Sexton and Beale’s sympathies lie with Halfpenny after heartbreak of late miss

Jonathan Sexton would have loved the chance to boot the Lions into the history books as the first series winners in 16 years, but despite being denied the opportunity there was nothing but sympathy for the man who was instead handed the kicking duties.

It was Leigh Halfpenny chosen to kick for the Lions in this Test series with Australia and it was not until the final kick of the second Test that the Wales full-back showed any hint of fallibility under pressure, his late, late, long-range penalty that would have delivered glory for the 2013 tourists coming up short and a little wide.

Halfpenny had gone into the game at Etihad Stadium with a 93 per cent success rate off the tee during this tour, form that saw Ireland fly-half Sexton overlooked as a place kicker, left to concentrate on his playmaking in the red No 10 jersey of the Lions.