My thoughts on the Reds performance.
1) Their attacking plays remain one dimensional. They executed all but three plays with at most two passes from each breakdown. It was like watching unlimitted tackle League where the players were lucky to make the gain line because there is no 10 metre rule. On three occasions the Reds executed plays with players in motion with support runners around QC (Quade Cooper). They made great inroads through the Lions and some desperate defence was able to hold the Reds out. Three occasions in a game that they had over 60% of the possession they put something into their attack that was slightly unpredictable. The return of the big names to the side isn't the problem, it is the basic lack of attacking structures. It is so similar to the lack of any Wallabies attack in the 2010-2011 seasons one has to look for common factors, and I don't mean players.
2) The forwards are just ineffective at what they are doing. This is a pack that has 4 Wallaby capped front rowers, a lock and two backrowers also with significant test experience. Yet up against a side with minimal test experience, they struggle in basic facets of the game. Again IMO it comes back to the tactics to a large degree as none of the forward attack committed any defenders apart from the tackler and occasionally the tackle assist. The Lions didn't both to attack the ruck on most occasions as the Reds stacked their forward runners with support players to maintain possession, not force the attack. So they just held back. The Reds could have dominated the set pieces and most would say they certainly had the ascendancy, but there were inexplicable lapses in concentration that led to the Lions being able to drive the Reds back in the scrum or massive lineout blunders line the throw to the tail lead to the Lions try.
3) The drop goal. Comment has been made that QC (Quade Cooper) scuffed the attempt but he was a sitting duck from three phases before the attempt. Watch the Lions players not commit anybody at all to the rucks and stand off with the fastest backrowers and backs to charge down. the second pillar on the left was extremely close to offisde for the attempt BUT the fact is the whole set up was woefully planned and executed. By the time the ball went back to QC (Quade Cooper) he had no other option but to attempt the kick simply because there was nobody within shouting distance for him to pass the ball to. In short as with the rest of the Reds attack all eggs were in the drop goal basket and the Lions defended accordingly.
4) I thought Genia was slow and laboured for most of the game. He had small periods of elevated activity but on actual form (not potential) he would have to be ranked behind Stirzacker in the pecking order. I know he isn't in truth but on actual performance he is. This made QCs job harder and I thought he played an individually good game, and if the structures had been present to support him in attack the result could have been significantly different.
5) I think the final score flattered the Reds. The Kerevi try was lucky IMO as I think he was short of the line, in none of the replays I saw was the ball on the line. I may be going blind but thats how I saw it. It probably balances out the forwards passes the Lions threw in any event. The penalty try surprised me given there was no lead up penalties and these things are rarely that clear cut that early but hey I saw the Lions THP packing with his knees on the ground from the engage call so in the long run its hard to argue the ultimate fairness of that call as well.
Finally I think the Lions have played very well on the tour. They were obviously tired in this game and faded badly in the first 30 of the second half. What should be concerning the Reds and the Rebels IMO is that they were well beaten by a side that had less possession and less territory who actually used effective attacking structure instead of trying to grind out a statistical type win. Add to the fact that IIRC only Mapoe is a capped Springbok. I think the Bok could do a lot worse than pick Whitely at 8 he is a very impressive player and leader.