Five lessons in how to beat the Lions

THE Brumbies victory was built on passion, pride and smarts. The Lions were dis-jointed and clueless in attack but none of that was co-incidence.

THE Brumbies victory was built on passion, pride and a tonne of smarts.

The Lions were dis-jointed and clueless in attack but none of that was co-incidence, with the home side out-muscling the more fancied tourists at the contact, pressuring the set-piece and beating them with a simple but effective gameplan.

The Wallabies will have taken enormous heart from the Brumbies' win, but that's not all coach Robbie Deans should take on board. Here are five Lions lessons for Australia, courtesy of the giant-killing men from Canberra.

DON'T SIT ON DEFENCE

Herein lies the golden path to Lions triumph. The Brumbies victory was built around a suffocating defence, combining fast linespeed with murderous intent. Showing the effects of Brian Smith's work in the ACT, the Lions were bashed at or behind the gainline and could not build any rhythm. They had just one linebreak for the entire game and were reduced to kicking aimless high balls. It also placed pressure on the Lions breakdown, which gave up penalties for holding on. The Wallabies must watch tape of the Brumbies defensive effort over and over again.

LARKHAM KNOWS BOATS

Though a master of understatement, Larkham said on match eve that his young charge Matt Toomua should be Wallabies five-eighth, and the youngster proved his Jedi master still knows a bit about footy. Toomua's game management was confident, his kicking canny and his passing game effective when needed. But the shining light was Toomua's tackling. A few up-quick rib rattlers - reducing the Lions no.12 to Billy Eleventrees in one memorable hit - showed he is comfortably the best defensive 10 in the country. If things go awry with James O'Connor in the first Test, Deans could do a lot worse than calling in Toomua.

SPACE ON THE EDGES

The game descended into a kick-fest but the Brumbies started the game searching for space on the extreme fringes - and it worked. The Lions use quick linespeed and a bolting no.13 to race up and try and drive play back in-field, but if the ball is moved quick enough, space is exploitable outside the wing. Deans' choice of Christian Lealiifano as a second playmaker will be vital in chasing the open pathways for Folau and Ioane.

PUT NOODLES BACK IN HOT WATER

There were several Brumbies who showed they have the capacity to wear gold - Jesse Mogg among them - but Peter Kimlin stuck his hand up as the plank we've been waiting for. Justin Harrison used a series of warm-up games in 2001 to get right under the Lions skins, and win a fateful call-up to the Wallabies squad. Kimlin didn't pick any fights but his ranga-rage around the contact and particularly in the lineout,unsettled the men in red. The Wallabies will need old-fashioned mongrel and a bench spot for the man nicknamed Noodles - he's played two minutes of Test rugby - would be wise.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

The Brumbies fought valiantly and won the territory battle but risked defeat by pushing the boundaries at the breakdown, and conceding points. If the Wallabies are to win in Brisbane they'll have to be choir boys inside their own half, given Leigh Halfpenny won't be hitting goalposts like Stuart Hogg. Michael Hooper's decisions on when to attack the ball and when to leave it will be the most important of the series. Finally, belief is paramount. The Brumbies believed they could beat the Lions, and played like it. They now go into the history books, deservedly.