Lions coach hails 'big game players' as Russell and Curry rise in win over Wallabies

Australia Broadcast Center

a day ago

The first rendition of the Lions' simplistic, eponymous yet rousing chant had barely faded away at a packed Lang Park on Saturday night when Tom Curry nailed James Slipper with a massive shot in midfield.
The Englishman, just 12 seconds into the contest, was setting out his stall early.
Tadhg Beirne, his back-row partner, was over the ball in an instant and, just 20 seconds into the game, Ben O'Keeffe was blowing his whistle and pointing to the sky, a penalty to the Lions.
The British and Irish Lions walloped the Wallabies in the first half of the opening Test of the series, racing to a 24-5 lead off the back of that brutal intensity out of the gate.
Curry, whose selection had been criticised heading into the Test, was one of those players who grabbed his opportunity and ran with it.
He helped keep the dangerous Wallabies centre partnership of Len Ikitau and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii quiet with some monstrous defensive pressure.
Beirne too, another member of that hotly contested back row that was given the nod for this first Test, was on the way to vindicating his selection with a player of the match performance.
Farrell was not surprised though.
Despite the commentary over their selection, the Ireland coach was unequivocal in how he felt Curry responded to his critics.
"Immense," he said of the English flanker.
"Absolutely immense."
The 27-year-old had not been in great form on tour but, selected on account of his experience and temperament, repaid the faith Farrell showed in him with a stunning performance.
"I read all that," Farrell said, when asked whether they had vindicated his call.
"Yeah, it was interesting, wasn't it?
"Big game players, who were probably challenged by a good few and I think he told the story.
"I think Tom Curry put in a really nice shot defensively and Taidhg Beirne got the turnover very early doors, set the tone really and I don't think it stopped there.
"He carried on for the rest of the game, Jack Conan's carrying was very much on the front foot.
"So there was three guys, I'm sure they'd be delighted with how they responded to selection."
Big game players on the biggest of stages.
The build-up to the first Test in Brisbane had been electric as the wave of Lions fans broke over south-east Queensland, the sea of red as evident in the pubs and clubs of Paddington as it was in the stands of a raucous crowd of 52,229 at Lang Park.
And the Lions fans had plenty to roar about early, as the tourists took the game by the scruff of the neck held a 24-5 lead just after half time.
"Absolutely delighted," Farrell said of the performance.
"Big occasion, big game.
"We know what coming to Suncorp means to Australia, so they would have been targeting this, so delighted to come away with the victory."
Another of the Lions' "big game" players, Finn Russell, was orchestrating the back line with all the guile and skill of a virtuoso conductor, all quick hands and lightning thought.
It was five minutes in when Russell kicked a 50-22.
Seven minutes in when he reached around Nick Champion de Crespigny to release Dan Sheehan.
Eight minutes in when he lofted a peach of a pass over three stricken Wallabies defenders onto the chest of Sione Tuipulotu to give the Lions a 10-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
"I can't take any credit for that," Tuipulotu told media after the match.
"That's him finding me.
"It was kind of weird when he was throwing it, I felt like he was gonna throw it to that space and more I didn't have to do much, I just have to accelerate and catch the ball.
"That's what playing with special players is. It's pretty cool."
Special players.
Russell left the field in the second half. Just cramp, according to Farrell, who said the Scotland 10 "controlled" the game perfectly with Jamison Gibson-Park.
"When they were able to show the best of themselves, we know what they've got in the locker as far as the point of difference is concerned. It came out every now and again and and that's the brilliance of the two," Farrell said.
The Lions coach is no doubt hopeful Russell will be OK to play at the MCG next week, the very biggest of stages that the Lions will have ever played on.
So will his Scotland teammate Tuipulotu.
"It felt like we were playing a Scotland game together, you know?" said Tuipulotu, part of the first 10-12-13 axis from the same country to play in a Lions team since 1993.
"I think his nature helps everyone, calms everyone.
"And then added to the fact he's got probably the best skills out of any 10 in the world."
Wallabies number 10 Tom Lynagh said it was "an incredible experience" to play against Russell.
"It's a joy to play with, isn't it?" he said, "still shaking with adrenaline" an hour after the full time siren.
"You can't get starstruck about who you're playing against," he said, as if reminding himself.
"You've just got to play your game."
Lynagh in particular was far from starstruck, although the team as a whole was perhaps a little tentative, a young team against a squad of hardened veterans.
That being said, the Wallabies recovered from 24-5 down to fall just eight points short at the final.
"I thought we let them back into the game, " Farrell said.
"It doesn't really matter whether you think the game was won or lost.
"I thought we let them back into the game in regards to a lack of discipline in the second half.
"I actually believe that's a fantastic place for us to be because there's so much more in us."
Maro Itoje said the Lions "weren't accurate with our decision making".
"When you're not accurate with your decision making against a good team, you tend to put yourself under pressure."
But as much as Farrell said the Lions would take a lot from the victory, he said, "We know what's coming".
"We know what happened in the second half … We roll on to the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013.
"When an Australian team becomes desperate, it's difficult to handle.
"We expect a different game next week. But having said that, we expect more of ourselves as well.
"Not only is that Australia's second game and they'll play much better because of that, but because of what it means to them and how proud they are.
"We need to make sure that we're ready for them being 100 per cent at their best."