Published: 2025-07-02 13:05:02 | Views: 11
Key events
Full-time: Reds 12-52 Lions
TRY! Reds 12-52 Lions (Ringrose, 85)
TRY! REds 12-47 Lions (Jones, 66)
TRY! Reds 12-40 Lions (Freeman, 61)
TRY! REds 12-35 Lions (Morgan, 56)
TRY! Reds 12-28 Lions (Itoje, 45)
Half-time: Reds 12-21 Lions
TRY! Reds 12-21 Lions (van der Merwe, 36)
TRY! Reds 12-14 Lions (Porter, 29)
TRY! Reds 12-7 Lions (Flook, 26)
TRY! Reds 7-7 Lions (Freeman, 20)
TRY! Reds 7-0 Lions (Toomaga-Allen, 9)
Team news
Preamble
Russell, who had ice on his arm, is holding his baby and smiling as he walks around the field. He looks fine.
So sign of Daly though. The fullback, drafted into the XV tonight in place of the unwell Keenan, seemed in real trouble. Chance that he’s broken his arm in a tackle, but nothing confirmed yet.
Now a few lines from the skipper, Maro Itoje:
We are happy. It was a good all round performance. First half was a bit tough, a bit back-and-forth. We stayed consistent and we were just generally better. It was a bit more of a high pressure environment but you learn more in games. It is a blessing in disguise to have so many games in succession.
We were a little bit better today. We need to be better rugby players! We need to be sharper, more accurate.
He’s got his shirt off, taking selfies with fans in the crowd and signing bits of gear. He comes across so well. Seems very comfortable in this leadership role.
Here are some match stats plucked from the BBC:
Reds-Lions
Metres made: 277-536
Possession: 49%-51%
Territory: 49%-51%
Clean breaks: 5-9
Defenders beaten: 26-18
Turnovers conceded: 13-17
Tackles made/attempted: 141/159 - 169/195
Penalties conceded: 12-9
Here’s what player of the match Jac Morgan had to say:
It was a good game, very physical. They brought intensity in the collisions. It was a tough match and great to get the win. I enjoyed it but it was a full team performance. We spoke about it taking an 80-minute performance. We will keep on building now and look ahead to Sydney.
He was brilliant. Now the only Welshman in the squad, he could be a starter for the opening Test if he continues to perform like this.
Lovely scenes as players from both teams trade jerseys with one another. These modern kits are so tight! Good thing these players are seemingly carved from granite.
Gervase Greene sent this in while the game was going on. Still spot on:
Hello Daniel, Gervase Greene here, in “storm-swept Sydney’s eastern suburbs”. (It’s not really, but that’s what is reportedly happening).
I know this fixture is all going to plan - plucky home regional side eventually goes down against scary heavyweight tourists, etc - but boy it could have been so different.
How does a side with the put-in give away a free kick, when it has everything to gain from its own ball? The result: a try to VD Merwe just before the break. So maddening, so unnecessary, so damaging. Who said Union had left its amateurish days behind?
Meanwhile, John Tague has something else on his mind:
Now the game’s truly in the pocket for the Lions, can we have a serious conversation about important stuff? I mean haircuts? Who’s sporting the finest tresses this cold Brisbane eve?
I’m going for van de Merwe… He’s got that proper 1980s Max Headroom look…?
As a bald man, I’m going to stay out of this one.
The Lions will have plenty to work on but things are starting to click. Not perfect, but dominant. The Reds gave it their all and put up a fight in the first half, but the resources, heft and experience in the Lions camp proved too much for the hosts.
There’s the half-century! Dominance from the scrum, Smith attacking the line down the right, he floats a pass wide where Ringrose simply has to catch and run forward about seven metres. Simple stuff to end the game. Smith misses the conversion.
80+3 min: The Lions win the line-out and drive again. They’re close, so close. But they’re held up over the line. They get one more go thanks to a penalty from the Reds on the line. This time they tap and go five out. The Reds strip it loose but knock-on in the tackle as Smith was looking to spark a move on the wraparound. In fact it’s called a deliberate knock-on. Itoje calls for the scrum five metres out just to the right of the poles as he’s looking at them.
80 min: Itoje wins the lineout and they maul. It stalls before finding a second shove. Mitchell is told to use it. He goes down the short side on the right. Genge has it in the loose and then loses it. The Reds come away with it but give a penalty away. The hooter goes. Jac Morgan is given the player of the match award. He’s been fantastic. Time for one more line-out as Smith kicks to touch back towards the left corner.
78 min: Another scrum penalty for the Reds following a spill from the Lions in the middle of the park. The Lions front row replacements have’t quite clicked together. The starters weren’t too hot either. Something to iron out before the first Test. Should Itoje wish, he can have another scrum before the close as he’s got the penalty about 30 metres out from the Reds line and right in front of the sticks. Nope, no scrum. Smith hoofs it into touch. One last chance for a score.
75 min: Paisami has been brilliant tonight. Another strong carry and slick off-load in the right tram frees Anderson who is tearing up field. He has one defender to beat inside Lions territory and opts to kick and chase. But it skews off his boot and goes straight out of touch. The Lions get a penalty from the line-out and Smith hammers his kick long down field..
73 min: Slight delay as Itoje receives some treatment. Either his side or shoulder. Oh wow! They’ve just cut to Daly on the bench and his arm is wrapped up tight and there seems to be blood seeping through the bandage. Has he broken his arm? He looks in pain.
Anyway, back to the pitch, the Reds get a scrum penalty after the Lions collapse the set piece. For some reason Campbell chooses to find touch on the far side and doesn’t get anywhere near the whitewash.
72 min: It’s become a bit of a training session. At least that’s what it feels like now. Smith tries to find the corner with a cute dink off the boot, but he doesn’t work the angle and it bobbles out over the dead ball line.
70 min: Early involvement for Earl as he pounces on a loose ball following a Smith cross-kick. The Reds have it back and are running hard at the new Lions midfield. They’re on halfway building through the phases as they’ve done well all night. Itoje – immense – makes another tackle. Ryan Smith, for the Reds, carries well. Paisami frees Uru on the right tram but Morgan is there to hammer him into touch.
68 min: A couple of changes for the Lions. Earl and Ringrose are on. Still waiting on confirmation on who’s left. Oh, it’s Daly and Aki. Is Earl in midfield? He is indeed! Love that.
Jones runs 60 metres to score! It’s a terrible kick from Ryan who gathered a long clearance from the Lions. The winger caught the ball, trotted into the Lions half and tried a dink over the top. He never got the elevation and a leaping Jones grabbed it then ran the distance to slide over in the right corner. Great turn of pace there from the centre.
64 min: Now the Reds win a penalty at the breakdown. This The Lions did well initially with a long throw at the line-out over the top, but Salakaia-Loto stooped low to win the ball. They kick it out to the corner on the right.
63 min: The Reds win a free kick off a scrum and they explode down the line towards the left. They manage to work it into the Lions 22 but fumble the ball. Daly is holding his right arm and looks in some pain. He got it caught in an awkward position as he tried to tackle Campbell. The Reds fullback stepped off his left foot and Daly left his right arm dangling. Might just be a dead muscle. Don’t think it’s too serious. BTW, Finn Russell has ice on his forearm on the bench.
It’s starting to click! So says the commentators on Sky and they’re not wrong. Off the line out they kept the ball alive. Seven, eight phases and then the space opens to the left where Freeman is lurking and hungry. Mitchell keeps the ball fizzing and the England winger rolls a tackler and dots down. Smith slots the conversion.
59 min: Another penalty for the Lions. They’re making their extra heft and Test experience count now. Daly with a nudge ahead maintains the pressure and they they flood through, smothering the carrier and bossing the breakdown. Smith kicks into the 22, but 10 metres short of the corner.
Morgan busts through! They haven’t been top drawer, but the Lions have their fifth. From the scrum Mitchell went right. Smith then fed Aki who made metres. It went back to the left where Morgan received a flat ball and shrugged off two tacklers to dot down. The conversion is a simple nudge.
55 min: Smith’s kick couldn’t quite find the corner but a slick move at the line-out has Cowan-Dickie receiving the ball after throwing and he’s running up the tram. A Reds hand in the ruck means it’s a penalty for the Lions inside the opposition’s 22. They’re about 10 metres out, bang in front. It’ll be a scrum with options left and right.
52 min: In fact, the Lions have switched out their entire front row. They’ve also hooked Gibson-Park and Russell They have a penalty on halfway which Fin Smith kicks to the corner.
50 min: The Reds hold onto the ball really well. That’s another passage with double digit phases. Salakaia-Loto with a big carry. Thomas is keeping things short and sharp. Big lock Canham holds off a tackler. 15 phases now. They’re not going anywhere though. Paisami has a dart. Still they’re held back. But there’s a high tackle so the Reds get a penalty. Chessum the guilty party. They’re between the halfway and 10 metre line. It’s kicked to the corner as the Lions switch out their props.
48 min: Penalty for the Reds way back in their own half. Relentless pressure from the Lions, especially around the line-out, means the hosts can’t get out. But there’s a let off as Stuart is penalised for losing his feet. Or was that holding onto the tackler? Either way, he comes up shaking his head, disagreeing with the call.
The skipper scores! Much more direct from the Lions off the scrum. Aki isn’t looking to pass off first phase. He’s doing what he does best which is run it hard and straight. He stomps over the gainline and then it’s a matter of when, not if. Itoje picks up from a Gibson-Park off-load, steps, stretches and scores under the poles. The conversion is nudged over.
44 min: The Reds are slick down the line off the scrum. Not much go forward though. Itoje tries to steal the ball on the ground. A box kick is too long so the Lions have it back inside their own half. Gibson-Park returns the favour with a box of his own. Campbell gathers and runs it up. They’re playing fast and loose on their own 22 and Salakaia-Loto attempts a spectacular pass on under pressure. It’s knocked on. So the Lions will have the feed on the Reds’ 22.
41 min: The Reds will have a scrum inside their own patch after the Lions bungled a line-out. Too many errors from the tourists.
The players are out. No changes as far as I can tell.
Happy birthday, and happy anniversary ‘Showbizguru’!
Hi Daniel, What perfect timing.
England and the Lions both playing as I look forward to the festivities of my 70th birthday today.
Although as it’s also our 30th wedding anniversary the current Mrs Showbizguru is less than enamoured with my plans to watch the cricket all afternoon in a cider bar in Bath before falling into a restaurant for a celebratory meal.Grand weather for it though !
Hope it’s the best day mate. Congrats and enjoy!
Henry Burton has responded to James Cavell’s email:
I think the Romanian exclusion was only used to stop Romania who had blatantly cheated Spain out of their place.
Pretty sure in Spain’s critical game against lowly Belgium a Romanian Ref gave Belgium 30 penalties to Spains 5……(or something approximately like that)
On the question of nationalism and the Lions, James Cavell has provided a considered take in the form of a long(ish) mail.
Here it is in full for you to ponder:
I am not so bothered about the Southern Hemisphere players representing the Lions as I am about how the eligibity rules tend to favour the strongest nations and punish the smaller rugby countries.
Plenty of Lions and Home Nations players have played age grade rugby for other nations. Yet confusion and general vagueness about which team is officially the ‘second team’ means other nations have been disqualified from World Cups for the same thing. A half dozen current Lions have played U20 rugby for other countries. But Romania were disqualified from the 2019 World Cup for fielding a Tongan born player who played for a Romanian club, and had qualified on residency. Turns out he played one game for Tonga 7s at a minor tournament as a teenager. But the Tongan Union had informed Romania that he was free to represent them. (Interestingly, the Tongan official who issued he permission is the father of two well known players who have represented the Lions and England).
Spain also got a DSQ for playing someone who had played for France U20 but qualified (or not) for France on parental birthplace,
It just seems as though the rules are more generous to the strong than to the weak.
It’s very difficult to imagine a top Tier One side missing out on a World Cup place due to a misunderstanding on player eligibility.
Gavin O’Reilly simply asked, “If I was born in a stable would it make me a horse?’
“Can we officially refer to Andrew Farrell as ‘Big Faz’ now? If so, this is splendid news!”
We certainly can, John Tague.
The Lions will head into the shed in the lead but that wasn’t exactly clinical.
It’s been a fun game. The Reds have played their part. The Lions have looked good in patches but that connectivity is not quite there yet.
I’d say that’s a fair reflection of how things have gone.
39 min: The Lions get the scrum penalty on halfway. It’s sent right. Freeman has it. Aki in support. Now they go back towards the left. Then back to the right where Freeman gathers and pokes it forward off the toe. The Reds recover and have the ball deep in their own 22. The clearing kick is poor so the Lions come again. Great tempo. Van der Merwe is off his wing and running forward. He gives it left for Jones who passes on to Kelleher. What’s the hooker doing there? I’ll tell you what he’s doing. He’s dropping the ball under no pressure.
38 min: Now then! Have the Reds scored from the restart? The Lions got themselves in a real tangle and allowed the ball to bounce. Gibson-park just watched it bounce. It bobbles away and hits the corner flag inside the in-goal area. Anderson comes flying onto it and dots it down, but was he out? Was the ball?
No try is the answer. So we go back to halfway for a Lions scrum. Phew, lucky Lions.
The try machine bags another! Clinical from the big man. That was an impressive finish. They had the ball after the Reds gave a way a free kick from their own scrum. Gibson-Park wasted no time and fizzed it left to the short side. Morgan with a carry. Then Chessum and Conan showed great hands to unleash Duhan down the left. A diving finish dotted it down in the corner. Russell has his kicking boots with him, slotting this tricky conversion.
34 min: The Lions spill the ball in contact and I think that’s on Aki again. He didn’t drop the ball but instead played a very difficult pass for Stuart, though maybe the prop wasn’t meant to be there. They were looking sharp just before that after pinching a loose ball. Daly, having a great game, once again found van der Merwe who made room down the left. Conan had a stiff carry himself before the knock-on.
32 min: The Reds find themselves on the edge of the Lions’ 22 thanks to a box-kick and a kind bounce. They’ve worked 10 phases. Paisami – again – provides go forward. Faessler from a standing start keeps the ball alive. Now they go wide to the right but the Lions have pushed them back 15 metres. They still have the ball. That’s 15 phases. Thomas box kicks again but it’s far too long and Daly marks the swirling ball. Good defence from the Lions. A little aimless at times from the Reds.
