The British & Irish Lions produced a five-try performance in a hard-fought 36–24 win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, building momentum ahead of their highly anticipated Test series against Australia and with just one game remaining before the first Test of the 2025 Qatar Airways Tour, Andy Farrell’s side extended their unbeaten run on Australian soil.
The Brumbies, regarded as Australia’s strongest club side and the only team to beat the Lions on their 2013 tour, were always expected to provide a stern test. A packed GIO Stadium and a crisp winter evening set the stage for a classic, and the home side didn’t disappoint early on.
After Lions hooker Dan Sheehan conceded a penalty at halfway, the Brumbies struck first. They used the resulting kick to the corner and a series of short-range attacks to power over through Tuaina Taii Tualima, setting the tone with their intensity. Within 15 minutes, the hosts had won four turnovers, showing their intent.
But the Lions soon found their footing. A massive scrum set up a surging carry from Bundee Aki, who made valuable ground before Finn Russell’s quick hands sent Ollie Chessum diving into the corner for the Lions’ first try.
That settled the visitors, who began to dominate possession. Sheehan broke up the right wing and linked with Tommy Freeman, earning a penalty in the process. The Lions switched play left, where James Lowe powered over or so it seemed. A heroic effort from Andy Muirhead held him up over the line, but Lowe didn’t have to wait long. Moments later, a slick move involving Russell, Aki, Sheehan, Jack Conan, and Garry Ringrose ended with Lowe sliding into the corner to open his tour account.
The Lions were forced into an early change when full-back Blair Kinghorn suffered a knee injury, replaced by Marcus Smith. And it was Smith who had the final say before half-time. After the Brumbies responded with a try from Corey Toole, cutting the lead to two, a sublime offload from Tom Curry released the Harlequins playmaker, who dashed in under the posts to restore the Lions’ cushion.
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Trailing 22–12 at the break, the Brumbies again came out strong. A penalty set them up deep in Lions territory, but Maro Itoje stole the lineout brilliantly, snuffing out the danger.
The Lions countered clinically. Ringrose sold a dummy, sliced through the line, and linked with Smith, who grubbered ahead for Ringrose to collect and score a well-worked try. But the Brumbies weren’t done yet. Toole’s clever chip forced a mix-up between Freeman and Jamison Gibson-Park behind the Lions’ try line, resulting in a five-metre scrum. From there, Hudson Creighton punched through to bring the hosts back within striking distance.
Andy Farrell rang the changes, introducing Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, and Josh van der Flier — and the latter nearly made an instant impact. A rolling maul drove towards the Brumbies’ line, and Van der Flier looked to have grounded the ball, only for the TMO to rule it out after a lengthy review.
Still, the Lions pressed on. Russell added three points from in front of the posts, and hometown favourite Mack Hansen entered to a roar from the crowd, making his return to Canberra. Young Henry Pollock replaced Joe McCarthy, with Chessum shifting into the second row and Pollock immediately lit up the right touchline with a powerful run that led to another Lions penalty.
From the ensuing lineout, the Lions executed a textbook maul, and this time Van der Flier made no mistake, crashing over for the fifth try to give the visitors breathing space.
Liam Bowron muscled over late for the Brumbies, capping an intense spell of pressure, but the game was all but over. Chessum looked to have finished it in style with a second try in the dying moments, but once again the Brumbies defended valiantly to hold him up.
