Can Australia provide a proper fight for the Lions?

Tourists eye historic whitewash, but a 3-0 victory wouldn't bode well for a sport that needs a strong Aussie side, argues Ben Coles

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Whisper it, but this series between British and Irish Lions and Australia is crying out for the Wallabies to win one of the first two Test matches to add some welcome spice into a tour that is still to find its edge.

Ideally that win will come in the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday, leaving the Lions with a two-win mountain to climb to capture a first series triumph since 2013 and giving Andy Farrell and his squad a meaty challenge to sink their teeth into. Going into a Test at the MCG in Melbourne 1-0 down? That will sound familiar to anyone who has ever watched England in the Ashes.

Alternatively, the Lions could win in Brisbane and then lose in Melbourne to set up a winner-takes-all decider in Sydney. Either scenario generates some much-needed jeopardy given that the quality of the opposition so far in Australia has not been high enough to truly trouble the Lions so far. Then again, what else did you expect to happen playing against a bunch of Super Rugby franchises missing the bulk of their top players due to Wallaby call-ups? The Brumbies and Waratahs gave the Lions some small frights but no nightmares. At full strength, who knows?

The top contender to give the Lions a bloody nose going into the Test series seemed to be the combined AUNZ Invitational side given the collection of talent assembled, inviting over a number of quality New Zealand players. Except they appeared to pitch up in Adelaide without a defensive system and the Lions duly won 48-0. Yes, the Lions’ attack looked sharper and the breakdown work was more efficient, but the AUNZ side, still in the “sticking on name tags after arriving at a conference” stage of getting to know each other, were not exactly much of a challenge.