Brumbies coach: British and Irish Lions will "crumble"

Brumbies head coach Jake White believes that the British and Irish Lions will "crumble" if they lose their series opener with Australia on Saturday.

Warren Gatland's side face the Brumbies on Tuesday in Canberra in their final warm-up match before locking horns with the Wallabies in the Test series at the weekend.

White, whose side come up against a heavily-rested Lions outfit, feels that whoever tastes victory in the first match of the series will go on to win the tour.

"I think Warren knows that this Lions side will crumble if they don't win in Brisbane," said White. "If they lose, they will crumble. They have staked everything on winning that first Test match. They played in Hong Kong in the heat, in the rain against the Reds, they've tried combinations against the Waratahs and they are resting players against tomorrow.

"And that's fine, Gatland knows that this first Test will make or break the series. They will believe with the game time, combinations and time they've had to gel on-field performances with off-field synergies and dynamics will be enough to carry them through the first Test match.

"Conversely, the Wallabies will think they are right having players fresh and playing in Brisbane which is the best ground they love playing in. They've got [Will] Genia and [James] Horwill who love playing there, they will be banking that if they are to win a Test match, they will be looking to win that one in Brisbane. If Australia win, they will say that's the recipe for winning the first Test match while if the Lions win, then they will say they got it right."

The Lions face the Brumbies at 10.40am on Tuesday.