● Fixture: British & Irish Lions vs ACT Brumbies
● Venue & Kick-off: GIO Stadium, Canberra – 9 July 2025, 11:00 BST / 20:00 AEST
● Referee: Pierre Brousset
● Conditions: Cold and wet conditions influenced tactics, with kicking and handling errors playing a key role.
Lions Team & Approach
● Andy Farrell named what was considered his strongest midweek lineup to date—featuring experienced internationals such as Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson‑Park, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, and England veterans Maro Itoje and Tom Curry.
● The match served as a near-final audition before the opening Test against Australia on 19 July.
● Owen Farrell, who had recently joined the tour, was not included in the squad as he continued acclimatising after travel.
● Mack Hansen, playing in his hometown, started on the bench and received a warm welcome from the Canberra crowd.
First-Half Summary: Lions vs Brumbies
The Lions made another sluggish start, echoing a familiar theme from earlier tour matches. They conceded multiple penalties early and, once again, allowed the opposition to score the opening try-a pattern that will concern the coaching staff heading into the Tests.
There were moments in the opening 20 minutes where the Lions looked disjointed. Their running lines lacked cohesion, and passing accuracy was poor, disrupting any real attacking rhythm. Despite the misfires, Finn Russell’s kicking game stood out—his selection and execution of kicks consistently relieved pressure and turned the Brumbies around.
One of the Lions’ key strengths in the first half was their dominant scrum. A powerful shove midway through the half generated crucial forward momentum, allowing the backline to finally fire. From this platform, Russell fixed the defender with calm precision, before slipping a smart pass to Ollie Chessum, who crashed over for a much-needed try.
James Lowe was also instrumental—his booming left boot gained around 40 metres in territory, giving the Lions breathing room at key moments. Although there were still too many unforced errors, the forward pack carried strongly, especially through the tight five.
A promising moment came when Blair Kinghorn looked to put Lowe through, but the pass arrived slightly early, and Lowe was eventually held up over the line. Moments later, concerns arose over a possible injury to Kinghorn, as he looked uncomfortable before being assessed.
The Lions finally clicked into gear late in the half. A sweeping move from deep inside their own half ended in a sensational team try, finished by James Lowe—easily the best collective effort of the tour so far. The try was the result of slick hands, smart running lines, and excellent support play from forwards and backs alike.
Despite that flourish, the Brumbies applied heavy pressure for much of the half. They committed large numbers to the breakdown and competed fiercely, often disrupting the Lions’ ball and forcing errors.
In the closing moments of the half, Finn Russell continued to dictate territory and tempo with maturity, while Marcus Smith came on and made an immediate impact, darting through a gap to score a well-taken try—a moment that might raise selection debates ahead of the Test matches.
Second-Half Summary: Lions 36 – Brumbies 24
The Lions began the second half with structure and purpose, but it didn’t take long for the Brumbies to expose a gap. A sloppy pass allowed them to break down the left-hand side, earning a penalty on the Lions’ 22-metre line. However, the Lions’ set-piece came to the rescue again, as they won a scrum penalty—continuing a theme of dominance in the tight throughout the match.
A highlight of the night came from a beautifully executed try. Off a lineout, Garry Ringrose sold a show-and-go, slicing through the line before linking with Marcus Smith, who delivered a perfectly weighted grubber kick back to Ringrose for a spectacular score. It was a move of real quality and invention, showcasing the kind of attacking potential this backline possesses
when in sync.
Yet, the handling errors persisted. Both Tommy Freeman and Jamison Gibson-Park spilled possession under little pressure, continuing a worrying trend that’s haunted the Lions throughout the tour.
Shortly after, the Brumbies struck back. A defensive lapse saw Ringrose rush out of the line, and the hosts took full advantage—a short pop pass sending a runner clean through to dot down. The Lions were guilty of overcommitting and leaving space, an issue the coaching staff will need to address before the Tests.
The Lions responded with forward muscle. They drove over the line from a maul but were held up once again—a testament to the Brumbies’ superb goal-line defence. However, shortly afterward, the Lions opted for three points from a penalty right in front. While it seemed a conservative decision, it perhaps reflected a Test-match mindset creeping into the squad’s decision-making.
Dan Sheehan delivered a standout shift—he missed zero tackles and was flawless at the lineout during his 60-minute performance. His consistency and work rate were vital to the Lions’ control in the set piece.
One of the most exciting moments came from Henry Pollock, who made an immediate impact off the bench. His very first carry saw him beat three defenders and nearly power over for a try. His sharpness and physicality raise questions about whether he could force his way into a Test spot.
From a well-drilled lineout and driving maul, the Lions added another try—Josh van der Flier peeling off the back to score. Their maul looked precise and powerful, one of the true positives from the performance.
In defence, the Lions stepped up significantly in the second half. They forced the Brumbies back behind their own 22 on multiple occasions and held their shape with far more control than in the first period.
However, discipline remained an issue. By the 75th minute, the Lions had conceded 11 penalties, slightly more than the Brumbies’ 9. And with five minutes to go, the Brumbies scored again, bringing their total to 24 points—a tally the Lions will be disappointed to concede, especially given their control for much of the match.
The breakdown continued to trouble the Lions, with the Brumbies committing hard and often outmuscling the tourists at the ruck. This vulnerability has been exposed more than once on tour and remains a key concern.
In total, the Lions made 10 handling errors, which once again hampered their attacking flow and momentum. Despite the sloppiness, the performance was a step up from the Waratahs match last week, with Finn Russell once again controlling the game impressively, showing vision, composure, and accuracy.
The final act of the match saw Ollie Chessum held up over the line, ending the game just short of another try.
Final Verdict
● Final Score: Lions 36 – Brumbies 24
Pros:
● Scrum and maul were dominant
● Strong second-half defence
● Finn Russell’s game management
● Henry Pollock’s impact
● Well-executed set-piece tries
Cons
● Handling errors (10 total)
● Breakdown under pressure
● Defensive lapses in the backline
● Penalty count (11 conceded)
