New Zealand referee Paul Honiss awarded almost 30 penalties against the Lions during Tuesday’s 28-25 defeat by Australia A, whistling them out of a match that saw their unbeaten tour record fall.

But assistant coach Robinson has hit back at the critics ahead of tomorrow’s clash against New South Wales Waratahs at Sydney Football Stadium.

‘‘I don’t think we are constantly infringing as much as people are saying, particularly at the scrum,’’ he said.

Robinson, though, mirrored growing anxiety in the Lions camp that scrums have virtually become non-contestable.

‘‘It is a concern. We put a lot of emphasis on our scrummaging, and at present half the scrums are ending up in free-kicks or penalties.

‘‘Scrummaging is very much part of rugby union. Now, it seems as if we are going to a rugby league-type game, and having rugby league scrums where they are not contestable.

‘‘There are some technical difficulties we have in terms of interpretation. In the northern hemisphere you are allowed to scrummage, but looking at Tuesday’s game, you weren’t allowed to scrummage at any stage.’’

But Robinson doesn’t believe the verbal volley will affect his players in their penultimate game before tomorrow week’s first Test against Australia.

A capacity 42,000 crowd is expected at the SFS, where the Lions face a Waratahs side containing six Australia A personnel, including skipper Phil Waugh, fly-half Manuel Edmonds and in-form lock Tom Bowman.

And after a difficult 48 hours when the Lions lost both centre Mike Catt and wing Dan Luger through tour-ending injuries, tomorrow’s clash promises to provide their biggest character test so far.

‘‘We cannot afford to dwell on Tuesday’s defeat,’’ Robinson added. ‘‘We have played some very good rugby out here, and while it is a big ask for the team to bounce back on Saturday, I am sure they will.’’

Luger’s absence through a fractured cheekbone, the latest in a succession of cruel injury setbacks, means that competition for Test wing positions has been blown wide open.

Dafydd James and Jason Robinson forge the Lions’ strike-force tomorrow, but Ben Cohen and Tyrone Howe, summoned as replacement for Luger, could still enter the equation.

Another option that coach Graham Henry might also now consider is switching Iain Balshaw from full-back to right wing where he featured prominently for Bath last season and calling up the dependable Matt Perry.

The Test XV, further injuries permitting, is taking shape, although next Tuesday’s appointment with New South Wales Country in Coffs Harbour will be crucial for scrum-half Rob Howley, currently nursing bruised ribs, and inside centre candidate Rob Henderson.

Matt Dawson and Will Greenwood are the respective challengers on duty in those positions tomorrow, with Henry also casting a close eye over a breakaway trio of Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Scott Quinnell.

If that back-row unit clicks, then it could mean no Test place for Saracens’ world-class flanker Richard Hill, who finds himself on the bench tomorrow.

Former Leicester and Bristol coach Dwyer, while questioning the Lions’ apparent technical indiscipline, also believes the tourists have produced some high-class rugby Down Under.

‘‘I have seen all their matches, and the Lions were outstandingly good up until Tuesday, when they met an opponent that was much more determined,’’ he said.

‘‘The Lions met stiffer resistance in defence and a much more penetrative team in attack, which meant they had their work in front of them from the very first minute of the game.

‘‘But it was a hiccup for them, and certainly not the end of the world. I think they’ve played some great rugby, some of it as good as I’ve seen, ever.

‘‘The anticipation here for the Lions is huge. The Melbourne Test is a sell-out, and Melbourne is not a rugby union city, and the SFS is also sold out tomorrow.

‘‘It is a mark of respect for the touring team that rugby supporters want to see these players play.’’

While the Lions go for their fourth win from five starts tomorrow, Australia will continue their Test preparations in camp at Coffs Harbour.

And the Wallabies management have announced that star fly-half Stephen Larkham, viewed as a massive threat to Lions’ hopes, has undergone laser eye surgery to correct his vision.

Incredibly, Larkham couldn’t properly see the Twickenham posts when he landed his long-range drop goal to dump defending champions South Africa out of World Cup 99.

‘‘It has made a world of difference,’’ he said. ‘‘Before, when I was at one end of the field, the other end was very cloudy. I had difficulty seeing the uprights.’’