There are not many weekends nowadays when I’m up until 2.00am two nights in a row. Well actually none. But this weekend was the exception, with the Lions/Wallabies end of tour party at Sydney’s Opera House and Andy Murray’s Wimbledon final.
The Wallabies victory in Melbourne, levelling the series at 1:1, had set things up for a great final. With 83,000 fans in Sydney’s ANZ stadium the atmosphere was intense. Before the match I spoke to PM Kevin Rudd and DPM Anthony Albanese.Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was also there, and many other politicians.
Daniel “James Bond” Craig had flown in just for the match: we had a brief word. With the Wallabies scoring just on half time, it looked as if they had regained the momentum and might take the series, as they had last time in 2001. But exciting tries by Sexton, North and Roberts turned it into a comfortable win.
The red-shirted fans were on song. Irish Ambassador Noel White couldn’t resist breaking the habits of a lifetime and joining in “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”. In fact the 30,000 or so supporters have been superb throughout the tour, filling the bars and restaurants in Australian cities in a wave of good will, with no consular incidents. I’ve had to wear a suit and tie to the test matches, but have been proud to stroll the streets on match days in my red shirt.
And the Australians have been outstandingly warm and gracious hosts. The series has brought valuable profile, and cash, into the ARU. Senator Kate Lundy is a great sport. Although she now has other ministerial responsibilities and no longer does sport (she will be much missed by the sports community), she kept her part of the wager with UK Sports Minister Hugh Robertson.
“@katinacurtis: Does Don Farrell honour @KateLundy‘s #AUSvLIO bet now he’s sports minister?” No, I will. I made it: pic.twitter.com/yesWVeKVIT
— Kate Lundy (@KateLundy) July 6, 2013
She told me she was going back to her hotel room to don a Lions shirt and tweet an image of herself wearing it.
As if all this wasn’t enough, we still had a Wimbledon final to watch on Sunday. Given the time difference it didn’t begin until 11.00pm in Australia. But we weren’t going to miss it. Australian readers may wonder why we make such a song and dance of it. But you have to appreciate that it’s been 77 years since a Brit won the men’s singles at Wimbledon.
In that time 9 different Australians have picked up 16 titles between them.
After watching Andy Murray being defeated by Djokovic in the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, we were really praying he’d finally do it this time. It was a fantastic match, characterised by the final game where Andy let three championship points slip away, then came back to save three break points.
He played out of his skin and deserved all the plaudits. The crowd in South West London went mad. And my wife and I, perched in front of the TV screen in our living room in Canberra just after 2.00am, cheered ourselves hoarse.