Brumbies vs British and Irish Lions live: Result and reaction as tourists prevail in hard-fought contest
Brumbies 24-36 Lions: Another patchy performance leaves improvements needed ahead of the first Test next week
The British and Irish Lions remained unbeaten since arriving in Australia as they prevailed 36-24 over a battling Brumbies side - though it was another mixed performance from Andy Farrell’s tourists.
Having named what looked close to a possible Test team for the clash in Canberra, Farrell might have expected more from his selection, though the Lions were unable to find full form and fluency as they again encountered problems at the breakdown. Tries from Ollie Chessum, James Lowe, Marcus Smith, Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier ensured victory was secured with a degree of comfort on the scoreboard, but improvements will be needed in 10 days’ time when the Lions take on the Wallabies in Brisbane in the first Test.
There will be concern, also, over the fitness of Blair Kinghorn, who was replaced inside half-an-hour after an early knock. The Lions have one more outing against a composite Australia and New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday, giving a few of those on the fringes a last chance to force their way into the Test team.
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Lions prevail despite patchy performance against Brumbies to leave Test selection questions
The British and Irish Lions failed to deliver the statement performance expected from their Test team in waiting as they laboured to a patchy 36-24 victory over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
The Lions slowly pulled clear with second-half tries from Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier, but the strongest line-up fielded by Andy Farrell so far on tour were unconvincing with the series opener against Australia just 10 days away.
It was a side that looked less than the sum of their parts, firing only sporadically but with the individual class to ensure an upset against opponents who were missing eight Wallabies was never on the cards.
Lions prevail after patchy performance against Brumbies to leave selection questions
Lions head coach Andy Farrell adds his input
“It’s the same as the other games, really,” the Lions boss admits to Sky Sports. “There was some really good stuff, but on the flip side, we kept them in the game. I think I am right in saying that we dominated field position but we kept them in with a sniff, especially when you get over the line three times and don’t score.
“Congratulations to the Brumbies, they came out of the blocks really well and stayed in the fight until the last minute. The breakdown has been fiercely contested over the last couple of weeks. We’ve just got to make sure we do our job properly. It’s tough in there when people are flying all over the place.
“We are up early in the morning to fly to Adelaide, and we’ll pick a side tomorrow night. Then we’ve got to get some rest in the squad. The learnings from today and from the last game against the Tahs are something that are at the forefront of our mind and everyone will muck in together to try and get a performance on Saturday.
“Someone landed on Blair Kinghorn’s knee and he felt a bit of something. He’s walking around, so hopefully it is not too serious.”
And here's Maro Itoje speaking to Sky Sports
“I think it was a step forward. We left a few tries out there. We wanted to be a bit more clinical, and we invited a lot of pressure back on ourselves. But we are playing rugby against good teams, we are learning on the go so we’ll take it.
“You are always happy to win. We know there is loads more. We know we can be better. That is the exciting challenge and opportunity for us. We’ve got another tough game, we expect, on Saturday, and then we are into it and the real fun begins.”
Jamison Gibson-Park is the player of the match
“We are happy with the result, in the end,” the scrum half tells Sky Sports. “A little bit of a patchy performance but we have to pay respect to the Brumbies, they came with some nice plans and executed well.
“We were just a little bit stop-start. We had some nice passages but there is plenty to review. It’s a little bit of a funny feeling in the camp, but we’ll get better for Saturday. We came out hoping to execute better. There’s plenty to work on both sides of the ball.”
FT: Brumbies 24-36 Lions
It feels like the words mixed bag are becoming a familiar refrain on this Lions tour - some good, some bad again from the tourists, never likely to lose but unable to pull away from a battling Brumbies side that showed their spirit and strength. If that was a first outing for the bulk of the Test team en masse, improvements will be required in Brisbane in 10 days’ time.
NO TRY! Brumbies 24-36 Lions, 82 minutes
The Lions finish with a flourish! Ollie Chessum started their scoring and bundles over with the final play...or does he? The TMO will have a look after Pierre Brousset had been quick to give it on the field. There might be a hand beneath the ball...
Chalked off. That’ll do us.
YELLOW CARD! Tom Hooper is sin binned - Brumbies 24-36 Lions, 80 minutes
The hooter blares to confirm that the Lions will not be beaten, as they were by the Brumbies in 2013. Tom Hooper will end the game in the sin bin - the blindside flanker’s deliberate knock on affords the tourists one last offensive in Canberra.
Brumbies 24-36 Lions, 79 minutes
A fumble on the floor from Maro Itoje after the maul is stalled ends that adventure.
Brumbies 24-36 Lions, 77 minutes
The breakdown has been a mighty mess for the Lions all too often tonight. They do get the right side of the referee’s whistle on this occasion to allow a kick to the corner as this really hard-fought contest nears an end.
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