Waratahs 17-47 Lions

The game has been somewhat overshadowed by the news that Welsh legend Shane Williams has been drafted into the Lions squad.

But there was a game yesterday as well, and in what was an excellent and thoroughly entertaining encounter between the Waratahs and the Lions in Sydney, the visitors emerged 47-17 winners.

The Lions thrashed the NSW Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium

But the main outcome of the game has been to throw up a number of selection dilemmas, with many of those on the cusp of a test place performing outstandingly.

Players’ verdict:

15: Leigh Halfpenny – another exemplary kicking performance and two tries. Another quite superb performance, and you wonder if there is anyone outside the Kearney household who still doubts the Welshman is a country mile clear of any competitors for the title of Europe’s best fullback…9/10
14: Sean Maitland – he wouldn’t be on the tour if he wasn’t talented, but he’s not yet been able to show it in the red shirt. Another relatively disappointing display from the big Kiwi…5
13: Jonathan Davies – compatriot Halfpenny might just have edged ahead of the Fox for the man of the match award, but Davies was brilliant. He’s really staked a claim for a test place, especially with doubts over Roberts’ fitness. He set up a number of tries, scored one of his own, constantly broke the gain line and was imperious in defence. What a performance…9
12: Jamie Roberts – a relatively quiet game for then big-hitting doctor before he was helped off the field with a torn hamstring, which may put his continuation in the squad in doubt…7
11: Simon Zebo – he’s only just arrived Down Under, but this was an accomplished, lively and very promising display from the exciting Irishman. A real thorn in the Waratahs’ side, and he may well have earned a place on the bench next week against Australia…8
10: Jonathan Sexton– an accomplished performance, capped with his rounding off a well-worked team try, should have cemented the Leinster man’s place as the Lions’ first-choice outside half…7
9: Mike Phillips – not one of the big scrum half’s standout performances, but hopefully that means he’s just keeping his powder dry ahead of the first test next weekend…6
1: Mako Vunipola – everyone’s saying it, because it’s true: he’s come on in leaps and bounds even in the last three weeks. I’m looking forward to him sticking it to the Wallabies next Saturday…7
2: Tom Youngs – will be interesting to see if Youngs or Hibbard gets the nod to start at hooker. Richard Hibbard might have been favourite a week or two ago, but Youngs has helped the lineout and may well get the better of the Welshman…7
3: Adam Jones – probably the best prop in the world…7
4: Alun Wyn Jones – both Jones and second row colleague Paul O’Connell put in immense shifts in the loose and at set-pieces which will surely see them picked as the engine room duo next week…8
5: Paul O’Connell – see above…8
6: Tom Croft – challenged for man of the match. And it would have been an excellent performance even if he hadn’t romped over the line from 30 metres out, showing a back’s turn of pace and almost emulating the stunning try he scored for Leicester in their Premiership semi-final against Harlequins last month…9
7: Sam Warburton – still not looking back to his best form or full fitness. Will be an interesting call for Warren Gatland as to whether the tour captain has done enough to earn a starting place against the Wallabies…6
8: Jamie Heaslip – a really good all-round game – the Irishman took advantage of Toby Faletau being relatively off song earlier in the tour…8