S4C pundit Gwyn Jones says Morgan’s contribution has been telling for the Lions, while the WRU appear to be climbing back towards respectability
Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones is a well-respected pundit for S4C and regular rugby columnist for WalesOnline and the Western Mail
British and Irish Lions’ Jac Morgan (right) with fans(Image: PA Wire)
My hope before the second test was that Jac Morgan would be off the bench while the game was still in the balance and make a meaningful contribution to the outcome. The most controversial cleanout in rugby history was not quite what I had in mind.
However, sense prevailed and the try stood. Ironically, all of the unedifying Aussie whingeing has ensured this series will forever be remembered for that robust Jac Morgan cleanout and Hugo Keenan’s try.
So Morgan has made his mark on this tour as the sole Welsh representative. The cheer he received when he was shown on the big screen was heartwarming and confirmation of how much he has been appreciated by the fans.
This game should never have been so close. Fair dinkum to the Wallabies for their effort after a one-sided first test. The Lions knew that Australia would come at them on a cognitive level, but on an emotional level the Lions did not match their intensity and ferocity.
But once the heavy mob had punched themselves out, the gulf in class between these two squads became apparent and a Lions comeback always looked likely.
Having thrown everything into the second test, Joe Schmidt has a mammoth task of getting a team together for the match in Sydney.
The Wallabies have endured a physical and psychological battering and the thought of going through that again with nothing to play for will make it even harder.
In truth, this series is panning out as expected. I suspect that if Ireland or England were touring Australia they would be disappointed if they did not win the series. Scotland would fancy their chances too, but they always do.
This rather inevitable outcome has been the catalyst to consider France as a destination for future tours. As things stand, it is hard to come up with an argument against that idea. But never underestimate the ability of rugby committees to ignore the blatantly obvious.
The Lions have resisted the temptation to make wholesale team changes. A few little tinkers here and there means they are showing this third test its due respect and want to finish the series in style.
It is impossible to compare Lions series but I think most people would agree that the tours of South Africa and New Zealand are a sterner challenge than Australia. It’s not fair to this Lions squad that whatever they achieved over this six weeks was always going to be judged differently.
The players could do no more. They earned the right to be considered as the elite of British and Irish rugby. They have won a Test series and their names will go down in the history books.
Jac Morgan is swamped by team-mates as the Lions celebrate their win over the Wallabies in Melbourne(Image: Getty Images)WRU shows promising signs
Quite what awaits Jac Morgan when he does return to Wales remains a mystery. But after two years of painful inaction in the face of successive failure, the WRU looks like it is on the move.
Welsh rugby has been in desperate need of leadership but there are promising signs that actual decisions are going to be made. Ironically, just as the WRU are getting their act together on shaping the future of professional rugby, the spectre of a breakaway global competition comes into view.
Personally, I can’t see the appeal of eight nomadic teams playing each other in various parts of the world. I still believe that international rugby remains the motivation behind most top players. Winning grand slams, world cups or Lions series. That’s also what the public want.
However, in recent years we have seen LIV golf and cricket’s Indian Premier League tear those sports apart. There is life-altering money being thrown at athletes who would be insane to it turn down. But the current failure of athletics to monetise its version of a breakaway competition is an important lesson to those minority global sports that think the grass is greener somewhere else.
This Lions tour will end with a comfortable series win for the Lions. I can see this match being a blow-out. Twenty points winning margin. Finn Russell could have a field day.
In Wales we will bask in the reflective glory for a short time. Proud of our captain’s contribution in Australia.
It will not be long before the new seasons begins. There will be optimism despite how hard it has been for two years.
The losing streak has been broken, Wales has a new coach, Dave Reddin seems to be affecting change. Wales are taking some baby steps in their long march back to respectability.
Highlights from the Lions v Wallabies Tests are available from 20.00 on S4C, S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer on match days