A relentless British and Irish Lions were ferocious in attack and solid in defence to edge a dogged Australia and win a bruising first Test 27-19 in Brisbane on Saturday, with skipper Maro Itoje “delighted”.

The Lions’ first-Test bench of Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl were all thrown in during a 20-minute period in Brisbane, and the surprising effect was more of a fading of impetus rather than a fresh rush.

Sione Tuipulotu has no axe to grind over his Wallabies snub but is aiming to show them what they are missing again this weekend. The Scotland centre, a try-scorer in the Lions 27-19 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, was raised in Melbourne and played at the Rebels before moving north four years ago.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admits his side was off the pace in its 27-19 loss to the British and Irish Lions, but expressed pride in the Australians' refusal to give up.

Wallabies icon Toutai Kefu has called on Australia's forwards to bring fire and fury in the series-opener against the British & Irish Lions and defy the doomsayers tipping a 3-0 whitewash for the hosts.

The British & Irish Lions claimed an 19-27 victory over Australia in the first Test in Brisbane, with Lawrence Dallaglio reserving praise for Andy Farrell.

The British and Irish Lions have their "big game players" step up in a big way in Brisbane, but Andy Farrell knows to be wary of the wounded Wallabies at the MCG.

Tom Lynagh will start at flyhalf for Australia against the Lions on Saturday, 36 years after his father, Michael, faced the combined British and Irish rugby team.

Coach Andy Farrell has cautioned the British and Irish Lions to be wary of a wounded Wallabies side in the second Test, and demanded they improve their discipline. "We are playing against a wounded animal,