Cool-headed half-backs key to Lions' first Test success

There was a perhaps telling line uttered by Andy Farrell about eight minutes into his post-match press conference after the British and Irish Lions' first Test win in Brisbane.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

The Lions boss had bounded through the bowels of Suncorp Stadium, scribbling a few thoughts in a notebook as he emerged to face the assembled media and then scolding those who had questioned the selection of Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry. “I’d read all of that,” he said, with an air of a parent chiding a naive child, accompanied by an “I told you so” grin. “It was quite interesting, wasn’t it?”

Certainly, in that selection, Farrell had been vindicated, but there were to be no hubristic declarations otherwise. Part of the reason that he has excelled as a leader in both codes is the manner in which he measures his utterings, both public and private. While talking up the Lions’ first-half performance, Farrell underscored how unacceptable their second-half drop-off had been - making clear that his side would celebrate first Test victory, already there were plenty of forward-looking hints to this week. They will need to be better with the Wallabies likely to lift their level at the MCG.

But the aforementioned quote in question came when the Lions’ head coach was given license to gush. All and sundry have already extolled the virtues of Finn Russell on this tour, and the fly-half had been close to faultless on Saturday night, continuing to take ownership of a trip upon which he may yet emerge as the lead character. Russell had got the Lions’ attack to hum, been immaculate from the tee and laid a try on a plate for roommate Sione Tuipulotu with a pass that the Scottish centre would later compare to the one carved to Huw Jones against England in 2018 - albeit without quite as much daring.