The venue was known as the Colonial Stadium when the British and Irish Lions played here the following year for the crucial second Test against Australia, when the Wallabies rescued the series with a 35-14 win with a brilliant second-half display.
The stadium’s retractable roof, which is 38 metres wide and takes eight minutes to fully open or close, will be closed today as it was in 2001.
Lions attack coach Rob Howley, who played in the game 12 years ago, says that if the roof is closed early it could lead to damp conditions. That is likely to make handling conditions difficult on a surface that in the past has been criticised for being too firm.
“In terms of the conditions and roof, I think what time that roof will be closed on the day will be pretty key,” Howley said. “Having the experience with the Millennium Stadium, no doubt when the crowds do start going in it’s going to be very warm and it will be a bit dewy.
“So if that stadium roof is closed for a long time, then it will be quite wet so then that will have a sort of influence in the landscape of the game and how you go about your game management. It’s something we are very mindful of but we are more than happy to play with the stadium roof closed.”
Australia have an impressive record at the stadium, having only lost twice, to England in 2003 and New Zealand in 2010 in 12 games stretching back to 2000, when they beat South Africa 44-23. The Wallabies last game at the Etihad was their 25-23 victory over Wales last year.
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