The British and Irish Lions opened their Test series with a 27-19 win over Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The victory marked a solid start to the tour, powered by tries from Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry, and Dan Sheehan, along with the sharp kicking of Finn Russell.
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However, while the team performance was enough to get over the line, not all players emerged with their reputations enhanced.
A shaky final quarter exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in the back three, where unforced errors and poor decision-making led to harsh criticism across the rugby media.
Here we break down the three lowest-rated Lions players, ranked from best to worst by their average score across five major outlets.
3. Hugo Keenan – 5.0/10 (Average Rating)
Planet Sport: 5/10
Rugby Pass: 5/10
Guardian: 5/10
What went wrong:
The Leinster fullback endured a frustrating evening. Like the rest of the Lions’ back-three, Keenan was exposed under the high ball and defensively vulnerable. He was robbed by Max Jorgensen for Australia’s opening try and conceded another turnover in a nervy first half.
While he improved slightly after the break with some positive attacking involvement, the damage had been done. Crucially, he failed to lock down the No.15 shirt ahead of a likely selection reshuffle.
Verdict:
Showed glimpses in attack but was unconvincing overall. Not the worst offender, but far from safe for the second Test.
Suggested Replacement: Blair Kinghorn (if fit)
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