Two tries from centre Daniel Herbert helped Australia to a 29-23 win over the Lions in the decisive third Test in Sydney, claiming an enthralling 2-1 Test series win at a tension-filled Stadium Australia.
The scores were tied at 23-23 going in to the last 12 minutes, but fullback Matt Burke stepped up and shrugged off the pressure to become the Wallabies' hero landing two penalties to fend-off a gallant, if at times headstrong Lions' challenge.
The home side had gone into the half-time interval at 16-13 in front after an early Lions' try from wing Jason Robinson, but Herbert's touch down just before the break set the tone for a see-saw match, which had pulses on both sides of the equator racing as the Lions mounted a failed late challenge.
The Lions' other try on the day came from Jonny Wilkinson just after half-time, putting the Lions in front only until Herbert's second in the 49th minute.
In truth, the series could have swung either way, but it was the Wallabies' tenacity in the 50/50 contests which saw them edging ahead, Justin Harrison in the second row having a debut to remember, stealing a memorable late lineout from Lions skipper Martin Johnson with the hooter imminent to drive a further nail into the Lions' coffin.
The tourists far from disgraced themselves, with the back-row in particular exposing the soft underbelly of the home side in the loose, where they repeatedly drove through the heart of the Wallaby pack with a string of surging rolling mauls. But in the battle on the ground, it was Wallaby openside George Smith who emerged victorious, with team-mates Kefu and Finegan not far behind him.
Without late injury withdrawal Austin Healey, the 84,000 crowd at Stadium Australia were denied the chance to witness the Leicester wing's pre-match slurs against all things Australia being rammed down his throat.
His late replacement was Welshman Dafydd James, but with Healey also due to serve as Matt Dawson's scrum-half replacement, the Lions' management had to take desperate measures and recruit Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol to the bench.
Nicol had not even been part of the squad, being in Sydney merely as a tour guide, but found himself thrown into the cauldron of Stadium Australia. He was not used in the end, but his inclusion in the squad served as a fitting marker of the drama surrounding the 2001 tour right from day one.
But the real drama unfolded on the pitch and it was Jason Robinson -- one of the shining lights for the Lions -- who made the first in-roads to the Wallaby defence out wide when he touched down in the left corner after 20 minutes.
It was a move which proved that the tourists -- underdogs going into this match -- were capable of playing their own brand of "total rugby", two front row players out wide playing a valuable part in the score. Firstly hooker Keith Wood drew in Andrew Walker ten metres out, and then loosehead Tom Smith pulled in the last defender before putting Robinson in for a textbook 2 on 1 overlap try next to the corner flag, with Wilkinson nailing the tricky extras in a mixed kicking half.
By this time though Matt Burke had already kicked three penalties to Wilkinson's one, and Herbert's try just before the half-time whistle was the next score as both teams sparred around the fringes of the ruck -- the Wallaby front-row again given a rough ride by the Lions as Nick Stiles and Rod Moore looked out of sorts.
Herbert's try when it came was a result of constant Wallaby pressure, the marvellous George Gregan in particular back to his marshalling best at the base of every ruck, capitalising on some quick breaks by the three-quarters to set the scene for the try, which eventually came after a quick exchange between Herbert and Andrew Walker on the right flank, Burke hitting the conversion for a 16-13 half-time lead.
Jonny Wilkinson gave the vast and noisy legions of Lions fans something to cheer when he jinked over from short range just after the break, showing a shimmy to Toutai Kefu before cutting in past Dan Herbert for the try, and then hitting the conversion to snatch the lead.
Herbert made amends five minutes later when he was on the end of a quick transfer through the Wallaby hands, their speedy continuity play creating the stage for hooker Michael Foley out wide to unselfishly offload to Herbert for his second try. Foley could well have gone himself, but made sure of the score by putting in the Queensland centre on the overlap, Burke again converting.
Herbert's next contribution to the match was not so glorious when his clothes-line tackle on the below-par Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll landed the Wallaby a ten-minute spell in the sin-bin.
The Lions failed to make the most of the space though, Wilkinson's penalty drawing the scores, but no more points coming in what could have been a crucial ten-minutes.
The England man missed his third kick of the day shortly after, the pivot's hit-and-miss kicking day giving heart to the Wallabies, particularly during the enforced absence of Herbert.
Almost immediately after Herbert's return to the fray, Burke again put the home side in front with a penalty. It was a decisive moment, and the Lions had a mountain to climb as injury-time approached.
The Lions' rolling-maul got into full swing, and as a Lions' lineout came with seconds to go in Wallaby territory, the visitors knew this was the moment they had to sieze the initiative.
Keith Wood threw in, and Justin Harrison claimed an awesome take at the front, eclipsing Martin Johnson at the front, leaping across his line of sight, stealing the ball, and shutting the door firmly on the Lions.
Referee Paddy O'Brien pulled the curtain down on a memorable series with the final whistle, Australia on balance deserved victors in a series which had everything, great tries, big-hits, controversy, injury, two well-matched teams and most of all, a true rugby atmosphere.
Australia were wounded after their first Test humiliation, but the last eight days have seen them stamp their mantle as true champions, obliterating the Lions in Melbourne, and then finding the scrapping spirit to pull out a win under adversity in Sydney.
The 2001 Lions may have been only seven points away from emulating their 1997 counterparts, but the Wallabies will be partying away in to the wee small hours, knowing that they have beaten the northern hemisphere's finest.
It was a fitting way for the cerebral and dignified Rod Macqueen to end his tenure as Wallaby coach, and sets up a fascinating Tri-Nations series as Eddie Jones takes the reins.
So, a day of joy for Australia but disappointment for the many thousands of away supporters who had journeyed across the globe to yell themselves hoarse for their team. No matter, after this epic series, the majority of them will already have begun their plans to play their part in British and Irish rugby's next great crusade -- the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand.
Man of the match: Justin Harrison. What a debut! On this showing, it is hard to imagine why the aggressive Brumbies lock has been frozen out of the starting XV for the first two Tests. His edgy, abrasive play may have earnt him the wrath of opponents and Lions' fans, but his lineout play and general combative game will surely see him as a must for the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations. Two try hero Dan Herbert may be the scoreboard's choice for our award, but although his support play may have earned him his two scores, Harrison's excellence throughout shades our vote. Not a vast abundance of Lions' contenders, with Martin Corry and Scott Quinnell the main two that spring to mind, as well as a largely impressive showing from Jonny Wilkinson.
Moment of the match: Daniel Herbert's second try. Herbert's first score may have been easier on the eye, but the sheer importance of this try wins the vote by a mile, as it eventually led to the scores being ties going in to the final stages with Burke's conversion. Coming from a quick series of Wallaby phases, Michael Foley created the overlap for Herbert to dive in the left corner and set the scene for a Wallaby series win.
Villain of the match: Daniel Herbert. The only blot on Herbert's copybook was his deserved second-half sin-binning after flattening opposite number Brian O'Driscoll with a stiff-arm clothesline tackle round the neck. Not normally a malicious competitor, Herbert served his ten-minute penance with relative calm as the Lions failed to capitalise on his absence.
Sin bin: Herbert (Aus, 52-62 mins)
The teams:
Australia: 1 Rod Moore, 2 Michael Foley, 3 Nic Stiles, 4 John Eales (c), 5 Justin Harrison, 6 Owen Finegan, 7 George Smith, 8 Toutai Kefu, 9 George Gregan, 10 Elton Flatley, 11 Joe Roff, 12 Nathan Grey, 13 Dan Herbert, 14 Andrew Walker, 15 Matthew Burke
Reserves: Matt Cockbain, James Holbeck
Unused: Brendan Cannon, Chris Latham, Chris Whitaker, Ben Darwin, David Lyons
British Isles: 1 Phil Vickery, 2 Keith Wood, 3 Tom Smith, 4 Danny Grewcock, 5 Martin Johnson (c), 6 Neil Back, 7 Martin Corry, 8 Scott Quinnell, 9 Matt Dawson, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 11 Jason Robinson, 12 Rob Henderson, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 14 Dafydd James, 15 Matt Perry
Reserves: Iain Balshaw, Colin Charvis, Darren Morris
Unused: Dorian West, Ronan O'Gara, Andy Nicol, Martyn Williams
Referee: O'brien p.
Points Scorers:
Australia
Tries: Herbert D.J. 2
Conv: Burke M.C. 2
Pen K.: Burke M.C. 5
British Isles
Tries: Robinson J.T. 1, Wilkinson J.P. 1
Conv: Wilkinson J.P. 2
Pen K.: Wilkinson J.P. 3
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