Some interesting Wallabies V British & Irish Lions Historical Notes: •The first official Test match played by Australia occurred against a side representing Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground on June 24, 1899, and saw Australia prevail 13-3. 114 years on, the British & Irish Lions are appropriately the opposition again, as a side representing Australia plays its 550th Test. •This will be the 22nd Test played between sides representing a combined Great Britain and Australia since the inaugural game, which Australia won at the Sydney Cricket Ground, on the 1899 tour. The ‘Lions’ bounced back to win that series, three Tests to one. •To date, the British & Irish Lions teams have won 16 matches and Australia five. •In five of those 16 defeats, Australia was held scoreless. •Last weekend’s two-point victory in Brisbane replicated the 2001 tour but the Lions’ 29-13 success in the opening Test of that tie did not lead to a series victory, with Australia recovering to win the final two games in Melbourne and Sydney. •The most recent tour prior to 2001, in 1989, also saw the team that lost the opening Test bounce back to win the series, with the Lions recovering to win the final two games after Australia had opened with a commanding 30-12 win in Sydney. •While Australia’s 35-14 win in the second Test of 2001 represented the first instance of a Lions Test in Melbourne, the combined side had previously been a frequent Melbourne visitor, calling on the Victorian capital during the 1888, 1899, 1930, 1959, 1966 and 1989 tours. •The highest score conceded by the Lions on a tour of Australia was actually let in against Victoria on the 1930 trip. Although the locals posted 36 points, it wasn’t enough to win the game, with the Lions scoring 41. The game was, perhaps appropriately, played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 00:47:19 +0000