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Winners And Losers From An Awful Lions Performance Against The New Zealand Barbarians

Winners And Losers From An Awful Lions Performance Against The New Zealand Barbarians
PJ Browne
By PJ Browne
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'Pretty pleased with that,' said Lions captain Sam Warburton on Sky Sports after the Lions hobbled past the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei. The Welshman's expectations must have been low going into the game - it was an awful performance from Warren Gatland's side.

It is only the opening game of the tour but with chances likely to be limited ahead of the first test, all impressions count.

Winners:

Toby Faletau

The loss of Billy Vunipola last month was an injury the Lions could scarcely afford. Vunipola was a certainty to be the Lions starting number eight.

Had Vunipola been available, there was a strong chance that Toby Faletau would have started at six for the first test. The England player's absence meant Faletau became the number one option to play eight.

Warren Gatland really needs Faletau to step up to the mark on this tour. He undoubtedly did that in the opening game against the New Zealand Barbarians.

The Bath player was one of the few who played up to expectations in Whangarei. He carried well and was a constant threat to break the line.

The 26-year-old also put in an incredible try-saving tackle after 18 minutes of the first half to deny what looked like a certain try.

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Ben Te'o

The England back, more usually seen in the 13 jersey, was deployed at inside centre by Warren Gatland.

Te'o was by far the Lions' strongest runner in the backline. He looked a constant threat with ball in hand making 87 metres from his 13 carries.

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The 30-year-old did his chances of starting the first test no harm.

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Kyle Sinckler

Tadhg Furlong looked a certainty to be the Lions starting tighthead going into the tour but Kyle Sinckler certainly put his hand up for that job with his performance on Saturday.

The 24-year-old carried well and scrummaged well throughout the game. He also put in some tough hits early on as the Barbarians had the better of then opening fare.

Losers:

Johnny Sexton

The Ireland out-half really could not have had a worse start to his Lions tour.

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He missed his first kick of the game, what should have been an easy opportunity for a player of his calibre. The miss frayed further what had been a nervy start for the Lions.

Though he kicked the Lions into the lead six minutes after that miss, his kicking out of hand looked badly calibrated throughout the first half.

His first half did have the positive that he looked relatively sharp, compared to the rest of his game, with the ball in hand. He regularly took the ball to the gainline in the opening 40 minutes and found teammates with incisive passes.

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The 31-year-old suffered the ignominy of being relieved of his kicking duties as Greig Laidlaw took over the role at the start of the second half.

Sexton was replaced by Owen Farrell after 51 minutes. The England out-half was viewed as the favourite to start at 10 for the first test against the All Blacks, that now looks nailed on.

Stuart Hogg

Hogg's was a performance which really encapsulated the Lions' as a whole - it was error strewn and far below what should be expected from a player of his ability.

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He did look decent when running with the ball, making 45 metres from nine carries. Though, that is the least that should be expected from the Scot.

After 30 minutes, he threw an awful pass to Anthony Watson which butchered what should have been a certain try for the English winger. That was on top of a moment earlier where he allowed the ball to slip through his legs.

Player Ratings: Lions Open Tour With Thoroughly Disappointing Performance

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