The British and Irish Lions misplaced their opening match of the yr on Friday, happening 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin.
There was, as anticipated, a number of teething points which Andy Farrell will look to deal with this week earlier than their first match in Australia towards the Western Power in Perth subsequent Saturday.
Listed below are three issues we discovered from the opening match.
1. Tommy Freeman, Jac Morgan impress
It was a match the place gamers had the prospect to make first impression on Andy Farrell, and Tommy Freeman and Jac Morgan did simply that.
From the off, Freeman regarded harmful with ball in hand. After an important Six Nations with England and marketing campaign with Northampton, Freeman confirmed his abilities on the first time of asking for the Lions.
Not like others, he did not attempt to drive every little thing and remained composed all through the match. Defenders know he can go previous them with a step or use his vary of passing to place his teammates by.
Morgan is certainly one of simply two Welsh gamers within the squad together with Tomos Williams and carried the flag admirably for his nation. He was sturdy over the ball and carried properly, proving a handful for Argentina defenders. You understand he’ll get by a mountain of labor each sport and is a superb chief.
The again row is a supremely aggressive space within the squad, however Morgan made a robust first impression.
2. Communication is vital
The Lions’ major frustration will come from the truth that once they did get going, they regarded actually good. They simply could not maintain it.
Freeman, Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu specifically regarded threatening with most of their touches. The group as an entire simply did not do it as a lot as they should or put Argentina beneath sufficient strain.
An bold offload, a unfastened carry or a go too many as a substitute of constructing strain by phases undid all the nice work. It’s a must to earn the fitting to assault.
The excellent news is all these items are of their management. It’s going to simply take a while and good communication.
Farrell may have preferred the free-flowing rugby he noticed in flashes, however he’ll remind his facet they’re a brand new group and the cohesion cannot be rushed an excessive amount of.
3. The lineout wants fixing – quick!
Lineouts, notably with a brand new group, could be tough beasts to grasp. It wants follow.
Each hookers Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ronan Kelleher struggled, with a number of throws misplaced.
Each these males are skilled campaigners, so that you’d again them to get it proper, nevertheless it’s a key space they should brush up on earlier than they face the Wallabies.
Joe Schmidt’s data of the Lions gamers, notably the Irish contingent, will probably be deep and little question he’ll already be in search of areas he can poke holes in and expose.
The lineout easy can’t change into a nagging difficulty for this facet, as it’s such a key space in fashionable rugby. They should present they’ve cleaned it up ASAP, which comes towards the Western Power subsequent week.
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