Use both brains and brawn, says Lions coach Warren Gatland

In other words, though they may disparage some of the more fundamental, slower-moving aspects of northern rugby in this part of the world – perhaps because they do not do them too well – this is exactly how the Lions can close out the series.

Gatland’s contention, anyway, is that Australia pose a limited threat to his carefully organised defence as long as the Lions stay within the strategy Andy Farrell has designed for them.

Effectively, they erect a brick wall into which the Wallabies keep running.

The flaw on tour has been the alternative route of the wide outside, and Israel Folau was the exploiter with two marvellous debut tries, though even these were eclipsed by the 60-metre dash that brought George North his try.

“We’ve given them a couple of opportunities from a couple of mistakes we’ve made,” said Gatland. “The message to our players is you have to keep your discipline.

“We’ve given away a couple of soft penalties, had some tough calls by the referee, when we didn’t feel there was a massive attacking threat from them. That threat amounted to one try scored from a quick tap and the other from a turnover.”

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans could have said something similar about North’s try.

There again, the one piece of offensive artistry that came to fruition was the Alex Cuthbert try that gave the Lions an eight-point lead, which they then had terrible difficulty in defending.

In this instance, Pollock’s TV official did the Lions a favour by deciding there was no decoy run by Brian O’Driscoll as Cuthbert charged past makeshift centre Michael Hooper.

As there were two tries each, the Lions’ fate was resolved by the goal-kicking, and though Leigh Halfpenny missed one for only the second time on tour, he landed five to raise his successes to 27.

The disparity with O’Connor and eventually the crestfallen Beale turned the first Test in the Lions’ favour.

Australia – Tries: Folau (2). Con: O’Connor. Pens: Beale (2), O’Connor.

Lions – Tries: North, Cuthbert. Cons: Halfpenny (2). Pens: Halfpenny (3).

Use both brains and brawn, says Lions coach Warren Gatland