73′: Beale misses crucial kicks.
The Lions were leading 23-21 with seven minutes left on the clock, when referee Chris Pollock awarded a penalty to the Wallabies. Beale stepped up, but from 40 metres sliced his kick to the right of the posts. The Lions breathed easy as their two-point lead remained in tact. Six minutes later, with the clock reading 79 minutes, ref Pollock again awarded a penalty to the Wallabies after a collapsed scrum. It was 47 metres out, but dead in front of the posts: surely Kurtley Beale couldn’t miss? As the rugby world held its collective breath, Beale’s standing foot slipped as he attempted the kick and his effort sailed well wide. The referee blew the final whistle, and the Lions jubilation began.
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