ACT Brumbies 24-36 British & Irish Lions: tour match – as it happened
Rob Kitson’s report from a frosty Canberra is in.“Mixed emotions”, “problems to solve”, an “inability to kill off the contest”.These are some standout lines from the piece.It’s not quite going to plan, is it?I’m off.I’ll see you all on Saturday morning as the Lions have one more warm-up before the main event.
Catch you then,Sir Ian McGeechan says that Jac Morgan should start the first Test,He knows a thing or two,Glad to say I’m on the same page as a Knight of the Realm,Andy Farrell is asked if this was a step forward and he begins with a sheepish laugh.
“We kept them in the game,” he says,“It looked like we dominated field possession but we kept them in the game,Congratulations to the Brumbies,”And what about the breakdown?“It’s been fiercely contested over the past couple of weeks,We just have to make sure we do our job properly.
The ref will just referee the game.It’s tough in there when people are flying in there.We just have to look after ourselves.“The learnings from today will be at the forefront of our minds.”So, was this his Test team? Again, a cheeky laugh.
“I’m not going to pick the team live on Sky Sports.We’ll hold that for a review.”Oh, one more thing.How is Blair Kinghorn? He’s walking, so hopefully it’s not too serious.So, who is nailed on for the first Test?Apart from the obvious – Itoje, Russell, Gibson-Park and a few others – it’s hard to say.
I’m seeing a lot of chat that Ringrose is inked on for 13, but is he? He was good.But I’d still like to see the Scots have a proper run.Aki was also good without being perfect.Kinghorn’s niggle could be a concern because I don’t think they’d want Smith starting at fullback.Big questions in the back row.
I don’t think Curry was overly impressive.Without a doubt would I start Morgan.They’re close, but they’re not quite there.The biggest question is, will the Wallabies be worried by anything they’ve seen over the past few weeks? The answer is a resounding no.The Lions can count their lucky stars they’re not playing the Springboks or All Blacks.
Now it’s the skipper, Maro Itoje.“It’s a step forward,” he says.“We left a few tries out there.We want to be more clinical and ruthless.We’re learning on the go.
We’ll take it.Yup, fair play.He’s “happy with the win” and says that “rugby is a tough sport so you take the wins when they come.”But what needs to fix?“We’ve got another tough game on Saturday and then the real fun begins.We need to get tighter, we need to get better and we’ll learn moving forward.
”Gibson-Park gets the player of the match award.He says it was a “patchy performance” by the Lions and he’s happy to “come away with the points”.Elite athletes just can’t switch it off, can they.“It’s a funny feeling in the camp.We were coming out hoping to execute better but we have to give credit to the Brumbies.
”He also touches on playing alongside the “world class” Finn Russell while adding that there’s “plenty to work on.”The Lions start as the finish, with a Chessum try! The Brumbies were simply spent.Off the line-out Aki battered the line and from there it was a question of who was going to score.A couple of stiff carries from men in red took it close before Chessum picked the ball up and rumbled over the line.Oh, but did he? NO! It’s held up! Yet again the Brumbies scramble defence prevents the dot down.
What brilliant work there from several men in white and blue.The game ends.Not a great second half from the Lions but there was enough to like across the 80.80 min: The Brumbies are still throwing punches.After winning the scrum Debreczeni attempts a cross-field kick pass for his winger on the left.
It’s not quite there so the Lions will have the chance for one more attack off a line-out,They’re not going anywhere,Mitchell is fizzing it left and right,Freeman frees his hands and finds Porter,Russell darts and is tackled.
There’s a deliberate knock-on and Tom Hooper is yellow carded after the hooter,The Lions, with a man advantage, will have a line-out throw five metres out from the left corner,78 min: The Brumbies give away a soft penalty around halfway not long after the restart so the Lions are setting up a line-out maul close the Brumbies line,it doesn’t get anywhere so they pick and go,Itoje does so and then spills in contact.
That’s the 10th handling error – compared the eight from the Brumbies – and the hosts will feed the scrum just five from their own line.Oh yes they can! Again, from the penalty, the Brumbies tap and go and keep the pressure up as they hammer the line rught under the poles.The replacement hooker wins his collision and busts over.The simple conversion is made and the so-called Lions Test team has shipped four tries and 24 points.75 min: The Lions defence holds as the Brumbies keep it narrow from the tap and go.
There’s a team warning for straying offside and slowing the ball down.Another penalty right in front, this time about five out.With the advantage the Brumbies go wide to the left but Hansen snuffs it out.Can the Brumbies make this count?72 min: Conan is nailed in midfield as he collects a cute pass from Aki.But he’s isolated so the Brumbies get over the ball and steal it.
Yet another penalty against the Lions on the deck.A line-out and some change later and the Brumbies are into the Lions 22.Building through phases.Down the line and through the hands.Seven phases.
It gets a little ragged but they keep the ball.They get the advantage so try something intricate that doesn’t come off.Back for the penalty about 10 metres out.Shortish blindside to the left.Looks like they’ll tap and go.
71 min: Smith rakes a kick upfield and almost finds a 50/22.The Brumbies mop up with Debreczeni hoofing it back from where it came.That was slick from the Lions from deep in their half.Smith might not tick every box but he gives the Lions a point of difference.I’d certainly have him in my Test 23.
Rumbled over! From the moment that line-out was secured by Itoje it always looked like it would end in a try.Efficient from the Lions.So too from Russell who nails a lovely arcing kick from near the right tram.65 min: The Lions are back inside the Brumbies 22, inching their way forward.A long pass is floated down the line for Aki who can’t quite get his off-load away.
But Smith mops up and they come again.The Brumbies are getting ragged and give away a series of penalties for straying offside on defence.The Lions can’t take advantage.They themselves look a little disjointed now.The move fizzles so Russell kicks to the corner.
Pollock joins the party.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.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
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