Jonny Wilkinson produced a superlative performance on his Lions debut as the tourists ripped Super 12 semi-finalists Queensland Reds to shreds, running out 42-8 winners at Ballymore.

England fly-half Wilkinson was in sensational form, creating three of the Lions' five tries and kicking 17 points. And his world-class exhibition will have been keenly observed by Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen ahead of the forthcoming three-Test series.

With Wilkinson in charge, the Lions easily passed their toughest examination so far Down Under, building an unassailable 32-3 interval lead and posting a record victory over their hosts. The Reds, whose previous scalps on home soil included the 1971 Lions, New Zealand, France and England, had no answer to a breathtaking combination of quality approach play and lethal finishing.

Dan Luger, Rob Henderson, Dafydd James and Richard Hill all touched down before the break, giving Queensland an impossible second-half task. Although the Lions eased off after that, coach Graham Henry will have been
thrilled by a performance that sets his players up for further challenges next week against Australia A and New South Wales.

The Reds were without injured Wallabies trio John Eales, Chris Latham and Ben Tune, but still fielded six of the Australian side that defeated a powerful New Zealand Maori team in Sydney last Saturday. And the Lions were braced for a crunch clash, having destroyed Western Australia and a Queensland President's XV by huge margins.

Lions captain Martin Johnson and his England team-mate Wilkinson both featured for the first time on tour as coach Graham Henry paraded a Test-strength outfit. Referee Stuart Dickinson had his hands full immediately, with both packs getting to grips and Lions scrum-half Rob Howley being flattened by a punch from Queensland hooker Michael Foley.

Dickinson lectured both captains but the Lions were awarded a penalty which Wilkinson rifled safely to touch. Wilkinson received plenty of early possession, switching play left and right while attempting to introduce Irish midfield dangerman Brian O'Driscoll. Still the brawling continued though, Dickinson issuing another warning and then penalising Lions prop Phil Vickery for over-vigorous rucking. Reds fly-half Elton Flatley accepted his 30-metre chance and booted Queensland ahead.

But the Lions responded brilliantly after an uncertain start, rocking Queensland by creating a superb try for Luger. Luger's opposite wing James tore into the Reds' defence, Howley charged on, with flanker Neil Back's dive pass finding Wilkinson, whose inch perfect cross-kick was pouched by Luger and he crossed unopposed.

Wilkinson failed to convert Luger's fourth tour touchdown, yet the Lions held a 5-3 lead following an intense opening quarter. A 23rd-minute Wilkinson penalty increased that advantage, and Queensland only had themselves to blame when they leaked a second try.

Flatley's attempted defensive clearance was charged down by Lions number eight Martin Corry, playing instead of the injured Scott Quinnell, and Reds wing Junior Pelesasa fumbled under pressure from Richard Hill, giving Henderson a gift score. Wilkinson converted and quickly added another penalty, easing the Lions out to an 18-3 advantage, all those points having been scored during a damaging 15-minute spell.

Henderson continued to relish the task, again underlining his Test claims through a powerful performance that eclipsed his illustrious centre colleague O'Driscoll. The Lions conjured up another try just before half-time. A crunching Corry tackle on Reds lock Nathan Sharpe caused panic in Queensland's defence, and hooker Keith Wood's kick ahead gave James a scoring chance. He pounced ruthlessly, capitalising on the sluggish Foley's poor awareness, and Wilkinson's conversion opened up an imposing 25-3 before his stunning inside pass sent Hill galloping over for another score that he converted.

After such a first-half masterclass though, Wilkinson had far from finished. Within four minutes of the restart, he was at it again, cutting open Queensland's defence and enabling O'Driscoll to steam through at pace and register the Lions' fifth try.

With the game done and dusted, Henry sent on Jason Robinson, five-try hero of the midweek win in Townsville, for a tilt at Queensland's demoralised defence.
The Reds managed a 70th-minute consolation try, scrum-half Sam Cordingley charging down Dawson's kick, and the closing minutes proved distinctly flat. Colin Charvis also came off the bench, taking over from Back, but a third successive points half-century just eluded Johnson and company.