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Lancaster (34'), Dobbins (41')
Tries
Jones (11', 32'), Mitchell (54')
Conversions
Smith (12', 33', 55')
The British and Irish Lions continued their winning run but were pushed hard by a New South Wales Waratahs side that was fired up from the start and roared on by a lively Sydney Football Stadium crowd.
Huw Jones scored twice before halftime, and Alex Mitchell wiggled over in the second half.
Darcy Lancaster and Ethan Gibbons scored for the Sydneysiders, who belied their lowly Super Rugby finish to stay competitive to the final whistle.
It was a disjointed Lions performance and head coach Andy Farrell will be disappointed that they couldn’t add more due to a variety of individual and collective errors.
Jones linked well with Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, and Mack Hansen was busy as ever. The set piece improved too but the faces at the end summed up the dissatisfaction.
JONES AT THE DOUBLE
It didn’t take long for the first error. Hugo Keenan marked his first Lions start with a dropped ball, and only Hansen’s cover tackle on Lancaster stopped the Waratahs from scoring.
Matters improved and the scrum and lineout were beginning to click, with tighthead Taniela Tupou targeted.
Defensive line speed was good, and Fin Smith and Mitchell controlled things well at halfback.
Jones’ try settled the team, his strong line off Tuipulotu allowed him the space to race past Lancaster.
Ben Earl was another to impress with his energy, but handling errors dogged the visitors and flanker Charlie Gamble was unfortunate to have a try ruled out for obstruction.
Jones rounded off good phase play to grab his second from close range, but the Waratahs hit back when slick hands set Lancaster free down the wing to score.
MIXED BAG
The Lions started the second half as they did the first, with an error. New South Wales went to the corner and drove Dobbins over for the first try the Lions have conceded after half time since the Argentina match.
Josh van der Flier and Blair Kinghorn nearly combined to send the Irishman into the corner, but Tom Lambert worked wonders to tackle him into touch.
Mitchell dummied his way over from close range, and as the hour approached gaps started to open.
Genge nearly capitalised but knocked on while scoring. Moves were being built, but were stopped by small things, a foot drifting into touch, a lack of support for the tackled player.
Still, the scrum continued to yield attacking opportunities, but Joey Walton and Gamble came up with huge turnovers to shut them down.
Marcus Smith had his moments after he came on at flyhalf but also contributed to the errors.
The Lions had one last chance, but Duhan van der Merwe didn’t know whether to go wide or cut back in. He took too long to choose the former, the ball went loose and bounced off Earl into touch to end proceedings.
It summed up their performance.
