Dan Biggar identifies two big 'major concerns' around the Lions attack

Sky Sports pundit Biggar, a two-time Lions tourist in 2017 and 2021, has identified two areas of weakness in the Lions’ attack following Wednesday’s 36-24 win against the Brumbies in Canberra.

The Lions scored five tries and were denied at least two more when they were held up over the line, but Welshman Biggar believes the failure to capitalise on good opportunities lies not in the ‘very Irish system’ adopted by Andy Farrell, but rather individual handling errors and mistakes at the breakdown.

Speaking after the match at the GIO Stadium, Biggar said: “There is no real change since we have been out here. What they have done well is that their shape has been really nice and tight, a very structured shape, and it is pulling and manipulating defenders out. Where they are struggling a bit, and it’ll be a major concern, I’d imagine, is the breakdown, the breakdown penalties conceded, and the handling errors; those have been the two constants.

“The positive has been the build-up, their shape has been nice and pretty, but ultimately, they’ve been left a little bit short in terms of handling and breakdown error, and I’d imagine that is something Joe Schmidt is looking at as a coach.”

Biggar added: “It’s a very Irish system in terms of being connected out of the ball of the first pod off nine, and then using Bundee Aki.

“Bundee Aki has very much been a north-south centre, and what I mean by that is he is going to challenge the gainline, straight up and down. But I thought they used him really nicely in terms of out of the second pod off 10, where you just get him a little bit wider, attacking weaker shoulders, being able to put people through holes and attract defenders slightly differently.”