The third match of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 to take place on Australian soil saw the tourists lead 14-5 at the break thanks to two tries from the Scotland centre, with Darby Lancaster responding for the hosts.
Ethan Dobbins powered over for the Waratahs early in the second half but Alex Mitchell’s trademark dart gave the Lions breathing space.
They were unable to add further scores in a scrappy second half but held firm for a third consecutive victory.
The Lions were forced into a late change to their starting XV when Henry Pollock was withdrawn as a precaution due to tightness in his calf. Captain Tadhg Beirne moved into the back row, with Scott Cummings coming in to start at lock and Duhan van der Merwe drafted on to the bench.
The Waratahs were first to threaten when the match got underway, Teddy Wilson seizing on a spilled ball and releasing Lancaster, only for a combination of Mack Hansen and Cummings to scramble back and halt the hosts’ momentum.
Andy Farrell’s side were dominant at scrum time in the early exchanges and having earned a penalty at a 10th-minute set piece, Fin Smith went to the corner.
The result was the opening try of the game and came as a result of a familiar link-up between Sione Tuipulotu and Jones, who picked a great line to receive his compatriot’s pass and dot down.
A couple of handling errors prevented the Lions making further inroads as they continued to enjoy plenty of possession, before the Waratahs gradually gained a foothold.
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The hosts thought they were on the board on the half-hour mark when Charlie Gamble broke off from a rolling maul and charged over, only for a TMO review to rule out the try following obstruction from Fergus Lee-Warner.
Three minutes later, the Lions stretched their lead as Jones scored his second. Receiving a pass from Mitchell five metres out, the centre showed quick feet to evade one tackle before stretching to ground the ball for his third try of the Tour.
Smith’s conversion made it 14-0 but the Waratahs hit straight back, a neat move ending with Lancaster finishing in the left-hand corner for an unconverted score.
The Waratahs started the second half as they finished the first, reducing the deficit further as Dobbins powered over from a rolling maul.
Jack Bowen’s conversion attempt struck the post to keep the Lions’ lead at four and they almost extended it immediately.
Mitchell skipped free and found Blair Kinghorn, who took the pass on his knees but released Josh van der Flier, but the flanker knocked on as he reached for the line.
But Mitchell and the Lions were not to be denied soon afterwards, the scrum-half darting down the blindside and throwing a dummy on his way to the line for the tourists’ third score.
The scrum-half was in the thick of the action again when his excellent kick turned into a 50/22. Following the resulting lineout, Mitchell found Ellis Genge in space and the replacement prop powered over, only for replays to show he had lost the ball forward in contact over the line.
Ben White was brought on for his Lions debut late on while Genge had another try ruled out in the closing stages, the TMO showing Ben Earl had been in front of the catcher at the lineout which led to the score, as the Lions closed out victory.
Next up for Farrell’s side is a trip to Canberra to take on ACT Brumbies on Wednesday.
New South Wales Waratahs (5) 10
Tries: Lancaster, Dobbins
British and Irish Lions (14) 21
Tries: Jones 2, Mitchell Cons: F Smith 3
