The battered Wallabies must quickly patch together a new backline after almost stealing an epic first Test against the British and Irish Lions despite an horrific injury toll.

Five backs appear to be in doubt for next Saturday’s second Test in Melbourne after 80 minutes of carnage in the 23-21 loss at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

The tone was set from the first tackle as debutant centre Christian Lealiifano was knocked out; Berrick Barnes (jaw), Pat McCabe (neck) and Adam Ashley-Cooper (shoulder) followed him off.

Winger Digby Ioane was also struggling with a shoulder problem for much of the second half but finished the game with flanker Michael Hooper in the centres and reserve halfback Nick Phipps on the wing.

Had Kurtley Beale managed to kick one of two penalty attempts in the last five minutes, it would have gone down as one of the most courageous victories in the Wallabies’ history.

“It was a courageous performance,” frustrated coach Robbie Deans said. “It would stack up against any on that basis.”

On top of the injuries, new playmaker James O’Connor struggled at No.10, falling short with his ball distribution as well as his goalkicking.

Between them, O’Connor and Beale left 14 points out on the paddock as they kicked four from nine. In contrast, Lions’ radar boot Leigh Halfpenny slotted five from six.

“It was a difficult night (for O’Connor),” Deans said. “The disruptions didn’t help but he was at the heart of working our way into position to win the game so give him credit for that.”

Beale could be an option at five-eighth in Melbourne if Deans feels O’Connor’s strong ball-running game is better suited to fullback, wing or inside centre.

Shadow backs Rob Horne, Luke Morahan, Nick Cummins and Joe Tomane will all come into the selection equation while it’s hard to see Deans calling Quade Cooper in from the cold.

Only stand-out halfback Will Genia, who helped spark Australia’s two tries, and freakish code-hopper Israel Folau, who produced a scintillating debut, can be assured of starting in their same positions next week.

Despite Deans’s view, O’Connor felt he played strongly and was gutted by the loss which felt worse than the 2011 World Cup semi-final loss to the All Blacks.

“There’s such hurt … it came down to that one kick and being a kicker as well and missing a few it makes that hurt even a bit more,” he said.

It was a gripping contest throughout as the momentum swung back and forward in front of a record Suncorp Stadium crowd of 52,499.

The Lions seemed to be in control as they jumped to a 20-12 lead in the 50th minute when winger Alex Cuthbert brushed off the reshuffled Hooper and then Beale to score.

But Australia fought back as they won the fierce breakdown battle and also limited the Lions’ ascendancy in the set-piece.

The Wallabies pack pulled off two major scrum “wins” late in the game, including forcing the late penalty for Beale’s last failed 45m shot at glory.

Asked if the better team lost, Deans said: “You draw your own conclusions.

“It was an epic contest and either side could have won the game.”

Wallabies skipper James Horwill consoled Beale at fulltime while Lions counterpart Sam Warburton – whose Welsh side has lost six straight close games to Australia – was extremely relieved.

“It was one of my worst minutes of my life. I thought it was going to go over to be honest,” Warburton said.