"Quietly Exceptional" - Sam Warburton has named his picks for the Lions Test locks

The Lions scored nine tries in the landslide victory over their Super Rugby opponent, following on from their one-sided win over Western Force last weekend. Captain Maro Itoje got involved upon the score-sheet early in the second half, in what was a cathartic moment for the second row. After a difficult first outing as Lions captain in the shock defeat to Argentina in Dublin, Itoje had to bide his time to experience that winning feeling as Lions skipper.

The lock was rotated out of the side that took on Western Force in Perth, as Irish hooker Dan Sheehan led the offensive with the captain's armband. After a brief rest from this past weekend's action, Itoje was back to his best for the latest run-out with the Lions, and put in a commanding performance that was instrumental to the success of the world famous touring side.

Sam Warburton, a former British & Irish Lions captain in his own right, gave quite the review of Itoje's efforts at the helm. Warburton was speaking on Sky Sports' punditry team, and the former Wales skipper called Itoje's contributions 'awesome', whilst drawing key attention to how the Saracen can keep his head and navigate his side through the high-drama of an emotionally fueled Lions match.

"He was awesome." Warburton said. "The scrapping for balls on the floor, line-speed, intercepts, he competed well at line-out time. I think he had about five turnovers today, not your traditional jackal turnovers like we saw with Jac Morgan, but just fighting for the scraps on the floor.

"We saw him just energizing the pack at scrum-time when they're deep into the 70th minutes and 50-points ahead, and just having that non-stop voice and energy, and he backed it up on the field as well. So, it was the un-glamarous things, but that's what he's needed to do, at Test level. So, I thought Maro was almost quietly exceptional today."

"It's that calm and composed nature [of being a captain]. You're still ferocious in everything that you do, but Maro seems unflappable. When it's decision making time, when you've got a penalty, he's not rushing into those decisions. He's calm, he's walking over, he's chatting to the other key decision makers, noteably the 10s. He's very composed, which you need. You need the fire pre-match and in the changing rooms, but he is composed when he's out on the field, that's what I like about him.

The discourse continued with Warburton given the unenviable task of predicting the Lions' Test locks, after Ollie Chessum packed down the row in an all-English pairing against the Reds. However, Warburton does not back the Leicester Tigers man to take up the man to retain the shirt for the Test series against Australia, with the former Lions skipper backing a locking pair of Itoje and Ireland second row Joe McCarthy for the battles with Joe Schmidt's Wallabies.

"I can tell you now, if it is quiet in the first couple of games you play as [Lions] captain, it's putting the pressure on you. I went into both of my tours off the back of two month injuries, I found it really hard to get to form for the Test team time. I know Maro will go in and it will be a huge sigh of relief for him.

"No one's place is safe, because it is a Lions tour. But,. after that performance now, it's screaming out to me, at the moment, Itoje and McCarthy as a second row combo would be lovely I think." #

Joining Warburton with the praise of Itoje, was former England prop Kyle Sinckler. The RC Toulon man called Itoje a 'nuisance' in how he gets around the park, with disruptions aplenty the order of the day from the Lions captain.

"I think when Maro is at his best, the word that comes to mind is just 'nuisance'. He's an absaloute nuisance at the ruck, at line-outs. But when you're playing alongside Maro and he's playing at his best, it's so infectious. Like Warbs [Sam Warburton] said today, he was a nuisance around the ruck time, line-out defence time, he called the line-outs really well.

"He had that air of calmness around him as well, when things were a bit shaky in the first 10, 20 minutes. You could see that he's really grown in that leadership role. I'm so happy for Maro and the team, it's like he said in that interview today, they've [the Lions] have taken a step forward with their performance."

Some Lions roared — others whimpered. Here's the breakdown of who boosted their Test stock and who sent it plummeting.

RUCK 5.5/10:
"Van der Merwe was very suspect especially in defence with some key moments when he looked well off the pace. In attack he just looked very one dimensional and looked nowhere near his usual standard we’re used to."

Rugby Pass 5/10:
"The Reds exploited his slowness to turn with some probing kicks and he was nearly made to pay for a casual one-handed gather when under pressure on his own try line.

"It took 14 minutes before he received his first pass and was largely anonymous as an attacker until the game started to break up. Nice finish for the Lions’ third try atoned for some of his backfield errors, but was overshadowed by his fellow winger Freeman."

FLO Rugby 3/10:
"Firmly on the back foot for a test spot, the powerhouse Scottish winger does not look comfortable in the Lions’ system. Unlike Scotland, where his strike running ability is a key focal point, in Andy Farrell’s system, more is expected of wingers to go looking for work.

"Throw into the mix his struggles in the air, rather reckless one-handed grab of a ball behind his own line and brutally poor positioning for the Reds’ second try by Josh Flook, and it is tough to see Farrell trusting him on the big occasions. Overall, it was a fast and loose showing from van der Merwe, who did score a try, albeit it was a simple run-in."

Mail Online 5/10:
"Had a couple of lineouts pinched as the set-piece struggled. Fumbled the ball in a promising attacking position as his Test hopes slipped."

RUCK 5/10:
"The Lions on a whole were lacklustre with their discipline especially with handling errors and Kelleher just wasn’t clicking with the Lions’ attacking pace which only added to the penalty count. Provided decent throw-ins to the lineout, which aided the Lions’ attack."

RUGBY PASS 5.5/10:
"Ireland’s hooker was certainly not the only player guilty of costly handling errors but the one that he spilt from Jones’ pass was particularly bad given it looked easier for the Lions to score. Also missed his first lineout throw and never really got going as a ball carrier. Clocked up the tackles though and can’t be faulted for his effort."

FLO RUGBY 5/10:
"Rugby’s equivalent of a mix’n’pick, Kelleher’s performance was a combination of the good and bad. Getting pressured at line-out time by the Reds’ jumpers, Kelleher’s susceptibility to overcompensating as he has done with Ireland only makes matters worse in this department.

"In open play, Kelleher was exceptional in both the carry and around the breakdown. One caveat to add was that Kelleher appeared a touch fatigued, which is unsurprising given he has played in all three matches thus far."

RUGBY PASS 5/10:
"Well below his usual world-class standards. Dropped passes and dropped off a couple of tackles, although he did link up well at times in the wide channels."

FLO RUGBY 4.5/10:
"Caught between two stools in a system that is more accustomed to a bigger six, Curry has yet to look comfortable in a role that requires constant big carries.

"Losing two balls in the first half with knock-ons and generally just lacking the impact he brings in the England set-up, it’ll be interesting to see if he gets a run at openside in the upcoming fixtures."

RUCK 5.5/10:
"Curry was, to put it simply, relatively decent. He struggled to click in attack with errors creeping in to the Englishman’s performance. In defence he was again solid he just never really had the chance to grab the headlines or impact the game in any major way."

FLO RUGBY 4/10:
"Not the outing the Bath star would’ve hoped for at scrum time. In conjunction with Porter, Stuart was pinged for a few costly penalties that relieved pressure on the Reds. In open play, Stuart routinely looked to get involved but had a few errors, namely knock-ons, when running support lines. Coughing up a sloppy penalty in the 47th minute with a high tackle summed up Stuart’s outing, which was his third penalty of the day."

RUCK 4.5/10:
"Stuart looked massively off the pace for the majority of his time on the field. Three penalties conceded and numerous mistakes at scrum time and also with ball in hand, Stuart failed to impress on any level."

RUGBY PASS 4.5/10:
"Failed in his audition for the Lions No.3 jersey despite going into the match in a rich vein of form. Gave away an early scrum penalty, handing the Reds a cheap out and also gave away a ‘coach-killer’ penalty when he illegally stripped the ball on the floor. Compounded that with a tired-looking high shot in the second half, which earned him a third penalty. Hooked after 50 minutes."

12 years have passed since Warren Gatland’s men roared to a famous series win over Australia, but how well do you really remember the iconic 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?

From legendary leaders to surprise selections, we’ve lined up every player from that unforgettable tour. All you have to do is name them. No pressure, right?

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