England flanker Henry Pollock isn’t holding back. Fresh from dotting down the final try in the Lions’ thumping 48-0 warm-up win over an AUNZ Invitational XV, the young gun has laid out his team’s mission in no uncertain terms – a clean 3-0 sweep over Australia.
And it’s ruffled a few feathers Down Under.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” said Pollock. “We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We’ve been talking about that loads and yeah, 3-0 is definitely on the table, hopefully.”
Pollock doubled down, stressing the squad’s unity and collective hunger ahead of the opening Test.
“I guess we’re all just trying to work towards the same thing. So whether you’re playing or not, we’re all striving to be the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win. If that means sitting out, then I’ll be the best team-mate I can be.”
Following their eight-try statement performance, the Lions shifted base from Adelaide to Brisbane on Sunday, with head coach Andy Farrell and his team reviewing the footage and adjusting the squad.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie’s head knock saw Jamie George called up late Saturday night, and now Farrell’s bolstered the front row again with Leinster’s Tom Clarkson flying in at tighthead. The Irish prop is set to feature midweek against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne – a game sandwiched between the first and second Tests.
That latest call-up brings Leinster’s touring tally to 14 – now level with England’s – as the battle for a historic 3-0 series win heats up.
While the Lions cruised to a dominant 48-0 victory over the AUNZ XV, not every player impressed. Here are four stars whose performances fell short — and whose test hopes now look bleak despite the big win.
Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick as the British and Irish Lions ran in eight tries in a rout of the AUNZ Invitational XV in their last game before the first Test against the Wallabies next weekend.
On an eventful night in Adelaide Owen Farrell came on as a second-half substitute, with news also emerging of a head injury to Garry Ringrose, putting him in danger of missing the match in Brisbane on Saturday.
Below, we look at four players who failed to impress.
Schoeman impressed in open play with strong carries and physicality but struggled at the scrum, conceding multiple free kicks for poor technique. His inconsistency at set-piece remains a key issue as test selection nears.
FloRugby 4/10: "Got busy in the loose as he got on the ball for some big rumbles. His shaky work at scrum time is what is holding him back, as he conceded a few free kicks for not driving straight. Schoeman offered solid carries and physicality in open play, but his inconsistency at the set-piece remains a concern as test selection draws nearer."
#2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
Cowan-Dickie combined aggressive breakdown work with costly technical flaws, including an early line-out overthrow and an injury from a reckless low tackle. His physical presence was notable, but errors undermined his impact with him now ruled out of next week's series opener.
FloRugby 4/10: "Line-out overthrow in minute four dented a decent start. Exceptionally physical around the breakdown, notably clearing out two defenders to allow Ben White's try. His injury in the 36th minute was the result of his notorious low-tackling technique, raising concerns again. A mixed bag, combining aggression with costly technical flaws."
#3. Fin Smith
Smith showed resilience under pressure but lacked influence overall. He missed key opportunities, including a kick and defensive lapse, and didn’t do enough to secure a bench role ahead of the First Test.
BALLS 6/10: "Overcooked an early garryowen into the AUNZ 22. Opposition were finding him on their carries, but he never backed down. Missed Tuipulotu on a strong carry. Did not do enough to rubber-stamp a bench spot for the First Test."
RUCK 5/10: "So often a reliable option at fly-half, Northampton’s Smith had an off night in Adelaide. A couple of simple missed kicks and a lack of real effect in this game mean Andy Farrell could look at his more versatile options – Marcus Smith or Owen Farrell – to back up Finn Russell in Brisbane."
#4. Will Stuart
Stuart’s scrummaging issues continued, drawing multiple penalties and leading to an early substitution. While his defensive effort was solid, limited impact in attack and persistent technical faults are hurting his test prospects.
FloRugby 3/10: "Similar to Schoeman, the Bath tighthead is trailing in the test pecking order due to inconsistent scrummaging. Penalised several times for collapsing or instability. Showed effort in open play, but his early substitution tells the story. Needs a statement performance to regain footing in selection talks."
BALLS 5/10: "Scrum was steady enough, without having a clear edge. Conceded a penalty for offside. Stuck 10 tackles but only made one carry, for little change."
Quiz Title: Most Points for the British & Irish Lions in Test Matches
Introduction: Think you know your Lions legends? ? Test your rugby knowledge by naming the players who have scored the most points for the British & Irish Lions in test matches. These are the top scorers from historic tours—can you remember them all?