Hmmm... so Australia deservedly win.
Where to go from here for next week though. Number of good performances, but a number of partnerships didn't really work leaving the sum somewhat short of the constitutive components.
1. MK: Was looking grim half way through the first half, but he steadied himself (and thus the scrum) very well. Makes sense to stick with him for next week now.
2. TY: Good in loose, not able to make the lineout tail, but neither is Hibbard. Would also start him next week.
3. AJ: Did his job in the scrum. Definite starter for next week.
4. Parling: Probably need a bit more go-forward - but if he/coaches doesn't feel his carrying is strong enough - then fair enough - let others do it instead. No other options, has to start. I don't 100% trust Rickie Gray.
5. AWJ: Big worker. Big big worker. Another big game needed next week.
6. DL: Did nothing wrong defensively. Great tackling workrate. Did as expected. But... if we need to win, is it enough? Question mark for next week. We need go-forward ball from the forwards.
7. SW: I've slated him on here before, but by god he stood up and was counted today. Superb. Would be a big loss if he couldn't start next week.
8. JH: Him and SW went off within a couple of minutes of each other. Back row was always under ruck pressure afterward. Hard to say how much that is Heaslip and how much is Warburton. Faletau is fresh and playing well, could be worth a start next week.
9. BY: Not the absolute stinker he had against the Brumbies, but not great either. Murray looked markedly more assured when he came on - and I never thought I'd be saying that!
10. JS: Did OK without a platform, a lack of a big carrier outside him probably left him looking to kick too often.
11. GN: Didn't get much ball to work with, but stuck to the task of containing Folau well. Needed to be used more on inside diagonals I think - but there wasn't much space in midfield to exploit.
12. JD: Jiffy jnr had a few iffy moments, but mixed that with a few decent runs too. I'd think BOD and TB will be looking at him a bit - AAC was his man for the Aus try and he was caught off-track badly. Hasn't done much wrong, but might be sacrified to give a big carrier for Sexton to use.
13. BOD: Not great offensively, in the 2nd half threw a very poor pass and kicked to nothing, both of which bought big pressure on the Lions. But a rock defensively. Certain starter for next week.
14. TB: Great defensively, absolutely superb. Knew when to stick, when to drift and when to trade space for time. If Cuthbert had been there, I'm quite sure the Aussies would have ran in 2 or 3 down that side. But, like North, didn't really get involved in midfield breaks as much as I would like. Also certain to start next week.
15. LH: Solid. However too often in broken field the first instinct was to kick rather than look for the runners - also didn't add too much shape to the Lions attack (for reference, see Jared Payne for us lot in Ulster). Even for the sake of mixing it up a bit to keep the defense guessing he should look at running to make an outside overlap rather than straight back down the throat. Unfortunate that the last kick fell short - but not wholly surprising after 80 hard minutes. Again, will start next week.
So my main questions are 6, 8, 9 and 12.
IMO:
O'Brien < Lydiate
Faletau < Heaslip
Murray < Youngs
Tuilagi < Davies
Leaving the rest as is.
The bench, I'd have Davies as the lineout option. Tipuric as the bench backrower and then assuming Roberts is out, Youngs, Davies and Hogg as your back cover. Hogg can cover 10 adequately. He could offer the broken field running that Halfpenny doesn't. Drop the kicker I hear you say? Yes if we need to chase the game.
