With three Test matches looming, Farrell continued the squad rotation to fine-tune options; this game was critical for fringe players pushing for selection. After attacking dominance in previous wins, Farrell demanded improved defensive intensity and breakdown aggression from his squad.
Lions Starting XV
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
11. Blair Kinghorn
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Luke Cowan‑Dickie
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Scott Cummings
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Ben Earl
Kick Off.
Minute 1
Lions kicked off deep into the Waratahs half. A good box kick relieved the pressure.
Minute 2
Some good phrases from the lions until keenan knocked on and gave the Waratahs a clear run at the line. Scott Cummings made a great interception to save the try.
Minute 5.
Some handling errors started to creep in in the early moments of the game.
Minute 9.
Tupou went for an interception and knocked on. Scrum Lions.
Minute 11.
Lions try! The Scottish centres linked up to put Huw Jones through the gap for a score. It was a great start for Tuipulotu.
Minute 13.
The Waratahs challenged the Lions line but spilled the ball.
Minute 14.
Ben Earl burst through a gap. It was a great run.
Minute 19.
The Lions put pressure on the Waratahs try line. Before knocking the ball on again.
Minute 25.
Waratahs penalty. Not releasing.
Minute 27
The Waratahs were pressuring the Lion’s tryline. The Lions gave away 3 penalties in 3 minutes. The Waratahs kicked to the corner.
Minute 29.
Waratahs Try! A break from the maul allowed Charlie Gamble to Score.
Minute 30.
The Try was disallowed after a TMO decision. It was a let off for the Lions.
Minute 31.
Scrappy Lions defense.
Minute 33.
Lions Try! Huw Jones danced around his opposite man to score to the right hand side of the upright. It was his second try of the night. Lions 14-0 Waratahs.
Minute 35.
Waratahs Try! Lancaster scored down the left hand side. Power and pace took him over for the score.
Min 39.
The Lions pressured the Waratahs line. Once again it was scrappy from the men in red. The ball was turned over and kicked out to bring in half time.
Half Time.
Min 41
Waratahs try! A well-controlled maul allowed Ethan Dobbins to touch down. Conversion missed. Lions 14 Waratahs 10.
Min 44
Scrappy, loose play allowed for Alex Mitchell to dart through a gap. A wonderful pass out to Blair Kinghorn allowed him to offload to Tadhg Beirne who can’t quite finish in the corner.
Min 46
Mitchell again opened up the Waratahs to allow Jones and Kinghorn to have a scamper down the left wing. Came to nothing.
Min 48
Problems at scrum time for the Waratahs. Mitchell tried to take the penalty quickly. It was scrappy ball and the Lions ended up winning another scrum halfway between the Waratah’s 22 and 10 metre lines.
Min 49
Try scorer Dobbins went off.
Min 50
Mack Hansen broke down the right and grubbered but the ball went dead. Large use of substitutions by the Lions.
Min 52
Waratahs earnt a penalty off a poor Lions scrum the kicker inexplicably tapped and passed to Tupou the prop who then kicked the ball, slicing it into the stands.
Min 53
Lions Try! Lions won a penalty and kicked for the corner. A well worked lineout allowed Mitchell to take the ball off the back of the Maul where he produced a wonderful dummy and crossed the tryline to score. Kick was converted by Fin Smith. Lions 21 Waratahs 10.
Min 57
Strong carrying from Tuipolotu and Van der Merwe allowed the lions to play with some space. Genge got isolated and the Waratahs won a penalty that was quickly turned over and Mitchell kicked a 50/22.
Min 59
A good lineout allowed Ellis Genge to break through, try was disallowed as it was knocked on.
Min 59
Marcus Smith looked to make an impact on the game off the bench by flinging it wide to Van der Merwe who unfortunately got taken into touch.
Min 61
Penalty to Waratahs after another break from Hansen.
Min 62
Lions stole the lineout but ended up knocking it on.
Min 64
Lions won a scrum on their own 22 but it was overturned due to a slap down from Huw Jones. No yellow card or penalty.
Min 65
Lions won a penalty, kicked to touch.
Min 67
Wilson broke for the Waratahs and forced a Lions lineout inside their own 22.
Min 69
After an exciting break from Smith and Van der Merwe, a penalty was given away which the Waratahs kicked to touch.
Min 72
A good scrum from Furlong won a penalty which was kicked to touch. Lineout was good but the Waratahs forced a penalty.
Min 75
A strong lineout on the Waratah’s 5 metre was mauled over the tryline by Genge. Onfield decision was a try but Genge was denied again due to obstruction.
Min 76
Penalty awarded to Lions, Smith kicked but the ball went behind the dead ball line.
Min 79
Lions tried looking for another try but Tadhg Beirne knocked it on.
Min 81
A final attempt down the left wing from Van der Merwe ended with him going into touch. Alex Mitchell was awarded the man of the match award. End of the match.
