Lions dominate early to down Wallabies 27-19 in first rugby 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.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure
Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world
Singapore Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display
Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers
Asia SIA, Cathay Pacific cancel flights as typhoon nears Hong Kong
Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore
Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died
Singapore Why hiring more teachers makes sense, even with falling student numbers
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 second test is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next weekend and the series concludes at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Aug 2. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Chastened Wallabies look to bring heat to keep Lions series alive
MELBOURNE :A beefed-up Australia will look to win the physical battle against the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday and avoid the ignominy of losing the series with a test to spare. Missing key players, the Wallabies were outmuscled for the first hour of the 27-19 defeat in the Brisbane opener, leaving their belated comeback in vain. Coach Joe Schmidt will look for more power in the collisions from loose forward Rob Valetini and lock Will Skelton whose collective brawn was missed at Lang Park as the duo nursed calf problems. The Wallabies' fruitless efforts to punch holes in the Lions' line while giving their opponents leeway with the ball has been bemoaned by home fans and pundits all week. Schmidt has demanded more intensity from his squad to keep the series alive before the third and final match in Sydney. "We don't want to be nice and we don't want to be submissive," the New Zealander told reporters on Thursday. "We didn't have the intention last week, and we don't have the intention this week of being submissive. "I just think that they played on the edge really well. "They got in amongst us, sometimes just beside us, which made it very hard to play and we're hopeful that we will be able to take that to them this week and keep them on the back foot a little bit more." With rain forecast on Saturday, blue-collar grit and forward power may end up far more important than strike-plays and backline flair at the MCG, where a bumper crowd of 80,000-plus is tipped. Although Schmidt said the six forwards on his bench were to cover players like Valetini and Skelton returning from injury, Lions coach Andy Farrell saw it as a clear signal of intent. "It's obvious what they're going to bring and why they're selected," he said of the Wallabies. "I suppose they're delighted with that and the 6-2 bench just backs that up a little bit, doesn't it? So it's not unexpected." Nine Ireland players make up Farrell's starting XV, and it might have been 10 but for centre Garry Ringrose pulling out because of concussion symptoms. Inside centre Bundee Aki and prop Andrew Porter are the two new Irish starters, while England lock Ollie Chessum was promoted to replace the injured Joe McCarthy. Farrell's son Owen, the former England captain, takes a spot on the bench along with flanker Jac Morgan, who adds a Welsh presence after the test team in Brisbane had none, the first time since the late 19th century. Andy Farrell has called Saturday's test "the biggest game of (their) lives" - a chance to clinch a first series win in the 12 years since Warren Gatland's team beat Robbie Deans' Australia 2-1.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Wallabies add Valetini, Skelton muscle for second Lions test
MELBOURNE - Australia coach Joe Schmidt has added a considerable heft to his pack with the inclusion of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton in his starting line-up for Saturday's second test against the British & Irish Lions. The Wallabies were outmuscled by the tourists at the collision in the first hour of last week's loss in the series opener in Brisbane and the return of flanker Valetini and lock Skelton from calf injuries should help in that area. Schmidt is hoping their influence will go beyond just adding a bit more more physicality to the pack. "We've got a group of players who haven't won too much in recent times ... and I think building confidence is an incremental thing," the New Zealander told a news conference on Thursday. "Bobby probably brings confidence to other players because of his experience and his ability to take the ball forward. "I think one of the key things with Will is he's a very calm influence. Yes, he's a big man ... but his experience of being involved in successful teams, particularly with La Rochelle in Europe, I think just gives other players confidence." Hooker Dave Porecki, who missed the first-test defeat because of a concussion sustained in Australia's warm-up match against Fiji, has also been recalled in place of Matt Faessler. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 9 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh Business Marina Bay Sands sees record second quarter with revenue up 37% to $1.77 billion Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k Asia South Korea police raid offices of BTS' agency Hybe over share probe Schmidt resisted further changes to his starting side and 22-year-old Tom Lynagh will lead an unchanged backline from flyhalf at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in his second test start. Flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny and Faessler have been dropped to allow the return of Valetini and Porecki, while lock Jeremy Williams remains in the matchday squad among the replacements after making way for Skelton. Schmidt has opted for a 6-2 split in favour of the forwards on the bench with the powerful Langi Gleeson also returning from injury to join flanker Carlo Tizzano as back-up for the loose forwards. "It's not forward heavy, it's replacements for guys who are coming back from injury," explained Schmidt. "We know that we've got Will Skelton, Bobby Valetini and Langi Gleeson all coming back from injury, so we're just trying to cover that as best we can." Schmidt said he has never been an "outcomes" focused coach but conceded his relatively inexperienced Wallabies team beating the Lions on Saturday to level up the series would rank high among his career achievements. "I've been lucky to have been on the periphery of some fantastic outcomes over the last 20 years of of coaching professionally, but this would be special inevitably," he said. "And it'd be special for this group, and I think it would accelerate a little bit of their growth as well." The third and final test takes place at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Aug. 2. Team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Harry Potter, 10–Tom Lynagh, 9–Jake Gordon, 8–Harry Wilson, 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Rob Valetini, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Allan Alaalatoa, 2–David Porecki, 1–James Slipper Replacements: 16–Billy Pollard, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Tom Robertson, 19–Jeremy Williams, 20–Langi Gleeson, 21–Carlo Tizzano, 22–Tate McDermott, 23–Ben Donaldson REUTERS
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ringrose concussion forces late change to Lions for second test
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Premiership - Saracens v Sale - StoneX Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2024 Saracens' Owen Farrell looks dejected after the match Action Images/Paul Childs/File Photo MELBOURNE - British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell praised Garry Ringrose for selflessly withdrawing himself from the second test against Australia after the Ireland centre's concussion symptoms returned on Thursday. Ringrose was set to form an all-Ireland midfield with Bundee Aki at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday but pulled out after training, ensuring Scotland centre Huw Jones retained the number 13 jersey. Ringrose also missed last week's 27-19 win over Australia in the first test in Brisbane because of concussion. "It's head-related again," Farrell told reporters in Melbourne. "There was no incident. He was feeling good (before). It was very big of him and the right thing to do, 100 per cent. For the team as well, not just for Garry." Aki is one of three changes to the starting team at Lang Park, replacing Melbourne-born Sione Tuipulotu who was nursing a tight hamstring. Irish lock Joe McCarthy injured his foot in Brisbane last week and is replaced by England's Ollie Chessum in the second row, while Andrew Porter comes in for Ellis Genge at loosehead prop. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 9 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh Business Marina Bay Sands sees record second quarter with revenue up 37% to $1.77 billion Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k Asia South Korea police raid offices of BTS' agency Hybe over share probe Farrell brought his son Owen in on the bench as the tourists look to become the first Lions team to sew up a test series with a game to spare since 1997 in South Africa. The playmaker, who was called up as an injury replacement early in the tour, gets a chance to play his seventh Lions test after leading the midweek team to a 24-19 win over the First Nations-Pasifika XV on Tuesday. Flanker Jac Morgan is another change to the bench, ensuring a Welsh presence in the side after the principality was without representation in a test team for the first time since the late 19th century in Brisbane. Scottish fullback Blair Kinghorn was also named among the replacements after missing the first test because of a knee injury. Farrell said he wanted his squad to make history 12 years after the Warren Gatland-coached team beat the Wallabies 2-1. "We're the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history," he said "There's a determined Australian side that's going to try and stop us doing that, so it's a hell of a test." The third and final test takes place at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Aug. 2. Team: 15–Hugo Keenan, 14–Tommy Freeman, 13–Huw Jones, 12–Bundee Aki, 11–James Lowe, 10–Finn Russell, 9–Jamison Gibson-Park, 8–Jack Conan, 7–Tom Curry, 6–Tadhg Beirne, 5–Ollie Chessum, 4–Maro Itoje, 3–Tadhg Furlong, 2–Dan Sheehan, 1–Andrew Porter Replacements: 16–Ronan Kelleher, 17–Ellis Genge, 18–Will Stuart, 19–James Ryan, 20–Jac Morgan, 21–Alex Mitchell, 22–Owen Farrell, 23–Blair Kinghorn REUTERS
