The Waratahs pushed the Lions further than many would have expected in a 21-10 slugfest at Allianz Stadium. The tourists were left with more questions than answers after an error-riddled performance while the Waratahs were left to rue what might have been against Andy Farrell's Lions.
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Here's what we learned:
It wasn’t pretty rugby but it doesn’t have to be to tangle with the Lions.
New South Wales showed the way forward for their fellow Australian provinces – and the Wallabies – with an uncompromising brand built on discipline, line speed and direct running.
The Waratahs suffocated the Lions’ free-wheeling style, limiting offloading opportunities and pushing hard off the line to shut down wider channels.
They were also dogged at the breakdown with Charlie Gamble (two turnover) NSW’s chief disruptor.
Were it not for a disallowed Gamble try in the 30th minute, NSW could’ve found themselves ahead in this contest.
Saturday night saw 40,568 pack out Allianz Stadium – the venue’s largest ever rugby union crowd – and the atmosphere was incredible.
Huw Jones’ first-half double helped the Lions faithful find their voice early but the Waratahs fans roared back all the louder when Taniela Tupou and Rob Leota combined to put Darby Lancaster away down the left wing in the 35th minute.
The one-cap Wallaby left a Lion in his dust before steamrolling Irish ace Hugo Keenan and scrambling over the chalk set the old SFS ablaze with sound.
Those cheers were replicated in the 42nd minute when Ethan Dobbins rolled over for the Waratahs’ second try and every play that followed.
Tom Lambert’s try saving tackle on Josh van der Flier? Roars. Lawson Creighton’s bootlace effort on Duhan van der Merwe? Roars. This was a Waratahs crowd to remember.
Much of the pre-tour fanfare was about Sione Tuipulotu and his Australian homecoming.
However, Wallabies fans should be just as wary of his Scottish centre partner and Saturday's double try-scorer - Huw Jones.
The Glasgow Warrior forms a potent club and country midfield combination with Tuipulotu and they've taken it up another level in the Lions' red.
Jones' flat unders line onto a perfect 11th minute pop from his partner in crime was the stuff of backline dreams while Rob Leota was left clutching at straws during Jones' second try.
Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose might have Andy Farrell's Irish connection but Huwipulotu could well be the frontrunning centre pairing come the Test opener in Brisbane.
As if Australia needed any more Wallaby wingers to put their hand up.
Darby Lancaster no guarantee of adding to his one Test cap anytime soon but the Waratah's class was on full display as he outpointed Lions' opposite Blair Kinghorn
Lancaster showcased the very best of his speed and strength in an 80-minute performance that yielded 86 carry metres (41 post contact), six tackle busts and a try.
However, he wasn't the only winger strutting his stuff - Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe went ballistic during his half-hour cameo with 60 carry metres and two tackle busts while Mack Hansen (two line breaks) was his typically industrious self.
Best on ground Alex Mitchell also impressed in an otherwise middling Lions' side with eight tackle busts, two linebreaks and a try. Backrower Ben Earl was the forward standout with nine tackle busts and two linebreaks.
After two massive wins on Australian soil, this 11-point victory feels like a loss for Farrell's tourists.
The Lions dominated everywhere but the scoreboard - 70 per cent territory, 62 per cent possession, more than double the Waratahs' carry metres, line breaks, and tackle busts.
What will frustrate the tourists most is their ill-discipline around the breakdown: the Lions conceded 13 penalties in total with eight of those coming at the ruck.
Ellis Genge was particularly guilty with three ruck penalties conceded - but he wasn't alone for props in trouble.
Taniela Tupou's night was another mixed bag with a series of bruising carries offset by four scrum penalties and a bizzare kick to touch - certainly not a performance that demanded selection in a Wallaby side.
