The British and Irish Lions misplaced their opening match of the 12 months on Friday, happening 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin.
There was, as anticipated, just a few teething points which Andy Farrell will look to handle this week earlier than their first match in Australia in opposition to the Western Power in Perth subsequent Saturday.
Listed here are three issues we realized from the opening match.
1. Tommy Freeman, Jac Morgan impress
It was a match the place gamers had the possibility to make an excellent first impression on Andy Farrell, and Tommy Freeman and Jac Morgan did simply that.
From the off, Freeman seemed harmful with ball in hand. After a terrific Six Nations with England and an excellent marketing campaign with Northampton, Freeman confirmed his skills on the first time of asking for the Lions.
In contrast to others, he did not try to power all the pieces 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 one among 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 effectively, proving a handful for Argentina defenders. You recognize he’ll get by a mountain of labor each recreation 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’ fundamental frustration will come from the truth that after they did get going, they seemed actually good. They simply could not maintain it.
Freeman, Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu specifically seemed 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 underneath sufficient strain.
An bold offload, a free carry or a cross too many as an alternative of constructing strain by phases undid all the great work. You need to earn the proper to assault.
The excellent news is all this stuff are of their management. It should simply take a while and good communication.
Farrell may have preferred the free-flowing rugby he noticed in flashes, however he’ll remind his aspect they’re a brand new group and the cohesion cannot be rushed an excessive amount of.
3. The lineout wants fixing – quick!
Lineouts, significantly with a brand new group, could be difficult 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, but it surely’s a key space they should brush up on earlier than they face the Wallabies.
Joe Schmidt’s data of the Lions gamers, significantly the Irish contingent, will probably be deep and little doubt he’ll already be searching for areas he can poke holes in and expose.
The lineout easy can’t turn into a nagging subject for this aspect, as it’s such a key space in fashionable rugby. They should present they’ve cleaned it up ASAP, which comes in opposition to the Western Power subsequent week.
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