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Mike Phillips: Defeat would have been "agonising"

Phillips: Defeat would have been
© PA Photos
British and Irish Lions scrum half Mike Phillips admits that it would have been "agonising" to lose in the last minute to Australia.

British and Irish Lions scrum half Mike Phillips has admitted that a last minute defeat to Australia would have been unbearable.

Warren Gatland's side were leading the Wallabies 23-21 when kicker Kurtley Beale had a chance to win the game for his team with a penalty, but the 24-year-old slipped and handed the Lions the victory in the first Test.

Phillips wrote in his column in the Daily Mail: "I've been there so many times with Wales against Australia when we've lost at the death and I couldn't believe we were in the same position again. I was having a little prayer when Kurtley Beale was lining up that kick.

"I had a feeling he might slip because it was really greasy around the areas where the advertising and sponsor's logos were on the pitch and when he missed it I just breathed a huge sigh of relief. It would have been agonising to lose in that manner again.

"Ultimately, we have to be happy to come away with a win but we know we can improve and that's a good position to be in."

The Lions and Australia clash in the second Test on June 29.

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British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland on the pitch before the match against the Barbarians on June 1, 2013
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