Lions Hold Off Brumbies in Thrilling Canberra Clash but Questions Remain
So, we’ve just witnessed a spirited showdown in Canberra where the British & Irish Lions edged out the ACT Brumbies 36-24 — and let me tell you, while the scoreline may flatter the tourists, it doesn’t quite tell the whole story.
Right from the first whistle, the understrength Brumbies showed they weren’t just there to make up the numbers. Within four minutes, Tuaina Taii Tualima took flight over a mass of bodies and slammed the ball down for the opening try, catching the Lions flat-footed. Add to that an early injury to Blair Kinghorn, and it was clear this game wasn’t going to be a smooth ride for Andy Farrell’s men.
Despite being stacked with first-choice talent, the Lions looked jittery in the opening stages. Misplaced passes, dropped balls, and some sloppy discipline meant the Brumbies stayed in the fight far longer than many expected. But then, up stepped Finn Russell. Calm and creative, he engineered a lovely moment of play that set Ollie Chessum up to level the scores. A few phases later, James Lowe found redemption for an earlier miss by finishing smartly in the corner.
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Still, every time the Lions looked like they were pulling away, the Brumbies hit back. Corey Toole’s finish, Hudson Creighton’s sneaky blindside burst from a scrum, and finally Liam Bowron’s late try kept the pressure on.
But the Lions had firepower. Marcus Smith was electric, scoring just before halftime and setting up Garry Ringrose for a slick try early in the second half. And of course, Josh van der Flier crashed over from a rolling maul to help keep the scoreboard ticking. Yet even with five tries to their name, the Lions never quite shook off the Brumbies. In fact, they had two more tries held up over the line — missed opportunities that will sting as the Test series looms.
For the Brumbies, it was a proud night. No Allan Alaalatoa, no Rob Valetini, no Tom Wright — and yet they matched the Lions stride for stride for most of the contest. That crowd of over 23,000 certainly got their money’s worth.
For the Lions, there’s a mix of relief and concern. Yes, they’re unbeaten. Yes, Russell looks in top form. But defensively, they leaked four tries to a second-string side. And with Kinghorn out and Hugo Keenan now the only recognised fullback left, selection headaches are already piling up.
This wasn’t just another tour match. It was a sharp reminder that while the Lions have serious talent, they’ve got to be sharper, more clinical, and way more ruthless if they want to conquer Australia when the Test series kicks off. Because if a spirited Brumbies side can rattle them like this, the Wallabies — and coach Joe Schmidt watching from the stands — will be licking their lips.
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