Lions’ Flying Scotsmen See Off Anzac Side But Cowan-dickie Head Injury Another Blow

The Lions were ne'er going to rival Sir Donald Bradman’s scoring complaint astatine this historical crushed but they did their champion to support Adelaide Oval’s beautiful aged scoreboard ticking over. It was surely nan first clip nan first six tries of a modern-day Lions’s triumph person each been contributed by Scotland players, allowing nan touring squad to return nan psychological precocious roadworthy to Brisbane for adjacent week’s first Test.

Aside from nan premature departure of Luke Cowan-Dickie, who was carried disconnected aft misjudging an attempted first-half tackle, and a imaginable uncertainty complete Garry Ringrose, not progressive here, location was almost thing to ruffle nan Lions’ management. Duhan van der Merwe claimed a hat-trick of tries, Henry Pollock stole successful for a typically opportunist second-half people that fewer others would person made and, defensively, nan AUNZ broadside were hardly fixed a sniff.

The Lions should expect to beryllium facing alternatively much fired-up guidance adjacent week, however, pinch nan Invitational XV struggling to flight first cogwheel for overmuch of nan contest. The result was not remotely successful uncertainty from an early shape and a subdued crowd were only awoken from their slumbers erstwhile Owen Farrell arrived arsenic a 49th-minute replacement.

Owen Farrell is backmost successful a Lions jersey aft coming connected arsenic a replacement for Huw Jones successful 50th infinitesimal for his circuit debut. Photograph: James Elsby/AP

The erstwhile England skipper was softly effective, his fantabulous midfield walk helping to group up Van der Merwe for his 3rd try, and Mack Hansen besides caught nan oculus pinch different engaged capacity connected nan wing. Suddenly location are nary shortage of chair options for Andy Farrell arsenic he turns his attraction towards beating Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies successful nan best-of-three Test series.

Next Saturday will beryllium a acold cry, however, from this cakewalk, played successful gorgeous surroundings. South Australia is rightly proud of its vineyards, its nutrient and its abundant quality but Adelaide Oval besides merits bucket-list status. The Lions are playing successful immoderate fabulous venues connected this travel and nan stroll complete nan River Torrens to this artfully updated stadium is correct up there.

Concern for Luke Cowan-Dickie aft a rustle to nan caput intends nan the Sale Sharks hooker is simply a uncertainty for nan first Test. Photograph: David Davies/PA

For a while, too, it moreover seemed nan Lions mightiness beryllium astir to tally up a cricket people against a mixed AUNZ squad who, contempt containing 17 internationals, had been together for conscionable 3 pre-game training sessions. The touring squad had 2 tries connected nan committee wrong nan first 9 minutes, nan first by Van der Merwe aft a smart speedy throw-in by Hugo Keenan and nan 2nd courtesy of Ben White’s crisp individual break from nan guidelines of an attacking ruck.

The Invitational XV were being made to look distinctly sluggish by comparison and recovered themselves 17-0 down aft 20 minutes erstwhile much purposeful buildup play and a deft scoring walk from Hansen presented Van der Merwe pinch a gift-wrapped second. So acold truthful easy.

Unfortunately they were astir to suffer much wounded disruption aft Cowan-Dickie’s ill-fated attempted tackle connected nan monolithic Lukhan Salakaia-Loto resulted successful nan Sale subordinate being transported distant connected a medicart. He was capable to springiness a thumbs-up from his supine position but different hooker – perchance Wales’s Dewi Lake – will now person to beryllium lined up arsenic cover.

Duhan van Der Merwe breaks done to people his 2nd arsenic nan Lions declare 3 first-half tries. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Keenan besides near precocious connected pinch an evident touch of cramp but by past nan crippled was agelong since over. Van der Merwe had a mixed crippled contempt his hat-trick but Pollock was effervescent throughout, capping it disconnected by diving successful to punish a protect correction by Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.

Onwards to Brisbane, wherever nan scoreboard is improbable to rattle astir to this extent.