On a night where history was begging to be made, it was Maro Itoje who stepped up and delivered.
As the final whistle blew, he wrapped an arm around his wife, bit down on his winner’s medal, and flashed an “M” with his fingers for the cameras—an iconic moment for an iconic leader.
The First Since Johnson in ’97
Itoje has long been hailed as a generational talent. And on this night, he proved why.
He officially became the first Englishman since Martin Johnson in 1997 to lead the British and Irish Lions to a series victory.
It wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was the kind of gritty, come-from-behind triumph that etches a player’s name into rugby legend.
Fighting Back from the Brink
Things didn’t start smoothly for the Lions.
They were trailing 23-5 at one point, and Itoje was being outplayed in the opening half by Australia’s Will Skelton.
But this was no 40-minute match—it was a test of heart, and Itoje has always had an engine built for the full 80.
By the time Skelton left the field, the tide had shifted.
Itoje, still charging forward, orchestrated a roaring comeback.
His team scored four tries, clawing their way back under his leadership.
His calm, rallying presence was a major factor—and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Even Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously invited him to Downing Street, recognizing his poise and leadership.
Into the Lions’ Hall of Fame
With this win, Itoje steps into the company of Lions royalty—alongside names like Jeremy Guscott, Sir Gareth Edwards, and Martin Johnson.
This is his third tour with the team, and next week he has a chance to lead them to something even more historic: a clean sweep, which hasn’t happened since 1927.
The final moments were tense. The Wallabies held the lead right up until the dying seconds, but Hugo Keenan sealed the deal with a try at the death.
The Australians had flashes of brilliance and reminded everyone of their golden-era teams, but the Lions just wouldn’t quit.
When It Mattered, Itoje Delivered
In the crunch moments, it was Itoje who changed the game.
He forced a turnover at midfield, giving Finn Russell the perfect setup for a lineout near the try line.
Not long after, Itoje stormed over a Wallaby maul like a man possessed, winning a crucial scrum. Tiny details. Massive consequences. That’s how series are won.
The Australians, understandably crushed, were hit with another blow after being stuck in traffic and arriving 15 minutes late to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Still, the atmosphere was electric—over 90,000 fans packed in, hinting at a rekindled romance between Melbourne and rugby.
Wallabies’ First-Half Firestorm
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies were full of fire early on.
Tom Wright darted through the backfield, Will Skelton and Rob Valentini brought the muscle, and James Slipper rolled through defenders to notch a try.
The Wallabies strung together a 17-phase move that ended in a try by Jake Gordon—ironically, the same player critics had called to be benched.
Wright added another soon after, finishing off a run sparked by Joseph Suaalii.
Dan Sheehan’s early score kept the Lions in touch, but with an 18-point deficit, something had to give.
That’s when Itoje gathered his squad and told them to focus—not on the scoreboard, but on the next phase.
The Turning Point
“I told them not to panic,” Itoje said.
“You start thinking you have to score, and that’s when mistakes come.
We just focused on the next job.”
That mindset paid off. Jamison Gibson-Park injected pace at the ruck, and before long, Tom Curry and Huw Jones had narrowed the gap before halftime.
Both teams went to their benches, but Itoje wasn’t going anywhere.
The Wallabies nudged further ahead through Lynagh after Bundee Aki was penalised at the breakdown.
But the Lions roared back again, with James Lowe bulldozing through defenders before Tadhg Beirne touched down.
Russell’s flawless conversion from the sideline closed the gap to two.
All Calm Under Pressure
The Wallabies fought back hard, turning over possession in the red zone. But the Lions kept their heads.
Andy Farrell, head coach, couldn’t praise his captain enough.
“Cool, calm and collected—100 percent,” Farrell said. “He read the game perfectly.
The way he talked to the ref, how he understood the moment, it was class. If you listen back to his mic, you’ll hear it. Absolute quality.”
A Controversial Final Minute
When Keenan crossed into the corner with just 30 seconds on the clock, chaos erupted.
The Wallabies swarmed the referee, demanding a review of Jac Morgan’s clearout on Carlo Tizanno.
But Itoje remained composed, made his case, and moments later, the whistle blew.
One More Test, One More Goal
With the series wrapped up, the Lions now have one final test—and a shot at sweeping the Wallabies 3-0 for the first time in nearly a century.
But for Itoje, there’s no time for celebrations just yet.
“We want to go again next week,” he said, already looking ahead.