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09 Jul, 2025
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British & Irish Lions: attack has been good, defence not so much - There is Only One F in Foley
@Source: irishmirror.ie
The Lions continue to look unsettled in Australia. It's not that they are losing games or that they haven't deserved to be on the right side of the four scorelines since landing four games back. But there is little disguising Super Rugby clubs shouldn't be enjoying this much freedom to score points. Sure, the Brumbies are the best of the club sides the Lions will be facing, they made the 2025 Super Rugby semi-final. READ MORE: British and Irish Lions vs Brumbies player Ratings: The good, the average, and you won't be making the Test Team mate READ MORE: Calling for a 'leader' mid-Lions Tour highlights pre-Tour selection absurdity - There is Only One F in Foley But the idea they scored FOUR tries, two in each half, should be worrying for Andy Farrell's defensive coaching group. And that's not least as Farrell appears to be trying to front-load the Lions First Test XV with Ireland, and specifically Leinster, players. Here is the thing; Leinster Defence Coach Jacques Nienaber has the Blues defending a specific way, they run a hard line, with flat-out emphasis on pace, at the opposition attack. The object is not always to make tackles but to get in among the opposition so fast they get confused and make wrong decisions. A system that, overall, ignores the missed tackle statistics attached to players because shooting up at pace and causing confusion is more important. Ireland are less effective at using this system because they have had Connacht's Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen in the backline while, also, they are up against better quality 'international' players. Nowhere has this been more evident than at second-centre/no13 where Garry Ringose's missed tackle statistics of 30 percent at Leinster jumps to 37 percent with Ireland. Given Ireland usually use five Leinster backs in their seven strong backline what is the defensive gamble when using even less Leinster backs? To be fair, Andy Farrell is good at holding his nerve and could start Keenan, Hansen, Ringrose, Aki and Lowe with Russell and Gibson at half-back for the First Test - albeit flat logic suggests Freeman is ahead of Hansen. There is an option to go Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell and Gibson-Park and rely on the full-back, two centres and out-half's Scottish 'softer' rush. If the Brumbies can score 24 points, the Lions don't need to be thinking ahead of the Wallabies game that the Aussies might have another 50 percent, 36 points, in them. Twenty-four points was a lot to concede. "Historically Australia have always gone hard at the breakdown," said Lions boss Farrell afterwards. "If anyone analyses the way we've been playing so far then that's what you would do. We knew we'd get pressurised there. “We kept the Brumbies in the game and they were good enough to be able to capitalise on some of our errors and discipline to score some points themselves. There’s plenty to do, obviously. “We are in a good place in the sense that we are doing well in certain aspects of the game and in fits and starts. But we need to improve in all areas. “Winning while seeing where those improvements are is a good place to be for the next 10 days.” Lions captain Maro Itoje told Sky Sports: "We are happy with the win, we are always happy with winning. There is loads that we can do better. "That is the exciting opportunity for us. We have got another tough game on Saturday and then the real fun begins. We will learn from our errors and move forward. We know we're not the finished article." Ollie Chessum may have been the biggst winner of the say following a top class performance at no6, he told BBC: "I think the line-out one is probably obvious, to have that third jumper," he said when asked by BBC Sport about his point of difference as a back row. But all sorts really. I think that when I get the ball in my hands on the edges I can make a real difference. Playing six frees you up to be both on the edge and in the middle. "I have had to work at it, but since I have been 20 or 21 I have played in and around the back row at Leicester. "I have had hints of it with England - with the players we have there it works nicely in a bit of rotation. I do really enjoy it. "The coaches have been great with me because obviously we have not had that much time to prepare and train so they have freed me up and let me go to work. Hopefully I did what they asked me to tonight." The England player has possibly got himself ahead of Ireland's Tadhg Beirne who was not on the matchday squad and who may be asked to captain Saturday's Lions against Australia/New Zealand. "I don't know what to expect! These past two weeks has been an absolute blur. "You play a game, you are on a flight, we land in the next city, we have a captains' run and then we are playing again. "It has been really enjoyable but, as far as what is to come next weekend, as a squad we will see where we want to take the game. "That is one thing that has been really good - it has been player led and hopefully we can have our input on what we are going to do next week." Ireland star but Canberra born Mack Hansen said of his rturn 'home': “It was quite weird to be honest. Coming back was a bit emotional to be fair. “We’re all in this team striving for the test matches so if I didn’t play it is what it is but the fact I got to play here I’m pretty chuffed. “Canberra has changed a lot since I’ve been here. It’s blown me away. I gave the boys a lot of recommendations and most had either closed down or been redeveloped.” Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham watched his side get close but still lose by 12 points. "There were a few errors in the first half, but overall I thought the effort was outstanding. The guys that came off the bench did an amazing job and everyone contributed. "There were a few lapses in coming out of our own end but we were under the pump for the majority of that game and we were dogged defensively. "I guess like every other Australian team we've come up short this time around and they were pretty good with a near-full strength team." READ MORE: Calling for a 'leader' mid-Lions Tour highlights pre-Tour selection absurdity - There is Only One F in Foley READ MORE: Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3: HOW TO stream Uma Thurman documentary, see Open Sparring, watch Press Conf, Weigh-In & Fight - the key info Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
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