Key events
63 min: I was about to write that the Brumbies are looking tired but they swarm over Chessum and pinch a penalty on the ground. More breakdown concerns for the Lions. Jac Morgan’s stock continues to rise in his absence. Lowe is replaced by Hansen who used to call Canberra home. The Brumbies kick to touch, win the line-out but then lose the ball in contact on halfway.
Penalty! Brumbies 12-29 (Russell, 61)
With a penalty right in front, Russell points to the poles. He slots it, but why not go for the try? That seems like an odd decision outside of a Test. Still, three points on tour is three points on tour and Russell adds to his tally.
59 min: There’s something about Australian maul defences. Even under Eddie Jones this was one thing that worked. Maybe not having a monstrous tight five forces teams to hold firm or work on their technique. Like in judo where smaller fighters (?) can beat larger opponents.
Anyway, the Brumbies are now on their own line after Russell’s touch finder bobbles out near the right corner. That’s some kick from the Scot. He’s such a player. The Brumbies can’t clear as they should so Aki is charging from midfield inside the 22. Now the Lions are right under the poles. They have the advantage so Smith attempts a dink and chase but the ball dribbles over the dead ball line. They come back for the penalty.
56 min: If there’s one area that the Brumbies really haven’t got right tonight it’s their 22 exit. After forcing the knock-on they get the scrum but can’t clear the ball far enough. So they’re under pressure again inside their 22 and give away a penalty. Russell kicks it to touch and the Lions set up a line-out maul on the left within touching distance. The heavies get a second shove going and Josh van der Flier, on for Curry, thinks he has it down. I’m not sure. On field decision is held up. No clear evidence to overturn it. Yet again the Brumbies’ maul defence gets the job done.
54 min: This game has been great fun so far and has cranked up a gear. Now the Lions are mauling inside the Brumbies 22 after a penalty was kicked out to the corner. But the Brumbies are holding firm. Their tenacity on the floor has been a standout (will the Wallabies target the breakdown, well, obviously they will). Gibson-Park under a bit of pressure knocks on the base of a ruck and it’ll be a Brumbies scrum inside their 22.
Thanks to Simon Walworth and showbizguru for the kind words, encouraging me to ignore the negativity on X. Don’t worry mates, I know that social media is not real life. Still, glad to know that others think this Lions side is showing signs of improvement.
TRY! Brumbies 17-26 Lions (Creighton, 51)
Can’t say they don’t deserve that! Off the scrum, with options either side, they go down the blind. Muirhead up from fullback gathers and delays his pass to perfection. He’s had some game. Creighton comes screaming in off a disguised run and hits the pass at pace. There’s no stopping him there. Some questions over the defence off the back of the scrum but sometime you have to give credit to the attacking team. Bigger concerns with Freeman passing to Gibson-Park in the build up. The conversion is good.
50 min: The Lions might not be perfect tonight but their attack off first phase play has been impressive and that try was another great example of that.
They’re defending now as the Brumbies have the ball on their 22. But the defence is holding firm as one-up runners are easily dealt with. Then the Brumbies show some slick hands down the blind on the right. A kick ahead puts Freeman under pressure. He passes to Gibson-Park but it’s behind the scrumhalf. So Freeman has to get a move on and mop up. He’s tackled over the in-goal area so the hosts will pack down for a scrum five out.
TRY! Brumbies 10-26 Lions (Ringrose, 48)
Three on tour for Ringrose! A strong second shove from the Lions wins the scrum penalty. Itoje then wins the subsequent line out and Russell is on the front foot. Ringrose has it and he dummies before bursting through midfield before passing to Smith. Smith grubbers ahead and Ringrose runs onto the free ball to dot down his third try down under. Russell slots the extras from right in front.
44 min: Oh, how disappointing. The Brumbies give away a free kick from the line-out within touching distance of the Lions line. They’ll get another throw as the ball is hoofed to halfway, but that’s a missed opportunity. This time they win the ball and a cross field kick puts Smith under pressure by O’Donnell who knocks on in the air. Lions scrum on their left touch inside their own half.
A correction from earlier. The star man for the Brumbies is the fullback Muirhead. I said that he was a winger. Either way, he’s been everywhere.
42 min: It’s a composed start from the Lions with Gibson-Park hoisting a couple of high kicks that land kindly. They’re keeping the ball until Curry attempts a no-look pass that is snaffled by the Brumbies. In a flash the hosts are tearing down the line and going through the hands. Quick transition and Toole, the try scorer, is beating his man on the left wing. Thye move the ball so fast. That’s a sign that the Lions will get punished against the Wallabies if they’re not accurate on transition play. They’re scrambling on defence and give away a penalty. The Brumbies mull over their options before kicking to the corner. They turned attack into defence in the blink of an eye and made about 40 metres. Now they have a line-out about 10 metres from the left corner.
The players are back out. Let’s get stuck in!
I’ve taken a trawl through social media and I’m wondering if I’m watching the same game.
Most of the comments on (the admittedly toxic) X is negative towards the Lions. Sure, they haven’t been perfect. But this is unquestionably the best they’ve been on tour so far.
Am I bing too generous?
A handful of Lions players have stepped up.
I think Aki has put in his best performance of the tour. He’s s different animal when he doesn’t have to play the role of creator and can simply run it hard.
Russell continues to impress. Freeman and Lowe have been busy off their wings. Conan also with some neat touches.
Meredydd Barker wants to know where the lone Welshman is?
Is Jac Morgan being kept under wraps? Is he injured? There’s an odd silence around him. As far as performances on tour go he’s been the stand out back rower.
I fully agree. I think this was a tester for Tom Curry who, in my opinion, hasn’t done enough so far. If I was picking the Test team I’d have Morgan starting.
Half-time: ACT Brumbies 10-19 British & Irish Lions
That was a great half. Really enjoyed that. Better continuity from the Lions who were given a test by the Brumbies. The score reflects the state of the game as Lowe had a try chalked off, but the Brumbies will be sick that they gave away a soft try late in the half to make it three tries to two in favour of the tourists who dominated most of it.
TRY! Brumbies 10-19 Lions (Smith, 40+1)
Smith gets over! The Brumbies shot themselves in the foot. They had the option to restart from their own goal area with the last play of the half and chose to kick short and contestable. They lost the ball and the Lions simply walked it in from the edge of the 22. So simple, passing down the line and Smith was the man on the end of it. What on earth were the Brumbies doing? Russell slots the extras from near in front.
40 min: The Lions are having a dart late in the half. Lowe gathered a kick ahead and fed Itoje who then shovelled it for Gibson-Park. Great continuity. Slick hands. Smith then has it and chooses to grubber ahead. The hooter sounds and they have it back…
TRY! Brumbies 10-12 Lions (Toole, 37)
Wow, they’re back in it! How quickly things can change in rugby. A few minutes ago the Brumbies were going nowhere before their skipper Lonergan found touch in the corner. Then the Lions gave away a penalty from their own throw so the Brumbies had the line-out. They won the initial rumble and had the advantage. Down the line, through the hands and the left winger Toole simply had to catch a long pass and beat Smith – who came up square – to slide in the corner. The conversion from the left tram is missed. But game on!
36 min: Sheehan chooses to throw long at the line-out and it’s not clean ball. Conan has to leap for it but can’t secure the ball. The Brumbies swarm and win a penalty. Now they kick to touch and they’ll have the line-out five out. All started with that raking Lonergan kick. Can they do something from here?
34 min: Muirhead is the one Brumbies player causing problems for the Lions. Another strong carry down the right wing has his team on the front foot and they finally stitch together a move of more than five phases. But they choose to kick. Felt aimless but tell you what, Lonergan lands this perfectly as it bobbles out about five metres from the Lions line near the left corner. Great kick. Can they pinch the throw?
32 min: The Brumbies can’t get a foothold. After the restart they give away a penalty and find themselves defending on halfway. Conan takes a big shot but keeps the move alive. Russell looks for Freeman on the right with a kick that floats out of touch on halfway. No worries though, the Lions have the ball back soon after the Brumbies’ line-out. This is utter dominance from the tourists.
TRY! Brumbies 5-12 Lions (Lowe, 30)
So slick! That is exactly what the Lions coaches want to see. Sheehan with a huge carry got them on the front foot. McCarthy then got Russell on a wraparound who sparked the midfield. Conan and Ringrose involved and in a flash it’s with Lowe who won’t be stopped this time, sliding over the left corner. Russell slots the extras from the tram.
28 min: Chessum wins a penalty on the floor. The Lions have also stepped up at the breakdown this match. Dan Biggar on Sky is asking if the Lions should revert to one-off runners to keep it simple. Ronan O’Gara disagrees. I’m with ROG on this one. Anyway, that Chessum penalty has them back in the Brumbies 22. They’re through the hands and Freeman has a dart down the right wing.
25 min: They’re purring now. The Lions are really starting to click with every carrier busting over the line. Russell is everywhere, stitching it together. Genge and Chessum and Conan all with stiff carries. But oh, wow! That’s outstanding defence from Lonergan who gets over the ball as Gibson-Park took a dart round the ruck. Scrumhalf on scrumhalf action sees the Brumbies escape danger with a penalty in their own 22.
Marcus Smith replace Kinghorn who couldn’t shake the niggle from earlier. Time to shine Marcus.
23 min: Itoje wins the line-out. They can’t get the maul rumbling so they go down the line. Russell finds Aki who again makes ground. Kinghorn joins from fullback and fizzes to the left wing for Lowe who pins his ears down and makes a dart for the corner. Has he grounded it? NO! Muirhead manages to wriggle a leg between ball and ground and it’s held up! Brilliant defence. Great attacking shape from the Lions though.
22 min: The Brumbies think they have stolen the ball under the shade of their own poles but the ref decides that Gibson-Park was taken off the ball. So it’s another penalty which Russell kicks to the corner. Five metres out with the line-out now.
19 min: Another penalty against the Lions. After being inside the Brumbies 22 they’re now defending a line-out just outside their own 22. But they steal the ball on the deck! Great defence and McCarthy comes away with it. Gibson-Park passes to Russell who flies another pass down the line. Suddenly Sheehan is running over a tackler with a stiff fend in the right tram and the Lions are back into Brumbies territory. Russell tries to land a 50-22 but overcooks it. No matter. He had the advantage on halfway. Now he settles and kicks to touch. Lions with the line-out inside the 22 on the right. Phew, that was a back and forth passage.
18 min: The gulf in quality is starting to show. The Lions are back in the Brumbies 22 with their heavy forwards rumbling over the gainline. But Genge loses his feet at a ruck and gives away a soft penalty. A let off for the home side who were scrambling back. Better from the Lions. Their phase play is starting to click.
TRY! Brumbies 5-5 Lions (Chessum, 16)
Much better from the Lions! That was pitch perfect from start to finish. It started with a big shove and a [enalty advantage from the scrum. Aki had it from first phase and made metres, almost getting under the poles. With another penalty advantage Gibson-Park changed direction and went to the left. he found Russell who straightened the line and fed Chessum who finished the job from close range. Russell missed the conversion though.
14 min: For once the Brumbies choose not to kick from their own 22 and they pay the price. A good hit from Kinghorn forces the knock-on in contact. Now the Lions will have the scrum feed inside the Brumbies 22. A healthy open side with a tempting blind side to the left.
13 min: It’s been a kicking game so far. Neither side really stitching together phases. It’s a little scrappy with ball in hand. Brumbies kick then the Lions kick. Freeman outs in a good kick chase down the right wing which almost wins the ball back. A little later there’s a Lions knock-on so the Brumbies will have the scrum feed on their 22 towards the right. Lions dominating territory but not winning over any neutrals. It’s been a little messy so far.
Slight delay as Chessum receives some treatment for a knock.
12 min: A bit of kick tennis sees Lowe nudge it deep into Lions territory. Muirhead mops up and chooses to run it back. Itoje hits him on his 22. Lonergan, who is having a good game at scrumhalf, hoofs it out on halfway.
9 min: No scrum shove but a free kick for the Lions. it goes down the line where Lowe is on the right wing and waiting. He carries into the 22 but the Lions lose the ball on the ground and the Brumbies hoof clear. No continuity so far. After a resettle from Gibson-Park Aki is rampaging through midfield on halfway. He looks for Lowe – back on the left wing – but the pass is wayward.
7 min: Gibson-Park lifts a high kick that O’Donnell knocks on. Measured stuff from the Lions 9. He looks in Test mode for sure. The Lions will have the scrum feed all the way to the left just outside the Brumbies 22. Can they spark a move?
6 min: The Lions win the ball from the restart and Gibson-Park sparks a move down the left. It gets to Lowe who is bundled out of touch by two tacklers. The Brumbies whoop and celebrate. They’re up for this.
TRY! Brumbies 5-0 Lions (Tualima, 5)
They’re over! Brilliant from the Brumbies. Patience and precision from the big lads with a series of picks and goes. It’s the big No 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima who dots down. Oh, but was he short? No, on the line I think. The relatively easy conversion from just the right of the poles is missed, but that’s a heck of a start from the hosts.
4 min: The Brumbies go down the blindside from the top of the line-out. The prop Rhys van Nek gets close. They’re a metres short. Genge makes a big tackle. Can the Brumbies get there?
3 min: The Brumbies have the advantage from the line-out maul. The think about tapping and going, but instead nudge to the corner once more.
2 min: Sheehan gives away an early penalty as the Brumbies 9, Lonergan, hoists a high kick. Sheehan obstructed the chaser. Not that it mattered. Kinghorn spilled it in the air. Not a great start for the Lions who must now defend a line-out about seven metres out.
Righto, here we go! Russell kicks off.
Almost there. Looks chilly in Canberra but a healthy crowd is in. A heavy dew apparently. The bill may be slippy.
Itoje is giving a rousing speech inside the Lions dressing room.
I didn’t catch all of it but it passed the vibes check. He’s really grown over the last few years, hasn’t he? He’s taken to leadership so naturally. Proper stuff that.
Andy Farrell has dismissed talk that this is a Test team. “It’s just speculation,” he said.
Well, Stephen Larkham, the Brumbies head coach, ain’t buying it:
We certainly think this is pretty close to his Test squad. A fairly strong side went out on the park against the Reds a few weeks ago.
They’ve got a 10-day run from now until the first Test against the Wallabies, so this probably gives the boys a chance to recover from this game if there are any knocks or bruises.
It’s an Ireland heavy, Leinster heavy team. I’ve coached over in Ireland before and there is amazing talent, not just in the starting team but those guys coming off the bench as well.
There is an enormous challenge ahead of us but we’ve prepped really well.
Some more reading while we wait.
Maro Itoje has called on the Lions to ‘punch holes’ against the Brumbies. The all-Ireland centre pair will be asked to run it hard and straight. I’m not sold on the back row. Can Tom Curry fulfil the brief?
As for the Wallabies, they’re maintaining a ‘quiet resolve’, as our man Jack Snape says:
Ellis Genge has been chatting with Sky Sports ahead of kick-off:
The mood in camp is a mixed bag really. It’s quite clear we didn’t put our best put forward. The Waratahs were brilliant, asked us a few questions.
It’s a good chance to review and when you have a blip like that, it almost sharpens the weapons. It’s good for us for it to happen now.
They [fellow front-rows tonight Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong] are world class players and that’s what the tour is about in some respects: getting to play with these players from around the world that you wouldn’t usually.
The intensity is: how far can you go before you go too far? We ramped it up a few weeks back and have tapered it down. Who knows what next week will hold.
Have you read Rob Kitson’s take in this week’s breakdown yet?
You should:
Growing up in Johannesburg and watching Super Rugby in the 1990s and early 2000s, my father had a name for the Canberra based franchise.
“Bloody Brumbies,” that’s what he called them. Because for a generation they were the baddies of Australian rugby. Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Mortlock, Smith, Roff, Moore; I could go on.
It’s great (sort of) to see them doing well again. And who can forget when they beat the Lions in 2013?
Any takers on this latest lot doing the business again?
Team news
Is this the Lions Test XV? It looks like it.
Maro Itoje is back to skipper and partners Ireland’s Joe McCarthy in the second row. The half-backs are the pair we all expect to start against the Wallabies and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, fresh from a Top 14 triumph, slots in at fullback. It’s also an all-Ireland midfield combination
The biggest questions are in the back row where Tom Curry and Ollie Chessum are likely still playing for a spot in the Test side. They’ll have Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock coming off the bench to mop up. Marcus Smith continues to play the role of impact player.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Joe McCarthy, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18, Will Stuart, 19 Josh van der Flier, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Mack Hansen.
The Brumbies are the strongest of the Australian clubs and have Wallaby Tom Hooper in the ranks.
The flanker played in the narrow win over Fiji recently but starts this evening.
The Canberra side will be without some other Wallabies including James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright and Noah Lolesio who will also miss the Test series after picking up a nasty neck injury against Fiji.
ACT Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead; 14 Ben O’Donnell, 13 Ollie Sapsford, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole; 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c); 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 Lington Ieli.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachie Hooper, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Hudson Creighton.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
We’re getting close now. Andy Farrell has named a team that feels like a Test side and a few pieces are slotting into place. Does Big Faz know who he wants in midfield, in the back row and on the bench when he squares up to the Wallabies in 10 days’ time? He’s got two more dress rehearsals til then and judging by the line-up, he’s honing in on his preferred 23.
Because let’s be real. The tourists haven’t exactly shot the lights out, have they?
They blew away a hapless Western Force before blowing hot and cold against the Reds. Then, against a revved up Waratahs, the Lions seemed to regress in an error-strewn 11-point win in Sydney.
With Owen Farrell getting up to speed with the group we’re approaching the realm of now or never for some of those players still on the fence for the first Test.
The Brumbies were the standout Australian team in Super Rugby, finishing third behind two New Zealand clubs. This will be the Lions’ stiffest challenge of the lot and should answer a few lingering questions.
Kick off at 11am BST, 8pm in Canberra.
Team details and other bits to come shortly.
If you’d like to get in touch, please feel free by dropping me a mail.
What would you like to see from this game and who has impressed you so far on tour?