logo
Why the Lions have a 16-point advantage against the Wallabies

Why the Lions have a 16-point advantage against the Wallabies

The Age2 days ago
12. Len Ikitau: One of the best midfielders in the world, so the hope is the Wallabies use him more than as a battering ram. Rating: 8
11. Harry Potter: Will have his hands full against Tommy Freeman, and may have been picked due to his ability under the high ball. Rating: 6
10. Tom Lynagh: Has a calm head, but this is an enormous step up for a 22-year-old in his first Wallabies start. A concern. Rating: 6
9. Jake Gordon: The 32-year-old is a proven performer, but has no form to speak of and Ryan Lonergan's excellent game for the Brumbies against the Lions has put the spotlight on the Wallabies' selections at No. 9. Rating: 7
8. Harry Wilson: Loved his toughness and mentality to literally drag his side across the line against Fiji, but probably needs an all-time performance in Brisbane. Rating: 7
7. Fraser McReight: Form hasn't been as good compared to last year, when he was arguably the best player in Super Rugby Pacific. The Wallabies need him to find that top gear. Rating: 8
6. Nick Champion de Crespigny: As tough as they come, but a questionable selection ahead of Tom Hooper. Rating: 6
5. Nick Frost: The tallest man on the field needs to get up and challenge the Lions at lineout time, an area where he caused so much disruption during Super Rugby Pacific. Rating: 7
4. Jeremy Williams: His work rate is exceptional, but the suspicion is that the Lions have the upper hand in power through the scrum and through contact. Rating: 6
Loading
3. Allan Alaalatoa: A mixed Test against Fiji from a scrummaging perspective, and will be attacked by the Lions. Probably the most important player on the field because if the Wallabies can't hold the scrum the Lions will feed off it. Rating: 7
2. Matt Faessler: Underdone after an injury-affected Reds campaign. Highly capable at Super Rugby level, but rival hooker Dan Sheehan is a bigger body. Rating: 6
1. James Slipper: Another contentious selection. Is Angus Bell carrying a niggle? Easily one of the toughest Wallabies of the professional era, but this is a big ask of a 36-year-old. Rating: 6
Wallabies total: 156 (average 6.8 a player)
British and Irish Lions
15. Hugo Keenan: A class act, but is in the team due to injuries to others, and his form isn't where it was a few years ago. Rating: 7
14. Tommy Freeman: One of the outstanding athletes in the Lions squad. Big, tall, strong and a proven Test finisher for England. Rating: 7
13. Huw Jones: Arguably the most impressive back on tour so far. Jones has played his way into the Test side and his sheer size will pose problems. Rating: 8
12. Sione Tuipulotu: Must have been a close selection call ahead of Bundee Aki, and has arguably been helped by the form of his Scotland partner Jones. Looked dangerous with ball in hand against the Waratahs. Rating: 7
11. James Lowe: Has the ability to break your heart in numerous ways, not least with his big left boot. New Zealand Rugby was wrong to let him go. Rating: 8
10. Finn Russell: The Scot is flying and has arrived in Australia full of confidence after guiding Bath to the Premiership title. Has been putting himself about in defence, too. Rating: 9
9. Jamison Gibson-Park: Will set the tempo for the Lions attack, and possibly has been holding something back for the first Test in terms of his running game. One of the world's best when in top form. Rating: 8
8. Jack Conan: There is no doubt the Lions lost something when Ireland's Caelan Doris was ruled out with injury. Conan has been solid so far, but he's a big man and his selection points to a brutal Lions game plan. Rating: 7
7. Tom Curry: Tough openside never plays with anything but total commitment and is a menace at the breakdown. Rating: 8
6. Tadhg Beirne: On his day he's one of the world's best, but his form on this tour has been underwhelming by his standards. Needs a big Test to justify selection. Rating: 6
5. Joe McCarthy: Powerhouse second-rower has been selected to drive home where the Lions believe they have the clearest advantage – up front. Rating: 7
4. Maro Itoje: Impressive England captain is one of those players who can impose himself on a Test due to the strength of his all-round game. Rating: 8
3. Tadhg Furlong: The veteran has improved vastly since his first outing against Argentina before the tour proper got under way. Was underdone then but looks determined to make a scrum statement now. Rating: 8
Loading
2. Dan Sheehan: A world-class hooker who can do it all. Watch out for him hugging the touchline to show his athleticism. Rating: 9
1. Ellis Genge: Made a name for himself as a powerful ball carrier, but his scrummaging has improved markedly in recent years. Rating: 7
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher 6, Andrew Porter 8, Will Stuart 7, Ollie Chessum 8, Ben Earl 7, Alex Mitchell 7, Marcus Smith 7, Bundee Aki 8
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kurtley Beale named captain of First Nations and Pasifika XV to face British and Irish Lions
Kurtley Beale named captain of First Nations and Pasifika XV to face British and Irish Lions

ABC News

time2 hours ago

  • ABC News

Kurtley Beale named captain of First Nations and Pasifika XV to face British and Irish Lions

Kurtley Beale will get his chance to face the British and Irish Lions on a second tour after being named captain of the First Nations and Pasifika XV team for Tuesday's clash in Melbourne. The 95-cap flyhalf, who famously slipped while taking a potentially match-winning penalty in the first test against the Lions in 2013, was robbed of the chance of facing the tourists for Western Force last month by a hamstring injury. Beale is one of six indigenous players in the line-up, with the rest of the match-day squad made up of players with Pacific Islands heritage. Tongan-born prop Taniela Tupou and Fijian-born winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad for the match and will have a chance to show coach Joe Schmidt that they should be in the reckoning for the second and third tests. Tuaina Taii Tualima, Charlie Gamble and Seru Uru make up a formidable back row, while former Wallabies Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Darcy Swain will feel they have a point to prove to Schmidt when they link up in the second row. Former Australia loose forward Pete Samu was prevented from playing by Lions management because he did not fulfil the stipulation in the tour agreement that all players should have featured in Super Rugby this season. Head coach Toutai Kefu, who helped the Wallabies beat the Lions 2-1 in the 2001 test series, nonetheless felt he had selected a side that could hand the tourists their first defeat in Australia on this tour. "The team has a really nice feel to it, with a blend of not only youth and experience, but also cultures," the World Cup winner said. "The Lions have shown how strong they are on this tour. No matter who plays, they will be very hard to beat, but we're not here to make up the numbers. "We want to win this game and make history." Beale, 36, one of only 15 indigenous Australians to have represented the Wallabies, has recovered sufficiently to lead a strong backline at Dockland's Stadium. Kefu said the veteran was a natural pick for the captaincy on Tuesday night. "Kurtley is the most experienced player in the squad and was the natural selection for captain," Kefu said. "He is an extremely talented footballer and has been there and done it on the big stage." The Lions are unbeaten on their Australia tour, coming off a 27-19 win in the first Test over the Wallabies on Saturday. Tuesday's contest will be the last tour match the Lions will play, followed by the final two Test matches against the Wallabies. 15–Andy Muirhead, 14–Triston Reilly, 13–Lalakai Foketi, 12–David Feliuai, 11–Filipo Daugunu, 10–Kurtley Beale, 9–Kalani Thomas, 8–Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7–Charlie Gamble, 6–Seru Uru, 5–Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4–Darcy Swain, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1–Lington Ieli Replacements: 16–Richie Asiata, 17–Marley Pearce, 18–Mesake Doge, 19–Mesake Vocevoce, 20–Rob Leota, 21–Harrison Goddard, 22–Jack Debreczeni, 23–Jarrah McLeod Reuters/ABC

‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne
‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne

The Age

time3 hours ago

  • The Age

‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne

The last time the British and Irish Lions played a Test in Melbourne twelve years ago, a 16-year-old Sione Tuipulotu watched his younger brother Mosese as a proud flag bearer at Docklands Stadium, before cheering on the Wallabies as they squared the series. Next Saturday, Sione will return to Melbourne for the first time in at least three years with the chance to win a Test series against the country he grew up in. But he's keen to stress, it's not personal. 'I think if you asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say 'yeah, it is personal and I think there is still a chip on my shoulder',' Tuipulotu said. 'I feel like that's what has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder, but in terms of being bitter about Australian rugby I feel like not at all, mate. 'I always say I wasn't good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne, it wasn't a selection problem, I wasn't good enough. 'That's plain and simple but I owe everything to Scottish rugby and now I get a chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series.' Tuipulotu will have the opportunity to play in front of friends and family at the MCG, including his Scottish grandmother Jaqueline Thomson who famously travelled back to her homeland to catch up with Sione and Mosese ahead of the Wallabies' Test against Scotland last November. In Brisbane, Tuipulotu was reunited with Wallabies centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii whom he tussled with last year in Edinburgh, after the former Roosters star was injured making a tackle.

‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne
‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne

Sydney Morning Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘There is still a chip on my shoulder': Tuipulotu ready to seal the series in Melbourne

The last time the British and Irish Lions played a Test in Melbourne twelve years ago, a 16-year-old Sione Tuipulotu watched his younger brother Mosese as a proud flag bearer at Docklands Stadium, before cheering on the Wallabies as they squared the series. Next Saturday, Sione will return to Melbourne for the first time in at least three years with the chance to win a Test series against the country he grew up in. But he's keen to stress, it's not personal. 'I think if you asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say 'yeah, it is personal and I think there is still a chip on my shoulder',' Tuipulotu said. 'I feel like that's what has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder, but in terms of being bitter about Australian rugby I feel like not at all, mate. 'I always say I wasn't good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne, it wasn't a selection problem, I wasn't good enough. 'That's plain and simple but I owe everything to Scottish rugby and now I get a chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series.' Tuipulotu will have the opportunity to play in front of friends and family at the MCG, including his Scottish grandmother Jaqueline Thomson who famously travelled back to her homeland to catch up with Sione and Mosese ahead of the Wallabies' Test against Scotland last November. In Brisbane, Tuipulotu was reunited with Wallabies centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii whom he tussled with last year in Edinburgh, after the former Roosters star was injured making a tackle.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store