The Battle of Ballymore: Australia vs Lions, 1989 Second Test Highlights

The second Test between the Lions and the Wallabies on July 8, 1989, remains one of the most controversial in more than 120 years of touring.
The Battle of Ballymore, as it was aptly christened by the Australian press, is widely regarded as one of the most bruising encounters in the game's history.
Just one week earlier, the Lions were defeated 30-12 by a rampant Wallabies side. The Lions were second-best in almost every department, particularly up front.
Outplayed and outmuscled, the Lions left Sydney licking their wounds as Australia scored four tries to none in a one-sided contest.
Back-to-back defeats would have crushed the tourists’ hopes of a Series win, but Finlay Calder’s Lions arrived in Brisbane determined to make a statement, and they did just that.

[@petercharles53]

Teague at his rampaging best, big punch up started by R Jones! Those were the days!

[@stanharris1623]

I'd forgotten just how awesome Mike Teague was in this test. Part of a fearsome pack: Sole, Moore, Young, Dooley, Ackford, Teague, Calder & Richards. What a pack.

[@mrintresting256]

Brilliant from Guscott but the forwards laid the foundation for that crucial win…..especially Mike Teague….what a player. Rob Jones did pretty well in the fight too!

[@xpat73]

Teague had a monster game. The only reason he did not play in the first test was because of a shoulder injury. He was badly missed and Derek White who played 6 in test 1 was anonymous.

[@YARROWS9]

I was at a rugby dinner, abd the csptain of that tour( Finley Calder) spoke about, how himself and McGeechan made the decision to omit friends and fellow Scots from the second test, and bring in some English guys. He even said that Teague was one of the best players he has played with, and against.

[@stephenreeds3632]

First Test was heavily Scots and they were bullied. Teague, Richards and Dooley stopped that.

[@jackson76724]

It was great to hear banter from the crowd without PC intervening

[@coventryboy68]

Youre a tool.

[@vantheman1238]

At the time in Wales we had a Rugby Paper - it was in colour and was literally like The Telegraph - that size and all rugby. On the front cover was an interview with Robert Jones after he returned from the triumphant tour. Jones called Mike Teague the LionHeart. He could not say enough good things about Mike Teague. How tough he was, what a great player he was and man. That was a very good Australian side and our boys beat them. Up there with any series win.

[@johncourtneidge]

Magnificent game. Shame about the click bait title. But, yes, it got me to rewatch the full video. Brian moore as scrum half. Magic!

[@conorfoley9629]

Must have been infuriating for the backs playing outside Rob Andrew. Imagine having the pace and talent of Guscott, Evans and Rory Underwood outside you and kicking high quality ball like that away. Dreadful.

[@nellyprice]

England's battleplan for the ages...if only we just ran it to an attacking line

[@rc2869]

Yeah Sir Geeks should have picked someone else

[@nicholaswalmsley3662]

Every commentator ever: “it’s an all-in brawl, that was totally unnecessary!” Every spectator ever: “get in there! ave it!”

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

I think the 1989 series was the first time the Lions and Wallabies played a 3 match series. In the past it was 2 matches then the Lions went over to NZ. The 2nd test was brutal stuff. The Lions deserved to win the series.

[@neilthompson8668]

Great names on both sides great memories.

[@peteharry351]

Good commentary

[@sevvy101]

Old Teaguey....the England back row in the 80s with Winterbottom, Teague, Richards and don't forget the Munch Mick Skinner. Heady days indeed

[@MrRugbylane]

Just to help our younger viewers (anyone less than 50!). Tries in 1989 were worth four points - it was 1992 when a try was increased to five points

[@admiralbenbow5083]

Felt sorry for Rob Norster but the Lions felt they needed Dooleys bulk and power and they were right. That was a good comeback considering the 1st Test which was a disaster.

[@paulwebb6087]

Australia had no one to match Wade a true legend

[@YARROWS9]

Thats who you want leading out the lion's. The no nonsence hard as nails. Finley Calder.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

"A good punchup often clears the air".

[@daviddixon286]

Nowt but a thug.

[@YARROWS9]

@@daviddixon286 You must be a kangaroo shagger.😄

[@YARROWS9]

@@daviddixon286 They were all thugs then . Dooley, Teague, Richard's, Moore, Young, Ackford and Sole. Not just hard bastards eh?

[@ianashton1226]

Mike Teague…

[@Mountainman2468]

The first Australian try would today have gone upstairs for a check. I think his feet were put into touch .

[@owainglyndwr6777]

Mike Teague outstanding. Gloucester Granite

[@JMD-er5jq]

and the first to shake hands Jones and Farr-Jones

[@Bill-bn2ew]

Back when the wallabies had some hard cases, not for a long time now though, they get bullied by everyone

[@JimBow-d2y]

Mike Teague was some player.

[@thedalz5308]

Old Mike Teague was a brut!

[@derek6579]

Need to go back to the old scrums, and you’ll get 20% more ball in playtime! Proper unsanitised rugby!

[@mikegalway4733]

Young was a very naughty boy....

[@danocinneide1885]

The Irish wolf hounds...and the British lions

[@donnyrover1]

was there ever a more dull stand off than andrew

[@jesusmontana6167]

Campese - such a liability.

[@gprugby]

It’s depressing watching this and seeing what a sh*t show rugby has become!

[@TheTallestGnome]

yeah, i really hate professional athleticism and applications of laws. This is way better with its atrocious defensive organization, lacklustre skills, and 7 man rucks. Way more entertaining.

[@clitering]

I think you both have a point. The game was much messier back then but teams weren’t stacked with behemoths who could cover 100m in 10 secs. Something lost, something gained.

[@gprugby]

My opinion is it was more entertaining. That ok with you?

[@sharifela7993]

@@gprugbyI take your point it was more real and varied, but I suppose time waits for no man!!

[@sharifela7993]

@@cliteringagreed

[@burra66]

3:30 3:31 When rugby was real and not today's boring cream puff serving. I miss the days when you could slip a sly uppercut on the half😮

[@robinstevenson1098]

Finley Calder!

[@maelughran6981]

This wasn't a 'battle' - more a gentlemanly exchange of handbags. The Lions' selectors in their wisdom had overlooked several Irishman which meant that when it came to 'making the hard yards' they only had a bunch of softies to rely on.

[@moondust1969]

And yet those softies won the match and went on to win the series

[@markhamer7220]

Yeh, Teague, Richards bunch of softies!!

[@paulwebb6087]

Wade Dooley, Teague, Calder, Richards soft are you for real

[@robinstevenson1098]

No, that’s a hard bunch