Classic Lions 10 Australia 5 <$z$>The rugby was not as open or as fluid as they would have liked, but the champagne still flowed freely afterwards as the all-conquering Classic Lions became this year’s World Rugby Classic champions.

In front a boisterous packed house of close to 2,500 people at the National Sports Centre on Saturday night, Tony Diprose’s Lions made it clear throughout the 70 minutes that they were comfortably the more accomplished side, though as the captain would later admit, made life more difficult than it should have been with some sloppy play at crucial moments.

The Lions took the lead after only three minutes of the game via a try from centre Geraint Evans, and looked to have doubled their lead only minutes later through scrumhalf David Scully.

That score was controversially ruled out, however, after the Australians pointed out to the referee that the Lions had been using substitutes while one of their players was in the sin bin after receiving a yellow card — something which though technically forbidden under the Classic’s rules, had been happening frequently all week.

In the end it mattered little, as the Lions promptly surged up the park mid-way through the first half to double their lead with a try from Irish winger Daragh O’Mahoney. And with Wallaby hooker Geoff Threlfo sent off early in the second half after receiving his second yellow card of the night — reducing them to 14 men — the Lions really should have taken complete control of proceedings.

But displaying the grit and determination for which they are so famous, the Wallabies refused to submit meekly, making life extremely difficult for the Lions with their muscular and penetrative forward play as well as some consistently fierce tackling at the game line.

And when Tongan flanker Martin Tindall crashed over on the right wing after some slick handling among the Wallaby backs to take the score to 10-5 with only ten minutes to go, the game was set up for a grandstand finish.

The Lions remained defensively strong, however, and despite one or two scares — including an Australian forward pass when a match-equalling try looked a certainty — held on to claim victory.

“We lost our way a bit really,” admitted Diprose afterwards, moments before holding the Classic trophy aloft and being drenched in the champions’ bubbly.

“We were in total control for most of the first half and felt as if we should have kicked on and put some decent points on the board.

“But when the try was disallowed, we lost a bit of momentum, I think, and allowed Australia back into it which was a little disappointing because we’d got ourselves into a position where we really could have dominated them.

“But credit to them I suppose, they really hung in there and when they scored near the end, we knew we would be in for a real battle. And in fairness, they had one or two chances at the death which they didn’t quite take.

“So I’m a little disappointed with the way we played. We hoped to make the game a little more open and entertaining to watch. But we’ll take the win of course.

“All the lads have done very well this week. Of course we’re here to have a good time but as soon as it’s been time to get serious they’ve all responded and in general I think we deserve to be champions.

“We’ll definitely enjoy the evening after this — it’s probably going to be a dark and stormy one!”

Earlier meanwhile, Canada won the Classic plate final with a 15-12 win over France.

In a game of high quality, which wouldn’t have disgraced the final itself, the Canadians led through a Rob Robson try before a converted score from Frenchman Eric Leconte saw the Les Bleus creep into a 7-5 lead.

With only 10 minutes to go, Canada’s Roger Robinson touched down for a try which was converted by Gareth Rees, before a game-equalling try from Patrice Castel brought the score to 12-12.

Flyhalf Rees, however, had the final word as his drop goal from 40 yards out handed the Canadians a last-gasp triumph.

Elsewhere, an under-strength and heavily patched up Bermuda XV were utterly trounced by Argentina 67-7 in an exhibition match which preceded the plate final.

With the emphasis from the start purely on damage limitation, without key players such as, among many others, burly hooker Ryan Somerville, the local side were at an even greater disadvantage.

And it showed, as Argentina racked up try after try with little or no effort, with Bermuda registering their only score early on in the game through Darragh O’Dannaghue.