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Israel Folau ... Greg Clark backs the convert to perform against the Lions. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
The preliminaries are over. The British and Irish Lions' tour is about to move into top gear and it promises to be a three-Test series to remember.
No one likes to lose a game on tour but the loss to the Brumbies doesn't change a lot according to Lions coach Warren Gatland. He came Down Under to take the Tom Richards Cup from Australia and he's managed to give his Test squad plenty of game time in the lead up.
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The new-look backline didn't fire in Canberra and the starting pack looked tired and struggled to make it over the gain line. No one really put their hand up for a Test spot.
The Brumbies didn't help their cause. They had a plan to play it in the opposition half and they tackled themselves to a standstill.
Coach Jake White couldn't hide his delight after the game and it will give his side a real confidence boost heading into the business end of Super Rugby. They have the Aussie conference wrapped up but the challenge now is to finish in the top two overall and get a bye in the opening week of the playoffs.
The Wallabies will obviously come up against a much better Lions' squad on Saturday but if they take anything out of the Brumbies' performance, it should be the fact that the upset victory was built on defence.
The majority of the Wallabies haven't played any rugby of late and will need to hit the ground running at Suncorp Stadium. It's hard to forget first-up disappointments against Scotland and Samoa in recent years, and there can be no excuses for a below par performance this time.
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They've been in camp for a few weeks. There's no David Pocock or George Smith but young guns Michael Hooper and Liam Gill are ready made replacements, after they were blooded last year.
Sitaleki Timani is out, but this year's big improver Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons will show just how much depth there is.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau's impact will be missed but Steve Moore is world-class. It'll be hard to replace Scott Higginbotham in the backrow, but the pack is still in pretty good shape overall.
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The jury is out on the Wallabies backline and we don't have to wait long to see if the decision to leave Quade Cooper out of the mix was the right one. The Lions' will target Israel Folau in his rugby Test debut as well.
I'm confident the convert will handle the occasion. There is no doubt about his attacking qualities as we've seen all year in Waratahs' colours. He's played big games in rugby league before, but if there is a weakness it could be his defence.
He's fine one-on-one, but because he's new to the wing at this level the Lions will try to catch him out of position. Having the experienced Adam Ashley-Cooper inside him will be a huge help. Folau will also be happy to be back at Suncorp Stadium where he's celebrated many triumphs before.
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There'll be plenty of red in the crowd but it won't be like the Gabba in 2001 when the Lions fans outnumbered Wallabies supporters. There'll be lots of gold on Saturday night and it shapes as a great night for rugby in Brisbane.
The Lions will fancy their chances at the set piece. They'd prefer to have Jamie Roberts's size in the midfield but Jonathan Davies will still ask plenty of questions of the Wallabies' defence.
Sharpshooter Leigh Halfpenny will punish any ill-discipline inside Australia's half. His goal-kicking on tour has been superb.
The two teams are desperate to take an early lead in the series and take the psychological edge going into game II in Melbourne. A sell-out crowd will ensure a great atmosphere and I'm really optimistic about the Wallabies' chances.
They know what they're up against. They've viewed the highlights from 2001 over and over again and they've seen the Lions in action on this tour. Gatland's men will have a few tricks up their sleeve but the Wallabies should be ready.
The 12-year wait for another crack at the best of British and Irish is almost over. It will be worth the wait.
Watch the first Test between the Wallabies and Lions LIVE and in HD from 7.30pm (EST) Saturday on Fox Sports 2HD!
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