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Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Scottish Lions shine in dominant first half in Brisbane... but Farrell's men have much to improve on
By the end of a strangely subdued night in Brisbane, the muted celebrations told their own story. The British and Irish Lions had beaten Australia and taken a 1-0 lead in the series, but it all seemed a bit flat. Not that there was ever likely to be any whooping or hollering. With the monosyllabic Maro Itoje as captain, this Lions squad are led by a man who does not lend himself to headlines or flashy soundbites. But there was still something that felt very low key at full-time. The Lions had prevailed, but there wasn't a whole lot to shout about. Especially in the second half, this match turned into a real grind for Andy Farrell's side. Even the most generous critique would give this team performance no more than six out of ten. The Lions had actually started like a steam train. In the opening exchanges, Finn Russell had the ball on a string. His sorcery laid on the first try with a lovely, looping pass to find Scotland team-mate Sione Tuipulotu. When Huw Jones then went over to score what looked to be the second try, it felt like this could be a turkey shoot for the holy trinity of Scotland's midfield. Alas, only for Jones' try to be ruled out. But, between them, Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones were instrumental in everything that was good about the Lions during that opening 40 minutes. Given some of the cheap jibes that were aimed his way by the Aussies a few weeks ago, you can bet your bottom Dingo Dollar that Tuipulotu will have enjoyed that try. Jones also ran some brilliant lines and it was clear why Farrell had favoured the cohesion and chemistry of the Scotland centre pairing. But the drop-off in the second half will have troubled the Lions head coach. From threatening to inflict a record beating on the Wallabies, the Lions lost their roar. In the end, they laboured to victory. Australia actually won the second half 14-10 and emerged with far more credit than they really ought to have done. That's not intended to downplay the character and resilience they showed. Merely, it's a reflection of the manner in which the Lions let them off the hook. The Lions had far more quality and power on the bench. Leading 17-5 at the break, the expectation was that they would go through the gears and put a big score on the Aussies. But they never got going at all. It was disjointed and unconvincing. As a collective unit, they were miles off it in the second half. That's not to say that they weren't still the better side over the piece. Plainly, they were. They will travel to Melbourne next week still with plenty left in the tank. Given their lack of game time coming into the series, the Aussies will be better for this. They will have one or two key players back next week and will be improved. So, too, should the Lions. Farrell and Itoje should be driving the standards this week and demanding a more complete 80-minute performance. The Lions remain red-hot favourites to claim a 3-0 series whitewash. But if their performances don't improve, this feeling that the tour has all been a bit flat and subdued will be hard to shift.
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Lions dominate early to down Wallabies 27-19 in first test
BRISBANE :British & Irish Lions rode a rampant first-half display to a 27-19 victory over Australia in the first test on Saturday, running in three tries in the first 41 minutes and holding off a late Wallabies fightback for a comfortable victory. Superior in all facets of the game in the first hour, the Lions scored tries through Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan while Finn Russell added nine points from the kicking tee. Max Jorgensen crossed in the first half for the Wallabies and they improved when they cleared the bench in the second half but tries from replacements Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott were too little, too late. "We're delighted with the win. The game was a tough test match," said Lions captain Maro Itoje. "I thought we started well in the first half. We played a lot of good stuff. "Then the second half was a bit to and fro from both sides. I think that's a good position for us to be in." The Wallabies, rank underdogs, made a nervous start amid a cacophony of noise from the 52,229 crowd, and Russell gave the tourists an early lead with a penalty inside the first couple of minutes. Russell was in the thick of it again when the Lions next got into the Australia 22 in the ninth minute, the Scotland flyhalf considering a crosskick before swinging a pass out wide for Melbourne-born Tuipulotu to run in unopposed. Lions centre Huw Jones had a try scratched off for a double movement 10 minutes later but the Wallabies were kicking poorly and rarely threatened to break out of their own half let alone score. Jorgensen produced a try out of nothing just before the half-hour mark, however, tearing a high ball out of the hands of Lions fullback Hugo Keenan and racing away to dive over in the corner. Flyhalf Tom Lynagh, making a shaky first test start, missed the conversion and the Lions were soon 17-5 up after flanker Curry, controversially selected ahead of Wales captain Jac Morgan, powered over the line from close range. Curry's impressive physicality could have got him into trouble just before the break when he tackled Lynagh in the air but referee Ben O'Keeffe kept his cards in his pocket. 'BIG MOMENTS' Australia's lineout had been malfunctioning all game and they paid a price for it straight after the break when the Lions midfield ran rampant with turnover ball and quick hands from Curry sent hooker Sheehan over in the corner. Russell maintained his perfect night from the kicking tee to extend the lead to 24-5 as the coaches started bringing on their replacements. Australia finally mounted some sustained pressure around the hour mark and centre Joseph Suaalii got over the line on a crash ball only for O'Keeffe to penalise him for not releasing as he was dragged forward by the Lions pack. Replacement flanker Tizzano did muscle his way over the line for a converted try to cut the deficit to 24-12 eight minutes later, but replacement Marcus Smith gave the Lions a bit more of a cushion with a 73rd minute penalty. The Wallabies were now attacking with more fluency but the impressive Lions defence held on until a minute from time when McDermott skipped over the line for what was another consolation try. "It's obviously disappointing," said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. "We came in wanting to win, and I feel as if we probably didn't really get our game going there like we would have liked. "They won a few big moments, and that's something which we want to do and make sure we do next week."
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Australia 19 Lions 27: Tourists off to dominant start but given late scare in three-try win in First Test
MARO ITOJE'S Lions got off to a flyer against the Wallabies but were given a scare by the hosts at the death. The Lions were cruising home before two late Aussie scores closed the gap. 3 3 3 But the game was done by then and a win in Melbourne next week will nail the series. Finn Russell turned on the style before being taken off with 13 minutes left and Tadhg Beirne justified his selection with a big game from blindside flanker. The Lions were not perfect, but they did not have to be, and march onto Melbourne next week with a series win down here for the second time on the spin there for the taking. They were 12 points up at half-time, but it could have been more, and when they Aussies had a sniff in the second half they slammed the door. Hard-nosed skipper Itoje, called on Marcus Smith, Russell's replacement to kick a penalty with six minutes left to take it to 27-12 and prove they are here to win and not please the punters. Lions fans have not toured for eight years, after they were banned from South Africa four years ago because of the pandemic and were out in force in Brisbane. The bars on Caxton Street, on the walk from central Brisbane to the stadium, were heaving with buzzing travellers expecting a commanding performance. They did not quite get it but they got a win, and that is good enough to be going on with. From the word go the Lions targeted the Aussie rookie No10 Tom Lynagh, son of Wallaby legend Michael. He might be a big name down here but try telling that to Ellis Genge and Dan Sheehan who both ran straight into him early on. Inside Scotland and Lions hero's stunning house that boasts giant basement room with bar for FIFTY people to party It was Lynagh's first start and the Lions got after him good and proper. The youngster did not go the distance. Russell got the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty then was involved twice in the lead-up to the Lions opener, for centre Sione Tuipulotu, delivering the killer pass to put his Scottish pal in under the sticks. That was 10-0 to the tourists but the Aussies hit back, on 28 minutes, when Hugo Keenan won a high ball but got stripped by home wing Max Jorgensen who sprinted over to score. Tom Curry then put the Lions back in control, driving over after Sheehan's quick tap and the England man then turned provider for Ireland's Sheehan when he put him over shortly after the break. The Aussies had a touchdown for centre Joseph Suaalii chalked off then took off Lynagh on the hour but substitute Carlo Tizzano did get one back before Smith's penalty. The Aussies could not be accused of chucking the towel in and sub scrum-half Tate McDermott closed the gap with two minutes left but the Lions had done enough.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Australia vs British & Irish Lions LIVE SCORE: Andy Farrell's side dominate opening three-test series match
THE British and Irish Lions begin their three-test series against the Wallabies in Brisbane - and Andy Farrell's side are in cruise control. Farrell's side are unbeaten since they touched down in Australia, most recently beating AUNZ Invitational 48-0. Australia will be looking to put in a similar performance to the one Argentina put in, when they BEAT the Lions in Dublin to start the tour. England's Maro Itoje captains the side, with NO Welsh players included in Andy Farrell's 23-man squad. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Today, 10:43 By Sammy Sturzaker The time is now 'I'll see you next time' Unfinished business between Suaalii and Tuipulotu following a crunching tackle from the Aussie which saw the 21-year-old leave the pitch with a wrist injury in November. Tuipulotu eyes a big game against the Wallabies superstar: 'You want our 12s going against their 12s, you want our 13s going against their 13s – I think no matter what, it's going to be a physical battle and we're up for the challenge.' Today, 10:28 By Sammy Sturzaker Joe Schmidt eyes an upset 'For us, we just focus on what we can do. We cannot do much to influence the bookies, all we can do is influence each other with the energy we bring and influence the Lions with the pressure we place on them. 'There is a quiet resolve among the players. sometimes you do not want too much energy too far out from the game because they can burn out pretty quickly. When you are coaching, you are never quite sure. 'I have had really good build-ups to games and ones that have not gone so well. But they have prepared well, and I think they will step up tonight.' Today, 10:24 By Sammy Sturzaker Andy Farrell's pre-match thoughts with Sky Sports 'What a great day, to walk around town and see the tens of thousands of Lions fans here. We have had good preparation; the longer week helps. Putting together the last six weeks and putting that into one performance and hopefully delivering when it matters most. 'We have got to get most things right [to win] against this Australian side. It means a lot to them as it does to us. Nothing concentrates the mind more than a Lions tour over on Australian shores.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Australia vs British & Irish Lions LIVE SCORE: Andy Farrell's side face first Wallabies test in Brisbane
THE British and Irish Lions begin their three test series against the Wallabies in Brisbane. Andy Farrell's side are unbeaten since they touched down in Australia, most recently beating AUNZ Invitational 48-0. Australia will be looking to put in a similar performance to the one Argentina put in, when they BEAT the Lions in Dublin to start the tour. England's Maro Itoje will captain the side, with NO Welsh players included in Andy Farrell's 23-man squad.
