Jamison Gibson-Park passed his Lions Test match audition with dance partner Finn Russell and admitted the pair had hardly rehearsed.
In a nod to the upcoming series against the Wallabies, boss Andy Farrell withdrew his half-backs from the action with 29 minutes to go against the Reds with the game done and dusted.
Scrum-half Gibson-Park had not played since Leinster‘s URC final against Glasgow on June 7, where he suffered a glute injury, but proved practice is not the key to being perfect as he linked up with the Scotsman.
The duo were perfectly in step, and, if the marks were not perfect, the Irish and Scottish couple look set to foxtrot against the Wallabies back in Brisbane on July 19.
Jamison Gibson-Park
Gibson-Park said: “I’ve thrown a few passes to him here and there, but nothing too crazy. He’s a hugely impressive player, isn’t he?
“Every team he is stood head and should, he has a huge impact. I can only speak from the times I’ve come up against him and the time it takes for the preparation, to try to limit what he is able to bring. That in itself is a huge compliment to him as a player.”
New Zealand-born Gibson-Park was spared the abuse of the PA announcer in Perth ahead of the game with Western Force when the man on the microphone had a crack at the current Lions southern-hemisphere contingent.
James Lowe, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen all copped it but Gibson-Park warned any potential trollers it will be water off a duck’s back to him.
The 33-year-old added: “I don’t really care; I am used to it at this stage. I have had a fair amount of it over my years with Ireland.
“It is what it is, everybody is entitled to their opinion. Aussies like to wind people up, it is part of their background, but it doesn’t bother me.”
READ MORE: British and Irish Lions told – Beware Australian dirty tricks
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