A late fightback wasn’t enough to save the Wallabies in the opening Test after the Lions blew them off the park in the first half at Suncorp Stadium.
The Lions proved too strong for the Wallabies in a 27-19 victory on Saturday night, which kept alive their unbeaten record in Brisbane in 126 years of games and gave them a one-nil lead heading into the second Test in Melbourne.
The Lions led 24-5 after a dominant opening half, and appeared to have the game well in hand before a late fightback by the Wallabies pegged back the score to 27-19.
Sorely missing injured forward Rob Valetini, the Wallabies were unable to match the Lions’ physicality in the opening 40 minutes. Cheered on by a red army of fans, the visitors held a 17-5 lead at the break. When the Lions scored again straight after half-time, the contest appeared over.
But after a positive impact from the Wallabies bench, that will give Joe Schmidt much to think about for the MCG, the Wallabies rallied and scored twice through Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott in the last 12 minutes.
It ended up at three tries all – with goal-kicking proving crucial – but it was ultimately too little too late for the hosts, after an opening hour in which the Wallabies often struggled to win the physical collisions, and also hold onto the ball for long enough to build pressure.
Ellis Genge of the British and Irish Lions. Credit: Getty Images
“It’s obviously disappointing,” Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson said on Stan Sport. “We came here to win. I feel as if we probably didn’t get our game going there like we would have liked but the Lions were good and credit to them. They won a few big moments.”
The Wallabies desperately need some more punch to their game, with and without the ball, for the second Test after the Lions forwards mostly bossed them in the contact zones. Tom Curry was immense for the Lions on the openside.
The bright lights of the night for the Wallabies were winger Max Jorgensen, who scored their first try, and young No.10 Tom Lynagh, who performed well on starting debut and looks assured at Test level.
The Lions led 17-5 at half-time after a first half dominated by the visitors, with precious few attacking raids by the Wallabies.
The fans had only just sat down when the Lions grabbed their first points via a penalty after 23 seconds, which Finn Russell banged over for a three-pointer.
Lions fans in the stands at Suncorp Stadium. Credit: Getty Images
Both sides weren’t interested in playing in their own half, and sent plenty of contestable kicks.
The Lions began to display more power with their carries, and in defence, and after a Fraser McReight loose pass gave them access to the Wallabies’ quarter, they rolled towards their first try.
With the Wallabies’ defence not making dominant tackles, and thus scrambling, the Lions eventually found a gap and former Junior Wallaby Sione Tuipulotu took a long pass from Russell and strolled in to the right of the posts in the ninth minute.
The Wallabies were struggling to punch through the line with the ball, and soon found themselves under pressure again. A James Lowe run on the left wing found Huw Jones in support, and he crossed the line in the left corner. But the TMO determined Jones had been tackled before the line, and got back up without releasing the ball first.
Sione Tuipulotu takes a carry with Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii in defence. Credit: Getty Images
The Wallabies’ kicking strategy mostly wasn’t getting any pay, until Jorgensen pulled off a moment of magic. He regathered a high ball from the arms of Lions fullback Hugo Keenan, and raced 20 metres to score in the corner.
Missed tackles and lost lineouts continued to hurt the Wallabies, though, and deny them any pressure on the Lions. That led to the Lions rallying downtown on the back of several penalties, and Curry got a second try in the 36th minute when the Lions tapped and used brute force near the line.
The second half began disastrously when a long throw by the Wallabies at a lineout was picked off by Tom Curry, and the Lions surged downfield and scored again within a minute, this time to hooker Dan Sheehan.
At 24-5, the previously electric atmosphere quickly dulled, with the game becoming a non-contest.
The Wallabies simply could not manage to sustain possession, and get back in the game. Repeated mistakes in attack turned over the ball in the Lions half, and allowed them free escapes.
After a quiet game, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii finally made an impact with a charging run over the line, and referee Ben O’Keefe awarded a try.
But it was overturned after review, with the TMO ruling Suaalii should have released the ball. Instead of being 24-12, it ended the hopes of the Wallabies making a comeback.
Lions coach Andy Farrell said he expected a major response from the Wallabies in next Saturday’s second Test.
“To get off to a winning start is huge,” Farrell said. “Obviously, that puts the pressure on for next week. Absolutely delighted. Big occasion, big game. We know what coming to Suncorp means to Australia, so they would have been targeting this. Delighted to come away with victory.
“We know full well what happened in 2013 when an Australian team becomes desperate. It is difficult to handle. We expect a different game next week. I thought we let them back into the game. That shouldn’t happen.”
