Lions lay down series marker and ease to victory over Australia in first Test

Winning the first Test does not guarantee a series victory but Australia already need a minor miracle. On the evidence of this contest it is going to take something pretty remarkable to stop the Lions from wrapping things up in Melbourne next Saturday and, with thousands of travelling fans cheering them on, Andy Farrell’s side now have firm control of their own destiny.

There were moments in the first half when the Lions were so dominant that it felt akin to watching a juggernaut thundering through the outback, skittling everything in sight. They were unable to sustain it but the visitors’ dominance in the first 50 minutes was such that the winning margin could have been wider. From Finn Russell’s insouciant brilliance to Tom Curry’s relentless tackling, the Lions were a cut above in the areas that mattered most.

The last half-hour was rather more competitive but this outcome will worry everyone involved with Australian rugby. From a relatively early stage there was no doubt about the winners and tries from Sione Tuipulotu, Curry and Dan Sheehan ensured the Lions were in effect home and hosed by the start of the second half.

Max Jorgensen evades Finn Russell’s tackle to touch down and open the Wallabies’ account. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

The home side were only kept in the game by the Lions’ loss of second-half rhythm, by which point it was a case of too little too late. They were 24-5 behind by the 41st minute and, if they cannot pose a bigger threat in the second Test at the MCG, the debate surrounding the future shape of Lions tours of Australia will only intensify.

That said, try telling the thousands of red-shirted Lions fans on the ground that winning in Australia will ever lose its lustre. Walking through the hordes on Caxton Street before the game, the occasional splash of gold was the only hint that another team might be involved. The now-familiar sea of red was in danger of becoming an ocean and it was the same inside the stadium.

To stand any chance the Wallabies needed to find a way of silencing the red army as swiftly as possible. And avoiding the kind of self-inflicted howlers that, as David Campese can testify, can sway the biggest occasions. They reckoned without Russell, who never needs his opponents’ permission to declare his genius.

Having slotted an early penalty to reward a turnover forced by Tadhg Beirne, the fly-half gave the Wallabies further notice of his intentions with a lovely offload to a charging Sheehan. The Lions rumbled on towards the line and, with the defence stretched, another beautifully judged long ball from Russell gave Tuipulotu the easiest of run-ins.

Sione Tuipulotu Lions fires the first shot for the Loiona, after scoring the opening try. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

The Frankston-reared centre was desperate to be part of this tour back to his homeland for precisely this sort of moment. Worse seemed about to follow for the Wallabies when James Lowe escaped the clutches of Max Jorgensen down the left and Huw Jones appeared to have scored his side’s try. Luckily for the hosts it was ruled out because Jones was still being fractionally held as he rolled out of Jorgensen’s desperate cover tackle.

Even without it, the Lions still had a 10-point cushion and the Wallabies were clinging on in every sense. Without big Rob Valetini they were finding it hard to make any gainline dents and nothing was coming easily. It was a sizeable bonus, therefore, when Hugo Keenan was stripped of a high ball by Jorgensen and the winger stole away to put Australia belatedly on the board.

The balance of play, though, was overwhelmingly with the Lions. They were winning the power battle and had a couple more decent opportunities before scoring their second try. This time it was Curry who provided the finishing touch from close range to cap a typically influential half of rugby.

The second half was only a minute old when the Lions scored again, a nice attacking line from Jones and Curry’s pass putting Sheehan over in the right corner. The Wallabies then almost scored through Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, only for the referee to rule it out, but ultimately had to wait until the final seven minutes for Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott to add a touch of respectability to the final scoreline.