Scotland trio outstanding as Lions take lead in Australia series

Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan also crossed for tries, while Russell enjoyed an immaculate night from the kicking tee as the Lions made a perfect start to the series.

Marcus Smith also landed a late penalty after the Wallabies threatened a comeback as replacement Carlo Tizzano scored. 

Another home sub, scrum-half Tate McDermott, added a third for the home side late on, but by then the Lions had done enough.

Here are five talking points from the first test in Brisbane.  

Physicality key as Lions draw first blood in test series 

After some one-sided warm-up games, there was a hope this was going to be a close contest. However, the Lions should have won by more as they overpowered the Wallabies.  

Ireland trio Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy were all prominent in a dominant first half, while Tom Curry and Player of the Match Tadhg Beirne showed why Andy Farrell put his faith in them despite below-par performances on tour so far.  

Tadhg Beirne was outstanding for the British and Irish Lions (Image: David Davies/PA Wire) When the Lions were on top, they got over the gain line with ease and gave half-back pair Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park an armchair ride.

Until the closing stages, Australia were not able to win the physical battle, making life much harder for fly-half Tom Lynagh, who endured a tough outing on his first test start.  Their bench made a big impact with several players making a case to be in the starting XV next week. 

Finn Russell shows his class 

A first test start for the Lions on his third tour, Russell was clearly desperate to make up for missed previous opportunities.  

The fly-half delivered an immaculate performance, which started by giving the tourists the lead with an early penalty before a wonderful 50:22, then the assist for his Scotland colleague Tuipulotu to score.  

He was the man covering and unable to make up the ground to shut down Jorgensen after he beat Keenan in the air and raced in for the Wallabies’ opening score, but when the Lions were going forward, he was sensational.

Finn Russell was outstanding for the Lions (Image: David Davies/PA Wire) Russell, who even chipped in with a first-half breakdown steal, will have been disappointed not to locate Joe McCarthy with a cross-kick on the wing.  

His removal with a dozen minutes to go, just before Tizzano’s try dragged the home side into the contest, was a clear indication the Lions felt the game was done.  

A special moment for Sione Tuipulotu 

Playing a first test since he left his native Australia for Japan, then Scotland, he started well with a good tackle on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii early, before getting himself on the end of Russell’s pass to score the first try of the series.  

He was sharp with ball in hand as the Lions found a perfect balance of linking with Russell and putting others away.  

Sione Tuipulotu on the charge (Image: David Davies/PA Wire) He could have had a second try but James Lowe opted to go himself rather than use the overlap before making way for Bundee Aki early in the second half.  

Huw Jones denied his big moment but a solid showing

A quieter start than his Scotland midfield team-mates before bursting into the game by collecting Lowe’s inside pass and crossing the line, only for referee Ben O’Keeffe to disallow his effort for a double movement.  

Huw Jones was denied a first-half try (Image: David Davies/PA Wire) He then made a lovely break after Curry’s lineout steal inside the first minute in the second half, then was back involved to buy Curry time as he put Sheehan over for the Lions’ third try. 

All tour, the centre pairing has looked more cohesive when it has been an all-Irish or all-Scottish combination. That proved to be the case again, with Jones’ opportunities few and far between once Tuipulotu had been replaced. 

A good start – but could there be opportunities for the other Scots?  

The Lions may have opened the series with a win but the Lions’ boss will not have liked what he saw for much of the second half as the visitors fell away following an excellent first half.  

Australia’s bench made more of an impact, meaning there could be changes for the second test in Melbourne next weekend.  

Duhan van der Merwe will hope to get an opportunity in the series (Image: David Davies)

While Hugo Keenan deputised well at fullback with Blair Kinghorn, widely considered to be the first choice at 15 before the tour, missing through injury, the [[Scotland]] star would add more of an attacking threat from fullback.  

Tommy Freeman did not have his finest outing on the right wing. Kinghorn may also come into Farrell’s thoughts there, while Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham will hope to get a chance against the First Nations XV on Tuesday to remind Farrell what they can do.  

Joe McCarthy hobbled off just three minutes into the second half. Scott Cummings could come into consideration if the Ireland lock is not fit for Melbourne.  

Ben White, too, will hope to put his hand up with another big midweek showing after Alex Mitchell was only afforded the final six minutes.  

Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau (Kellaway 68), Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh (Donaldson 60), Jake Gordon (McDermott 59); James Slipper (Bell 49), Matt Faessler (Pollard 49), Allan Alaalatoa (Robertson 63), Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams (Hooper 59), Nick Champion de Crespigny (Tizzano 66), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (captain)  

Tries: Jorgensen (28), Tizzano (67), McDermott (78) 

Conversions: Donaldson (68, 78) 

British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, [[Sione Tuipulotu]] (Aki 57), James Lowe, Finn Russell (Smith 66), Jamison Gibson-Park (Mitchell 74); Ellis Genge (Porter 48), Dan Sheehan (Kelleher 60), Tahdg Furlong (Stuart 57), Maro Itoje (captain), Joe McCarthy (Chessum 43), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry (Earl 57), Jack Conan 

Tries: Tuipulotu (8), Curry (36), Sheehan (41) 

Conversions: Russell (9, 36, 42) 

Penalties: Russell (2), Smith (74) 

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) 

Attendance: 52,500 

Player of the Match: Tadhg Beirne