"Heading home" - Andy Farrell cuts players from the British & Irish Lions squad

Scotland back-rower Gregor Brown is the latest to join up, linking with Andy Farrell’s men on Sunday. He joins fellow Scots Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman, all of whom were in New Zealand for Scotland’s summer clashes against the Maori All Blacks, Samoa, and Fiji.

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When asked whether the newcomers would remain in the squad, Easterby hinted that decisions are still to be made.

“We’ll see how Tuesday plays out,” he said, referring to the clash with the First Nations and Pasifika XV. “Some lads may head home, but performances could change things.”

“We’ll see how Tuesday plays out,” he said, referring to the clash with the First Nations and Pasifika XV. “Some lads may head home, but performances could change things.”

"Plans probably will be determined after tomorrow night," he said.

"You've got a number of guys that we need to make sure that we get through tomorrow night and then that will be determined post that game tomorrow. Probably not as easy to say it straight away because we don't know what will happen tomorrow night.

"If we pick up a few injuries to specific positions, then it becomes something that we'll have to consider."

These four players did their chances of test selection no favours as they underperformed in the match in Melbourne.

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Planet Rugby 5/10: "Had two of his passes picked off, the first led to a try while the second was damn close to costing the Lions again. That was just two of the four turnovers that he conceded in the first half alone. He got better in the second period and topped the running metres in the match while using his boot to good effect and finally nailed a long pass for a try assist. But frankly, today was his opportunity to claim a starting jersey on Saturday but didn’t."

Telegraph 3/10: "Surely played his way out of the Test squad, throwing two horrific intercepts. One delicious pass for Osborne’s second try but four turnovers is a black mark."

Verdict: Two horror intercepts, four turnovers, and a performance that screamed panic. Yes, there was a slick assist for Osborne, but it was too little, too late. Kinghorn looked rattled, and Farrell will have noticed.

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Got rinsed more times at scrum time than a white t-shirt with a pesky Bolognese stain. He wasn’t much better in contact, coughing up ball and metres. He’s had a fine tour, but this was an off-night."

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Comfortably bettered by Lington Leli in the scrums in the first half. When he left the pitch in the 51st minute, he had conceded three penalties and was quiet in open play. Sure, it was difficult at scrum time when Ryan was absent from the set-piece, but he had to do better. Unless there is an injury, that looks to be the end of his tour."

BALLS 4/10: "Had a nightmare in the scrum and conceded three penalties in the opening 40 minutes. Made little ground on his carries. Landed his four tackles."

FLO RUGBY 3/10: "Line-out accuracy was excellent, and he was a rock defensively with 13 tackles before coming off in the 73rd minute. Showed commitment in general play but lacked the dynamism seen in other Lions hooker options. A few solid carries and link passes added value, but this performance didn’t do much to shift the pecking order in his favour."

RUCK 5.5/10: "Flew into a ruck off his feet, with Seru Uru battling beyond the Connacht prop for a 28th-minute penalty. Overwhelmed at a 33rd-minute scrum, as Lington Ieli won the FN&P a scrum penalty."

Verdict: A bruising reminder that tour form doesn’t always translate. Conceded ground and penalties in equal measure. Bealham looked miles off Test standard here.

Telegraph 5/10: "Highlight was an early scuffle with Uru and then a turnover at the end, otherwise fairly quiet. A tour that started with such promise has fizzled out."

BALLS 6/10: "Very quiet first half. Peeled off a couple of scrums when he was needed to dig the heels in. Got in a couple of jersey-grabbing scuffs."

Irish Times 6/10: "A vital breakdown penalty late on, won several lineouts, and managed to get in the face of the opposition, literally on one occasion. But he was quieter than usual in the unfamiliar role of number eight."

Verdict: Early aggression with Uru raised eyebrows, but his influence faded fast. One late turnover doesn’t cover for a game spent chasing shadows. Lions jersey might be slipping away.

Telegraph 3/10: "Tupou spread Schoeman like marmalade at scrum time. A few decent carries could not make up for his pasting up front."

FLO RUGBY 4/10: "Struggled mightily at scrum time, dismantled by Taniela Tupou in a concerning display. While he did win a turnover and contributed 9 carries and 8 tackles in open play, his inability to assert himself at the set piece may have sealed his fate regarding test selection. A disappointing outing overall, especially considering his typically high work rate."

The Scottish bulldozer was bulldozed. Though he trucked up a few carries, Schoeman was devoured in the scrum and outmuscled by the Wallaby wrecking ball. A chastening night.