SYDNEY — The British and Irish Lions ended a 16-year drought with a crushing, series-clinching 41-16 win over Australia in the third test Saturday, helped by a dominant scrum and Leigh Halfpenny's two try assists and a collection of points records. After winning the first test 23-21 and losing the second 16-15, the Lions piled on more points than ever before in a test match. A week after missing a stoppage-time penalty that could have clinched the series for the Lions in Melbourne, fullback Halfpenny shredded the Wallabies defense on the left side as he set up the decisive tries for Jonathan Sexton and George North in the 57th and 64th minutes. He landed five penalties and three conversions, and his 21-point tally for the match gave him 49 for the series — both Lions records. “It's pretty undescribable, but we came through in the end,” Lions captain Alun-Wyn Jones said. Lions coach Warren Gatland gambled by making six changes for the deciding test, relying on 10 players from his Six Nations-winning Welsh team and dropping Irish veteran Brian O'Driscoll. Gatland said he had to use his head and not his heart in the selections, and was vindicated. After playing in the first two tests, O'Driscoll now has won his first series with the Lions — on his fourth tour. The match was divided into three distinct periods, with the Li ons racing to a 19-3 lead before the Wallabies rallied to 19-16. But the Lions finished strongly to set their record for most points in a test match. “We had too many errors, we gave them a head start,” Australia captain James Horwill said. “You have to give them credit, they were the better team tonight. We let ourselves down in the scrum.” Alexander was replaced by Sekope Kepu, meaning openside flanker George Smith also had to leave the field for 10 minutes to cater for the front row change and leaving only seven men in the Wallabies scrum. It was the second stint on the sidelines for Smith, playing his first test in almost four years, after he needed to be assessed following a sickening clash of heads with Lions hooker Richard Hibbard in the fifth minute. The momentum was heavily against the Australians and it compounded when blockbusting winger Israel Folau limped off in the 27th minute and was replaced by new cap Jesse Mogg, leaving only one specialist back on the Wallabies bench. Highlanders beat Hurricanes The Highlanders gave themselves a chance of avoiding a last-place finish in Super Rugby when they held on to a rapidly diminishing lead to beat the Hurricanes 49-44 Saturday in a New Zealand derby that produced 11 tries. An outstanding first-half performance by flyhalf Colin Slade, who created two tries and kicked 15 points, gave the Dunedin-based Highlanders a four-try bonus point and a 32-13 lead at halftime. Cheetahs make playoffs The Cheetahs beat the Blues 34-13 to reach the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time Saturday. The Cheetahs outscored New Zealand's Blues three tries to one at Free State Stadium to secure a top-six finish and also end the Auckland-based Blues' chances of making the playoffs. The Cheetahs will finish at least sixth after being guaranteed another four points from their bye next week. — Agencies
