Poor scrummagers tag grates Alexander

As the British & Irish Lions prepare to fill a Paul O’Connell-shaped hole in their pack for Saturday’s second Test at the Etihad Stadium, Australia prop Ben Alexander is focusing on another likely change, to the tourists’ front row.

Alex Corbisiero, part of an excellent Lions front three alongside Tom Youngs and Adam Jones, is a major doubt with a tight calf muscle, his possible absence a huge cause for concern given that Alexander and company turned the tables once they were withdrawn from the fray by Lions head coach Warren Gatland after just 52 minutes, Jones being replaced by Dan Cole.

Mako Vunipola, a less technically able scrummager than Corbisiero and his likely replacement, conceded a vital late penalty against the Brumbies tighthead that had Kurtley Beale not slipped at the vital moment could have won the Wallabies the opening Test. That had Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree extremely concerned as he prepared to correct what he described as “technical aspects” after 50 minutes in time for the second Test.