The Lions have lift-off, and only a miracle can save the Wallabies in this series.
Andy Farrell's tourists were dominant in Brisbane as they cruised past the Wallabies 27-19 to take a 1-0 lead in their best of three Test series.
The only hope Joe Schmidt’s side can cling onto is the impending return from injury of forward pair Will Skelton and Rob Valetini for the second Test, both of whom were badly missed as the Lions bullied their hosts up front.
Finn Russell gave an exhibition at Suncorp Stadium, but he did so behind an utterly dominant pack, who got over the gainline at will with their array of ball-carriers constantly forcing the Wallabies backwards on defence.
Andy Farrell took a gamble with his back row selections, but both Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry justified their places with outstanding performances.
Beirne set the tone with a jackal penalty inside the opening seconds, and the 33-year-old was a constant menace for the Wallabies in defence, where he forced multiple turnovers, and at the lineout.
Curry justified his selection by scoring his side’s second try and playing a major hand in their third as Dan Sheehan’s effort just after the break had sent the Lions 24-5 in front.
Sione Tuipulotu, preferred to Bundee Aki at 12, got the Lions up and running with an early try which sent the tourists on their way, and while the Wallabies did put some gloss on the scoreboard with late tries from Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott, it was never enough to threaten a comeback.
The Lions could hardly have asked for a better start, Beirne pouncing on a tackled Wallaby to secure a jackal penalty just 25 seconds into the game, which Russell sent between the sticks for a quick 3-0 lead.
It was enough to settle the out-half into the game, and shortly after he came close to a 50:22. Although the ball just came short of the touchline, a poor knock-on into touch from Harry Potter secured a Lions lineout.
The Russell show continued on seven minutes, with two stunning pieces of skill from the Scot eventually leading to the first try of the game.
First, he sent Sheehan bursting through a gap with a delayed pass in contact, and when the Lions secured a penalty advantage a few phases later, his floating pass skipped four team-mates and three Australian defenders, landing perfectly for Tuipulotu to run in and score, with the conversion making it an ominous 10-0.
Australia’s first venture near the Lions’ 22 didn’t last long, Beirne and Furlong combining to secure a turnover after 12 phases of comfortable defence, and a minute later the tourists should have been in for their second score, Jones seeing a try ruled out for not releasing the ball when tackled, a silly error to make with Jamison Gibson-Park hovering over his shoulder.
They were made to pay for that wastefulness on 28 minutes, as the Wallabies found a try from nowhere.
It was one Hugo Keenan won’t want to see again as he was beaten in the air by Max Jorgensen following a Jake Gordon box-kick, and the ground opened up before the Wallabies winger as he raced in to score.
The hosts may have landed a blow, but they couldn't stop their own bleeding, as the Lions went direct with their carries, with the likes of Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge, Jack Conan and Sheehan getting over the gainline at will.
Twice in the space of a minute they were held up over the line, first Itoje and then James Lowe, but each time they returned for penalties, and on the third go they finally got over for a second try, as Curry followed up carries from Sheehan and Genge to power over, as Russell converted to make it 17-5 on 35 minutes.
Curry was perhaps lucky to avoid a yellow card with the final play of the half when he met Lynagh with a tackle in the air, and the flanker played a crucial role in the Lions’ third try, scored by Sheehan just over a minute into the second half.
First, the Englishman intercepted an overthrown lineout to send Jones flying clear, and on the follow up inside the 22 it was Curry’s pass which sent Sheehan (below) into the corner, Russell once again converted for a commanding 24-5 advantage.
On 51 minutes, the Lions again had a brush with a potential card, with Furlong making head contact on Len Ikitau, which referee Ben O’Keeffe decided was just worth a penalty.
A scrum penalty for the Wallabies soon allowed them another shot at the Lions 22, but a brilliant defensive read from the masterful Beirne led to another turnover for the Munster captain.
Australia were now playing without caution, and twice they got over the line without scoring, first being held up, before Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii thought he had scored on the 60-minute mark, only to be penalised for not releasing the ball, with Aki and Conan coming up trumps for the visitors.
The impressive Lions defence was finally breached with 13 minutes to play, as a series of pick-and-jam efforts from the Wallabies saw Carlo Tizzano burrow over to score, and Ben Donaldson’s conversion brought the score back to 24-12 heading down the stretch.
A Marcus Smith penalty eased any fears of a Wallabies comeback, making it a three-score game, and they would be thankful for that kick at goal when Tate McDermott scrambled over for another Wallabies try with three minutes to play.
The comeback was never on, but might just offer a glimmer of hope that there’s life left in the series.
Australia scorers: Tries: Max Jorgensen, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott
Cons: Ben Donaldson (2)
British and Irish Lions scorers: Tries Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry, Dan Sheehan
Cons: Finn Russell (3)
Pens: Finn Russell (1), Marcus Smith (1)
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Alan Ala'alatoa; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard (for Faessler, 48), Angus Bell (for Slipper, 48), Tom Robertson (for Alaalatoa, 58), Tom Hooper (for Williams, 59), Carlo Tizzano (Champion de Crespigny, 66), Tate McDermott (for Gordon, 59), Ben Donaldson (for Lynagh, 61), Andrew Kellaway (for Ikitau, 68).
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 61), Andrew Porter (for Genge, 48), Will Stuart (for Furlong, 57), Ollie Chessum (for McCarthy, 44), Ben Earl (for Curry, 57), Alex Mitchell (for Gibson-Park, 75), Marcus Smith (for Russell, 66), Bundee Aki (for Tuipulotu, 57)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZRU)
