Lions tame gutsy Brumbies for fourth straight win on Australia tour
Image: Saeed Khan/AFP
Marcus Smith and Ollie Chessum got on the scoresheet as a defiant British and Irish Lions fought past a gutsy ACT Brumbies 36-24 on Wednesday, piercing their defence for five tries.
On a frigid Canberra night, the visitors started slowly but found their groove as they count down to the first Test, building on a 19-10 half-time lead to bank a fourth consecutive win since landing in Australia.
In the Lions' previous two games against the Brumbies, Australia's top Super Rugby side, only two points had separated them each time – the tourists won 30-28 in 2001 and lost 14-12 in 2013.
This time the Lions were convincing winners as players jostle for position in Andy Farrell's team for the opening Wallabies Test in Brisbane on July 19.
Get your news on the go, click
here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
"The Brumbies were very good today. They challenged us throughout the whole game," Lions captain Maro Itoje said.
"It was a hotly contested game, but another step in the right direction.
"We're building a team. We're a group of individuals coming together.
"The more we play, the better we will become, we just have to accelerate that."
After two statement wins over Western Force and Queensland Reds, the tourists were scrappy against the NSW Waratahs, struggling to convert territory and possession into points.
In response, Farrell named his strongest side of the tour so far and they were more cohesive, marshalled by Englishman Itoje.
They cut down on the handling errors and showed more attacking intent under the guidance of Scottish playmaker Finn Russell, although the defence was leaky with the hosts' crossing four times.
"Proud. I think the way we defended was quality and it shows how much pride the boys have in this jersey," Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said.
While the Brumbies were without their top players, who are on Australia duty, they still boasted plenty of firepower and had a brilliant start.
Kinghorn injury concern
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan gave away a penalty and the Brumbies launched into a rolling maul that saw Tuaina Taii Tualima burrow over after just four minutes.
The tourists woke from their slumber and levelled 10 minutes later when Bundee Aki broke the defence, with Russell luring two defenders before offloading for lock Chessum to dot down.
They should have had another try soon after but Ireland winger James Lowe failed to ground the ball.
Having lost Elliot Daly to a broken arm last week, there was a further fullback blow for the Lions when Blair Kinghorn went off in the first half and had his left knee put in an ice pack, with Smith replacing him.
"I was just speaking to him (Kinghorn) then," Farrell told Sky Sports.
"Someone had landed on his knee, he felt a little bit of something so he's walking around. So hopefully it's not too serious."
TLowe had another chance on the half-hour mark, which this time he took after sharp hands from Sheehan and Jack Conan.
Russell added the extras for a 12-5 lead, but the Brumbies struck back with another well-deserved try, courtesy of winger Corey Toole.
A goal-line dropout by the Brumbies as the hooter sounded proved costly.
The Lions gathered and attacked the line, with Smith finishing for a 19-10 lead at the break.
An early second-half try to Garry Ringrose, who got on the end of a Smith grubber kick, stretched their advantage to 26-10.
But the hosts again hit back when substitute Hudson Creighton scythed through.
The Lions did not panic and a Russell penalty increased their buffer before a converted try by Josh van der Flier put the game beyond reach.
AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Herald
18 minutes ago
- The Herald
Itoje's Lions dreaming of peak performance in third Wallabies Test
Ringrose was initially selected to play in last weekend's second Test in Melbourne, which the Lions won to seal the series, but withdrew after experiencing concussion symptoms in training. Saturday's match was probably his last realistic chance of playing a Test for the Lions and assistant coach Andrew Goodman said the 30-year-old was devastated. 'Garry was playing some amazing rugby through this tour, and it's been a dream of his for so long to represent the Lions, and he's managed to do that,' the New Zealander said in Sydney. 'But he wanted to be a Test match Lion, so it's been devastating for him. Everyone knows Garry's a great lad and a great team man. The boys have all been disappointed for him.' Goodman said the other players who were unavailable for selection for the second Test because of injury — winger Mack Hansen (foot), lock Joe McCarthy (foot) and centre Sione Tuipulotu (hamstring) — all took part in training on Tuesday. Reuters

TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Itoje's Lions dreaming of peak performance in third Wallabies Test
British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje says the tourists have not yet played their best rugby in Australia and are looking to this weekend's dead rubber third Test to produce a landmark performance and sweep the series. The Lions locked up series honours with a dramatic victory over the Wallabies in Melbourne last weekend but Itoje said there was no shortage of motivation heading into Saturday's clash at Stadium Australia. 'I guess we want to be part of something very special,' the lock forward told reporters on Tuesday. 'Winning a Test series, obviously, is extremely special, but what would be an absolute dream would be to go out there and perform to the level we think we can perform to and win the third game 'While the first two games have been great because we've got two wins, there's still a feeling that we probably haven't put it together in the way we know that we can. The moment that clinched the Series... #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'And I think that's the exciting thing for us. We want to chase down that, that performance that we've been searching for.' The Lions got back to training in Sydney on Tuesday after celebrating the series-sealing triumph at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Itoje, who was part of the Lions squad that drew the 2017 Test series in New Zealand and lost narrowly in South Africa in 2021, said the achievement was 'right up there' in his career highlights. 'You want to be a part of being a Lion, that in of itself is a humongous achievement, but you want to be a part of a series-winning side, 'Speaking to some of the guys from 2013, speaking to some of the golden oldies from '97, they look back and have such fond memories. Incredible support at the @MCG last night 🌊🔴 #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 27, 2025 'You want to be a winning Lion. You want to be part of that esteemed group.' No Lions squad since the 1974 tour of South Africa has managed to go unbeaten through a Test series, while the Wallabies have not been swept by the tourists since 1904. 'This is a huge game,' said Itoje. 'The Wallabies ... have shown the quality side they are and I know they're going to be hungry. They're going to be up for it. 'But we also want to make some history this weekend. If we can get another win, that would be amazing.' Lions centre Garry Ringrose has been ruled out of the third Test against Australia as he goes through the 12-day concussion protocols. Lions boss Farrell focused on series sweep after Melbourne victory 'These are one of the moments in your life you will cherish, this will live long in the memory' Sport 23 hours ago Ringrose was initially selected to play in last weekend's second Test in Melbourne, which the Lions won to seal the series, but withdrew after experiencing concussion symptoms in training. Saturday's match was probably his last realistic chance of playing a Test for the Lions and assistant coach Andrew Goodman said the 30-year-old was devastated. 'Garry was playing some amazing rugby through this tour, and it's been a dream of his for so long to represent the Lions, and he's managed to do that,' the New Zealander said in Sydney. 'But he wanted to be a Test match Lion, so it's been devastating for him. Everyone knows Garry's a great lad and a great team man. The boys have all been disappointed for him.' Goodman said the other players who were unavailable for selection for the second Test because of injury — winger Mack Hansen (foot), lock Joe McCarthy (foot) and centre Sione Tuipulotu (hamstring) — all took part in training on Tuesday.


The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
Greek and Scottish giants clash in Champions League
There are some famous teams involved in what is the second round of Champions League qualifying. Rangers' Findlay Curtis celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Panathinaikos at Ibrox. Picture:There is really no such thing as a football black hole these days, a void in the calendar where no football at all is played. This week, however, is about as close as you can get. There is no Fifa Club World Cup, no Women's Africa Cup of Nations, no Women's European Championship. None of the major leagues in Europe have kicked off, and neither has the season over here in South Africa. This weekend, the Premier Soccer League season will get underway, with the MTN8 quarterfinals. This week, however, we are basically left with the early stages of Uefa Champions League qualifying and some pre-season friendlies. There are some famous teams involved in what is the second round of Champions League qualifying. Glasgow Rangers taking on Panathinaikos looks the most high profile, the Scottish giants heading for Athens on Wednesday with a 2-0 win from the first leg. Panathinaikos are one of the biggest teams in Greece, and reached the final of the Champions League in 1971, losing 2-0 to Ajax Amsterdam. After finishing second in the Greek Super League last season, Panathinaikos qualified for the Champions League, and will be determined to turn the match around against Rangers in front of a passionate home crowd at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Rangers, however, will feel they can hold on to a lead they gained in the first leg at Ibrox through goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama. Rangers have finished second to city rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premier League for the last four seasons. The Glasgow giants also had a strong team in the early 1970s, when they won the European Cup Winners Cup, beating Dynamo Moscow 3-2 in the 1972 final. According to the latest Betway odds, it is Panathinaikos who are favourites to win Wednesday's home leg at 1.83. A draw is priced at 3.95, with Rangers at 4.00. It is Rangers, however, who are the favourites to qualify for the next round, priced at 1.24 to Panathinaikos' 3.95. Please note that these Betway odds are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.