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You are in: Special Events: 2001: Lions Down Under |
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Saturday, 14 July, 2001, 16:32 GMT 17:32 UK
James: We weren't sharp enough
Graham Henry (L) consoles Martin Johnson
Lions wing Dafydd James was relieved to have been restored to the starting Test line-up on the morning of the third Test.
Dropped earlier in the week by coach Graham Henry in favour of Austin Healey on the right wing, James found himself back in favour when the England player withdrew through injury. Unlike in the second Test, James and his Lions team-mates managed to keep Wallaby wing Joe Roff off the score sheet, but this time it was centre Daniel Herbert who did the damage with two tries. After two one-sided Tests, with the Lions taking the early honours and Australia levelling the series, the third Test decider seemed likely to be a nail-biter.
The Lions lost 29-23 but could have claimed a spectacular last-gasp win had a pass not gone a fraction behind a player.
"We had a couple of opportunities down in their 22 that we didn't capitalise on, but they took their chances," James said. "We concentrated because we believed where we lost the second Test was in the 20 minutes after half-time. Difficult "We thought if we came out with all guns blazing straight after the break in the third Test, then we could grind them down - but they responded equally well." James' reinstatement in the Lions Test team came as a shock as the Bridgend player had resigned himself to the fact that his tour was over.
It wasn't the ideal week's preparation for me but I hope I didn't let anyone down. "Putting on the Lions shirt is a great honour and as soon as I got the call I had to switch on immediately. "I'll go back and look on this in years to come with pleasure, I was just glad to be here."
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