Australia Player Ratings vs the British and Irish Lions

July 19, 2025
3226
Ultimate Rugby

Australia 19 Lions 27

First blood to the Lions, and for the majority of this contest Andy Farrell’s side were utterly dominant, displaying a physicality worthy of any previous touring side, with Tom Curry producing a performance for the ages.

Two late tries by the Wallabies in a scrappy finale will give Joe Schmidt’s side a glimmer of hope that the series can yet be rescued, but the takeaway from this contest was how the Lions took a ruthless grip on all aspects of the game, with Curry leading the charge.

Lets take a look at how Australia's players performed in the first test

1.JAMES SLIPPER 6/10

The 49min played by Slipper, it went up and down in the scrums. Early in the game a free kick went against him and later one he got one back. On attack he was quick to support at the breakdowns.

2.MATT FAESSLER 5/10

He struggled to find his jumpers in the lineouts and a miss tackle on Genge was something he would want to forget. He got through a lot of work on attack.

3.ALLAN ALAALATOA 7/10

The veteran in the pack got through 57 mins and was strong in the scrums , winning a crutual penalty in the 2nd half.

4.NICK FROST 6/10

Frost got through a mountain of work on both sides of the ball but the lineouts is something he would like to look at. In the 80mins he and Faessler stuggled to beat the Lions on their own ball.

5.JEREMY WILLIAMS 6/10

A big shift from the number 5 but same as Frost he will not be happy with the lineouts. A knock on in the 2nd half gave the Lions the oppertunity to clear their lines.

6.NICK CHAMPION DE CRESPIGNY* 8/10

66 mins on debut is something he can be proud of. A BIG shift on defence and sitting down Genge will be a proud moment for him. Sneaky lineout play with him coming around the corner but the Lions read it well and kept him up.

7.FRASER MCREIGHT 6/10

McReight and Wilson can be proud of their efforts. Early in the match he won a turnover on his own 5m but a bad pass off a lineout and a miss tackle on Curry that led to the Lions 2nd try is two actions he would want to fix.

8.HARRY WILSON (C) 8/10

Captain Wilson was all over the park. On attack he carried strong and one or two neat kicks kept his team in the match. On defence he made his tackles.

9.JAKE GORDON 7/10

Gordon got great distance on his box kicks with Jorgenson scoring the first try off one. The Lions got it right to slow down their breakdowns so his options for runners were limited.

10.TOM LYNAGH 7/10

With the Lions dishing out big tackles in the mid field, his options were limited. His scramble at the back were good and a few great kicks is something he can take forward. The miss touch find on half time is something he would like to fix. On defence the Lions targeted him but he stood his ground.

11.HARRY POTTER 6/10

Early in the match he knocked the ball into touch giving the Lions a lineout inside Australias 22. Later in the first half he kicked the ball too long kickng the Lions a scrum in their half. In the 2nd half he made good meters on attack.

12.LEN IKITAU 7/10

Really strong carries off set pieces but got the timing wrong a few times off 2nd and 3rd phase. Read it wrong on defence when Sheehan scored in the corner.

13.JOSEPH-AUKUSO SUAALII 6/10

The Lions did very well to keep him out of the match. A few strong carries but that was it. On defence he was average.

14.MAX JORGENSON 8/10

Early in the game he missed a few box kicks chases but made up for it with the opening try after regathering one off a Gordon box kick. Missed a tackle on Lowe but made up with a follow up tackle on Jones to keep the Lions out.