Lions vs Red match report

This was without doubt the toughest test the Lions have had so far, and probably the toughest before their first test against Australia.

The game was physical and high tempo from the off, and it was clear that the Reds were going to run everything, Quade Cooper bringing his A-game and running the show so much that the Lions didn’t touch the ball till the six-minute mark.

It was the Lions who were closest to scoring first though. Tommy Bowe made a great break downfield and gave it to Cuthbert who had a clear run in, before Luke Morahan tracked back and tackled him into touch just a yard out.

Owen Farrell got the first points on the board with a penalty after the Lions blitzed the Reds in the scrum, a theme that carried on throughout the match. Yet it was Morahan who got the first try of the game with an outstanding score. From deep within his own half, he caught a high ball, stepped Alex Cuthbert, burnt Sam Warburton and chipped over Stuart Hogg to go under the posts. Cooper converting.

The Lions should have got a try soon after but were unable to capitalise on a Cooper drop in his 22, Jonathan Davies hacking the ball dead when he could have picked up and scored. Farrell then added another penalty before the Lions blew another chance. North broke down the left before offloading inside to Farrell, but it was Monahan who saved the day again, knocking the ball out of Farrell’s hands while he was in the process of scoring.

Lions scored from the resulting scrum though. Ben Youngs doing extremely well to rip the ball out of Jake Schatz’s grip and flopping over the line to score. Farrell adding the extras before another outstanding winger’s break, this time from George North, led to Warburton being held up over the line.

On the stroke of half-time, Farrell was able to add another three points to take the score to 16-7.

The second half was a scrappy affair, a wet ball and tired bodies making it less impressive than the first. Again, Farrell got the first points with a penalty but the Reds scored the first try. Rod Davies sprinting down the flank and passing inside to Nick Frisby for the score. Mike Harris missing the conversion in front of the posts though.

Both teams had plenty of attacking opportunities but were unable to hold onto the ball, the only other points of the half coming from the boot of Farrell, taking the score to 22-12 at the final whistle.

This was a tough game for the Lions but gave Warren Gatland a better sense of who might start the first test. Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau and Cuthbert were less than impressive but Dan Lydiate, the Youngs brothers, Bowe, Richie Gray, North and Hogg all played well.