Lawrence Dallaglio savages Wallabies as he backs decision to drop Lions star Jac Morgan

England and British & Irish Lions legend Lawrence Dallaglio has lauded Andy Farrell for his team selection following the Lions' triumph over Australia in the opening Test in Brisbane, commending the coach for trusting his gut and opting to leave Jac Morgan out of the match-day squad. The Lions roared into the lead in the three-match series with a commanding first-half performance that saw them ahead 17-5 at half-time, thanks to tries from Sione Tuipulotu and Tom Curry.

Despite a less convincing second half which allowed the Wallabies to notch up two additional tries, Dan Sheehan's score ensured a 19-27 victory for Farrell's troops. Dallaglio, who has an illustrious history with the Lions touring in 1997, 2001, and 2005, observed felt the hosts appeared "nervous and naive" as they faltered against the tourists' overwhelming power and control at the gainline, going so far as to say they "haven't got the necessary tools to make it a contest".

He also noted that the Lions "saved their best 40 minutes of the tour so far" for the first half in Brisbane, yet he conceded that Farrell's squad hasn't really been put to the test by any of the sides they've encountered since landing in Australia last month.

"There was a huge gulf in class... even if the winning margin was only eight points," Dallaglio remarked in his column for The Times, reflecting on the opening Test. "That has been the case in every match since they touched down in Australia."

"In fact, the most competition they've had has probably been in their own training sessions and that is when most of the selection pointers will have been highlighted.

"You could have picked any XV from this squad for the games we've seen, and that's largely the problem when it comes to touring Australia with the Lions. Every match in New Zealand and South Africa is very tough, but that simply hasn't been the case this year."

Dallaglio says Farrell's decision to exclude Welsh star Morgan from the matchday 23 for the opening Test, opting instead for England's back row Curry, is fully justified.

The absence of a Welshman in a Lions Test match starting line-up for the first time since 1896 caused quite a stir before kick-off, especially following Morgan's stellar performances in the warm-up matches on the tour.

Farrell mentioned that Morgan was "as close as you could imagine" to making the Test squad, yet his choice to go with Curry was vindicated as the latter put on an outstanding display, dominating collisions with eight strong carries, making 11 tackles, and scoring before the interval.

Morgan's chances of starting the next Test have taken a hit after an impressive display, and Dallaglio said: "Anyone who has questioned or criticised Andy Farrell and his coaches on this tour should be eating humble pie after the first Test. His team selection was absolutely spot on.

"There is no doubting the quality of the performances of some of those fringe players such as Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock in the warm-up matches, but the performances of Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne in particular highlighted why Farrell got it so right when so many other people got it so wrong.

"You could have made an argument for any one of three players - Curry, Morgan or Josh Van der Flier - to be picked at No7 but, given the lack of genuine opposition throughout the tour, Farrell went with his instincts and probably even what he saw before the tour.

"Curry rewarded him with eight carries, 11 tackles, a try and, in a brilliant passage of play shortly after half-time, a clever lineout steal and smart offload to send Dan Sheehan across the line. Beirne, his fellow flanker, was named man of the match."

"Curry rewarded him with eight carries, 11 tackles, a try and, in a brilliant passage of play shortly after half-time, a clever lineout steal and smart offload to send Dan Sheehan across the line. Beirne, his fellow flanker, was named man of the match."

Dallaglio "fully expects" the tourists to clinch the series victory, urging supporters who "believe in the Lions and its future" to "stop moaning about Farrell and selection and start getting behind him and this entire group".

"Regardless of selection and who they are playing, they deserve our full support," he emphasised. "The future of the Lions depends on it."

This story first appeared on Wales Online