Special moment surreal for Keenan after mixed Lions tour

Lions' Hugo Keenan celebrates with fans after the match. Pic: Billy Stickland, Inpho

Hugo Keenan described scoring the last-minute try that delivered a British & Irish Lions Test victory and series win over Australia as “a bit surreal” as reflected on a tour of contrasting emotions.

Keenan’s 79th minute score completed a remarkable fightback from the Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. The tourists had trailed 23-5 after 30 minutes but brought it back to a two-point game at 26-24 when Keenan struck, the full-back taking a bullet of a pass from his Ireland team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park and then rounding centre Len Ikitau to send the Lions contingent in a 90,307 crowd at the MCG into raptures.

Keenan had to wait for a TMO review to allow the try to stand but he said: “It’s a bit surreal. It was a class moment.

“It was off the back two minutes of phase attack, the lads digging deep. It meant the world to myself and everybody that was out there, the 23, the lads who weren’t playing, the backroom staff, the 50,000 Lions supporters out there and everyone at home. It’s a really special moment.” 

Head coach Andy Farrell admitted his concern at seeing Keenan take on Ikitau rather than taking the easier option of passing towards the edge where Jack Conan was waiting unmarked.

“I was screaming, pass it, pass it, pass it!” Farrell said. “And knowing Hugo, he was never going to pass it! He was always going to back himself.

“I spoke to his dad after the game and he was never going to pass it. He backs himself in those types of situations.” 

Keenan became aware of Farrell’s pleadings from afar and said: “He mentioned it after. I think he backed me at the end. Jack was outside and I think he would have finished it himself, but where there is a will there is a way.” The same could apply to Keenan’s tour in general having spent 12 days of it out sick with a virus.

“It’s been a mad whole trip. It’s not how I imagined it going, getting sick for two weeks and coming in to camp a bit injured.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but I suppose these things happen for a reason, and thankfully I was in full health come the last two Tests. I’m delighted to be involved and delighted that we got the result today.

“It’s special moments having our family and friends out on the pitch with us at the end. It’s those moments you play rugby for and you dream of.”