Murray, Wallace, Williams, Corry
Referee: P Marshall (Australia)
