Your Player Ratings As The Lions Pick Up Another Disappointing Tour Defeat

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The Lions threw away a golden opportunity to keep momentum going this morning as they fell 23-22 to the Highlanders. The New Zealand side started well but the Lions came back into the game and looked in control.

Gatland’s men finally grabbed a couple of tries but will still be disappointed they didn’t take more of their chances. Here are your player ratings.

Lions Player Ratings

1. Joe Marler (McGrath, 55)
6– Quiet game from the Harlequins man.

2. Rory Best (Owens, 48)
6– Couple of bigs steals, solid shift from the Ulsterman.

3. Kyle Sinckler (Cole, 48)
7– Made good break in the first-half, pass was unlucky not to go to hand. Looked lively throughout.

4. Courtney Lawes (Jones, 26)
7– Was one of the best players on the pitch before he was taken off with a nasty head injury.

5. Iain Henderson
7– Much better game this time round. Couple of huge steals and carried well.

6. James Haskell
5– Really quiet game from the Wasps man

7. Sam Warburton (Tipuric, 67)
6– Way off match fitness. Looked gassed early on in the first-half, but had a much better second. Took his try well.

8. CJ Stander
7– Played a big role in Joseph’s try and carried well.

9. Rhys Webb (Laidlaw, 49)
7– A constant threat, made a few good clean breaks. Unlucky not to score in the first-half.

10. Dan Biggar (Farrell, 67)
7– Controlled the game well and made some important tackles.

11. Tommy Seymour
5– Poor first-half, but took his try in the second really well. Struggled to deal with Naholo.

12. Robbie Henshaw
6– Saved a certain try in the first-half with two excellent tackles.

13. Jonathan Joseph
6– Took his try well and looked dangerous with ball in hand. Knocked on in the final seconds.

14. Jack Nowell
6– Much better game this time round but will have to settle for being a midweek player.

15. Jared Payne (Daly, 62)
6– Leads the defensive line well and made some good cover tackles.

Replacements

16. Ken Owens (Best, 48)
6– Didn’t have the impact that we were expecting.

17. Jack McGrath (Marler, 55)
6– Looked lively when he came on. Some really good carries.

18. Dan Cole (Sinckler, 48)
5– Struggled at scrumtime when he came on.

19. Alun Wyn Jones (Lawes, 26)
6– Quiet game from the Welsh captain.

20. Justin Tipuric (Warburton, 67)
6– Didn’t see much of the Ospreys man when he came on.

21. Greig Laidlaw (Webb, 49)
6– Couple of good flat balls led to Warburton’s try. Noticeably slowed the game down when he came on though.

22. Owen Farrell (Biggar, 67)
6– Missed a kick when he came on that you’d expect him to smash through the posts.

23. Elliot Daly (Payne, 62)
6– Solid under the high ball and looked lively in attack. Unlucky not to score a penalty that would have won the Lions the game.