Scotland duo help British & Irish Lions to win over Queensland Reds

Jones, on his first Lions start, added a long-range effort as the touring team ran in a further five tries to take command after the break.  

Tommy Freeman scored a try in either half, while captain Maro Itoje, Player of the Match Jac Morgan and replacement Garry Ringrose also crossed. 

We assess the Scottish trio’s performances and look at other talking points.  

Improvement from Duhan van der Merwe  

After a mixed bag against Argentina in Dublin, the Edinburgh Rugby wing needed a big performance here and while he was better this time around, he still was not able to impose himself on the game.  

He is undoubtedly an outstanding attacking talent, but he will be judged on his defensive contributions and aerial work if he is to start in the test series.  

With that in mind, his wild attempted catch of a Reds cross-kick will have concerned Andy Farrell, though Scotland’s record try scorer atoned with a try just before half-time. 

Duhan van der Merwe in action for the Lions (Image: Jason O'Brien/PA Wire) Good hands from Jack Conan and Ollie Chessum found van der Merwe on the wing, and he showed his finishing ability to get over in the corner. It was a crucial score to help the visitors pull clear.  

Conan found the winger again just before the hour, after Morgan scored the Lions’ fifth try, and when he charged up field, his offload could not find the supporting Alex Mitchell. It is those fine margins he will need to improve on.  

Finn Russell must be the test fly-half 

Before the tour, the identity of the Lions starting fly-half was subject to much debate. That must now be at an end after Russell produced another assured display.  

There were some lovely moments – a wide pass to Scotland colleague Van der Merwe, while a brilliant tackle on giant Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will give the Lions’ coaches confidence about Russell’s defensive abilities ahead of facing the Wallabies.  

Marcus Smith and Fin Smith will get their chances in the next couple of games. Russell should be wrapped in cotton wool before the first test.  

Hopefully the ice on his right hand was just a precautionary measure after his 50-minute outing.  

Huw Jones impressive on first Lions start 

After a cameo from the bench against the Western Force, Jones made his first start in the midfield alongside Bundee Aki.  

He hit a tremendous line to open up space for Tommy Freeman to get the tourists on the board, while also offering a deft pass to free up Russell out the back of the Lions attack.  

Huw Jones sprints clear to score his first try for the Lions (Image: Chris Hyde/Getty Images) His new partnership with Aki wasn’t perfect, but it got better as the game wore on. Jones capped his performance with a 60-metre sprint after gathering a loose kick to open his try-scoring account. 

Giving him a run-out alongside Sione Tuipulotu must be a priority now for Farrell.  

Another injury worry for tourists

When the Lions squad was revealed in London on May 8, not many had Elliot Daly among their travelling party, despite the England international being a two-time tourist previously.  

After stepping in here at the 11th hour for the ill Hugo Keenan and producing another assured performance, the 32-year-old put himself in the frame to face the Wallabies before suffering an arm injury in making a tackle in the final quarter.  

Elliot Daly, here in action against Argentina, was forced off with an arm injury (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire) There was a look of resignation to Daly when he wandered off, and if he is out of the tour the Lions could do worse than sending for more Scottish reinforcements in the shape of either Tom Jordan, who can deputise at fullback, or Darcy Graham.  

Blair Kinghorn, who only joined the squad this week, and Keenan have yet to get going and were the pre-tour favourites to battle for the 15 shirt and if Daly is out injured, they must hit the ground running.  

Set-piece worries persist 

Despite two big wins to kick-off the tour, the Lions coaching staff will not be pleased with the accuracy of their set-piece.  

Against the Western Force on Saturday, they failed to gather four kick-offs, while tonight it was the scrum that struggled.  

Starting props Andrew Porter and Will Stuart got on the wrong side of the referee - the latter not just at the scrum.  

In total, the Lions were penalised six times at the scrum and while it is not an area Australia have been strong in over recent years, Joe Schmidt must fancy his side’s chances of causing the tourists problems.  

Queensland Reds: Jock Campbell (c), Lachie Anderson, Josh Flook (Henry 53), Hunter Paisami, Tim Ryan, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Kalani Thomas (Werchon 60); Aidan Ross (Blake 58), Matt Faessler (Nasser 53), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Fa’agase 58), Josh Canham (Smith 58), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Blyth 53), Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial (Vest 63) 

Tries: Toomaga-Allen (8), Flook (25) 

Conversion: McLaughlin-Phillips (9) 

British and Irish Lions: Elliot Daly (Ringrose 66), Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki (Earl 66), Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell (Smith 50), Jamison Gibson-Park (Mitchell 50); Andrew Porter (Genge 50), Ronan Kelleher (Cowan-Dickie 50), Will Stuart (Bealham 50), Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum (Ryan 58), Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan 

Tries: Freeman (19, 60), Porter (28), van der Merwe (35), Itoje (44), Morgan (55), Jones (65), Ringrose (80) 

Conversions: Russell (20, 29, 36, 45), Smith (56, 61) 

Referee: James Doleman (NZRU)  

Player of the Match: Jac Morgan