British and Irish Lions v Queensland Reds live: score, commentary, updates
Suncorp Stadium is one of the great sporting arenas — though the playing field is more than a little threadbare (Stephen Jones writes). Masses of major games are staged here, including a rugby league match two days before the Lions' first Test against the Wallabies.
Suncorp Stadium also staged one of the most famous matches in northern hemisphere history: the England-Wales game in the knockout stages of the 2003 World Cup.
Jamison Gibson-Park gave a knowing look when he was told the story of how Finn Russell had struck up a relationship with Ben Spencer by grabbing the Bath scrum half in a headlock during a team social and demanding, 'Just give me the ball. (Alex Lowe writes)'
Russell's story, which he told before Bath's victory in the Gallagher Premiership final, was funny because it played to the maverick reputation he had when he joined the club from Racing 92. In reality, Russell and Spencer have spent two years working out the perfect balance in their half-back partnership, allowing each of them to play to their strengths for the benefit of the team.
Russell and Gibson-Park do not have two years. They have two days and no full training sessions to form some kind of syncopation before the British & Irish Lions play Queensland Reds on Wednesday. And they have just over two weeks until the Lions play Australia in the first Test of the series, back here in Brisbane.
● Read more: Can Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell deliver Andy Farrell's game plan?
Jamison Gibson-Park is fit to start, having overcome a gluteal strain, as is the full back Hugo Keenan, who had a calf injury and has not played since May 31 (Will Kelleher writes).
Gibson-Park pairs with Finn Russell in the half-backs, in what may become the Test playmaking partnership, with Bundee Aki and Huw Jones the centres, and Duhan van der Merwe and Tommy Freeman on the wings.
In the pack it is all change. Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart move from the bench to starting against the Reds in the front row, and captain Maro Itoje is paired with Ollie Chessum, with Tom Curry, Morgan and Jack Conan the back row.
The bench has an English flavour, with Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Earl, Mitchell and Fin Smith joined by the Irish trio Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Garry Ringrose.
Before we get cracking with the details, let's remind you of the team news.
Queensland Reds: 15 Jock Campbell (captain), 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas; 1 Aidan Ross, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4 Josh Canham, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Seru Uru, 7 John Bryant, 8 Joe Brial. Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Angus Blyth, 21 Connor Vest, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Isaac Henry.
British & Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Jack Conan. Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Oh I love the smell of British & Irish Lions in the morning. G'day and welcome to The Times' coverage from Brisbane as the British & Irish Lions travel to Suncorp to face Queensland Reds in the third match of the 2025 tour and the second down under. We will have all the action from on and off the field with our reporters down on the ground in Australia. It should be a cracking affair.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Henry Pollock, Dan Sheehan and five players who could shape the next British and Irish Lions tour
With a series victory secured in Australia, the British and Irish Lions hierarchy now head home to debrief the tour and begin to look ahead to their next trip to New Zealand. A number of changes to the structure of the quadrennial adventure are on the table as the Lions prepare to take on the All Blacks in 2029, a journey that will follow the inaugural women's tour to the country in two years' time. Sketching out a squad at this stage would be pure folly – so much can and will change in the next four years, while the identity of the head coach, even if Andy Farrell again, will dictate plenty. New stars will emerge in the intervening period while others will fade, though one hopes that each nation's fluctuating fortunes will come together to leave a more equal spread of representation across the squad. While any predictions of this ilk are purely speculative at this juncture, here are five players who could shape the series next time around: Caelan Doris, Ireland Let's begin with something of a forgotten man in the last seven weeks, a would-be skipper denied his first British and Irish Lions tour by the most cruelly-timed injury. Caelan Doris had established himself as both certain starter and leadership linchpin ahead of a 2025 trip where he surely would have thrived. It is a slightly strange quirk that Jack Conan has started the last six Lions Tests without ever really commanding a first-choice place at No 8 for Ireland. Having turned 33 during the trip, his time in red is surely at an end, perhaps clearing the way for another Irishman to take the shirt. Perhaps the Doris/Farrell axis will have found a way to end their nation's World Cup woe by then… Henry Pollock, England As a learning experience for a young player experiencing a quite extraordinary rise, the Lions tour felt just about perfect for Henry Pollock. The 20-year-old flashed at times, showcasing his unique blend of speed and skill in wide channels and the work as a connector and collector that earmarks him as such a special prospect. It always felt, though, a long shot that he would feature in the Tests given the depth of options available on the flanks. One would expect Pollock to be fully established at international level by the time the 2029 tour rolls around. That said, the England back row room is suddenly looking incredibly crowded – Tom Curry's standards refuse to slip, Sam Underhill was back with a bang in Argentina, Ben Curry and Ben Earl are incumbent options; Guy Pepper looks a force on the rise. Add in Tom Willis and Chandler Cunningham-South and Pollock might have a fight on his hands for autumn involvement. Dan Sheehan, Ireland One unsavoury clearout on Tom Lynagh slightly marred an otherwise exemplary trip to Australia for Dan Sheehan. The Irish hooker set the tone right from the very start Down Under, captaining and scoring inside the first two minutes of the win over the Western Force. A hooker very much in the modern mould, his lineout darts can go forgotten but he was rock solid in that area in contrast to a couple of his colleagues until the wretched conditions of the third Test. At only 26, he must have another tour or two in him. Farrell clearly rates his leadership, too, and may look to further develop that side of Sheehan's game in the run up to the 2027 World Cup after a significant recent loss of experience from his Irish squad. It is tough to see, at this stage, a challenger emerging for the Lions hooker berth but watch out for Kepu Tuipulotu down at Bath. Macs Page, Wales Probably the boldest call of this quintet but there is so much to be excited about Macs Page. In a relatively compact frame, Page packs plenty of pace and power and his capacity to play at outside centre and on the wing is valuable in an era where backline positional versatility is increasingly a must as six/two benches become more and more common. Page toured Japan with Wales this summer without making an appearance but his time will surely come after a solid season with the Scarlets. The return of Louis Rees-Zammit, who is thought to have agreed a deal with the breakaway R360 league but may still return to traditional club rugby beforehand, could complicate matters, and others including Mason Grady and Blair Murray will also be eyeing those outside back spots under new Welsh coach Steve Tandy. Of versatile backs elsewhere, the development of Jamie Dobie may be one to monitor with the Scotland scrum half increasingly deployed as a wing option. Maro Itoje, England Already assured of a rich Lions legacy for his role in three tours so far, would a return to the nation where he first made his name in the famous jersey appeal for Maro Itoje in four years' time? There is little reason why a durable and uber-consistent figure cannot make it to New Zealand in 2029 with the lock continuing to hit the high peaks of which he is capable and bedding in nicely as a captain, too. It is now eight straight Test starts for the 30-year-old after an initial outing off the bench in 2017 – surpassing Alun Wyn Jones's professional era record of nine is surely in Itoje's sights. The Saracens and England forward has spoken about a possible retirement at the age of 35, a birthday that would come mere months after a possible fourth Lions tour.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Footy star has to be hospitalised after being bitten by a DOG mid-match
A bizarre event took place during a footy match in Noosa Heads on Saturday, after a former AFL player, who was turning out for his local side, was bitten by a dog midway through a game. Former Brisbane star Jonathan Freeman was playing for Noosa in their game against Surfers Paradise at the Rococo Oval, when he endured the bizarre encounter with the hound. The dog had been sitting inside the fence at the oval, when Freeman made his way towards the boundary line in an attempt to recover a kick forward. Under pressure from a Sunshine Coast defender, the 31-year-old missed the mark and, carried by his momentum, he travelled off the field, moving close to the pup. Footage, published on Noosa's Instagram account, appeared to show the dog move towards the footy player, who pulled up immediately, after copping a surprise bite from the hound. But that was not going to stop him from playing on, with the footy star hobbling for a moment before getting back on with the match. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noosa Tigers AFC (@noosatigersafc) He stepped into play again, received a handball from a team-mate, before turning to goal. Freeman swung his injured right leg through the ball, only for it to miss the middle of the posts. 'Who would've thought this would happen in a game of footy?' Noosa posted on Instagram alongside the bizarre footage. They also shared a snap of Freeman receiving treatment from a team doctor on the touchline, with the footy star wincing as the medic dropped antiseptic onto the bite. The footy club confirmed that the ex-Lions star had taken himself to hospital following the bizarre incident but that he was doing fine, and even cracked a joke at his expense. 'In one of the more unexpected moments of the season, Noosa captain Jono Freeman copped a bite mid-game - yes, from an actual dog (and almost kicked the goal),' Noosa wrote. 'He went to hospital as a precaution and got the all clear. He's doing fine, just maybe steering clear of the dog park for a bit.' Freeman played as part of Brisbane's Academy programme during his early footy years. He'd go on to be snapped up by the Lions in the 2014 draft, becoming the first player to move from the Academy ranks to the AFL. The forward made 14 appearances for the Lions between 2014 and 2017, returning 16 goals. However, injuries prevented him from amassing a regular run of appearances in the top flight, with the club opting to delist him at the end of the 2017 season Despite that, he continued to play footy at a high level in the NEAFL with Aspley before joining up with WAFL side East Perth.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The AFL grand final is seven weeks away - but airlines are already being accused of RIPPING OFF fans of one famous club
Footy fans have fumed at several airlines after multiple carriers have upped their prices for flights into Melbourne ahead of this year's Grand Final on Saturday, September 27. Specifically, Adelaide Crows fans, hoping their side might reach their first Grand Final at the MCG since 2017, could be forced to pay hefty air fares if they're looking to travel to Melbourne on the eve of the showpiece event. Matthew Nicks' side are flying high as we head into the final three regular-season matches, with the Crows having won six matches on the bounce, which culminated this weekend in their massive 101-87 victory against Hawthorn. While they sit joint top of the league, tied on 60 points with the Crows, the club's fans are preparing for the possible eventuality that they could be in for a trip to Melbourne for Grand Final day. While there is a long way to go for the Crows, who haven't won a premiership since 1998, and also haven't qualified for finals in eight years, some fans have been left aggrieved at the shocking prices some airlines are charging to get from the City of Churches to Melbourne around Grand Final weekend. On Friday, September 26, the day before the big match, Virgin Australia is offering economy tickets to fly from Adelaide to Melbourne Tullamarine, with the lowest-priced seats coming in at $250. Economy fares on two flights at 8:40am and 11:50am are both on sale for $791 - the top priced figures. Qantas has also upped its fees on Grand Final eve, with economy tickets for flights leaving Adelaide at 10:05am and 12:15pm set to cost Crows fans $785. The airline is also offering fares on Thursday, September 25. The top-priced economy fare for that day is set to also set fans back $437. Jetstar has priced its top fares on Grand Final eve at $350. One Crows fan told Seven News: 'It just ruins what should be one of the best days of the season.' 'Make the people happy, let them get over there. It's about going over for the Grand Final or a final and having a ball,' another fan said. Crows fan and mum of two, Kim Skypyrek, said the fees were 'insane'. 'Fair enough if it's one person and they've saved some money but it's really hard for people to be able to afford that,' she told Northern Territory News. Qantas has also upped its fees on Grand Final eve, with economy tickets for flights leaving Adelaide at 10:05am and 12:15pm set to cost Crows fans $785 'If it came down to it we'd just send my husband (Michael) and our son (Ambrose) so that they could go and enjoy it.' But there are other ways fans can get to the footy and dodge the high air fares. Fans can take the train, but that entails an 11-hour journey and is likely to cost around $150. Meanwhile, other fans are arranging their own transport and will embark on an eight-hour trip via bus to Melbourne, should the Crows reach the final. 'A group of twelve of us can drive over, hire a bus and rent out a house cheaper than [the cost of] flights for four,' Skypyrek added. 'Regardless of who's in it, whether we get to go into the grand final or not, we just want to be in Melbourne for the weekend and experience it.'
