Wallabies restore pride with third test win over Lions

SYDNEY :The Wallabies restored some pride by finally producing an 80 minute performance to beat the British & Irish Lions 22-12 in a weather-disrupted third test on Saturday, handing the visitors their only loss of their nine-match tour of Australia.

Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen scored tries either side of a 40-minute delay for a lightning warning, and Tate McDermott added a third late on to ensure Australia would not be swept 3-0 by the Lions for the first time since 1904.

"So proud," said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. "Such a tough loss last week and to bounce back with an 80 minute performance, I'm so proud of everyone. The crowd today was unbelievable and so proud to get the win.

"We just wanted this game so badly."

Jac Morgan and Will Stuart scored tries for the tourists, who had secured series honours for the first time since their last visit to Australia in 2013 by winning the first two tests in Brisbane and Melbourne.

"Our goal before the series was to try to win 3-0 and we gave it everything in harsh circumstances," said Dan Sheehan, who took over as Lions captain after Maro Itoje went off with concussion.

"But the Wallabies have been in every game we've played against them and I think they deserved the game tonight. It's just a bit disappointing on our end to finish on this disappointment."

Rain had been pouring down all day and the match started in front of a crowd of 80,213 in conditions more familiar to the nine Irishmen in the Lions team than the Wallabies.

It was the home side who struck first in the eighth minute, however, when winger Pietsch scored in the corner after the Lions had repelled the Australian forwards despite intense pressure under the posts.

The Lions got back down the other end after a