British and Irish Lions 2025: Daly blow, Itoje’s reminder and Test team taking shape

Jac Morgan needed a big game – and he delivered. His energy levels were tremendous, his aggression in the tackle, his subtle touches and, of course, his try were of the highest quality.

Morgan rose up the ranks while Tom Curry fell down. He has lost his mojo at the wrong time. Close to a Test certainty during the season, Curry will now be lucky if he makes the 23. It’s all beginning to look very cut-throat.

Will Stuart had a chance to propel himself into the box-seat at tighthead but he got done in defence and gave away three penalties. It wasn’t the audition he wanted.

Against all odds, Finlay Bealham, not even in the original squad, might just be favourite for a Test spot because the great Tadhg Furlong still hasn’t stirred in the way Furlong can.

Offering up sweet thoughts for Daly’s fitness, there’s a Test 23 beginning to emerge through the fog of uncertainty. Skin and hair will fly in protest, but…

Kinghorn (Daly), Hansen, Ringrose, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell (F Smith), Gibson-Park (Mitchell); Genge (Schoeman), Sheehan (Cowan-Dickie), Bealham (Furlong), Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum (Beirne), Van der Flier, Conan (Pollock)

Such is the nature of this trek what happened in Brisbane will be an after-thought later on Thursday when Farrell names the team to face the Waratahs. So much build-up and yet the Lions have to move on from it in a relative instant.

To Sydney, then…