Match report
What did we learn from this? “The picture was pretty blurred,” says Rob Kitson in his report.
It was messy. It was disjointed. It was loads of fun. By a distance it was the most competitive game we’ve had on the tour.
Will that result in another tight affair on Saturday? Probably not.
Thanks for the company and chat. Hope you enjoyed that. We’ll be back on Saturday to bring you coverage of the second Test.
And a line from Andy Farrell:
There were some great performances by some individuals. I thought Ben White was very good, Jamie Osborne, and some lads coming in and playing their first games for us.
There is always food for thought. We do what we always do, review this game, and select the side tomorrow evening.
It doesn’t get any bigger or any more exciting. We know what’s coming. We’ll enjoy this evening together. There’s a rest tomorrow for us and then it’s all hands on deck Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Next it’s Kurtley Beale’s turn to chat with Sky:
I’m very proud of the guys. We only got together a week ago. It’s very unique for us. Very proud of the lads and a very special game to be a part of.
It was a slow start. It’s the Lions, right? They’re a special team. The way we are as a people, as a culture, we’re never going to give up. Hopefully we gave them something to look forward to in their rugby journeys.
We tested them with contestables . Hopefully we can get Sua’ali’i in the game.
[Gamble] is a special player. He just missed out on the Wallabies.
It would be great to have this team stick around on the annual calendar. We have so many First Nations and Pasifika players coming through. This could be a pathway.
I think [the Wallabies] will stick with their combinations. But any of the boys tonight would be ready [for a call up].
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Now from Owen Farrell, who might just have done enough for a Test cap later on tour:
That was probably too tight. Massive credit goes to them. They cam out fighting. We didn’t manage to get a foothold towards the end. Thankful we got there in the end.
It was a bit frantic at times. If we could have been a bit calmer and settled, but we didn’t do that. We needed to be more direct in the second half.
I thought in the second half particularly when we went direct, some of the chases in the second half I thought were miles better. That’s probably what got us there in the end.
I enjoyed being out there. It’s obviously a great tour to be a part of. Two big massive games to come. We’ll have to enjoy this and recover and then see what happens.
Charlie Gamble is our player of the match, and he’s being pretty humble about it:
I’m surprised. I thought other guys deserved it more than me. It was a big week for us. The boys put in the fight.
We’re playing the best in the world. If you can’t get up for that then why are you playing.
Obviously, like us, they’re a bunch of different cultures. What we could express was our physicality. We didn’t give up and had our chance at the end. Just couldn’t get it done.
Honestly, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. To represent my mum’s side, my Tongan side, was very special. Learning about everyone’s cultures and what their parents and grandparents had to go through, hopefully we could pay them back.
Full-time: First Nations & Pasifika XV 19-24 British & Irish Lions
What a game of rugby. I loved that. Full credit to the hosts. They really played their part and gave the Lions their toughest challenge of the tour by a distance. The Lions weren’t great but they did enough and their clean sweep remains on track.
Farrell, Smith, White, Cummings and Pollock among the few players who stood out. Not sure the rest managed to do enough for a Test cap.
Updated
80 min: The Lions miss the line-out jumper so FNP have the ball. The hooter sounds. They’re back inside their own half. If they score here it’ll be the most remarkable end to a game. Debreczeni has kicked it! Why did he do that!?
79 min: Pollock has pinched the ball! That is surely that. Charlie Gamble gets the official player of the match award. He’ll be on the losing side after that turnover.
78 min: FNP win their line-out. Debreczeni searches for a 50/22. Osborne marks and returns the kick. It’s not a bad kick. Not quite to halfway. One last chance for FNP about 45 metres away from the line.
77 min: FNP make a mess of their ball! They won the line-out and went down the hands. They made it to the middle of the park inside the 22 before changing direction and going back towards the left touch. A long hopeful pass is over Muirhead’s head and it spills out for a Lions throw. Why didn’t they keep it with the forwards, a ploy that has worked so well for them? Anyway, the Lions win their throw and White, who has been excellent, clears to halfway.
75 min: First job down with the scrum secure. Through the hands. Over the gainline. Goddard chips one deep that forces Kinghorn to clean up under pressure. He’s smothered inside his own 22 but secures the ball. White then nudges a great clearing kick towards the 22. FNP line-out and one last shot perhaps.
73 min: Goddard lands a box kick around halfway. The Lions have to either keep the ball for seven minutes or keep the ball deep in FNP’s half. They go short at the line-out but make a mess of it. FNP have the ball back after forcing the knock on as Gordan couldn’t hold on. Scrum to FNP on halfway all the way on their right. Can we start whispering it quietly?
TRY! FNP 19-24 Lions (Leota, 71)
Now then! It’s the tried and tested method from the hosts who won the ball off the top of the line-out and then just kept hammering the line. Short passes to big men who constantly won the collision. Soon cracks around the fringe opened up and Leota found the gap he needed just a metre short of the line. Beale misses the conversion which would have made it a three point game. Only a try will do now.
70 min: Debreczeni’s exit is won back by FNP who then kick again. The chase is relentless and puts the Lions back three under pressure. Van der Merwe shovels on to Farrell who is bundled out of touch inside his 22. FNP have a line-out in the red zone. Can they do anything with it?
69 min: Marcus Smith is on for Fin Smith. FNP are losing their shape and discipline on defence, giving away a series of penalties which means they can’t get a toehold and plot a comeback. Farrell, taking over the kicking duties, nudges one towards the 22 for a line-out that is stolen by FNP. The hosts need to sort themselves out.
66 min: Smith rakes a touch finder, pinning FNP back inside their own 22. Earlier Farrell was crunched in contact but took it like a champion. Back to the FNP line-out, they secure the ball. Debreczeni is again the exit strategy who launches a long kick. Sam Warburton on sky is singing the praises of Cummings who has put in a decent shift at the second row. Could he make the bench for Saturday?
TRY! FNP 14-24 Lions (van der Merwe, 64)
Duhan has his fifth! And is that the game? Brilliant from Smith and Farrell. The former showed some lovely soft hands to find his inside centre before the latter delayed his pass to the left, sucking in the defender before popping it short for the burly Scottish winger. That came off the back of a Ringrose burst on the left wing and then swift, accurate passing down the line. From the right, Smith couldn’t land the conversion.
Updated
62 min: FNP are peppering the Lions back three with contestables but so far the tourists are up to the task. Kinghorn did really well to gather than cross-kick searcher off the back of a scrum. Not sure it’s the right approach from FNP. Especially kicking to one of the tallest fullbacks in the game. In a flash, after having the scrum feed inside the Lions 22, FNP are now on the defence inside their own half thanks to some neat exit play from the Lions.
59 min: Osborne makes a superb take in the air with Muirhead screaming up field, chasing after a Goddard high box kick. But he can’t repeat the trick shortly after and knocks on. Excellent control from SNP who, not long ago, were defending their own line. Now they have the scrum feed inside the Lions 22. This has been such a great game. Maybe the best game of the tour.
58 min: Debreczeni finds a gorgeous touch finder from halfway after FNP’s attack went nowhere. They kept the ball but couldn’t make inroads so they went to the boot to play a bit of footy in the oppo’s patch. The Lions, though, are slick with their exit play and, off the top of their line-out, hoof it back from where it came off White’s boot.
56 min: Another breakdown penalty for the Lions. It came off a break from van der Merwe who was unleashed by a gorgeous short tip-on pass from Smith. Farrell at first receiver has run the shown. Charlie Gamble rolled the dice (sorry) and stuck his head in to steal the ball.
54 min: WOW! FNP rip the ball back under their own poles! The Lions thought they’d scored twice from close carries after the line-out drive. They kept hammering the line but the defence held. Farrell had a dart after straightening. Muirhead nailed van der Flier when he looked certain to get through. The FNP defence kept putting in shots before Thomas came up with the rip. That ended with a scrum for FNP and Debreczeni again cleared with a big boot.
Gregor Brown comes on to make his Lions debut. Earl is on for Morgan.
52 min: Off first phase the Lions have been impressive all tour and again they make ground with Ringrose stepping and wriggling past a couple of tacklers off line-out ball. FNP get a collective warning as they slow the ball down on their 22. Smith kicks it towards the left corner where the Lions will se tup a drive.
51 min: What a let off for the FNP! The Lions were stalling in midfield with some innocuous carries. Salakaia-Loto ripped the ball from the carrier and it spilled on the ground. Then, inexplicably, FNP players simply watched it, making weak attempts to secure the ball on the ground. White kicked it forward. Ringrose ran after it and gathered. Smith passed to van der Flier who charged over the line. But there was a knock-on/forward pass off the deck so FNP have the scrum feed. Sloppy and lucky from the hosts. This time, off the back of the scrum, Debreczeni finds touch just over the 22.
47 min: Morgan wins a penalty on the ground. He’s a menace. From the subsequent line-out the Lions stitch together a sequence of short passes. It’s slick and accurate until George joins the line and shoves a forward pass to Duhan on the left tram. FNP get clean ball from the scrum and clear with a long kick that doesn’t find touch. The Lions come again from deep.
TRY! FNP 14-19 Lions (Osborne, 45)
Clinical from the tourists! They set the line-out drive but it doesn’t budge until they get the penalty advantage. Then it’s sent down the line. Farrell is at first receiver. he shovels it on for Smith who feeds Kinghorn. Osborne is in acres of space on the right and a quick pass that spiralled about 15 metres from Kinghorn’s hand finds the Irishman who darted to the right corner. The conversion from the tram is missed.
Updated
45 min: The Lions secure the line-out and get through the phases. They eke out an advantage and Farrell in midfield tries another grubber ahead. He overcooks it but it’s no bother. They’ll have another line-out throw, this time about seven metres out from the left corner.
43 min: White nails a 50/22 after pinching a short pass from his opposite number Kalani Thomas. He was just the right side of the halfway line and drilled a low bobbling kick out of touch down field. Now the Lions have the line-out in the red zone.
41 min: Early second half penalty for FNP after Ryan strays off side after the restart. Beale hoofs it towards halfway for a line-out.
The players are back and the game is in the balance.
Let’s get cracking!
Liam S. Murray has been watching the Australian feed:
I’ve watched the Aussie feed of every match on the tour, and they’ve been consistently withering about the contributions of the TMO. “This’ll be the longest half of footy I’ve watched this year” was their reflection on the Pollock handbags, followed by the not unreasonable suggestion that the TMO could have informed the ref that it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, and recommend a quick word with both players when there was a break in play. Hard to disagree with them.
I disagree. But maybe I’ve been watching European rugby for too long.
Though none of the Lions (except Farrell) is impressing, I reckon there are a few FNP players who could be doing enough for a Wallabies shout.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto would certainly add grunt in the tight five. As would Taniela Tupou who has bossed every carry and consumed the Lions scrum.
Half time: First Nations & Pasifika XV 14-14 British & Irish Lions
Phew! What a half!
I loved that. Scrappy at times, slick elsewhere, this was a proper game of rugby.
Not sure any Lions player has put his hand up for a Test cap. Farrell the best player in red with Kinghorn blowing hot and cold.
FNP have played their part, especially their forwards who grew as the contest developed and began to boss the gainline.
40 min: FNP get a chance to launch an attack from a line-out thanks to Osborne flicking the clearing kick as it landed over his head. He claimed he never touched it but there are cameras all around the ground that spotted it. Doesn’t matter as the Lions subsequently win a penalty on the floor. They’re trying to work the ball and keep it play. Back up to halfway. Smith fizzes right. Pollock and then Ringrose carry. Ryan has it. But there’s another intercept! Kinghorn’s pass again!
Debreczeni running up field! He needs help. Reilly gathers and chips ahead and van der Merwe mops up inside his own goal area. That’ll be that half.
38 min: The Lions have the ball off the top of a line-out on the right. Down the line quickly with Farrell again acting as the primary play maker. He fizzes to Ringrose who gets over the gainline and there’s a penalty advantage for offside. Smith tries to grubber ahead but it’s blocked so he gets the chance to kick for touch. The Lions set the line-out inside FNP’s 22 but the home side rally around their maul defence and smother the ball carrier, forcing the turnover. Outstanding work. FNP’s forwards have been so good. Not sure any of the Lions players are doing enough to get a spot in that Test team.
37 min: I called it sloppy. And in some ways it has been. But I want to stress that this has been good fun. Feels like a proper game of rugby.
36 min: FNP win the line-out and crash it up inside the 22 with some heavy carriers. But a loose pass is snaffled by George. White then hoofs a quick clearance towards halfway. Let off for the tourists. FNP win that line-out and crash it up again. Their big units are dominating the collision point before Bealham swoops in and wins a penalty on the ground.
34 min: FNP’s front row consumes the Lions and they win the scrum penalty. What a monstrous shove that was! Tupou gets the plaudits. There’s a little argy bargy after the whistle. SNP have come to the party! They’ll have the line-out throw inside the Lions 22 and whole lot of momentum behind them.
31 min: Van der Merwe gathers a high box kick and is absolutely thwacked by a double team of Salakaia-Loto and Reilly. That was a momentum shifting hit but then FNP lose their feet at a breakdown and give away a soft penalty. They’re not punished as Smith’s touch finder is short of the corner so they come away with the ball. A contestable kick is won by FNB so they again have the opportunity to set a clearing kick that lands around halfway. Kinghorn jumps to gather but knocks on.
This has become a little scrappy. Not sure if I should be crediting FNP for that. Whatever the reason, both teams are struggling for fluency at the minute.
30 min: FNP can’t clear from their scrum and the Lions have the ball. Ringrose busts a line from midfield. They’re camped inside the 22 with options left and rught but Charlie Gamble gets over the ball to win the penalty on the ground. Bealham lost his feet as he tried to remove the FNP flanker. That’s slick work from the home side. Solid defence after some sloppiness from their scrum.
27 min: The Lions are back on the ball and slowly making their way to the edge of FNP’s 22. Farrell on the front foot toes a kick ahead. Beale mops up and dances inside his 22 before passing to Muirhead who does well to wriggle away and set up a clearing kick. But the Lions are back and Smith hoists a high kick that Osborne almost gathers with a leap but can’t hold on. We’ll have a scrum to FNP on their 22 towards their right.
They’re taking a look at an incident involving Pollock (who started it) and Tuaina Taii Tualima. Both players grabbed each others’ hair and faces. Silliness. They’re told off like the naughty boys they are.
Yellow card! Lions (Ryan, 25)
You can’t slow the ball down right under your own poles and Ryan has to make way as the conversion is slotted.
TRY! FNP 14-14 Lions (Taii Tualima, 23)
They’re over! Tuaina Taii Tualima scores against the Lions for the second time this tour. It was just a case of heavy bodies rumbling over from close range. Persistent and accurate. Big carries. A kick off error, followed by a scrum penalty and the Lions were on the retreat. Tupou with some hefty charges and then it was a matter of time.
Insult to injury, Ryan has been yellow carded as well for infringing play under his own sticks.
22 min: FNP secure the line-out and set up a charge in midfield. Then the hefty Tupou busts over the gainline and now FNP have the advantage. They’re five out. Tupou again. One metre short. They drive again with the forwards. Right under the poles…
20 min: The restart from the Lions is too long so we’ll have a scrum for FNP on halfway. It’s a mess. The Lions put in a strong second shove but they give away a penalty. Beale hoofs it high and long to set up a line-out on the Lions’ 22.
TRY! FNP 7-14 Lions (Reilly, 18)
He’s picked Kinghorn’s pocket! Loose from the Lions as they try to force it inside their own patch. Smith to Kinghorn. The line was stretched and the fullback went searching for Farrell. He couldn’t find him and Reilly was quickest to the floating ball, snatching it on the 22 line and scoring under the poles.
Updated
17 min: The scrum falls apart as FNP get a free kick on their own 22. It’s a little tetchy between the forwards with Salakaia-Loto making himself known.
16 min: Off the line-out George carries. Then Van der Merwe, then Morgan, then van der Flier. They’re winning every collision. Smith grubbers and finds touch about five out from the left corner. FNP throw long and miss the jumper so the Lions have it inside FNP’s 22. But a rush defence forces the mistake and Kinghorn knocks forward.
Sad news for Graham who has to leave the field with a knock to his ankle (I think). Ringrose comes on but that is so disappointing for Graham. He’s crying as he limps off the pitch.
12 min: FNP need to show a bit more now. The Lions were up and running straight from the kick-off. Farrell is having a great game stitching everything together and it’s his pass that once again unleasehs Kinghorn. The full-back welcomes the contact before passing to Graham on his right. The winger is making ground until he’s tackled. Then he’s swamped on the deck and FNP win the turnover. Can they use his ball after hoofing it out on halfway for a line-out? Feliuai has it down the tram but an attempted chip goes straight out. Muirhead has it in his right tram and tries a chip himself. But he too kicks it straight out.
After all that we’ll have a Lions throw on the left.
TRY! FNP 0-14 Lions (Graham, 11)
Too easy and Graham is in the corner! Off the line-out on the right, a simple short pass to midfield with Farrell acting as the lynchpin allows Smith to wraparound who gets it back and unfurls a long spiralling pass to his right for Graham. The winger catches and pins his ears back as he darts for the corner. He cuts towards the poles to make Smith’s conversion a little easier and the fly-half bangs over the extras.
Updated
10 min: Reilly’s yellow card will remain yellow. Lucky boy.
The Lions are back on the ball halfway with an advantage. Graham has it down the right. Van der Flier wriggles past a tackler. Van der Merwe can’t make ground as the ball comes down the line to the left wing so we go back for the penalty. The Lions look really cohesive. Smith kicks out for a line-out on the 22 out on the Lions’ left.
TRY! FNP 0-7 Lions (Osborne, 8)
Jamie Osborne scores for the Lions! Off the scrum, Farrell at first receiver catches and dinks a kick over the onrushing defence from just outside FNP’s 22. Osborne runs onto it and gets a lucky bounce. He gathers and dots down. Simple and effective. So is the conversion from almost bang in front.
Updated
7 min: Now the Lions showcase their maul defence. They keep the ball tight to the line-out after a FNP throw and Bealham gets his body in the morass to wrap up the ball carrier. Scrum to the Lions on FNP’s 22 all the way on the right.
6 min: The Lions take the line-out and Cummings brings it down. They attempt to maul from five out but the defence is firm and FNP manage to secure the ball on the deck, winning a penalty on their own line.
Yellow card! First Nations & Pasifika XV (Reilly, 5)
Triston Reilly could see red once this is upgraded. He raced across and nailed Graham with a shoulder, making no attempt to get his arms up. Graham was screaming down the right tram. Not sure why he didn’t make a proper tackle. That was poor technique.
Updated
5 min: Smith and Farrell combined well for that move. The line-out was messy but once they secured the ball and White was over it, they looked dangerous. A blistering strike run from Kinghorn joining the line.
They get another chance with a scrum inside FNP’s territory on the left. Smith cuts the line. He gives it to Farrell and Graham has it again on the right wing, they cantering upfield and Graham is nailed! That looked high. Farrell gets involved off the ball and they’re pushing and shoving.
Again, great strike play from the Lions.
3 min: Van der Merwe dots down his fifth try of the tour! Except Graham had a foot out on the whitewash on the right before he off-loaded for his Scottish mate on the inside. That came off a great break from Kinghorn who scythed through the midfield after a crisp pass from Farrell. Very slick from the Lions.
1 min: White collects the restart and thumps it back out on halfway. Kalani Thomas tries to snipe down the blind off the line-out and is bundled out. The Liosn then win a penalty from their line-out and Smith knocks it out further upfield.
Righto, the players are out.
Lions in red. Pasifika in a Harlequins style piece with white and blue and red representing all the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands.
Final non-Test match of the tour.
Here we go!
Updated
Oooh, I said I wouldn’t take any more emails before kick off but Stuart Mackenzie makes a point worth emphasising:
Given all the downbeat assessments of the future of Australian rugby, worth noting that the Australian U-20s put nearly 70 points on their English equivalents at the weekend. The talent is still there, hopefully some of those guys will be breaking through in time for the World Cup in 2 years.
How great is it having Kurtley Beale take centre stage again?
The 36-year-old is such a baller. No other word for it. And who knows. Tear it up tonight and we might see him in gold.
Here’s what he had to say in the build up:
There’s a huge responsibility [for us], especially for growing participation at a lower level, the grass roots. Tonight will be a great opportunity, to give the young kids something to aspire to.
Absolutely [here to prove Test credentials. There are a lot of guys who are on the fringes at the moment but we have had a great week of prep. We’re excited.
The last email before kick-off goes to Shane Comer:
Hi Daniel,
Owen Farrell was right about the poison emanating from certain parts of the Lions “fan base”, social media in particular.
Can we stop wearing green/white/red/navy glasses?
Can we stop being snipers on the ditch for certain players’ every movement.
Can we stop bashing Australia, it’s not the wallabies players’ fault that the game is so badly mismanaged.
Can we actually do what Lions tours do: give a unique opportunity in world sport for 4 rivals to cheer on one team. Let’s shut up and cheer on, in my view, the most exciting, legendary and special jersey in rugby.
“Future of rugby in Aus won’t be helped by dripping condescension”
That is the impressive title of an email sent in by David Britton:
Northern hemisphere takes on this series speak to the inevitable decline of the game outside the UK, and frankly within it. If you look at the feeder schools for union in Australia, a large and meaningful majority of those players are excelling in league, or choosing to play AFL in southern states.
The idea that ‘this vintage is poor’ obscures the ‘posh boy’ sport that rugby has become in Australia which will continue to see it decline. To be frank, that dynamic is also playing out in the UK but without as many competitors for the more robustly built.
Any superiority complex should also be accompanied with a strong recognition that it is a scenario of ‘but for the grace of God goes your own unions’.
Whatever the reason it is clear that the Aussies aren’t what they used to be. I’d disagree that it’s condescending to point that out.
Your points on class are well made though. As a union fan I hope that they can turn things around and put up a competitive team in 12 years.
Can we have our cake and eat it?
William M Gilmore plots a path forward:
Never let it will be said that the powers that be won’t add more dates to player calendar.
In that spirit …Maybe instead of warming up against Argentina, there are four matches in France two Wednesday two Saturday tests against France. Then off they toddle to SA, NZ or AUS.
Harry Shawyer from Munich has written in:
Hi Daniel. For me, the Lions tours to Australia are the least compelling of the three. Put simply, Australia aren’t as good as the All Blacks and aren’t as disliked as the Springboks. (I don’t mean this disrespectfully - I’m sure you’re more than aware of the healthy animosity between SA and Northern Hemisphere sides.) So because of this, the series vs Australia lacks jeopardy.
The real benefits are: The Lions have a great chance of winning - if not for Australia, they wouldn’t have won a series since 1997 - and it’s undoubtedly a beautiful country to tour for players and fans alike.
I suspect the series in 12 years’ time will look very different, if it happens at all. A test match against a combined Fiji/Samoa/Tonga XV would probably present a tougher test than the Wallabies...
Hmmm, hard to disagree. It really is such a shame that the Wallabies aren’t what they used to be. As a Saffa I used to love to hate them when I was a youngster.
How good would it be if they manage to turn things around and win this Saturday? I’m sure even some Lions supporters will be hoping for a comeback.
Updated
More reading for you.
This one from Andy Bull in Ballymena is well worth your time:
Sione Tuipulotu is a little self critical here:
Jo Nestor, from Leitrim, deep in the Irish Midlands, agrees “100%” with Liam Crowley’s comment.
That encouraged us to look at the positives of a potential whitewash down under.
Besides, what did we expect?
As ‘The Black Count’ (mysterious) points out, “I reckon this Lions side would give the Wallabies a good run for their money. The difference in player pool is chalk and cheese.”
A couple of interviews for your perusal.
Owen Farrell has opened the door for an England return:
Jamie George is just buzzing to be with the group:
We’ve got a few early responses.
Here’s Liam Crowley:
I have to say, it’s getting quite boring reading the negative takes on this series.
I was in Dublin for the kick off game. There were no existential questions in the air that night. There was a sea of red shirts from all over Britain, walking down the river chatting to strangers and friends with massive excitement.
Since then the Lions have gone undefeated and did a thoroughly professional job, after being nothing short of World Class in the first half. I’m not sure what people want, it’s not the Lions job to make Australia look any better than they are.
And here’s Joe James:
Australia absolutely deserve to keep their spot on the Lions itinerary, however you’re right that this is a poor vintage.
Union is suffering in Australia in popularity and it doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
If only they’d given games to the Pacific Nations, that would have brought real competitiveness.
Europe has caught up the Southern Hemisphere in recent years, maybe the solution would be Lions vs Southern Hemisphere all stars?
Breakdown newsletter
Well, let’s get into it then.
Should the Lions be visiting France in 12 years rather than Australia?
Once an unthinkable question, it’s now worth considering.
Gerard Meagher wonders out loud what that might look like and whether or not its a good idea.
The comments below the line are divided. Where do you stand on this?
Team news
Owen Farrell starts and captains from midfield. That’s the headline. But there’s intrigue elsewhere as a couple of Lions with eyes on a possible Test cap have an opportunity to impress.
Blair Kinghorn was on track to start the first Test at fullback until a knee injury in the warmups cut him down. He’ll have fellow Scots Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham alongisde him in the back three.
Fin Smith will run the show at fly-half while Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock form a formidable looking back row.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Jamie George, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jac Morgan 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Another veteran skippers the First Nations & Pasifika XV as Kurtley Beale gets another shot at the Lions 12 years on.
Beale, one of the most exciting and creative players at his peak, slipped in the first Test in 2013 and will be fizzing to make his mark this evening.
There’s no Pete Samu (more on that in a bit) but there are 10 internationals with nine Wallabies and one Flying Fijian.
First Nations & Pasifika XV: 15 Andy Muirhead (First Nations), 14 Triston Reilly (First Nations), 13 Lalakai Foketi (Maori & Tonga), 12 David Feliuai (Samoa), 11 Filipo Daugunu (Fiji), 10 Kurtley Beale (First Nations), 9 Kalani Thomas (Maori); 1 Lington Ieli (Fiji), 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Samoa & Maori) 3 Taniela Tupou (Tonga), 4 Darcy Swain (Samoa), 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Samoa), 6 Seru Uru (Fiji), 7 Charlie Gamble (Tonga), 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima (Samoa).
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata (Samoa), 17 Marley Pearce (Maori & First Nations), 18 Mesake Doge (Fiji), 19 Mesake Vocevoce (Fiji), 20 Rob Leota (Samoa), 21 Harrison Goddard (First Nations), 22 Jack Debreczeni (Cook Islands), 23 Jarrah McLeod (First Nations).
Updated
Preamble
On we go, one last time in midweek, one last opportunity for some fringe players to don the famous red jumper, one last chance for some on the edge of the Test team to show what they’re about.
My job is to hype this up. Normally that would be a pretty easy gig but – I really do hate to say it – this tour hasn’t quite lived up to the billing.
The Lions were uninspiring but good enough throughout the warm-up matches before cruising to a comfortable win in the first Test. There’s talk of a clean sweep down under and frankly, from what we’ve seen so far, anything else would constitute a failure.
There are existential questions floating in the air. Should Australia be granted another Lions tour in 12 years’ time? Is this touring side still relevant in a cutthroat, hyper professional age? Is winning matches more important than hearts and minds? Perhaps you’d like to write in and share some thoughts of your own.
We’ll have to chew gum and walk at the same time because the midweek dirt-trackers have a game on their hands.
They’re up against the First Nations & Pasifika XV, a team of Fijians, Tongans, Samoans, Maoris and First Nations ballers. They’ll be physical, they’ll be fast and they’ll be dangerous on the ball.
If nothing else this should be an entertaining game of footy. Amidst all the angst and uncertainty and melodrama, 80 minutes of fun will be just what the doctor ordered.
Kick-off at 11 am UK time/8 pm in Melbourne.
Teams and updates to come.
As mentioned above, I’d love to hear from you. I read every email so please do send in your thoughts.
