There was, admittedly, a certain predictability about the outcome of the first test as the visitors strolled to a 27-19 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Lions had been mediocre in many of the warm-up games against a variety of opposition but some shrewd selection decisions by coach Andy Farrell ensured an improvement in their performance, with big-game players such as Tadhg Furlong and Tom Curry raising the standard with their contributions.
A 12-point lead at halftime was hardly emphatic but against a Wallabies side that had only managed a last-minute win against Fiji in the lead-up to the test, it served as a winning platform. Both coaches have a right to expect more from their charges in the remaining Test fixtures.
Farrell will be happy with his selections, whereas the Wallabies’ Joe Schmidt will want much more from his younger side. I think we will see a much more confident Wallabies in the second test in Melbourne on Saturday (July 26) and I envisage a more committed team performance overall, with Schmidt no doubt reminding his side that the margin of defeat in Brisbane was ultimately only 8 points.
Carlo Tizzano may come from the bench to the starting 15, if only because he scores tries, but I don’t think raising the effort level will be enough. Rugby Union in Australia needs a win and a blockbuster climax in Sydney in game 3 on Aug 2.
The Lions now should be brimming with confidence and ready to put the nail in the coffin. Individually, there is a difference in class. And class with added confidence is hard to beat.
I’m sticking with my original forecast of a 3-0 series win for the Lions. I hope I’m wrong because Rugby needs a fluent, bold attacking style of play, which the Wallabies had in abundance a few decades ago. Maybe therein lies the problem in that it was too long ago.
One final issue. Why are players walking around carrying their young children at the end of the game? It’s like the school run in the off-season. Men only please.
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.