Key events
Full time: AUNZ Invitation 0-48 British & Irish Lions
That was just about perfect from the Lions. The final move fizzles out and the 50 is missed, but no matter. By a distance that was their best performance of the tour. Every single player stood up. They looked cohesive, they were ruthless on defence with immense line speed, and on attack they were clinical. Superb. No wonder Andy Farrell has a broad smile.
Ben Earl gets man of the match but it could have gone to Jones, Morgan, Hansen or van der Merwe, who bagged a hat-trick.
Outstanding.
80 min: Smith kicks that penalty out of touch on the 22. But the line-out throw isn’t straight. Morgan gathers the clearing kick and runs it back so the Lions do have one more chance to score. They’re back in the 22. Morgan has it agaib. My goodness, what a game he has had. It’ll be a real shame if he’s not involved next Saturday. Can they score 50 at the Adelaide Oval?
80 min: The Lions can’t make the move work and AUNZ come away with it. The spiral the ball down the line and towards the left tram. They’re past the rush defence but White (not playing scrum0half as Mitchell is on) makes a great recover tackle and forces the knock-on. They’re looking at a possible dangerous clear-out on Morgan earlier in the piece.
Yup, yellow card for Fusitu’a who dumped Morgan on his head.
78 min: Another penalty against AUNZ. This one is off the scrum inside the Lions half. Smith kicks it over halfway for a line-out. One more score will take them past the half century.
TRY! AUNZ 0-48 Lions (Pollock, 76)
He got it! Wow, that is some finish. Poor from AUNZ. Farrell’s grubber was initially fielded by Edmed who then played a wild pass to McLaughlin-Phillips who spilled it. Pollock never gave it up and chased hard before diving for the ball. He had no right to beat McLaughlin-Phillips but that’s exactly what he did. Smith scores the extras. That’s eight tries as Pollock celebrates by checking his own pulse. He’s a point of difference. He might rub some up the wrong way but there’s no denying he is blockbuster.
76 min: Pollock thinks he’s scored! It came off a grubber from Farrell and a mess at the back from AUNZ. Edmed gathered the kick and passed to McLaughlin-Phillips who spilled it. Did Pollock get there?
74 min: The Lions inch their way forward with Hansen offering some rangy carries. The winger, with a torn jersey and looking like a Test animal, then unfurls a banana kick to pin AUNZ back in their own 22.
72 min: Finally we see a bit of spark from the fellas in gold and white and green. Fusitu’a shakes a tackle and they’re up and running. They’re into the Lions 22 and the ball goes right for Stevenson who lines up White in the tram. But the Lions scrumhalf makes a superb tackle and nudges the larger man out of touch. He then brushes himself off and, off the back of the subsequent line-out, launches a long kick to halfway. I’m not sure if White will get a Test on tour with Gibson-Park and Mitchell ahead of him, but he’s been fantastic tonight.
TRY! AUNZ 0-41 Lions (Kelleher, 69)
Swift from the big units! Kelleher shapes to throw a conventional line-out but he plays it short for Schoeman who gives it back to the hooker. There’s no stopping him there, not when it’s a 9 and 10 defending that tight channel. Who said front rowers can’t think fast? Smith doesn’t have his radar and lets another two points go by.
69 min: Guess what folks. It’s another penalty against AUNZ. It’s come off the back of relentless pressure from the Lions on attack and defence. But it must be said the home side look ragged now. Smith kicks to touch. They go to the maul which Frizell collapses and so cops a penalty and a yellow card. Smith kicks to the corner again.
67 min: White and Farrell are connecting well. Hansen nudges a grubber for van der Merwe who wanrs a fourth. He can’t get there before it trickles out of touch inside AUNZ’s 22.
66 min: Another penalty, this one straight from the restart so Smith does what he’s been doing for the past 10 minutes and boots it downfield and out for a Lions throw.
TRY! AUNZ 0-36 Lions (van der Merwe, 65)
Duhan has a hat-trick! Again, it’s so simple. Line-out, maul, penalty advantage, front foot ball, Farrell on the charge before delaying the pass as he draws in the tackler, down the line, through the hands and the big winger has an easy run-in. Smith hits the far upright from the left tram.
64 min: Another penalty against AUNZ. To be honest, they look like they can’t wait for the final whistle. Smith kicks to the 22 and they set the maul this time from the line-out. They get the penalty advantage. What can they do from here?
TRY! AUNZ 0-31 Lions (Cummings, 62)
Robust, accurate, ruthless! This is a team try of the highest order. Off the top of the line-out from the left inside the 22, Farrell hit the line hard and got over the line. Earl carried well and took it close. Then it was Cummings who was never going to be stopped from about two metres from the line. Brilliant. Earl is putting on a show.
Smith with the extras from right in front.
60 min: The Lions win a penalty on the ground and Bealham roars in celebration. Think it was Morgan who got over the ball. The Lions have been brilliant at the breakdown. The first time you can say that on this tour. They get another penalty up field inside the AUNZ 22. Smith nudges to the corner. They’ll have the line-out about 10 metres from the line.
58 min: Things have become a little stop star for the past 10 minutes. There’s another spill of the pill in the air after Smith hoisted it high. AUNZ have the scrum feed but they’re stuck in their own half. Bealham, on in the front row, gives away a penalty so AUNZ launch it long and now have the line-out.
Beirne is off for Cummings in the second row.
56 min: Marcus Smith’s first real involvement is to launch a kick upfield. Edmed, who has played well, returns the favour. Lions will have the throw inside their own patch. Cowan-Dickie is shown on Sky and he’s smiling and walking. That is a relief. I thought he’d be in serious trouble but he looks OK.
55 min: Pollock involved again. When the game opens up he comes alive. This time he’s running down the left and passing for White but the ball drifts slightly forward.
54 min: Kelleher wins a turnover on the ground as AUNZ runners are read like an open book. Pollock has it in the left tram and chips and chases and catches. Can he get the legs turning? No, he’s wrapped up in contact but that was some slick play from the youngster who couldn’t quite find his support runner on the inside. Knock on and a scrum instead.
52 min: A bit of a lull after those subs. AUNZ have a scrum on the 10 metre line in their own half. This set piece is taking an age to set. “Let’s go please” says the ref, speaking for all of us.
49 min: Yet again the Lions defence comes out on top. AUNZ are playing one pass rugby. It’s not working. Sotutu has some strong carries but the men in gold and white get in a tangle and there’s an obstruction call.
Boos and applause ring out across the stadium as Owen Farrell joins the party! He’s on for Jones who was brilliant.
Marcus Smith also comes on for Fin Smith.
48 min: Sustained pressure from AUNZ after the line-out sees them win another penalty. Beirne is getting a talking to from the ref. Maybe another one will see a yellow card. AUNZ tap and go 10 metres out in front of the poles. They don’t quite have the cohesion despite their Test players in the ranks. Can they work something here?
47 min: AUNZ keep the ball and Pollock strays offside. So the hosts will get a line-out to their right just on the 22.
TRY! AUNZ 0-24 Lions (Tuipulotu, 44)
Too easy! They have the advantage and tap and go right in front. White has it and Tuipulotu hits the line to perfection. He steps and shimmies and scores under the poles. That cam from immense defence all the way back in their own half that forced the poor pass from AUNZ. Smith can’t miss the conversion from there. Wonderful from the Lions. They look like a proper Test team tonight.
43 min: AUNZ try a move in midfield but the ball finds nothing but air. Jones pounces and boots ahead and suddenly three Lions players are tearing after the ball. Hansen is first to it but the bounce isn’t kind and he can’t take it in his stride. So he delays and recycles. They go down the line. Pollock and Smith carry. There’s a penalty advantage as the move fizzles so they come back within striking distance, five out right in front.
41 min: AUNZ get us going and Earl catches and runs and lights up the stadium with a step and a charge. He can’t stitch the offload but that was some burst. Scrum to the home side all the way on the right between the Lions’ 22 and halfway.
Righto, the players are back out. Another 40 minutes like the one that just passed and more than a few of these Lions will be playing that first Test next week.
Are you excited to see Owen Farrell in the second half?
Liam S. Murray certainly isn’t:
Agree with Stephen Holliday that Farrell Jr. divides opinion, but I don’t know anyone apart from Farrell Sr. who thinks Farrell Jr. deserves to be a Lion in 2025. Injured, out of form, and hasn’t played a Test match in two years. He shouldn’t be anywhere near this squad.
Well Liam, I believe he should have been included in the initial squad. I’m not saying he should play a Test. But the wider squad? Absolutely!
It’s only fair if we point out that AUNZ haven’t been particularly good.
“Its not a great showing by the “home” side. Lots of international star power and caps but they have offered little. Lions blitz-D is doing enough. Huw Jones and Macky likely test starters from opening 40,” says Gerry Keavney.
Tom Mayfield adds, “Good morning Daniel here in Virginia. Lots of internatials but look scratch side, maybe not yet match fit.. Lions looking well drilled too.”
All true. But more than one thing can be true at the same time and, as Tom and Gerry have said, AUNZ have struggled as a consequence of the Lions cohesion and aggression.
Half-time: AUNZ 0-17 Lions
Salakaia-Loto makes ground on the left and Samu almost connects an offload to support runners on the inside, but that’s the end of a near perfect half for the Lions.
That’s by far their best 40 minutes of the tour. Aggressive line speed, accurate tackling and some slick hands from the backs.
If we’re going on performance alone then surely a few of these lads have worked their way into the Test team.
40 min: Again! Solid defence from the Lions. Despite Salakaia-Loto brushing off Morgan, and despite Samu holding firm in the carry, the men in red hold firm and force the mistake as the ball bobbles out of touch around halfway. It’ll be a AUNZ throw, but they’re going nowhere, finding it impossible to breach the red wall.
38 min: Kelleher replaces Cowan-Dickie at hooker and has to scrum down immediately. AUNZ make some metres and get to the edge of the 22. It’s a little one dimensional and the Lions can size them up on defence. Fakatava delays and Pollock wraps up up. The ball is soon turned over by Earl and Keenan launches a big kick that almost finds a 50/22. Havili launches a big kick of his own that finds touch back in the Lions half. Again, great work on defence from the Lions. Something has happened to this group. A few players are putting in a serious shift tonight.
Cowan-Dickie finally leaves the field. His head is held firm and he’s strapped to a stretcher. His eyes are closed as he gets a round of applause. Let’s hope he’s OK and makes a speedy recovery. My guess, though, is that’s his tour done.
Some emails.
John Holmes also hates the AUNZ kit: “What an awful strip worn by Australia, shows a complete lack of imagination.”
Stephen Holliday has some thoughts on Farrell Jnr:
“The Farrell selection, and career really, does seem to cause massive divisions. I’d argue though that the divide sees anyone who has ever played rugby at the highest level in the pro camp and those who have not on the other. Sure, it’s a generalization, but it’s absurd that he doesn’t get any credit in some quarters.”
While we wait for Cowan-Dickie to get the treatment he needs let’s give the tourists some praise.
They’ve been cohesive on defence, connected on attack and just look like a well coached team. Van der Merwe and Jones have sparkled in the backline. Earl and Beirne have carried into traffic. White is controlling things from 9.
This has, by some distance, been their best half of the tour.
Cowan-Dickie is still prone on the floor.
