The Lions went 1-0 up in the Series with Australia winning 27-19 in the opening Test in Brisbane. From the first minute when Tadgh Beirne turned over a ball to get the Lions an opening penalty that Finn Russell popped over to put them 3-0 up they never looked back and while they did leave chances behind them that will upset the coaches.
The Lions were in full control of the game and although Australia came back into to the game in the second half and won several penalties at scrum time and had the majority of the ball and scored tries through Jorgensen, Mc Dermott and Tizzano with Ben Donaldson converting two of them from close range.
The Lions will head to Test two with plenty still to work on as they left a few chances behind them like the Joe Mc Carthy opportunity that was knocked on over the line. The set piece, in particular the line out worked well and they also dealt with the restarts every time. Jamison Gibson Park and Finn Russell showed why they were favourites to start at least the 1st Test.
The centre pairing of Tuipulotu and Jones combined to send Tuipulotu over while Huw Jones was unlucky to see his try chalked off as the tackle was deem to be completed and he didn’t release the ball and regather to go forward.
Australia will be hopeful of bringing a few players into the pack in particular and that might shore up the breakdown as well as giving them more ballast at scrum time for the 2nd Test next Saturday at the MCG. Joe Schmidt will be pleased with the discipline his side showed only giving up a small numbers of penalties.
Tadgh Furlong was lucky that Ben O Keeffe only awarded a penalty and no more against him for contact to the head with the shoulder, he deemed it in the low range with mitigation which meant no card was awarded bar a penalty. The starting front row of Genge, Sheehan and Furlong will begin Test 2 as more than likely barring injuries will the rest of the starting pack.
I think there may be room for changes on the bench if other players can put their hands up in Tuesday’s fixture at Marvel Stadium Melbourne vs First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Australia will know they are clinging on for dear life after that game but they know if they can just get one or two players back that will give them a chance, might not be enough in terms of the Series as the evidence after the opening game suggests that a 3-0 whitewash could happen.
The Lions were in full flight in that opening 40 minutes and that will encourage them heading for Test 2. They may make a change or two on the bench even though the impact from the bench for the most part was positive, Ronan Kelleher did miss his mark twice but that is being very picky.
Marcus Smith coming on at 10 to replace Finn Russell was a telling moment in terms of the trust that Farrell has in Smith to come in and do a job if anything happens to Russell over the next fortnight. You also have Fin Smith and latterly Owen Farrell to cover 10 if need be.
Hugo Keenan was solid bar one knock on and showed the form that has seen in the 15 jersey for both Leinster and Ireland so regularly since his debut. For Australia it is now about circling the wagons. Tom Lynagh will be given the keys again next week with Donaldson to back him up.
They will more than likely change at 9 with Tate Mc Dermott to come in with Jake Gordon to come in off the bench. Joe Schmidt has made a career out of making teams perform about and beyond themselves and he has a week to do it with Australia to see can they level up the series at 1-1 or will The Lions go 2-0 up at the MCG in Melbourne… Test 2 is next Saturday at 11am in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.