When the British & Irish Lions stepped out for their first Test against Australia in 2013, they were seeking their first series victory in 16 years.
The Wallabies had come from behind to beat them 2-1 in the previous series between the two sides in 2001 and locals inside Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane were confident in their team being victorious again.
However, a famous try by one of the Lions’ youngest tourists would set them on their way in what turned out to be a thriller.
THE TEAM
Coached by Warren Gatland, the Lions were captained by Sam Warburton who was one of eight Wales players named in the starting XV to have won a second straight Six Nations title earlier in the year.
Brian O’Driscoll was named at outside centre in what was his fourth Test series as a Lion and he partnered one of the most impressive performers on tour, Jonathan Davies, in midfield.
Ireland’s Johnny Sexton made his Lions Test debut at fly-half, playing outside of 2009 tourist Mike Phillips.
Captain from four years ago, Paul O’Connell was in the second row alongside Alun Wyn Jones, another who had featured in the previous Test series in South Africa.
There was also a set of brothers in the matchday squad, with Tom Youngs starting at hooker and his younger sibling Ben named as the replacement scrum-half.
THE BUILD-UP
The Lions had just fallen to their first defeat of the tour, with the ACT Brumbies edging them 14-12 in Canberra four days previously.
Prior to that, they had enjoyed a spotless record under Gatland, from a 59-8 thumping of the Barbarians in Hong Kong to a 47-17 dismantling of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
They were hoping to catch Australia cold in Brisbane again after defeating the Wallabies 29-13 across town at the Gabba in 2001’s first Test.
THE MATCH
James O’Connor missed two early penalties for Australia, but their bright start was rewarded with a spectacular opening try after 12 minutes.
Will Genia tapped a penalty to break from his own 22 before his kick through was picked up by Wallabies debutant Israel Folau who went clear with O’Connor converting.
Leigh Halfpenny put the Lions on the board with a penalty before his fellow Welshman George North blasted his way into folklore with a magnificent individual try that saw him run 60 metres and beat four would-be tacklers.
Halfpenny converted from the touchline and although North was tackled into touch in the corner, the former then kicked another penalty to put the Lions 13-7 ahead.
That lead was narrowed before half-time through another superb finish from Folau, the Rugby League and Aussie rules convert crossing for his second, this time unconverted.
Alex Cuthbert then gave the Lions breathing space eight minutes into the second half when he took Sexton’s pass before cutting through a big gap to score, Halfpenny again adding the extras.
The Wallabies pulled back to within two points through penalties by O’Connor and Kurtley Beale before Halfpenny to send through his third of the night.
Beale then reduced the gap again with another penalty, but the replacement missed two chances to snatch victory for Australia with the boot, slipping on the second occasion with what was the last kick.
The Lions had their win and their platform in the series, but only just.
WHAT THEY SAID
Sam Warburton, Lions captain: "It was too close for comfort and the last 20 minutes were really hard.
"There's massive delight to get the first win and get some momentum, and to get the ball rolling.”
George North, Lions winger: "When the ball dropped out of the sky, my first thought was just to run.
"Luckily, I saw a gap and I just went for it. It opened up for me, and I can't begin to tell you how good it felt when I crossed that line."
22 JUNE 2013
AUSTRALIA (12) 21 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (13) 23
Suncorp Stadium
Australia 21
Tries: Folau 2
Conversions: O’Connor
Penalties: O’Connor, Beale 2
British & Irish Lions 23
Tries: North, Cuthbert
Conversions: Halfpenny 2
Penalties: Halfpenny 3
Australia: Berrick Barnes, Isreal Folau (2T), Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, Digby Ioane, James O’Connor (C, P), Will Genia, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (capt), Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu
Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Pat McCabe, Kurtley Beale (2P)
British & Irish Lions: Leigh Halfpenny (2C, 3P), Alex Cuthbert (T), Brian O’Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North (T), Johnny Sexton, Mike Phillips, Alex Corbisiero, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Sean Maitland
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Attendance: 52,499
