All four flags are still flying on this Lions tour, thanks to Jac Morgan. The last Welshman standing has propelled himself into Test contention, in arguably the most competitive position of all.
In the immediate aftermath of this half-century demolition of the gallant Reds, there seemed to be a degree of confusion about how many tackles the 25-year-old flanker had made. Data sources claimed either 18, 20 or 21.
Whatever the tally, it was high – impressively high. Not only that, Morgan was also responsible for three turnovers, in keeping with a proud habit, and scored a fine try for good measure.
It was a queue-jumping performance, in terms of lifting the Ospreys openside up the hierarchy of so many fine No 7s jostling for one coveted place in the Lions Test team.
It was also a morale boost for all those in Wales who may have wondered if their country would have any meaningful involvement in this tour, after poor Tomos Williams was ruled out at the start of this week.
Despite the towering majesty of Maro Itoje’s contribution, Morgan was named the official player of the match. To be deemed to have outshone the captain, who was utterly magnificent and influential and imperious, was quite a feat.
Jac Morgan was hugely impressive in the British & Irish Lions’ 52-12 rout of Queensland Reds
The Wales captain, who scored a try, is the lone representative from his nation left on this tour
Morgan was awarded man of the match after Wednesday’s win having made a host of tackles
Lions head coach Andy Farrell was suitably satisfied with what he saw. ‘I thought Jac Morgan was everywhere,’ he said. ‘The way he played, he can play wherever he wants! There’s his off-loading game, and his point of difference is obviously how quick he is on the floor. He was aggressive in his hitting, and his carry was aggressive as well, so he will be delighted with his performance.’
Even just considering his looming decision at openside, Farrell will be able to feel a selection headache coming on. What a difficult call it promises to be. What a battle.
There’s the former World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier, Tom Curry, Ben Earl and the boy wonder Henry Pollock. Jack Willis is routinely acclaimed as the best openside in Europe and he has not even made it out here, as a consequence of being employed by Toulouse.
What depth. What riches. Yet, there is every chance only one out-and-out flanker will make it into the Lions’ starting Test line-up, if – as is highly likely – they opt for a lineout-jumping blindside, which essentially equates to redeploying a lock into the back row. Tadhg Beirne or Ollie Chessum are contenders for that role, given Itoje and Joe McCarthy have already put their names on the second-row spots.
But Morgan is in the mix now. In the city where the series opener against the Wallabies will take place on July 19, he put his hand up – high. He gave himself a shot. In doing so, he earned due reward for so much selfless heroism in adversity.
All too often of late, he has carried Wales on his shoulders at a time of unprecedented trouble and strife – 17 successive Test defeats, with Morgan the captain for many of them.
Most recently, he had to front up in the grisly inquest after a record 68-14 hiding at the hands of England in Cardiff. That was the culmination of another winless Six Nations campaign which yielded another Wooden Spoon.
It has all been a time of Welsh pain and sorrow. Their quiet talisman deserves better.
Morgan has overcome two years of pain with Wales to become one of this tour’s early stars
Henry Pollock can offer the X-factor Morgan cannot, but is he experienced enough to play?
Tom Curry is another whose place in the side looks under threat if he cannot dislodge Morgan
While Farrell quipped that he can play anywhere – having been asked if Morgan is able to operate across the back row – it very much feels as if he has to start in the Test XV, if he is to feature at all. He is such a renowned specialist; a jackal master – as he demonstrated here.
Curry or Earl or even the rookie Pollock all appear more capable of covering multiple positions. Earl is able to operate in midfield at a push, as he did on this occasion. The trio of Englishmen all have the credentials – in theory – to provide versatile cover among the replacements.
In this game, Curry was not at his best. He has been hampered by a nagging wrist problem which was evidently troubling him during the latter part of the domestic season with Sale.
But he has vast pedigree and would surely step up if chosen. Should Farrell decide he has to turn to a tried-and-trusted option, who has been there, done it and worn the T-shirt, Curry is that man. At his peak, he is world-class.
Pollock is causing a stir in these parts, as he has done at home and throughout Europe. He is a gem; a rare talent, but also a raw one.
His performance in the win over Western Force summed up the current equation with Northampton’s rookie sensation. There were missed tackles, a wild pass behind his own line and a yellow card – albeit after a build-up of team offences – but he conjured two tries with instinctive brilliance. The 20-year-old has a real shot at a bench role.
Morgan has the right attributes to start, if the Lions go with, say, Beirne at six and Jack Conan at No 8. He will be valued as a leader and a reliable figure. Farrell is facing a three-way dilemma; Curry for his big-game track record, Van der Flier as a trusted stalwart of the Irish machine, or Morgan as a supreme specialist.
Right now, on form – and as a tribute to his resilience through a tough period – the Welshman should be regarded as the front-runner.
Jack Conan is the front-runner to start at No 8 after another solid display against the Reds
Tadhg Beirne is set to win the No 6 shirt as the Lions aim for a lineout jumper on the blindside
What a feat that is, for the solo flag-carrier. Wales have had such a large presence in Lions tours in the professional era, so it is a jarring sign of decline that they are so under-represented this time.
But the flame is still flickering. The Welsh love of the Lions still has a focal point.
Elsewhere, this was a slow-burning effort from the Lions. The start was sub-standard again. The first half was not up to scratch, full stop.
They led 21-12 at half-time but their scrum was struggling, they didn’t guard possession well enough, their handling was wildly erratic and there were a handful of glaring defensive lapses.
It all improved markedly after half-time, but what is becoming apparent is that many of the backs are having to regain post-injury sharpness in matches out here, as they simply don’t have enough time in training to get up to speed properly.
Duhan van der Merwe is among the rusty bunch, as was Bundee Aki until he started leading the midfield charge in more familiar fashion. Outside him, Huw Jones also started to look his usual self as the game wore on.
The injury to Elliot Daly presents a problem at full back, but one of Blair Kinghorn or Hugo Keenan can step up. It’s not ideal but a solution will be found.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell gelled well in their first outing, so that’s the creative hub of the Test team all sorted. Good news. Tommy Freeman is showing no sign of losing momentum. His prolific streak goes on and on.
The Reds took advantage of a sloppy start from the Lions to go 7-0 and 12-7 up in Brisbane
Tommy Freeman scored two tries to continue his prolific streak, nailing down a likely Test spot
Jamison Gibson-Park (left) is gelling well with Finn Russell in the creative hub of the team
If the lingering rust can be removed, these Lions could be quite something. They have no shortage of firepower. But the scrum needs to be prioritised because they should be bulldozing provincial opposition in the set-piece and they aren’t always even gaining parity, which is a worry.
There are issues to address, but the bandwagon is well and truly rolling. The Waratahs won’t stop it in Sydney on Saturday and even the formidable Brumbies should be brushed aside in Canberra four days later – next Wednesday – as they will be without most of their Wallabies.
The Australia-New Zealand invitational side being assembled in Adelaide will have some quality but is bound to lack any cohesion, so they should be easy prey too.
Momentum is vital. The Lions should have it.
