Six games into their 2025 tour, the British & Irish Lions have looked ominous across the park in all bar one area - the breakdown.
The Waratahs and Brumbies showcased the value of an on-ball threat against the tourists with Charlie Gamble (four turnovers) and Luke Reimer (two turnovers) wreaking havoc in the lead-up to Brisbane's opening Test.
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Now, the Lions will face their biggest breakdown challenge to date - a one-two openside punch featuring incumbent Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano off the pine.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, McReight took heart from the Waratahs and Brumbies' earlier success but warned his side must apply even more defensive pressure to create those turnover opportunities against an improving Lions pack.
"When you see a bit of other teams get success there, you think maybe you can replicate that," McReight said.
"But again, I guess that they would have seen that themselves and know that's got to be much sharper.
"Our defence, that has to be right, first and foremost, before we're able to hopefully see some space and get on to it.
"So as a seven, yeah, I definitely love seeing other teams do really well there but first and foremost, getting the job done defensively allows me to hopefully have some success there."
McReight also threw his support behind Queensland teammate Tom Lynagh - who will make his starting Wallabies debut on Saturday - to deliver on the big stage.
"He's not afraid of putting his head into some dark places," McReight said of Lynagh.
I guess for him it's about knowing that he's got people inside and outside him who will calm him down and be able to make him even better.
"Hopefully he doesn't make too many tackles and he just directs us around the field and kicks all the goals I guess.
"Me and our centres have a really big job making sure he feels confident and comfortable defending out there and when he does making sure that we're supporting him."
Close mate Harry Wilson was another McReight earmarked to step up once more as Wallabies skipper on the biggest stage of his career.
Wilson has enjoyed a rollercoaster 12 months capped by his Test recall against Georgia last year and earning the Wallabies captaincy against Argentina - a role he has since retained.
"He doesn't speak too much but when he does, boys listen," McReight said of Wilson.
"It's a step up in Test footy but he's stepping up in all the right ways whether it's leading on and off the field or through his own actions as a number eight so yeah I'm super excited for him."
Click here for all the match-day information ahead of Saturday's First Test in Brisbane.
