Lions: Herbert hails Lions' performance

Wallabies star Daniel Herbert today paid the Lions a glowing tribute after seeing his Queensland Reds side blown away at Ballymore.

The Super 12 semi-finalists suffered a crushing 42-8 defeat, conceding tries to Dan Luger, Rob Henderson, Dafydd James, Richard Hill and Brian O’Driscoll, while fly-half orchestrator Jonny Wilkinson kicked 17 points.

Even though the Reds were without injured international trio John Eales, Ben Tune and Chris Latham, they still paraded six players on Wallabies duty against the New Zealand Maoris seven days earlier.

Herbert will tangle with the Lions again on Saturday week in an eagerly-awaited first Test confrontation, and he expects a monumental collision.

‘‘The Lions are living up to their reputations,’’ he said. ‘‘They are possibly the best side the Wallabies have faced in a number of years.

‘‘We haven’t faced a side over the last 12 months which has been as good as the Lions, but I don’t think Rod Macqueen (Wallabies coach) saw too much different in the Queensland match to what he already knew about them.’’