Lions one win from ending wait – what we learned from the first Test
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell in Brisbane (David Davies/PA)
Now finish the job
The sense of anticlimax at the final whistle contrasted starkly with the pre-match buzz around Suncorp Stadium. A gulf in class between the rivals had been exposed during the 42 minutes it took the Lions to canter out of sight and now anything other than an emphatic series whitewash will be seen as failure.
Andy Farrell's men were able to butcher a host of chances and take their foot off the gas after Dan Sheehan crossed early in the second half, yet still be streets ahead. A long couple of weeks awaits the Wallabies.
Huw Jones dive over to score a try that was ruled out (David Davies/PA)
Test match animal
The term coined by Sir Ian McGeechan to describe a special breed of player who rises to the occasion on the biggest stage was typified by Tom Curry, the full-throttle England flanker who terrorised Australia in contact and at the breakdown.
Described as a 'machine' by Andy Farrell, Curry shrugged off his indifferent form in previous tour matches to set the physical tone from the moment he pulverised James Slipper in the opening seconds.
Just a fraction behind him were Tadhg Beirne and Tadhg Furlong, who also fully justified why they were picked on reputation.
Russell shines
For periods of the first half, Finn Russell cast a spell on the home defence. His range of passing released team-mates, created openings and set-up tries to leave former Lions fly-halves Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara purring in the commentary box.
If Australia had a plan to take him out of the game, it clearly did not work as the Scotland ringmaster cut loose behind a dominant pack.
Fresh from steering Bath to the treble, Russell is operating at the peak of his powers and, on current form, is the best 10 in the game.
Marcus Smith kicks a penalty (David Davies/PA)
Farrell's wing woes
Apart from the failure to crush the Wallabies, thereby breaking their spirits heading into the second Test, Farrell will be most concerned about his wings.
James Lowe continued the dismal form he has shown all tour while Tommy Freeman made too many wrong decisions game and both would be fretting over keeping their places if there were strong alternatives.
However, Mack Hansen is struggling with a foot injury and Duhan van Merwe's defensive shortcomings have been exposed repeatedly ever since the curtain raiser against Argentina.
Blair Kinghorn was seen as the first-choice full-back but with Hugo Keenan proving solid enough in the first Test, the Scot could be picked on the wing if he recovers from his knee injury.
Lions captain Maro Itoje is tackled by Australia's Harry Wilson (David Davies/PA)
Skelton and Valetini
The return of powerful forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini cannot come soon enough for Australia. Having missed the first Test with calf injuries, they have been given the all-clear for the attempt to level the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Skelton's sheer physical presence will prevent the Wallabies from being bullied in quite the same way, while Valetini provides a destructive carrying option.
It is upon their availability and the fight shown in the final 30 minutes at Suncorp Stadium that Australia's hopes rest.
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The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
Australia proved a point in Melbourne — but second Test cannot be a false dawn
'ROBBED,' the back page of Sydney's Sunday Telegraph declared the morning after the night before, an opinion with which Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt appeared to agree. 'It was a tough one to take,' the Australia rugby head coach had said after a long explanation of why he felt Jac Morgan's clean out on Carlo Tizzano should have been penalised that included a reference to the lawbook and an accusation that the referees had not put player welfare first. Around the grabby headline, the Sydney paper planted what it felt was incriminating evidence – the law that Schmidt had quoted; Morgan making contact high on the back or neck of Tizzano; the flanker writhing in pain. This one clearly stings. Another official in another circumstance might have seen a Morgan misdeed; Andrea Piardi felt differently and allowed Hugo Keenan's series-winning score to stand. Plenty of those of an Australian persuasion will continue to feel aggrieved but, in time, perhaps they will reflect how encouraging it was that they could be in a situation where a contentious call settled the second Test. There had been few signs of such competitiveness seven days prior, a meek surrender in the first half in Brisbane slightly salvaged by an improved showing after the interval – but all in attendance were under no illusions about which side had been in total command throughout. Indeed, in the run-up to the second encounter at the MCG, it had been fair to wonder just how fully focussed the Wallabies were on this once in a rugby generation series. It had not helped, perhaps, that Schmidt had appeared to bracket these Tests with the Rugby Championship meetings to come against South Africa, or that he had spoken repeatedly of what a great 'learning experience' this would be for a young team. The Australian squad – which is a little short on the sort of fiery characters to charge up this series publicly – hadn't been particularly combative or confident in their public dealings, and while Schmidt had to be talked in using the term 'submissive' in his reflections on the first Test, the genial Kiwi delivered it nonetheless. Thanks heavens, then, for the first 40 at the 'G, where a bellicose Australia that we have not seen for some time showed up en masse. It cannot be overstated just how much difference Will Skelton and Rob Valetini make to the side, each carry and colossal contact making the rest of the squad swell in size. Skelton was in the thick of things off the ball, too – taking it to Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong and other senior figures within the Lions squad, niggling and needling and generally being a nuisance. There is a certain game savvy required at Test level that necessitates pushing the boundaries of the law. The tourists – with vastly more experience – had excelled at that in the opening encounter; Ireland under Andy Farrell are masters of just about staying licit in their ruck actions. It was a welcome change to see Australia engaging in some gamesmanship. But it was only 40 minutes, really, for which Australia felt the lead belligerent in the Melbourne melee. Already in the build-up to Jake Gordon's sniping score one could see what the effort was taking out of their forwards – several times the scrum half had to virtually drag heavy furniture into position to be thrown again into the Lions' defensive line. It felt like it could not last – and did not: Valetini, Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa did not re-emerge after the interval; Will Skelton made it only seven minutes more. With them went more than 300 caps – and it showed. 'I felt that we really had the game to challenge them,' Schmidt said. 'We demonstrated that when we built the lead, but [the Lions] are a really good side. The experience they have just allowed them to stay calm and execute their game.' There are good players on the Australian bench – Angus Bell will soon permanently supplant Slipper and both Langi Gleeson and Tizzano are enjoying standout seasons – but the difference in depth gave the Lions a huge advantage in those final minutes. Now, of course, a side drawn from the best of four unions will always have undue superiority in that sense yet the Wallabies' lack of game-changers is an ongoing concern. The exile of Taniela Tupou, bound for Racing 92, feels odd; so, too, the lack of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, so good for the First Nations & Pasifika XV last midweek. Australia will reflect on some poor fortune before and during this series. The loss of Noah Lolesio was a huge blow, while having neither Valetini nor Skelton able to muster more than 50 minutes across the first two Test has been hugely significant. Harry Potter 's hamstring injury on Saturday night forced scrum half Tate McDermott on to the wing – the makeshift marauder was highly impressive but Australia missed his ability to change the pace coming on at nine. The recent losses to rugby league of Carter Gordon and Mark Nawaqanitawase are still felt. The concern for Schmidt will be that his short tenure may now fizzle out. The New Zealander is only in post through to next summer having agreed a one-year extension to ease the transition to Les Kiss – a smart and worldly character with a breadth of past employers that will serve him well. In Melbourne, one could see the pieces falling into place of the puzzle Kiss must construct before a home World Cup in 2027. While Skelton and Slipper's advancing age will be a worry, it will remain a relatively young squad at his disposal. The tournament will be a vital moment in rugby union's fight for prominence within the nation. The rest of this year may be tricky having missed a chance at a signature win. After the third Test comes two trips to South Africa; a dangerous Argentina follow thereafter for two meetings on Australian soil. A one-win Rugby Championship, like last year, would leave a pessimistic outlook. It makes the last Lions clash surprisingly important for the hosts, one feels. Andy Farrell's side will not ease up consciously as they seek a 3-0 whitewash but Australia will recognise an opportunity to produce another statement performance – the fight shown in Melbourne cannot be a false dawn.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
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THREE WISE MEN: Epic second Test might just have saved Australia's future as a Lions destination (and avoiding a whitewash would help Wallabies, too)!
The Lions' incredible comeback to win the second Test against Australia and clinch the 2025 series will live long in the memory of all who watched it. Here, former Scotland captains ANDY NICOL and JASON WHITE join Mail Sport's deputy chief sports writer CALUM CROWE to discuss Australia's future as a Lions destination, Finn Russell 's place in the pantheon of Scottish rugby greats, and what we can expect from Andy Farrell's selection for the third and final Test in Sydney on Saturday. Q - What a comeback. What a Test match. What are your overall thoughts on how it panned out?
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an hour ago
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Rotating the Lions team would disrespect fans and Australia
Congratulations are due to Andy Farrell, Maro Itoje and the British and Irish Lions squad for securing a series victory in Australia. The Lions' victory over the Aussies came with a showing of conspicuous resilience and no little nerve. This was the first proper examination of their mettle since landing Down Under, and they managed to find a way to win. The last-gasp score by Hugo Keenan took the Lions clear and proved to be the only time in the game that they led in Melbourne. They took that chance with patience and precision, knowing that one error would have lost them the game due to the imminence of the final whistle. HUGO KEENAN WINS IT FOR THE LIONS! 🦁 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 26, 2025 The try has caused controversy due to the reviewed clear out at a vital ruck by the Lions' Jac Morgan on Australia's Carlo Tizzano. Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies coach made his view plain after the game, saying Morgan's action was illegal. The Aussie media, that once attracted the sobriquet of 'fans with typewriters' and who are not well known for their impartiality, agreed. I thought it was borderline but agree with most people who saw it as a rugby incident. Now that the crocodile roll has been outlawed as a way of removing players who get into the same position as Tizzano, it is almost impossible to see a way in which they can be cleared legitimately. If actions like Morgan's are illegal, it means the whole ruck law around jackalling players needs to be reviewed to allow supporting players some way of removing their opponents. 'A rugby incident' 👀 Warren Gatland on the last minute Jac Morgan clearout 🗣️ — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025 It is, unfortunately, becoming de rigueur to blame officials for losses in rugby and this is a trend that should be condemned. The nature of rugby is that it is a highly technical game in which officials must be given the capacity to make judgment calls, without which no game would flow. The officials got nearly all the major decisions right which, without strict liability under rugby's laws, is about as consistent as you can get. If the Aussies want to moan about their loss they should first look at the fact that they looked immensely vulnerable to conceding tries every time the Lions got into the Australian 22-metre zone. However good the performance of Australia, and it was tenacious and brave in the face of adversity, if you ship five tries in a game, and blow an 18-point lead, you should first look at your defensive efforts before trying to blame the referee. You can feel sympathy for Australia, who have been hampered by the unavailability of two forwards of immense ball-carrying power, Will Skelton and Rob Valetini. Both made significant contributions to Australia's dominance of the gain-line in the first half but, as they were both returning from injury, neither has the capacity to last a full game. As pointed out in previous weeks in this column, the Lions' bench is appreciably stronger than anything their counterparts can summon and that proved to be the deciding factor in the second half. What happens next in this series will be important to the Lions' brand. Until this most recent Test, the essential sporting elements of challenge and jeopardy have been frustratingly brief, which might not matter to the Lions' faithful, but does matter in terms of legitimacy. The Lions must show the sort of bloody-minded ruthlessness that used to be associated with New Zealand, and is the hallmark of current world champions, South Africa. They need to stamp home their dominance with a convincing display on the final Test in Sydney on Saturday. This represents a challenge that is often not understood. To dominate from a winning position is a necessary trait of good sides, but the mindset to do this is not easily summoned. Seeing the job through requires great self-discipline, requiring players to set their own standards when a task has been largely completed and they cannot lose a series. Central to this will be the selections made by Farrell for the final Test. There must be a temptation to make wholesale changes this coming Saturday. Farrell could, rightly, make the point that he has proved his critics wrong thus far. He could go further, saying it would be right to reward the loyalty of fringe squad players by allowing them to experience Lions' Test rugby. That step would be a mistake. There is much made about whether a player is a 'Test animal'. If this means anything, it is that such players do not want to relinquish their positions to charitable selections, whatever support they receive from colleagues. That backing should be the minimum expected of a Lions squad member. Choosing the strongest possible squad for the third Test in a best way to show respect to Australian rugby and both sets of fans.
