Bruising Lions-Wallabies battle takes a heavy toll

MELBOURNE - Australia's stunning win over the Lions was soured yesterday by the news that Stephen Larkham and David Giffin were doubtful for this weekend's third test.

The two Australians were injured in Saturday's 35-14 victory in Melbourne and could miss the series decider at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

First five-eighths Larkham has an arm injury and lock Giffin a shoulder problem. Both players took part in a short recovery session yesterday before the team flew to Sydney, but now face an anxious wait to see whether they can play on Saturday.

There was better news, however, for Wallaby wing Andrew Walker and fullback Matthew Burke. Walker left the field in Melbourne in the second half with a suspected broken cheekbone, but x-rays did not show any breaks.

Burke, who scored 25 points with a try, six penalties and a conversion, hurt his shoulder during the bruising match, but has also been cleared to play in Sydney.

The Lions also have some serious injury problems and Australian captain John Eales said the Sydney match could become a test of survival.

"Three games in three weeks is very tough and it's whoever can recover the best for this last one who will probably win," he said.

Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll yesterday dispelled fears that team-mate Jonny Wilkinson had suffered a broken leg.

"The situation with Jonny is not as bad as we first thought," O'Driscoll said. "He does not have a break in his leg, but will be in plaster for the next 48 hours. I would have thought he must be very doubtful for the third test."

O'Driscoll (neck), first five-eighths Wilkinson and halfback Rob Howley (ribs) are also in doubt, and flanker Richard Hill has been ruled because of concussion.

"I've been told that I have got concussion, which means I must serve the mandatory three-week layoff," he said last night.

Needing a win to keep the series alive after losing the first test 13-29, the Wallabies looked to be heading towards defeat as they fell 6-11 behind at halftime before a crowd of 56,000.

But the Australians showed why they are the world champions by turning it around with three unanswered tries as they posted their biggest win over the Lions.

"We knew we had to perform much better than we did the week before," Eales said. "We let ourselves down at the Gabba and we were disappointed, and we came out with a whole new attitude, and I think that showed throughout the game."

Australia have never beaten the Lions in a series and Eales said the Wallabies were taking nothing for granted before Saturday's decider.

"We've targeted this as our main game this year because we know they're the best team we're going to come up against," he said. "We know the Lions are going to try to turn it around.

"They had their opportunities in Melbourne, but the breaks went our way. It's going to be a classic match."

Lions coach Graham Henry said his side lost the game in the first half when they failed to make use of their possession and midfield breaks.

"The biggest weakness we had was that we didn't take our opportunities in the first half," he said. "Coming in at halftime we probably needed to be ahead a lot more."

Henry said the Lions had a huge challenge on their hands, but it was no different from that the Wallabies faced leading up to Saturday's game.

"We just can't let the second half rule our thinking for the future. We just have to keep our composure and our concentration."

The third test will be the last game in charge for Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen, who announced immediately after his team's victory that he would be standing down for Eddie Jones.

Macqueen had planned to retire in September at the end of Australia's defence of the Tri-Nations championship against New Zealand and South Africa, but has decided to go earlier than planned.

"I believe it's time for a fresh approach for the team, and now seems the appropriate time," Macqueen said.

"We've planned for Eddie to come in. He's been involved with the side since day one. He has done an excellent job and is ready to go on from here."

Macqueen replaced Greg Smith as Wallaby coach in 1997 and went on to establish himself as Australia's greatest coach, winning virtually every major trophy on offer, including the 1999 World Cup.

"Rod's been a huge figure in Australian rugby over the past four years and will be sorely missed," Eales said.

"Where we are today, a lot of it is because of Rod."

Macqueen might be going, but Joe Roff wants to stay, in the meantime.

The 25-year-old two-try hero of Saturday night is taking a 12-month break from international rugby and will join French club Biarritz after the Tri-Nations series, but yesterday said he wanted to play in the Wallabies' tests against Canada, England, France and Wales in October and November.

- AGENCIES