The opening match of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour was always going to be a test, not just of team cohesion but of individual character. For some, it offered a chance to step up and make a statement; for others, it served as a sobering reminder of how narrow the margins are at this level.
Tommy Freeman entered the match with high expectations. Fresh off a superb performance at the same stadium for Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-final, he looked poised to announce himself as a serious contender for a Test jersey. Within the opening minutes, an opportunity arose when Fin Smith executed a pinpoint cross-kick to Freeman. It was destined for a try until Ignacio Mendy swooped in to make a superb interception. That moment marked the closest Freeman came to leaving his mark on the game. The ball never quite found its way back to him in meaningful areas, and while he worked hard, those flashes of brilliance that defined his club form were missing.
The pressure of a Lions tour demands a perfect balance of risk and return, and at times, Freeman looked as though he was forcing plays in an effort to stand out. One risky offload and a dropped ball during a crucial attacking sequence summed up the fine line he was treading. Still, despite these missteps, he remained one of the more active threats on the night.
Duhan van der Merwe, however, had a more challenging outing. Substituted midway through the second half, just moments after Santiago Cordero’s try that originated from Van der Merwe losing an aerial contest, his exit was met with roaring applause not for him, but for the arrival of Mack Hansen. It was an unfortunate punctuation mark on a night where very little came off for the Scotland wing. He appeared to wait for the game to come to him rather than assert himself upon it. Lions tours don’t allow for such passivity.
In contrast, Fin Smith made a stronger case for inclusion, showing both poise and bravery. A key moment came in the first half when he put his body on the line to clean up a loose ball under pressure. Those kinds of actions, while not always headline-grabbing, are noticed in Lions camp assessments.
And while others were trying to find their feet, veterans like Tadhg Furlong reminded everyone of their enduring value. Though only on for 20 minutes, he brought intensity and smarts, even sharing tactical advice as he exited with the game deep into stoppage time. For now, the Lions look like a team still finding themselves but the hunt for their “swagman” is wide open.
