2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia

Jason Robinson scored the first try of the match, putting the Lions up 5–0. Andrew Walker successfully kicked a penalty for Australia's first points. The Lions scored through Dafydd James, which was converted by Wilkinson. The score at half-time was 12–3.

Brian O'Driscoll scored for the Lions in the second half. Wilkinson converted the try before kicking a penalty to make the score 22–3. Scott Quinnell then scored for the Lions, with Wilkinson converting. Walker then scored a try for Australia.

30 June 2001 19:00

Australia	13–29	British & Irish Lions
Try: Grey 66' m Walker 68' m Pen: Walker 18'	Report	Try: Robinson 3' m James 32' c O'Driscoll 41' c Quinnell 50' c Con: Wilkinson (3) Pen: Wilkinson 44'

The Gabba, Brisbane Attendance: 37,460 Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

FB 15 Chris Latham  41' RW 14 Andrew Walker OC 13 Daniel Herbert IC 12 Nathan Grey LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham  52' SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Toutai Kefu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Owen Finegan  72' RL 5 John Eales (c)  61' LL 4 David Giffin TP 3 Glen Panoho  61' HK 2 Jeremy Paul  52' LP 1 Nick Stiles Replacements: HK 16 Michael Foley  52' PR 17 Ben Darwin  61' LK 18 Matt Cockbain  61' FL 19 David Lyons  72' SH 20 Chris Whitaker FH 21 Elton Flatley  52' FB 22 Matt Burke  41' Coach: Rod Macqueen

FB 15 Matt Perry  41' RW 14 Dafydd James OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Rob Henderson LW 11 Jason Robinson FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Rob Howley N8 8 Scott Quinnell  61' OF 7 Richard Hill BF 6 Martin Corry  61' RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Martin Johnson (c) TP 3 Phil Vickery  74' HK 2 Keith Wood LP 1 Tom Smith  74' Replacements: HK 16 Gordon Bulloch PR 17 Jason Leonard  74' FL 18 Colin Charvis  61' FL 19 Martyn Williams SH 20 Matt Dawson SH 21 Austin Healey FB 22 Iain Balshaw  41' Coach: Graham Henry

The second test was played at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne. Wilkinson was successful with two penalty goals, giving the Lions a 6–0 lead. Burke then kicked a penalty goal for Australia. Neil Back scored the first try of the match, giving the Lions an 11–3 lead over Australia. Burke kicked another penalty goal to make the score 11–6 to the Lions.

Joe Roff scored a try for Australia in the second half, making the score 11–11. Burke kicked a penalty goal to give Australia the lead. The score became 21–11 when Roff scored his second try. Wilkinson then kicked a penalty goal to make it 21–14. Burke then scored a try for Australia, making it 29–14. Burke kicked another two penalty goals.

7 July 2001 19:00

Australia	35–14	British & Irish Lions
Try: Roff (2) Burke Con: Burke Pen: Burke (6)	Report	Try: Back Pen: Wilkinson (3)

Colonial Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 56,605 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 Andrew Walker OC 13 Daniel Herbert IC 12 Nathan Grey LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Toutai Kefu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Owen Finegan RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 David Giffin TP 3 Rod Moore HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Nick Stiles Replacements: HK 16 Brendan Cannon PR 17 Ben Darwin LK 18 Matt Cockbain FL 19 David Lyons SH 20 Chris Whitaker FH 21 Elton Flatley FB 22 Chris Latham Coach: Rod Macqueen

FB 15 Matt Perry RW 14 Dafydd James OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Rob Henderson LW 11 Jason Robinson FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Rob Howley N8 8 Scott Quinnell OF 7 Neil Back BF 6 Richard Hill RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Martin Johnson (c) TP 3 Phil Vickery HK 2 Keith Wood LP 1 Tom Smith Replacements: PR 16 Jason Leonard HK 17 Dorian West FL 18 Martin Corry FL 19 Martyn Williams SH 20 Matt Dawson FH 21 Neil Jenkins FB 22 Iain Balshaw Coach: Graham Henry

With the series tied at 1–1, the third test at Stadium Australia in Sydney was the decider and was refereed by New Zealander Paddy O'Brien. The scoring began in the third minute, when Burke successfully kicked a penalty for Australia, giving them a 3–0 lead. Wilkinson, who was under an injury cloud leading up to the match, levelled the scores in the fifth minute with a successful penalty goal. Burke then landed another penalty goal for Australia. Four minutes later, Burke kicked another penalty goal, giving Australia a 9–3 lead. Robinson scored the first try of the match, which was converted by Wilkinson, giving the Lions a 10–9 lead. Daniel Herbert scored Australia's first try which was converted by Burke, giving Australia a 16–10 lead. Wilkinson was successful with a penalty goal that made the score 16–13.

The Lions took the lead in the second half, with Wilkinson crossing the line to score a try and then converting it, giving the Lions a 20–16 lead. Herbert scored his second try in the 49th minute, Burke converted, giving Australia a 23–20 lead. Wilkinson kicked a penalty goal, levelling scores at 23–23. Burke was successful with a subsequent penalty goal five minutes after. Burke kicked another in the 76th minute, to make the score 29–23.

14 July 2001 19:00

Australia	29–23	British & Irish Lions
Try: Herbert (2) Con: Burke (2) Pen: Burke (5)	Report	Try: Robinson Wilkinson Con: Wilkinson (2) Pen: Wilkinson (3)

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 84,188 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 Andrew Walker OC 13 Daniel Herbert IC 12 Nathan Grey LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Elton Flatley SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Toutai Kefu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Owen Finegan RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 Justin Harrison TP 3 Rod Moore HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Nick Stiles Replacements: HK 16 Brendan Cannon PR 17 Ben Darwin LK 18 Matt Cockbain FL 19 David Lyons SH 20 Chris Whitaker FH 21 James Holbeck FB 22 Chris Latham Coach: Rod Macqueen

FB 15 Matt Perry RW 14 Dafydd James OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Rob Henderson LW 11 Jason Robinson FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Matt Dawson N8 8 Scott Quinnell OF 7 Neil Back BF 6 Martin Corry RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Martin Johnson (c) TP 3 Phil Vickery HK 2 Keith Wood LP 1 Tom Smith Replacements: PR 16 Darren Morris HK 17 Dorian West FL 18 Colin Charvis FL 19 Martyn Williams FH 20 Ronan O'Gara SH 21 Andy Nicol FB 22 Iain Balshaw Coach: Graham Henry