Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

With 52,229 fans watching on at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, the Wallabies were outmatched and outclassed by the British & Irish Lions, losing the first Test 19-27.

It was a performance riddled by errors and misjudgment, with the Lions taking control in the early stages and never really looking back.

While there’s still a lot more rugby to be played in this three-Test series, the Wallabies will need to rise to a completely new level for the second Test in Melbourne next weekend.

The Springbok coach explains plans heading into the Rugby Championship

The Springbok coach explains plans heading into the Rugby Championship

Here’s how the Wallabies rated:

1. James Slipper – 5
James Slipper missed four tackles during the first half, which was twice the number missed by those in second-place with two. Slipper’s defensive woes did stand out, with the Test veteran struggling to match it with a red-hot Lions outfit. That said, ‘Slips’ did complete nine tackles and contributed to a solid set-piece that won one first-half scrum penalty.

2. Matt Faessler – 5

Matt Faessler had two lineout throws picked off during the first term, with the Lions duo of Maro Itoje and Joe McCarthy making their mark on the Wallabies’ throw. While the Queensland Reds rake was able to hit the target on five occasions, small margins make a big difference at this level. Faessler was otherwise quiet, only carrying the ball once before the break.

3. Allan Alaalatoa – 6

Allan Alaaltoa’s experience was on show during stretches of this Test, with the tighthead prop making some noise around the park. In the 25^th minute, Alaalatoa showcased rugby IQ and awareness to catch Jamison Gibson-Park napping, pressuring the Lions scrum-half before forcing a turnover in a key stage of the match

Alaalatoa forced Ellis Genge to make an error at scrum time in the 27^th minute, which saw the Wallabies take some sense of ascendancy in that area of the contest. The Wallabies veteran was also among the elite for tackles completed, with 14 by the half-time break.

4. Nick Frost – 6.5

With Will Skelton missing the match, Nick Frost lined up in the second row alongside Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams. Frost was a reliable option at the lineout for Matt Faessler, and the towering lock was busy in defence. Frost was one of the first Wallabies into double digits for tackles completed, in what was overall a good-enough performance.

5. Jeremy Williams – 5

Jeremy Williams was fairly average against the Lions, with the second-rower registering a mid-table number of tackles and carries. Nick Frost was also the primary option for Matt Faessler at the lineout. Williams was replaced in the 58^th minute without doing anything too great or outstanding.

6 Nick Champion de Crespigny – 6

In the absence of two-time John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini, blindside flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny became the 15^th Wallaby to debut against the Lions. It was a confidence-building start to life as a Wallaby for Champion de Crespigny, who was called upon immediately, receiving the opening kick-off.

Champion de Crespigny was a tackle-machine against the Lions, standing out as the Wallabies’ best on the defensive side of the ball. But it wasn’t a completely different story in attack, with the loosie failing to make any kind of positive impact.

7. Fraser McReight – 6.5

Fraser McReight secured two turnovers against the Lions, which included some important work around the breakdown inside the first 10 minutes. With the Wallabies parked up inside their own 22, McReight got over the ball and won a penalty pressure to relieve pressure, if only for a moment. Other than that, McReight put in a noticeably impressive shift in both attack and defence, although the flanker made some costly errors.

8. Harry Wilson – 6

By the 47^th minute, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson had only carried the ball three times. With Rob Valetini out of the Test, Wilson was expected to carry more of the attacking responsibility for the Wallabies backrow, but that statistically wasn’t the case.

It was a different story in defence with Wilson finishing in double digits for tackles completed, but the No. 8 did miss a couple of attempts as well. With the Wallabies heading into a must-win match next weekend in Melbourne, the skipper needs to step up.

9. Jake Gordon – 5

Jake Gordon hadn’t played any rugby since May 24, lining up for the NSW Waratahs against the Western Force. Gordon missed the Fiji Test with injury and the scrum-half seemed a bit off the pace as a result against the Lions. There were positive moments with some good kicks for touch, but Gordon made some memorable mistakes as well. Gordon was penalised for obstruction early in the second term and generally lacked cohesion with Tom Lynagh.

10. Tom Lynagh – 7

Tom Lynagh’s performance was always going to be a hot topic of discussion, with the young playmaker named in the Wallabies’ starting side for the first time to take on the Lions. Lynagh is quite a cool, calm and composed customer and at Super Rugby Pacific level, and there were shades of that against the famous touring side.

There was enough there to say Lynagh has earned another start next weekend in Melbourne. It was a brave performance that, to be fair, included some rushed kicks in general play, but it would be unfair to say the No.10 was the issue for the home side.

11. Harry Potter – 3 

There was nothing magical about Harry Potter’s performance against the Lions. Potter made an early error in the fifth minute, failing to reel in a clever Finn Russell grubber kick before fumbling the ball into touch. The winger was also caught out defensively later in the first term, with Sione Tuipulotu running through a big gap to score.

Potter was incredibly unlucky not to convert a 50/22 attempt, but the ball rolled about a metre too long and dead. The 27-year-old did make a try-saving strip-tackle just before the half-time break was simply ineffective for practically the full 80.

12. Len Ikitau – 7

Len Ikitau is a world-renowned defensive centre but the No. 12 was actually more prolific on the other side of the ball against the Lions. Ikitau was called upon every few minutes it seemed for a crash ball, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was left to support the inside centre. The inside centre had the most carries out of any player by the one-hour mark with 10.

13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – 6

Australia’s 42-37 win over England during last year’s Spring Tour set the bar high for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, with Rugby Australia’s multi-million dollar man receiving Player of the Match honours on debut. Unfortunately for the Wallabies, Suaalii wasn’t able to replicate those heroics in this Test.

Suaalii was caught out defensively on a few occasions, which included one missed tackle in the first half. The 21-year-old was penalised for holding on while trying to score a try on the one-hour mark, but was largely quiet in attack. Suaalii was also beaten time and time again when trying to reel in kick-off restarts.

14. Max Jorgensen – 7.5

Israel Folau’s first try against the Lions in 2013 will live on in rugby history forever. It’s an iconic moment that’s been replayed time and time again throughout this tour, and Mex Jorgensen holds a similar piece of Lions history now – scoring a beauty during the first half.

Jorgensen had been fairly poor before crossing in the 29^th minute. ‘Jorgo’ had been beaten in the air more often that not, and the winger was also fended off far too easily in the lead-up to Huw Jones’ try, only for the TMO to rule the five-pointer out.

With the Lions in control, Jorgensen stood up with an unforgettable try. Jorgensen beat Lions 15 Hugo Kennan in the air before racing away to score in the corner. While it wasn’t the overall result the Wallabies were after, that try was certainly a moment to celebrate.

15. Tom Wright – 6

Tom Wright was one of Australia’s best during last year’s Spring Tour, but the fullback wasn’t able to replicate that standard in the first Lions Test. Wright didn’t play badly, rather the touring side shut the No. 15 down – keeping him unusually quiet. Wright carried the ball a handful of times and kicked well enough, but again, it wasn’t a standout performance by any means.

Replacements

16. Billy Pollard – 5

17. Angus Bell – 7

18. Tom Robertson – 4

19. Tom Hooper – 5 

20. Carlo Tizzano – 7 – Scored a try off the bench.

21. Tate McDermott – 7 – Tate McDermott had the last say on the scoreboard, running in for the final try of the Test.

22. Ben Donaldson – 5

23. Andrew Kellaway – 4