Joe Schmidt was impressed with how "desperate" his Australia side were to beat the British and Irish Lions.

The Lions ran out 27-19 victors in the first of three Tests against the Wallabies on Saturday.

Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan went over for the tourists in Brisbane, where Finn Russell's kicking proved decisive.

Australia also scored three tries – Max Jorgensen, Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott crossing – though ultimately fell short.

Schmidt, though, took the positives.

"We were pretty desperate tonight," he said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

"There was enough demonstration that we're already desperate but we've got to be more accurate. And maybe hit the ground running, a bit less submissive early on.

"They're going to get better too, they've got strength in depth, they came with a plan that got the better of us in the first quarter."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Schmidt added: "I felt like the players really dug in, and the score just before half-time was frustrating.

"We played well, and those tries got us back in the game.

"We've got character, but we didn't take the chances we should have."

Schmidt also had praise for debutant Nick Champion de Crespigny. 

"He's a workaholic and a tough character," Schmidt said of De Crespigny.

"He loved it. The tougher it gets the more he loves it. I was really proud in the way he acquitted himself."