Historic fixture:
The Lions faced a newly assembled First Nations & Pasifika XV—the first team made up of Indigenous Australian and Pacific Island heritage players to take on the Lions, replacing the cancelled Melbourne Rebels fixture. The FNP side was coached by Toutai Kefu and captained by Kurtley Beale.
Team selection:
Owen Farrell was handed the captaincy, marking his first time leading the Lions on tour, as Andy Farrell rested most Test starters. He lined up at inside centre alongside Fin Smith, while Ben White, Jamie Osborne, Darcy Graham, and others earned starts. The FNP squad included veterans Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu, and Beale himself, with selections guided
by Super Rugby eligibility rules.
Form & momentum:
The Lions carried firm momentum into the fixture—undefeated on tour, including a 27‑19 Test win over Australia and a 48‑0 demolition of the AUNZ XV. Meanwhile, FNP aimed to honour their cultural heritage and disrupt the Lions’ rhythm.
Tactical themes:
Owen Farrell was expected to drive continuity, with the midfield pairing of Farrell and Smith under observation for Test readiness. FNP, led by Beale, planned to leverage physicality and flair, hoping to unsettle the Lions
Key matchups:
● Battle of experience: Farrell’s leadership versus Beale’s cultural and on-field stature.
● Back‑line threat: The Lions’ dynamic centre–wing combinations (Graham, Osborne, van der Merwe) against FNP’s pace in the wider channels.
● Forward contest: Lions’ rotation squad in the scrum and breakdowns under pressure from Pacific heavies like Tupou, Uru, and Gamble.
Why it mattered: As the final midweek match before the second Test (July 26), it offered a final audition for fringe players and helped maintain momentum—while celebrating Indigenous and Pacific heritage on an international tour stage
First Half Summary: Lions vs First Nations & Pasifika XV.
The Lions got off to a strong start, winning an early penalty at the lineout to assert control.
Shortly after, the Scottish back three combined effectively down the right-hand side, with Duhan van der Merwe finishing in the corner. However, the try was disallowed as Darcy Graham was ruled to have had a foot in touch in the build-up.
Finn Smith then found a gap and darted through the FNP defence, sparking another threatening move. As Darcy Graham raced toward the corner, he was caught high by a shoulder to the head from FNP left winger Triston Riley. The incident was reviewed and resulted in a yellow card for Riley.
The Lions took advantage of the extra man. Owen Farrell executed a clever chip and chase, and Jamie Osborne—one of the newest Irish additions to the squad—gathered the ball and finished superbly for a try.
Despite the head contact, Triston Riley’s yellow card remained unchanged after review. Darcy Graham made amends moments later with a brilliant try, the product of a slick set- piece move from a lineout. The ball moved quickly through the hands before reaching Graham, who finished clinically out wide.
The Lions continued to find space in the wide channels during the opening stages, but a strong counter-ruck from the FNP pack won them a penalty just inside their own half and helped shift the momentum.
Unfortunately for the Lions, Graham’s match ended prematurely. After scoring an early try, the winger was forced off with an ankle injury—an untimely blow after a bright start. FNP struck back with a brilliant interception from Triston Riley, who read the play perfectly and raced under the posts for a try—redeeming himself for the earlier yellow card. The Lions then conceded a scrum penalty—a rare occurrence on this tour—which further encouraged the FNP side.
They capitalised again shortly after, scoring a powerful, well-constructed try following a period of sustained pressure. James Ryan was shown a yellow card for an offside infringement in the lead-up, reducing the Lions to 14 men.
Tensions flared throughout the half. Owen Farrell appeared to spark a scuffle early on, and Henry Pollock was typically disruptive at the breakdown, getting under the skin of his opponents.
With emotions running high, both sides began pushing the defensive line, resulting in multiple offside infringements as players flew out of the line aggressively.
At the break, the match was finely poised at 14–14. Kurtley Beale was visibly delighted with his side’s response, as the FNP XV had taken control of the final stages of the half, matching the Lions physically and mentally.
Second Half Summary: Lions vs First Nations & Pasifika XV
The second half began with a moment of brilliance from Ben White, who intercepted a loose pass and followed it up with a superb 50:22 kick, pinning the FNP XV deep in their own territory.
The Lions settled into a more structured rhythm after the break and were rewarded with an early score. Jamie Osborne crossed for his second try of the match, this time finishing off a move reminiscent of Darcy Graham’s earlier effort. A well-executed drive from the maul followed by quick hands allowed Osborne to touch down on the right-hand side.
Duhan van der Merwe found space shortly after, but his opportunity was cut short when the referee ruled Jamie George’s pass forward.
Sustained pressure from the Lions on the FNP tryline followed, but what seemed like a certain score slipped away. A lack of composure—perhaps a case of white-line fever—led to a costly turnover. It was a disappointing moment for the tourists, who failed to capitalise on their dominance.
Debutants Gregor Brown and Thomas Clarkson came off the bench to make their first appearances in a Lions jersey, adding fresh legs to the forward pack. FNP responded with two well-placed kicks that turned the Lions and applied pressure. As the game reached the 60-minute mark, the gap had closed to just five points, keeping the contest finely balanced.
Blair Kinghorn delivered a composed performance throughout the match, solid in both attack and defence. His display raised questions about whether he might earn the starting fullback shirt for the second Test on Saturday.
Van der Merwe then added his name to the scoresheet. A clever dummy from Owen Farrell created a two-on-one opportunity, and the big Scottish winger made no mistake in finishing the move.
Despite the try, the Lions lineout continued to struggle. The FNP forwards disrupted multiple throws, stealing possession and keeping their side in the contest.
The FNP XV struck again with a try of their own. The Lions’ defensive shape crumbled under pressure as pace and power combined to breach the line—narrowing the margin once more. With just six minutes remaining, the game hung in the balance, the Lions clinging to a five-point lead.
FNP mounted one final attack and applied heavy pressure inside the Lions’ 22, but a knock-on into touch ended their momentum. Ben White, who had an excellent game, cleared the danger with a well-placed box kick.
Henry Pollock then produced a crucial turnover at the breakdown in the dying minutes, securing possession and sealing the result for the Lions.
Final Score: British & Irish Lions 24 – 19 First Nations & Pasifika XV
It had been a stern test for the Lions—a physical, chaotic, and fiercely contested second half. They edged through with a narrow win, but the performance left plenty for Andy Farrell to consider ahead of the second Test.
