Australia 26-29 British & Irish Lions: second Test player ratings

The Guardian

6 days ago

Tom Wright A performance of swaggering confidence featuring a try, dynamic running to set up attacks and a punishing 50:22. Set the tone for his side from the back. 8
Max Jorgensen Always busy on the right wing, harried Lowe all game and his intelligent kicking kept the territorial pressure on. 7
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii A mixed bag. Devastating is full motion in lead up to the Wright try, but often left rudderless in defence and was a little too casual in possession that allowed Curry to smash him in second half. 6
Len Ikitau Put in a huge number of carries once again, and his defensive work was quality, including a try-saving covering tackle on Kinghorn. 8
Harry Potter Contributed little before limping off after 19 minutes. 5
Tom Lynagh A missed important touch-finder late in the game was the only real blemish on another performance of great promise. Good from the tee and out of hand with the boot, ran the attack with relaxed and creative approach. The youngster is here to stay at this level. 7
Jake Gordon If an individual performance could represent the turnaround from the first Test it was this one. Unrecognisable from the lumbering effort of last week; a tryscoring, confident display. 8
James Slipper Rolled back the years in the loose with his defensive effort to prevent a Conan try before scoring one of his own. Less of a good day in the scrum. 6
David Porecki The fulcrum of a transformed Wallabies lineout that went from airborne joke a week ago to consistent quality in Melbourne. Gave his side a brilliant platform that they regularly exploited. 7
Allan Alaalatoa Pretty comprehensively dismantled by Porter at scrum time and was hooked at half-time as a result. 5
Nick Frost Along with Porecki was the central figure in the brilliant Australia lineout. Put himself about at ruck time as well with important clearouts and other dog work. 7
Will Skelton Carried hard and softened the Lions defence from the first exchanges until he left the field breathing from his eyeballs early in the second half. A huge impact and demonstration of what the Aussies missed. 8
Rob Valetini Ran with the ball more times than any other player in the opening 40 before he departed proceedings at half-time. Like Skelton, a real point of difference physically. A shame he wasn't ready to play the full 80. 8
Fraser McReight Visible with a couple of carries in broken play where he looked nimble, but anonymous in his core back-row role at the breakdown. 6
Harry Wilson The captain is an absolute trier, whether that's asking the ref to check a late clearout in the lead-up to a try, or carrying the ball up repeatedly. On the day, he wasn't hugely successful at either. 6
Replacements Billy Pollard (for Porecki, 56) 6, Angus Bell (for Slipper, 40) 6, Tom Robertson (for Alaalatoa 40) 6, Jeremy Williams (for Skelton, 47) 6, Langi Gleeson (for Valetini, 40) 7, Carlo Tizzano (for McReight, 60) 6, Tate McDermott (for Potter, 19) a strong showing in an unfamiliar wing position from early doors 7, Ben Donaldson n/a
Hugo Keenan A difficult tour so far was banished from memory as he scored the series-clinching try at the end of a game where his quality re-emerged. His clever slap back into play to deny Lynagh a 50:22 early in the second half was a key momentum breaker. 8
Tommy Freeman More fluffed catches in a fitful game including a yellow card. His great season now appears a month too long. 5
Huw Jones Was in the groove despite the effect the late recall must have had. Gave away the penalty that led to the first Australia try, but made up for it with a strong finish to score one of his own. 7
Bundee Aki A couple of strong carries, one of which led to the Beirne try on the hour. Beyond that a middling outing. Caught out in defence by Suaalii for the Wright try. 6
James Lowe Struggled for an hour under the high ball and in the harrying presence of Jorgensen. Showed some typical aplomb in his offload to Beirne for his score and was replaced immediately after. 6
Finn Russell Showed little of his brilliance from the first Test. Some muffed passes and average return from the tee, but his willingness to spurn the drop goal and keep playing led to the winning score. 6
Jamison Gibson-Park Not a vintage performance, but then the Lions needed a cool head to maximise opportunities he came into his own, most notably with his dictation of play leading to the Curry try that sparked the comeback. 7
Andrew Porter Stymied Alaalatoa in the scrum, but less effective away from the set piece. Caught out on the Gordon try. 6
Dan Sheehan Put in a huge amount of work with the ball in hand, scored his swan-dive try handily. His usual quality self. 7
Tadhg Furlong Solid enough in the scrum and worked incredibly hard around the park with and without the ball. 7
Maro Itoje It's often said that as captain he's more of a leader by example and it showed in this tightest of matches. Worked tirelessly, fought at every breakdown, was never not at it. 8
Ollie Chessum The loss of Joe McCarthy was big and the Leicester lock was never going to be a like for like, but his brand of bog-standard, international second-row play in the tight served his team well. 6
Tadhg Beirne Off the pace and outmuscled for much of the first hour, but had enough nous and energy to score try out wide and frustrate the Wallabies for 80 minutes. 7
Tom Curry Just behind Keenan's try on the list of what won the match is the England flanker's recovery tackle on Suaalii in the second half to dislodge the ball and prevent a gigantic overlap being exploited. Nifty finish for his own try as well. 8
Jack Conan Rocked backwards by part-time winger McDermott at one point, and lost the ball over the line in first half when a try beckoned. Just shy of the pace of the game too often. 6
Replacements Rónan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 64) 6, Ellis Genge (for Porter, 54) 8, Will Stuart (for Furlong, 64) 7, James Ryan (for Chessum, 54) 6, Jac Morgan (for Curry, 54) 6, Alex Mitchell n/a, Owen Farrell (for Jones, 60) 5, Blair Kinghorn (for Lowe, 60) 7