The British & Irish Lions had a much better hit out against the New South Wales Waratahs, winning 17-47.
The bad news is that more players have been called into the squad to cover injuries. The tour started with great expectations about the big backs causing Australia problems, then one by one they have been hit by injury. Jamie Roberts is the latest to suffer with his hamstring and the way he left the field it is hard to see him recovering in time to play any further part.
Plus points from the game are the performances of Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Croft, both the second rows Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O’Connell as well as Simon Zebo and Jonathan Davies in the backs. But of the biggest significance was how Sam Warburton went both in playing but also as the Captain.
So except for the injury list increasing and bringing more players into the camp. This was the best hit up to date as the Waratahs gave the Lions a physical test. Next up the Brumbies.
Scorers
New South Wales Waratahs (10) 17
Tries: Carter (2)
Conversions: McKibbin (2)
Penalty: McKibbin
Lions (23) 47
Tries: Sexton, Halfpenny (2), Croft, Davies
Conversions: Halfpenny (4), Farrell
Penalties: Halfpenny (4)
Teams
NSW Waratahs: Drew Mitchell; Cam Crawford, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Peter Betham; Brendan Foley, Brendan McKibbin; Jeremy Tilse, John Ulugia, Paddy Ryan; Will Skelton, Ollie Atkins; Jed Holloway, Pat McCutcheon, Dave Dennis (capt).
Replacements: Luke Holmes (for Ulugia, 72), Richard Aho (for Tilse, 72), Sam Talakai (for Ryan, 72), Lopeti Timani (for Holloway, 49), AJ Gilbert (for McCutcheon, 55), Matt Lucas (for McKibbin, 72), Ben Volavola (for Betham, 72), Tom Kingston (for Carter, 46).
Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones; Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell; Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (for Youngs, 59), Alex Corbisiero (for Vunipola, 59) Dan Cole (for Jones, 59), Geoff Parling (for O’Connell, 59), Dan Lydiate (for Croft, 59), Ben Youngs (for Phillips, 59), Owen Farrell (for Sexton, 49), Rob Kearney (for Halfpenny, 59).
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Attendance: 40,805
Tuesday and next up for the Lions are the Brumbies. The Lions team is full of exciting changes but also could have problems as particularly the backs are new combinations and untried. If they can get ball it will be exciting to see youngster Christian Wade with the ball in hand. here are the selections:
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Clyde Rathbone, MattToomua, Ian Prior; Ruan Smith, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Leon Power, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Colby Faingaa, Peter Kimlin (capt).
Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, Jean-Pierre Smith, Chris Cocca, Etienne Oosthuizen, Jordan Smiler, Mark Swanepoel, Robbie Coleman, Zack Holmes
Lions: Rob Kearney; Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Shane Williams; Stuart Hogg, Ben Youngs; Ryan Grant, Rory Best (capt), Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Sean O’Brien, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Simon Zebo.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)