Lions Tour: Lions tipped to roar back

The Lions have been backed to make a swift recovery after losing their first non-Test match in Australia since 1971.

That 30-year record was ended by an Australia A side who, despite being outscored 3-1 on tries, triumphed through their greater discipline and organisation.

But Eddie Jones, coach of the Wallabies’ second-string, believes there is no reason to start pressing alarm buttons.

"I don’t think this result should be seen as a great disappointment for the Lions they will bounce back against New South Wales on Saturday," said Jones, following his team’s 28-25 success in Gosford.

"The Lions did struggle in the scrums and lineouts, but it is probably the first time they played against a side on tour that would contest them in that area."

The 1989 Lions Down Under successfully saw off all provincial or representative teams below the Wallabies.

And that meant they avoided the fate of John Dawes’ 1971 tourists, who were beaten 15-11 by Queensland en route to a memorable 24-match excursion in New Zealand.

Apart from a late scoring burst, when full-back Matt Perry and wing Jason Robinson scored tries, the 2001 Lions never looked like retaining their 100% record after successive victories against Western Australia A, Queensland President’s XV and Queensland Reds.

New Zealand referee Paul Honiss penalised the Lions 24 times during a disjointed contest, with the breakdown area proving particularly troublesome.

"We appeared to be putting hands in there, and were getting pinged for it," said Lions coach Graham Henry.

Honiss sin-binned Lawrence Dallaglio eight minutes from time after he handled in a ruck, allowing fly-half Manuel Edmonds to strike his seventh successful penalty and seal the Lions’ fate.

"We lacked basic sharpness," Henry added. "Our lineout was not acceptable and there were a lot of negatives, but this could be the base-line we require reality has really set in."

In terms of formulating his Test 22 to face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday week, Henry will have learnt much from yesterday’s setback.

Few players did themselves justice and there can be little doubt that Henry’s Test starting XV is now pretty much settled.

Probably only Dallaglio of those on duty in Gosford will make it, and he will get another run-out against NSW at Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday.

Centre Mike Catt, though, saw his entire tour contribution restricted to barely 40 minutes after he suffered a recurrence of calf trouble yesterday.

Catt, having been plagued by the injury for a fortnight, has joined Simon Taylor and Phil Greening as a major injury casualty.

Back on the field, wing Scott Staniforth claimed Australia’s solitary touchdown, with Edmonds booting 23 points, while Perry, Robinson and Mark Taylor bagged Lions’ touchdowns, Neil Jenkins slotting two penalties and Matt Dawson two conversions.