The much-anticipated first Test between the British & Irish Lions and the Wallabies has come and gone, and while the Lions secured the win, the second-half display left fans and pundits scratching their heads.
Let’s be honest — the Wallabies fielded a side with as much structure as a Jenga tower mid-game, and yet they managed to outscore the Lions 14-10 after halftime. That’s not a stat that will make Andy Farrell sleep any easier this week. The Lions looked clinical in the first 40 but visibly lost momentum once Tom Curry exited the field. Say what you like about the selection debate, but Curry’s ability to disrupt, bully, and dominate in defence was sorely missed. Alongside Tadhg Beirne, he was immense — making Wallaby backs genuinely reconsider their career choices.
What followed was a lesson in the importance of combinations. Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones looked like a jazz trio in sync, reading each other effortlessly. The Wallaby halfbacks, on the other hand, looked like they’d exchanged names just before kickoff. Lynagh and Gordon’s kicking game was all over the place — an unfortunate mix of too short, too long, and far too hopeful.
But credit to the Aussie back row: Wilson, McReight, and Tizzano brought physicality and bite. As the Lions tired, so did their dominance in collisions, with the Wallabies sniffing a late opportunity.
Looking ahead, Joe Schmidt has work to do. The Wallabies must revert to their traditional heads-up, broken-field style. Pick Donaldson and McDermott. Drop the phase pod plod. Let them run. Let them play. Because if there’s one thing this Test proved, it’s that structure won’t save you when the Lions are fully locked in. But fatigue might.
My Goat Sports 