The Wallabies are set to travel to Melbourne facing a 0-1 deficit after losing the opening Test against the British and Irish Lions, which ended 27-19 in Brisbane. Former Wallabies player Cameron Shepherd has provided insights on the performances of all 23 players from this match.
Key highlights include:
- James Slipper (6): Delivered a solid performance, especially in scrums, but lacked effectiveness in attack.
- Matt Faessler (5): Struggled to make an impact, with minimal involvement and a costly lineout error leading to a Lions try.
- Allan Alaalatoa (7): Excelled in scrummaging, though generally subdued in open play.
- Nick Frost (6): Displayed physicality but didn’t penetrate the Lions’ defensive line effectively.
- Jeremy Williams (5): Had a challenging match, committing several mistakes and being caught out of position at crucial moments.
- Nick Champion de Crespigny (6): Showed promise on debut but found it tough to break through the Lions’ defence.
Additional performances to note include Fraser McReight (7), who was a nuisance at the breakdown and contributed turnovers, and Harry Wilson (7) who showed bursts of effort but had a quieter match overall. Jake Gordon (6) was effective with box kicks but needed to engage the defence more.
Youngster Tom Lynagh (7) handled pressure well despite some early kicking issues, while Harry Potter (5) faced a tough night against a relentless Lions onslaught. Len Ikitau (6) actively sought involvement but struggled to connect effectively with teammates.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (5) had a challenging first half but improved after halftime, demonstrating strong intent and nearly scoring. Conversely, Max Jorgensen (8) was a standout performer for the Wallabies, scoring their first try and maintaining high energy throughout.
Off the bench, Billy Pollard (7) contributed positively, while Angus Bell (8) stood out for his ability to break the line and work effectively with Tate McDermott (8), who added fresh energy and scored a key try. Ben Donaldson (7) had a solid introduction, looking to link with the backs, although Andrew Kellaway (6) had limited time to impact the game.
With this analysis, Shepherd highlights the areas requiring improvement for the Wallabies as they prepare for the next Test, emphasising a need for greater cohesion and attacking effectiveness against a formidable Lions side.