Lions put the Rebels in their place as they ease to victory with a 35 point margin
Lions march to victory with a 35 point win over a well beaten Rebel side.
Since the Lion's first series win against Australia on Saturday many things have changed within the squad. Most notably is the departure of Lions and Ireland legend, Paul O'Connell. The lock leaves the tour as a result of a fractured arm, an injury that was picked up during the Lions' 21-23 win over the Wallabies. This meant that Geoff Parling was stripped of his captaincy against the Rebels today in order to give Gatland options to fill O'Connell's boots come Saturday's second test.
Parling's loss was Welshman, Dan Lydiate's gain as Warren Gatland appointed the recently fit flanker to lead his side out against the Rebels in Melbourne yesterday morning. This was the last chance fringe players had to prove to the coaching team that they deserve a place within Saturday's starting test side.
The last warm up match saw the men in red convincingly beat their Australian opposition by a 35 point margin. In the first five minutes it seemed that the Rebels were the only team that had turned up to play. Continuous pressure was piled upon the Lions defence as the Rebels curated wave after wave of attack creeping closer towards the visitor's try line. Despite this pressure, the Rebels seemed to be deprived of the ability to finish as their possession went to waste with penalties going in the favour of the Lions. This became a problem throughout the match with the Rebel's penalty count reaching 13 to Lions' 6 by the 67th minute.
However, the Rebels were not on their own in their inability to finish moves as the Lions also had the ambition and creativity within their play but they were crucially lacking execution while in the opposition's 22. It was evident that the team were lacking the finishing ability of test starters such as Alex Cuthbert and George North. Despite this, Connor Murray showed why he should be considered for a place in Saturday's starting XV with a great pirouetting finish to make the score 0-5.
Another great try by the Lions came but a few minutes later with Sean O'Brien crossing the line after a few phases of great play by Tuilagi, Maitland and Zebo. With Farrell keeping up his great form, the score increased to 0-14. Farrell has most definitely developed throughout this tour, most notably he is now able to keep his temperament in check as well as controlling the game which is extremely important for a fly half.
Some decent play was seen by the Lions throughout the game which saw them score three tries and finish the game 0-35. Although, the scoreline could have been even larger if small mistakes were taken out of their game. Forward passes, knock ons and soft penalties such as the incredibly silly one given against Sean O'Brien at the break down for playing the ball when completely off side, all let the team down.
The forwards really stuck their hands up today as they dominated the game. Players such as captain Dan Lydiate had an extraordinary work rate, completing 13 tackles by the start of the second half. Sean O'Brien had a great day on the field scoring tries, hitting the rucks with force and the Irishman played a key role in defence as he, like Lydiate and many other forwards within the team, had a very high work rate. After a shaky start, the Lions' line out and scrum came to dominate and with players such as Ian Evans stealing lineout ball from the opposition, it was evident that the Lions' pack were the ones controlling the game.
A 72min try by substitute scrum half, Ben Youngs, which cam off the back of another great, clean lineout saw the men in red end the game with complete and utter confidence and more importantly having done all they could to be considered for a place in Gatland's Saturday test team.
Melbourne Rebels: Jason Woodward, Tom English, Mitch Inmar, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell, Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt).
Replacements: Pat Leafa (for Robinson, 61) Cruze Ah-Nau (for Henderson, 61) Paul Alo-Emilie (for Weeks, 61), Luke Jones (for Pyle, 41), Jordy Reid (for Delve, 56), Nic Stirzaker (for Burgess, 56), Angus Roberts (for Hegarty, 72), Cooper Vuna (for Inman, 50).
Yellow card: Reid (63)
British and Irish Lions: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate (capt), Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Rory Best (for Hibbard, 55), Tom Court (for Grant, 55), Matt Stevens (for Cole, 55), Tom Croft (for Lydiate, 64), Justin Tipuric (for O'Brien, 55), Ben Youngs (for Murray, 62), Owen Farrell , Billy Twelvetrees (blood, for Barritt, 32-40, for Kearney, 62), Stuart Hogg (for Farrell, 52).
Attendance: 28,648
Referee: Glenn Jackson (NZ)
Stats from bbc.co.uk/sport
Since the Lion's first series win against Australia on Saturday many things have changed within the squad. Most notably is the departure of Lions and Ireland legend, Paul O'Connell. The lock leaves the tour as a result of a fractured arm, an injury that was picked up during the Lions' 21-23 win over the Wallabies. This meant that Geoff Parling was stripped of his captaincy against the Rebels today in order to give Gatland options to fill O'Connell's boots come Saturday's second test.
Parling's loss was Welshman, Dan Lydiate's gain as Warren Gatland appointed the recently fit flanker to lead his side out against the Rebels in Melbourne yesterday morning. This was the last chance fringe players had to prove to the coaching team that they deserve a place within Saturday's starting test side.
The last warm up match saw the men in red convincingly beat their Australian opposition by a 35 point margin. In the first five minutes it seemed that the Rebels were the only team that had turned up to play. Continuous pressure was piled upon the Lions defence as the Rebels curated wave after wave of attack creeping closer towards the visitor's try line. Despite this pressure, the Rebels seemed to be deprived of the ability to finish as their possession went to waste with penalties going in the favour of the Lions. This became a problem throughout the match with the Rebel's penalty count reaching 13 to Lions' 6 by the 67th minute.
However, the Rebels were not on their own in their inability to finish moves as the Lions also had the ambition and creativity within their play but they were crucially lacking execution while in the opposition's 22. It was evident that the team were lacking the finishing ability of test starters such as Alex Cuthbert and George North. Despite this, Connor Murray showed why he should be considered for a place in Saturday's starting XV with a great pirouetting finish to make the score 0-5.
Another great try by the Lions came but a few minutes later with Sean O'Brien crossing the line after a few phases of great play by Tuilagi, Maitland and Zebo. With Farrell keeping up his great form, the score increased to 0-14. Farrell has most definitely developed throughout this tour, most notably he is now able to keep his temperament in check as well as controlling the game which is extremely important for a fly half. Some decent play was seen by the Lions throughout the game which saw them score three tries and finish the game 0-35. Although, the scoreline could have been even larger if small mistakes were taken out of their game. Forward passes, knock ons and soft penalties such as the incredibly silly one given against Sean O'Brien at the break down for playing the ball when completely off side, all let the team down.
The forwards really stuck their hands up today as they dominated the game. Players such as captain Dan Lydiate had an extraordinary work rate, completing 13 tackles by the start of the second half. Sean O'Brien had a great day on the field scoring tries, hitting the rucks with force and the Irishman played a key role in defence as he, like Lydiate and many other forwards within the team, had a very high work rate. After a shaky start, the Lions' line out and scrum came to dominate and with players such as Ian Evans stealing lineout ball from the opposition, it was evident that the Lions' pack were the ones controlling the game.
A 72min try by substitute scrum half, Ben Youngs, which cam off the back of another great, clean lineout saw the men in red end the game with complete and utter confidence and more importantly having done all they could to be considered for a place in Gatland's Saturday test team.
Melbourne Rebels: Jason Woodward, Tom English, Mitch Inmar, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell, Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt).
Replacements: Pat Leafa (for Robinson, 61) Cruze Ah-Nau (for Henderson, 61) Paul Alo-Emilie (for Weeks, 61), Luke Jones (for Pyle, 41), Jordy Reid (for Delve, 56), Nic Stirzaker (for Burgess, 56), Angus Roberts (for Hegarty, 72), Cooper Vuna (for Inman, 50).
Yellow card: Reid (63)
British and Irish Lions: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate (capt), Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Rory Best (for Hibbard, 55), Tom Court (for Grant, 55), Matt Stevens (for Cole, 55), Tom Croft (for Lydiate, 64), Justin Tipuric (for O'Brien, 55), Ben Youngs (for Murray, 62), Owen Farrell , Billy Twelvetrees (blood, for Barritt, 32-40, for Kearney, 62), Stuart Hogg (for Farrell, 52).
Attendance: 28,648
Referee: Glenn Jackson (NZ)
Stats from bbc.co.uk/sport
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