Lions Coach Farrell Praises Team's Resilience After Reds Victory

British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell expressed satisfaction with his team's performance after their victory over the Queensland Reds. The Lions secured a 52-12 win in Brisbane, scoring eight tries. Farrell noted that the team responded well after conceding early points, a pattern similar to their previous match against the Western Force.

Farrell highlighted the team's ability to settle and play well after a challenging start. He acknowledged some early errors and a stop-start flow, but praised the team's composure and the quality of their rugby as the match progressed.

He acknowledged the challenges of bringing together players from four nations within a short timeframe. Farrell pointed out issues with restarts, handling errors, and scrum penalties that needed improvement.

The return of scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park, who had been sidelined with a glute injury, was a positive. He formed a strong partnership with Finn Russell, a combination anticipated for the test matches. The Lions demonstrated impressive attacking and defensive capabilities, holding their opponents scoreless in the second half for the second consecutive game.

Farrell expressed dissatisfaction with the team's initial performance but noted improvement in the second half. He also commended the quality of the bench players and the competition for places within the squad.

The Lions faced setbacks with injuries. Scrumhalf Tomos Williams was ruled out for the remainder of the tour due to a hamstring injury. Concerns arose over fullback Elliot Daly, who was replaced during the match with a suspected wrist injury. Daly had been a strong performer in the first three matches.