British and Irish Lions seal Test series victory in Australia after MCG thriller

Both Australia and the Lions expected to see a response from the hosts and that was certainly the case as a storming opening 30 minutes put them in control.

Joe Schmidt's men were absolutely magnificent and touched down three times in a stunning blitz as James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright crossed the whitewash.

At 23-5 behind â- Dan Sheehan scoring the Lions' early try â- the tourists were under serious pressure, but they hit back through Tom Curry and Huw Jones to give them hope.

A third Tom Lynagh three-pointer extended Australia's buffer in the second period, but tries from Tadhg Beirne and Hugo Keenan snatched a remarkable match.

Many thought the Wallabies would show an improvement but the first half-an-hour exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic fans.

The 10 minutes set the tone with the returning duo Will Skelton and Rob Valetini thundering into contact and sending the Lions into reverse.

It was a complete contrast to the opening Test which saw the tourists absolute dominate the collisions but, under pressure in Melbourne, they were ill-disciplined.

Lynagh kicked two penalties off the tee before the Lions fired their first shot and touched dowm from close range through Sheehan.

That was their last opportunity for the next 20 minutes, however, as Australia ripped the visitors to shreds with some outstanding attacking play.

More Lions penalties enabled Schmidt's men to gain the territory they needed but the home side took advantage as Slipper crossed the whitewash.

Matters got worse for Andy Farrell's team when Freeman was sin-binned for an infringement in the build-up to that score and it would cost them 12 more points with two tries being scored.

The first was finished by Gordon, who slipped between a couple of visiting defenders to go over, before they manufactured a stunning effort from the restart.

Max Jorgensen made the initial ground down the right, allowing the Wallabies to shift the ball left. Joseph Suaalii collected the ball in the midfield burst through the defence before giving Wright a run to the line.

The Lions were in danger of imploding but somehow they manage to alter the momentum in the final few minutes of the first half.

They finally managed to garner some possession inside the opposition 22 and quick-fire tries via Curry and Jones reduced the arrears to six points at the interval.

Although the tourists had the momentum going into the second period and saw both Skelton and Valetini depart, but it was the Wallabies who controlled the start of the half.

Gordon, who had been heavily criticised last week, was excellent in the second Test, and his kicking game was causing all sorts of problems.

It led to yet another Lions infringement and Lynagh was on target from in front of the posts to make it a nine-point buffer.

The Wallabies had managed the match well but the visitors had been clinical in the 22 and when James Lowe fed Beirne, it set up a thrilling finale.

Australia were holding on in the final 10 minutes but it appeared as though they would take it to a decider. However, Farrell's men mounted one last attack and Keenan touched down to win the series.

There was anger from the Australians, who felt there should have been a penalty in the build-up for Jac Morgan's cleanout on Carlo Tizzano, but the officials concluded that no offence had taken place.

READ MORE: Pumas punish ill-disciplined Griquas as Currie Cup kicks off in Mbombela