Wallabies blow biggest lead in 103 years, but vow no Lions clean sweep in Sydney finale

A shattered Wallabies side has declared they will not allow the Lions to leave with a 3-0 clean sweep after officially giving up their biggest lead in a century to lose the second Test.

A shattered Wallabies side has declared they will not allow the Lions to leave with a 3-0 clean sweep after officially giving up their biggest lead in a century to lose the second Test.

Australia lost 29-26 at the MCG, having led 23-5 in the 35th minute.

The 18-point advantage is the biggest margin the Wallabies have let slip in the modern era, according to Fox Sports Stats, surpassing the 17-point leads they held against Argentina last year, and against the All Blacks in 2017.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson reacts after the loss at the MCG. Picture: AFP

Historians suggest an Australian side lost to NZ Maori 25-22 in 1922, having led 22-0, which would have been the largest ever lead they’ve given up, although records and details are scant and couldn’t be confirmed.

The Lions have been cocky in their claims of winning the series 3-0 and leaving Australian shores unbeaten for the first time since 1904, yet they’re 80 minutes away from achieving that with the third and final Test to be played in Sydney on Saturday.

Hugo Keenan celebrates after scoring the match-winning try in the final minute. Picture: AFP—

But Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen is adamant the visitors will not prevail in their quest as the team looks to put aside their disappointment from last Saturday’s defeat.

“You’re playing a Test match for your country and especially against the Lions, I don’t think it’s a challenge to get up for, I think it’s a very easy thing to get up for,” Jorgensen said.

“The series is gone.

“But we’re not going to let them head home with a clean sweep.

“So we’ve got a massive job on our shoulders for this weekend.”

Max Jorgensen doesn’t want the Wallabies to make more unwanted history. Picture: Getty Images

Australia is ruing their capitulation in Melbourne, well aware that an 18-point lead should never be chased down.

This team is now the sorry owner of two of the biggest leads blown in the professional era.

Last year, they led Argentina 20-3 in Sante Fe, before losing by a record margin to go down 67-27 in the early stages of Joe Schmidt’s tenure as Wallabies coach.

Argentina celebrates their remarkable triumph against the Wallabies, when they turned a 20-3 deficit into a 67-27 win. Picture: Getty Images

In 2017, under coach Michael Cheika, the Wallabies led the All Blacks 17-0 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, before a last-gasp Beauden Barrett try sealed a stunning 35-29 win for New Zealand.

Jorgensen reflected his side’s devastation at the loss to the Lions in front of 90,000 fans.

“It’s something that you only do really once in your career,” Jorgensen said.

“I was absolutely gutted personally. I know everyone in the team was, and to have to wait another 12 years to have the chance of getting a series win is obviously devastating.

“You look at it and you go, ‘What could have been, a decider this weekend’. How different it could have been.

“If we got some things in that game go right, and we improve on our game, it could have been so different. And to see them celebrate, it really does hurt.”