Wallabies beat Lions but are left to reflect on what could’ve been

Winning a dead rubber in sport can produce a range of feelings.

Such a victory may boost morale, while providing relief from the humiliation of another defeat.

Conversely, they can also act as a reminder of what could’ve been.

For the Wallabies, in their three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions, it should be the latter.

While the 22-12 triumph over the British and Lions in the third and final Test in Sydney meant they avoided a series whitewash, the result will also make them reflect on missed opportunities.

The Wallabies offered up a meek performance in the first Test, which they lost 27-19 in Brisbane.

They were dominated in the collisions on both sides of the ball and sorely missed the physicality of injured forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton.

At one stage, the Wallabies trailed 24-5 and only added respectability to the scoreline after the Lions effectively put the cue in the rack, knowing their opponents were already beaten.

The shoe was on the other foot the following week in Melbourne, with the Wallabies producing a largely clinical display in the opening 30 minutes to establish a 23-5 lead.

As much as the Jac Morgan-Carlo Tizzano incident in the final minute of play was cited as the trigger for the Wallabies’ downfall, the failure to protect their scoreboard advantage underpinned the 29-26 defeat to the Lions at the MCG.

It wasn’t a skill deficiency or poor match fitness that allowed the Lions back into the contest, rather the Wallabies’ lack of confidence as a squad conspired against them.

They didn’t appear to have the self-belief required to put the Lions to the sword.

Player depth is another concern, although to coach Joe Schmidt’s credit he’s made an effort to address the issue, having handed 19 players Test debuts in 2024.

But world-class depth is elusive at this stage, as the Lions series illustrated.

Yes, there are positions where it could be argued the Wallabies go at least two deep in terms of Test-standard players, such as openside flanker, where Fraser McReight and Tizzano are available.

But the Wallabies’ options are limited in other positions, most notably fly-half.

Tom Lynagh showed potential against the Lions, but he wasn’t in the same class as Finn Russell, who expertly steered the tourists’ attack wearing the 10 jersey.

Where to now for Wallabies?

The Wallabies next face the two-time defending world champion Springboks in back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa, beginning in a fortnight.

Where Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is selected may be of interest, as there is debate about whether the ex-Sydney Rooster should be shifted from outside centre to wing.

If Suaalii’s moves out one spot, Hunter Paisami may be recalled to the midfield, allowing Len Ikitau to return to his preferred position at outside centre.

Would Schmidt consider a left-field option such as using Ikitau’s Brumbies teammate David Feliuai at inside centre, given their effectiveness as a combination in Super Rugby Pacific?

Perhaps that would be throwing caution to the wind, but the Rugby Championship does give Schmidt the opportunity to look at fresh faces across some positions.

It would be a shock if the likes of the uncapped Ryan Lonergan and Joe Brial aren’t on his radar when it comes to selecting his wider squad during the Rugby Championship.

Bob Dwyer famously used the Wallabies’ 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 1989 to take stock of what his squad lacked two years out from a World Cup.

Realising there were players not — or no longer — of Test quality, he ushered in eight debutants in the Wallabies’ next two internationals against the All Blacks and France, including 1991 World Cup heroes Tony Daly, Phil Kearns, Rod McCall, Tim Horan and Jason Little.

Like Dwyer did 36 years ago, Schmidt needs to assess whether the current squad is comprised of players that will be a chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup when he hands over the coaching reins to Les Kiss next year.

Impact of the Lions tour

The Lions series won’t just provide lessons for the Wallabies, as Australian rugby as a whole needs to learn how it can improve.

There must be takeaways for the semi-professional and grassroot levels of the game, which will hopefully benefit from the financial windfall the cash-strapped Rugby Australia will enjoy from the tour.

During his career, World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry spoke several times of the transformative nature of the Lions’ visit to New Zealand in 1971.

The Lions, coached by Welshman Carwyn James, won the four-Test series against the All Blacks, with Henry describing the tour as “very influential on New Zealand rugby”.

“I think the ’71 Lions won the first World Cup (in 1987) for us because we had to change our game,” Henry said in 2005.

“That shook the foundations of New Zealand rugby and from the top down things changed.”

Time will tell what impact the 2025 Lions will have on Australian rugby.

But it would be hoped their defeat of the Wallabies can inspire young coaches and players locally in similar way to what Henry experienced.