One Lions star is handed a brutal rating in player scores against Australia

Saturday, 19 July 2025 at 19:36

byRugby Rucker

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.

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)

2. Tommy Freeman – 4.8/10 (Average Rating)

Planet Sport: 5/10
Rugby Pass: 5/10
Balls.ie: 5/10
Guardian: 5/10
Telegraph: 4/10

What went wrong:
Freeman’s raw effort couldn’t mask a performance riddled with errors. He overcooked kicks, spilled high balls, and conceded a game-high four turnovers. His forced offload in the second half led to another needless knock-on, capping off a frustrating outing.

Although his ball-carrying was forceful early on, and he worked hard off the ball, his decision-making repeatedly cost the Lions territory and momentum.

Verdict:
Energetic but error-prone. Lacked composure and consistency, making his starting spot extremely vulnerable.

Suggested Replacement: Duhan van der Merwe

1. James Lowe – 4.2/10 (Average Rating)

Planet Rugby: 4/10
Rugby Pass: 5/10
Guardian: 5/10
Telegraph: 3/10
Mail Online: 4/10

What went wrong:
Lowe had a night to forget. From kicking the ball dead early on to a blown try-scoring opportunity before halftime, it was a catalogue of costly moments. He looked sluggish under pressure, and his attacking spark — usually his strength — was largely neutralized by smart Wallabies defending.

One telling moment came in the 34th minute, when he was stripped of the ball with the tryline beckoning. Combined with loose kicking and an overall lack of clarity, Lowe’s Test spot is now in serious jeopardy.

Verdict:
Off-form and off-pace. Lowe’s performance drew the lowest average score and may have sealed his omission for the second Test.

Suggested Replacement: Mack Hansen

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?

You have 5 minutes.
Good luck!

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