The Wallabies found themselves on the losing end of a 27-19 scoreline against the British and Irish Lions, kicking off the Test series with more of a whimper than a roar. Here’s how the individual players stacked up in the clash down in Brisbane.
In the backline, Tom Wright was a shimmering silver lining, snatching the ball from the heavens and dodging Lions with ease, proving to be a creative menace whenever he got the chance. He scored a solid 7. Max Jorgensen, not to be outdone, performed a mid-air heist on Hugo Keenan to score, earning a 6 for his efforts.
However, not everyone had such a stellar day. Joseph Suaalii, expected to be a wrecking ball, was more like a whisper in the wind, barely noticeable as the Lions managed to keep him quiet, meriting only a 5. His midfield partner, Len Ikitau, fared better, driving through Lions' lines to secure a 7.
As for the halfbacks, Tom Lynagh might wish to forget this match as quickly as possible. Despite a promising start, his game crumbled like a poorly baked scone, his kicks more miss than hit, landing him a woeful 4. Jake Gordon, caught in the crosshairs of the Lions’ defense, managed only a 5.
"I felt like I had the ball on a string in the first few minutes, but it just unraveled from there," Lynagh lamented post-game.
Up front, Harry Wilson and Nick Champion De Crespigny were the standouts, each with an 8. Wilson was everywhere, albeit sometimes more chaotic than effective, and Champion De Crespigny smashed through tackles and was a defensive titan on his debut.
Less impressive were the front rowers, Matthew Faessler and James Slipper, each snagging a mere 3 after performances that were as forgettable as last week's leftovers.
The bench, however, brought a spark that was sorely missing, with Tate McDermott and Carlo Tizzano turning the tide whenever they stepped onto the pitch, both significantly boosting the team's dynamics to earn an 8.
While the starters might want to hit the training ground hard this week, it was the bench that showed there's still fire in the Aussie belly. As the series progresses, Joe Schmidt might be looking to his reserves to turn the tides more than he initially thought.