Aussies believe they have momentum

The way Paul O’Connell shook his hand after the Lions’ first-Test victory in Brisbane on Saturday night, Australia prop Ben Alexander did not imagine the Irishman had just fractured an arm.

The Wallabies had lost the series opener and the following day, as head coach Robbie Deans was counting up the casualties from an incredibly high-intensity Test match at Suncorp Stadium there was worse news to come as he learned captain James Horwill had been cited for alleged stamping on the head of Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones.

Less than 24 hours later and the momentum had swung back in Australia’s favour, Horwill cleared and free to play in this Saturday’s second Test while the talismanic O’Connell was out of the tour, his arm indeed fractured.