What the Wallabies have to get right against Fiji
Scrum coach Mike Cron is so well regarded as a disciple of square, technically correct scrummaging that he has previously been employed by World Rugby as a consultant. The implication is that Cron's teams scrum properly – no mucking about or games.
Given the Lions' scrum issues on the tour so far, the Wallabies have the chance to show against Fiji that they want it to be a contest and they want to back themselves, and that any issues during the Test series will be coming from the Lions. Taniela Tupou lost the refs in Super Rugby Pacific. They were never really convinced that his occasional dominance was above board, and we saw the Lions repeatedly penalised against the Reds for the same crime – the tighthead angling inwards. Angus Bell has to go forward in the No.1 jersey and plant that positive perception in the minds of the match officials.
3. Test the fringes
Picking holes in this Lions team isn't easy – they have so many big and dynamic men. But with that in mind, it has been surprising to see some of their defence around the fringes of the ruck. That has been borderline lazy during the games against the Force and Reds. It is something for the Wallabies to explore.
There have been a few occasions when the Lions forwards have been slow to get back into the defensive line around the ruck, and Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott's eyes must be lighting up. If there are opportunities for the Wallabies' big men to go to work in tight against Fiji, they need to take them.
4. Close down the space at No. 10
Lions No. 10 Finn Russell will cut most teams to shreds if given enough time and space. He punished the Reds when they became a bit passive in Brisbane on Wednesday. Teams in this part of the world are typically not big on the rush defence, but the Wallabies are either going to have to make a complete mess of the Lions' ruck or get off the line faster than normal to negate Russell.
The primary concern, by far, for the Wallabies is Lions halfback Jamison Gibson-Park getting quick ball to Russell to give him time to choose his runners – because those runners will be coming in numbers against the Wallabies. The Lions use No.13 Garry Ringrose as their line speed missile, but it doesn't have to be the No.13. The great Welsh side of a decade or so ago used No.12 Jamie Roberts as their way of putting pressure on the No.10, and the Wallabies have Len Ikitau - one of their best decision makers.
5. Breakdown control
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The most disappointing performance on the Wallabies' end-of-season tour last year was the 27-13 loss to the Scots in Edinburgh because the visitors never really got their game going. Scotland caused a lot of issues at the breakdown, where they are particularly strong, and the Lions can deliver the same pain due to the number of scavengers they had selected in the back row.
Super Rugby-quality carries and cleans won't cut it against the Lions: the Wallabies have to be aggressive and accurate here against the Fijians - or perhaps count their blessings that they have one Test to blow away some of the cobwebs.
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