Wallabies centre Christian Lealiifano likened kicking the match-winning goal in the second Test against British and Irish Lions in Melbourne to kicking the footy in the backyard with his nephews.

Some nephews he must have.

Lealiifano stayed calm and composed to nail the 77th minute conversion of Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try and give Australia a 16-15 win to level the three-match series.

Lions fullback Leigh Halfpenny missed a long-range penalty strike in extra time which would have sealed the result for his team.

Lealiifano not only saved the Wallabies’ campaign but likely saved coach Robbie Deans’ job.

The kick – his fourth successful strike of the night – was all the more stunning given his lack of experience on the big stage.

Teammate Kurtley Beale failed in the opening Test in Brisbane when he too had the chance to kick and win the game for his team.

After being knocked out cold just 45 seconds into his debut Test in Brisbane, Lealiifano was desperate to make a contribution.

“Sitting back now it was a massive occasion but for me but I was just going through the same process that I do when I’m kicking at practice,” said Lealiifano.

“It was just like kicking in the backyard with my nephews.

“They put me under more pressure than I felt.”

The relaxed 25-year-old said he’d taken on board some tips from former Brumby and former Test skipper Stirling Mortlock that he needed to look beyond the posts.

The record crowd of over 55,000 at Etihad Stadium – fairly evenly split between Australian and Lions fans – meant that he couldn’t hear himself think.

But it also meant he didn’t think about the repercussions of missing.

The speed and physicality of the Lions at the breakdown and in defence impeded Australia’s game plan and forced a heavy error toll.

But after the brevity of his first Test, Lealiifano was just happy to be part of it.

“I had a little fist pump when I got past the first minute,” he said, adding it was the hardest match he’d ever played.

“As soon as I got past the first minute I was like, this is what playing Test footy’s about.”