Lions player ratings vs Waratahs: Huw Jones stars

Saturday, 05 July 2025 at 12:57

byHarry Tovey

Lions player ratings vs Waratahs as Andy Farrell's continued their winning run since arriving in Australia for the 2025 tour.

The British and Irish Lions yet again take their time to get going, but managed to get over the line at Allianz Stadium, Sydney against a spirited Waratahs side in the tourist side’s toughest outing Down Under.

A brace from Huw Jones was accompanied by tries from Josh van der Flier and Alex Mitchell which secured the Lions a hard fought victory.

RUCK’s Lions content is powered by ISUZU. Scroll down for Lions player ratings vs Waratahs.

WARATAHS: 10

Tries: Lancaster (34'), Dobbins (41')
Cons:
Pens:

LIONS: 21

Tries: H Jones (11', 32'), Mitchell (54')
Cons: F Smith (12', 33', 55')
Pens:

Lions player ratings vs Waratahs:

15 Hugo Keenan - 5

Finally Keenan got his long awaited Lions debut after pulling out of Wednesday’s match due illness.

But it was incredibly frustrating from him as early in the encounter he knocked the ball on and got bumped off by Darby Lancaster who scored the hosts’ first. No surprise that he was replaced early in the second half by Duhan van der Merwe.

14 Mack Hansen - 5

Another decent outing for the Irishmen, but to firmly position himself in Farrell’s starting XV against Australia he needed to do more.

Needless kick in behind on 50 minutes when his side were only metres from the whitewash, definitely needs to improve with the two games remaining before the first Test.

13 Huw Jones - 8

One of the standouts for the Lions in the opening 40, making his claim for that starting Test position. Ran some brilliant powerful lines to get the tourists over the gain line and brilliantly crossed on two occasions.

12 Sione Tuipulotu - 7

Worked well in attack with his partner in the centres, great at running decoy lines which opened up the hosts’ defence and also spun well out of tackles to get over the gain line.

Brilliant flat offload for one of Jones’ tries and will be huge for the Lions against Australia.

11 Blair Kinghorn - 6.5

After landing Down Under on Monday, Kinghorn who lifted Top 14 silverware last Saturday hit the ground running.

Despite being positioned on the wing instead of fullback, Kinghorn showed his worth with some great runs and identifying space in behind the Waratahs defence with kicks.

10 Fin Smith - 6

Extremely instrumental in the Lions’ attack with some brilliant offloads, which put his side in some decent positions.

Just done the basics really well as expected from the Northampton Saints man who was 100% from the tee.

9 Alex Mitchell - 7

Great at keeping the tempo of the Lions’ attack linked incredibly well especially in the second half. Worked well with halfback counterpart and was helping hand in one of Jones’ tries and deserved his own try on 54 minutes after changing the direction of the Lions’ attack.

Quiet first half but stepped up in the second half to get himself a higher rating.

1 Pierre Schoeman - 7

Statement made. With the talks about Ellis Genge being the first choice when it comes to starting the first Test, Schoeman played his best game as a Lion.

Up against Taniela Tupou when it came to scrum time and was extremely competitive and got the better of him on the majority of occasions.

2 Luke Cowan-Dickie - 6.5

Cowan-Dickie after this evenings match has made selection at hooker very difficult for Farrell. He has the best lineout success rate out of all the hookers in the squad and arrows continued to be on point.

One highlight was he brilliantly kept the Lions attack alive with the clock was in red in the first half.

3 Finlay Bealham - 7

Came into this tour as third choice, but after a big game today he’s stated his case for starting the first Test with both Will Stuart and Tadhg Furlong not firing.

4 Scott Cummings - 8

Did well chasing back to stop the hosts’ first real attacking threat after fullback Keenan knocked the ball on and after a poor first outing against the Western Force it must be said it was a vastly improved outing for the Scotsman.

Brilliant at lineout time and carried extremely well, the perfect reaction to silence any doubters.

5 James Ryan - 5

A little bit frantic early on misplacing catches did work well with Cowan-Dickie at lineout time.

Made the odd big hit in defence but couldn’t replicate what his counterpart in the second row was doing and was replaced by Joe McCarthy early in the second half.

6 Tadhg Beirne - 6.5

Beirne moved to blindside after Henry Pollock pulled out of the encounter with a tight calf.

In one way it probably might’ve helped Farrell as they are considering Beirne in the six channel as they want a ‘big six’. Solid in defence especially did well to get under Taniela Tupou and saved a try.

7 Josh van der Flier - 5.5

With the competition heating up for the seven jersey, van der Flier needed a big game. Should’ve scored on 44 minutes but lost it forward, which is making selection in the seven jersey maybe more clearer in favour of Welshmen Jac Morgan.

8 Ben Earl - 6.5

When given space good with ball in hand moving the Lions up field, only part of his game which left him down was his ill discipline but vastly improved on that in the second half.

Replacements:

16 Dan Sheehan - 6

17 Ellis Genge - 6

18 Tadhg Furlong - 5.5

19 Joe McCarthy - 6

20 Duhan van der Merwe - 5.5

21 Jac Morgan - 6.5

22 Ben White - 6

23 Marcus Smith - 5

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