It was a flying start right from the word go by the Lions that goes to show they‘re up ahead, even though they were challenged at times towards the last 20-30 mins.
But at the end of the day, they’ve not just played their cards right; they also done enough to last the full 80 against the rest of time and physical game with the win.
Ellis Genge installed some good physical momentum especially with plenty of ball that allows his Lions to hit the accelerator as the starting front row 1.
Some say the Lions centres worked the best no doubt but Finn Russell did grind those gears at 10 both flattening out attack with a couple of lines on top of his usual executing kicks to goal.
Wallabies unlucky this & that late with credit to a few new faces, they just need a way to win games from start to finish.
Easy to say Carlo Tizzano even though he’s normally an open seven but has no problem scoring tries on the blindside six.
I get Fraser is the frontline 7 we are seeing for the future but Carlo would definitely help him as his forwards partner at best much like Tate (also came off the bench) and Tom in the 9 and 10s combo.
The final score was Wallabies 19-27 British and Irish Lions with the Lions 1-0 up in the series as there’s two games to go ahead of Game 2 next Saturday at the MCG in Melbourne.
All in all, Lions have first blood advantage – good for them.
That doesn’t mean the series is over at an early stage when the Wallabies did show much-needed 2nd half intent after the Lions missed the bus ride at times to stretch their lead.
Now that might not be enough to force the Lions’ hand with time running out against them which was a bitter pill to swallow.
But again, they need to make good use of ball, unlock each landing points through the gate & just not make the defensive line too tight, and make sure the Lions do not take it for granted off the hands of Green and Gold.
These are the three things the Wallabies need to do on their in-tray list.
While the Lions tour go on following an unbeaten run of wins so far against all four Australian Super Rugby teams plus the combined Australia and NZ side, here’s some things on-deck at the Two Blues home ground last weekend when they went up against West Harbour.
There were two close games across the NSW Shute Shield competition where West Harbour got away with the lead-in game from a different grade but Two Blues showed full game momentum when it comes to the 3pm 1st grade match.
Would’ve been any better if one was fortunate enough to see the Lions game in-person that only comes around once in a long while but either that above or at the pub are good enough alternatives.
