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banner Sunday, 1 July, 2001, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK
One in the eye for critics
Colin Charvis had confidence in the Lions' ability
Colin Charvis had confidence in the Lions' ability
You might be surprised to hear that I expected us to play like that against Australia.

The Wallabies thought we'd be physical and live up to what the media have been saying with the rough stuff.

But none of that happened - we played the game in good spirit and used our speed out wide.

And it's certainly pleasing to prove some of the doubters wrong.


I think they were expecting us to adopt a 10 or 12 man game
  Colin Charvis
I even heard one journalist describe us as "conservative" before the game and that we had not chosen a pacy back three.

Just the other day I was speaking to some friends who live out here and most of the conversation revolved around Mr Robinson and Mr O'Driscoll.

Those two in one on ones have the ability to go round people and create space for others and they both showed outstanding pace and agility on the ball.

That caused Australia problems.

Sin-binned

I think they were expecting us to adopt a 10 or 12 man game, but that was not the case and we used our pace on the flanks.

I came on with 20 minutes to go and was just glad to get my Lions cap.

OK I know it's a cliche, but this has been a dream for a long time and nothing will ever surpass that.

It was tough coming on when I did because the boys had shown tremendous character to hold Australia out without conceding any tries.

Try: Australia had no answer to O'Driscoll
Try: Australia had no answer to O'Driscoll
But there was a bit of frustration with the ref and it just happened that when Martin [Corry] was sin-binned the Aussies were always going to take advantage of the extra man.

But we'd done enough by then to win.

We knew initially that we had to win.

The hardest Test will probably be in Sydney and we all know how diffcult Australia are there.

Melbourne is almost as much of an away game for them as it is for us.

So to get this one won and to get the first dig in means we might not have to go to Sydney to try and grab one back.

We can try and seal the series next Saturday in Melbourne.

It should be interesting!

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