Lions duo gear up for decider

The British and Irish Lions hope that Jamie Roberts and Alex Corbisiero will return to full training on Wednesday, putting them in contention for next weekend’s decider against Australia in Sydney.
Agony: Leigh Halfpenny after his last-gasp penalty kick fell shortAgony: Leigh Halfpenny after his last-gasp penalty kick fell short
Agony: Leigh Halfpenny after his last-gasp penalty kick fell short

Roberts, the Wales centre, has yet to play in the Test series because of a hamstring problem, while England prop Corbisiero suffered a calf injury in the opener at Suncorp Stadium.

“There are a few boys training today and they will go hard. The rest of the squad have a couple of days off and we’ll train on Wednesday and Thursday,” assistant coach Andy Farrell said.

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“People like Alex Corbisiero and Jamie Roberts will go hard today and hopefully be right for full training on Wednesday.”

Lions captain Sam Warburton has undergone a scan after injuring his hamstring during Saturday’s 16-15 second Test defeat in Melbourne

The Wales flanker limped off 13 minutes from time as Australia gained a dramatic series-leveling victory to set up this Saturday’s decider.

“Coming off in a Test match like that is devastating.

“As a captain you want to be there for your troops and lead from the front, especially in the dying minutes of the game,” Farrell said.

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“He’s disappointed with that, but he’s in good spirits because we have a big week ahead of us with a Test match to win.

“He’s gone for a scan and will find out the results later.”

The Lions have been installed as marginal favourites to win the third and final Test at ANZ Stadium.

But the momentum is with Australia following their dramatic victory in Melbourne.

“The reality is that it’s 1-1 after two good teams have gone at it hammer and tongs. We’re both still in the race,” Farrell said.

“I’m proud of the way we stuck at it.

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“We were lucky to get away with a win in the first game and in the second game we could have won.

“After those two games 1-1 is a fair way to look at the series.

“We’ve come to Noosa for a couple of days off and we’ll lick our wounds and get back to what we have to do on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

“We all realise it’s the biggest game of our lives and we’ll see what comes of it.

“I wouldn’t say Australia are in the driving seat.

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“I’d say they’re very pleased – it was a do-or-die situation for them and they rose to the challenge.

“It was a one-point game that could have gone either way and both teams will be confident about next week.”

The Lions could have snatched victory with the last kick of the game, only for Leigh Halfpenny – who has been in magnificent form with the boot all tour – to fall short with his long-range attempt.

“Leigh’s a perfectionist and is a little bit hurt.

“But if that kick had gone over it would have been a miracle because it was a hell of a long way out,” Farrell 
said.

“He asks a lot of himself and the way he has been kicking he’d have expected it to go over.

“He had an excellent kicking game again.”