Andy Farrell has warned his tourists to beware the wounded Wallabies as they look to bounce back from defeat in Brisbane.

On their last Australian Tour in 2013, the British & Irish Lions won their opening match in Queensland but narrowly lost in Melbourne one week later.

Farrell's team were good value for their 27–19 victory at Suncorp Stadium, but Joe Schmidt's Australians finished the stronger of the two sides with a much-improved second-half display.

Farrell knows an historic 100,000 sell-out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will create a cauldron-like atmosphere for his team, in a match the Wallabies must win to stay alive in the series.

"We are playing against a wounded animal, at a sold-out MCG, and we know what to expect," he said.

"I'm delighted to get the result. It's a big occasion for all these lads and we did the shirt proud. We really attacked the game in the first half and that was very pleasing. This is a spiritual home for the Wallabies, so to get a victory here is great.

"We started well, controlled the game, and the back row was immense. It was a talking point all week and they stood up. Our physicality was spot on in the first half, but we lacked a bit of discipline in the second and that slowed things down.

"There is plenty to work on, but we're in a good place going into game two. We roll on to Tuesday night and the rest of the lads get a chance to put their hands up for Melbourne as well. I thought we dealt with the occasion well."

ITOJE: WE STILL MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES

Captain Maro Itoje, making his 100th senior international Test appearance, also insisted there is no room for complacency, as tries from Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan made the difference.

"It was a tough game. No game of rugby is perfect, and that definitely wasn't," he said.

"We're in a good position, and we can have some honest conversations now. There's lots to build on. There is no complacency here, we're not comfortable.

"We put a bit of needless pressure on ourselves with our decision-making, but we'll move on."

Who Farrell picked in the back row was one of the major pre-match talking points, but Curry and Tadhg Beirne put in a huge shift in the opening exchanges. The Lions' brutality, creativity and confidence put them well clear of Australia.

Curry scored one and created another, while Beirne's all-round play earned the Munster man the player of the match award.

"That was a proper Test match, and in that last quarter we were in a real battle. They will take some confidence from how they finished the game, and that's something we need to look at," he said.

"Overall, we stacked up, got the job done and roll on next week. Our discipline needs to be a big focus, but I think we controlled the game, especially in the first half.

"Getting the nod for this game was a huge honour. Hopefully I did it justice and get to go again next week."

WALLABIES VOW TO AVENGE DEFEAT AT THE ‘G’

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson admitted a slow start cost his team, with Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott grabbing their tries in the final 12 minutes, by which time the Lions were too far ahead.

However, the way they finished showed what they are capable of, especially as they look to bring back influential pair Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, both sidelined for this clash in Queensland.

"We didn't get our game going until too late in the second half, and they won the big moments before and after half-time," admitted Wilson.

"Nothing is going to change. We came into this series knowing we needed to win two games. We're going to double down on our preparation and come back as a better team."