HOW THE LIONS RATED

LIAM WILLIAMS: Best performance of the tour, finally shedding the inhibitions brought about by his yellow card in Auckland. A live Test option, though probably not this week ........................ 8 JACK NOWELL: Two tries and an assist made for a highly satisfactory night for Jack-be-nimble. The Lions’ wings have not shown on this tour until now. Again Gatland will have made a note ............ 9 JARED PAYNE: Industrious and everinvolved but prone to error. Scored one try and would have had a second but for a dire pass from Tommy Seymour .......................... 7 ROBBIE HENSHAW: A frustrating tour for a player so much better than he has shown. Tireless in defence but was given no space to operate in attack and was frequently smashed in the tackle 6 ELLIOTT DALY: Went looking for work all game before being subbed off early which hints at some form of Test involvement .......................................... 8 DAN BIGGAR: Has been very decent all tour and finally got the win his efforts deserved in Auckland and Dunedin. Right there if Farrell or Sexton slip up or are injured ............................................. 8 GREIG LAIDLAW: Nothing like the threat of Conor Murray or Rhys Webb, but will have enjoyed being on a winning team this morning ................................ 6 JOE MARLER: Blotted his copybook with a foolish yellow card for a no-arms, off the ball tackle. That apart a good player developing nicely ...................... 7 RORY BEST (CAPT): Last time Rory captained the Lions, in 2013 against the Brumbies, the game was a disaster. This was most certainly not. Good for him . 7 DAN COLE: Whatever else Dan offers, and a penalty concession is never too far away, this man can scrummage. He reiterated that point here .................... 7 IAIN HENDERSON: Little known outside Ireland before taking England to the cleaners in March and has been really good out here. Added another chapter to his impressive body of work here ....................................................... 8 COURTNEY LAWES: Another head knock, another outstanding display. Hard and brave, he has given this midweek team its edge ........................ 8 JAMES HASKELL: Worked really hard and you have to be pleased that such a wholehearted contributor has his first win in a Lions jersey ............................. 7 JUSTIN TIPURIC: Did what he always does. Linked superbly in attack and made a nuisance of himself at the breakdown. Impossible not to love what he does ................................................. 7 CJ STANDER: If Haskell is all boundless enthusiasm then CJ is not far behind. A live wire on and off the park. Hasn’t yet been his tour but there is still time ..... 7 BENCH: Allen Dell is one of the so-called ‘Geography Six’, a player selected to provide cover because he was in the area rather than banging down the door demanding selection. Fair play to him though, he came on when Marler was binned and helped win a scrum penalty .................................... 7