British & Irish Lions 27 Australia 19 (report)
While the result may have turned out as expected the game in Brisbane will have given both sides a lot to think about ahead of the next Test in Melbourne.
John O’Sullivan has focused in on the breakdown, set pieces and the Lions’ kicking game as part of his five things we learned analysis.
Have a read of his thoughts below:
That’s it from me today for live coverage of the first Lions-Australia test. There’s still more reaction to come from Gerry Thornley, as well as discussion throughout the week in the build up to next weekend’s second test. Thanks very much for joining me!
Gerry Thornley is out in Brisbane, and his match report from the first Lions-Australia test is with us now.
[Lions secure first Test victory but Wallabies finish strong in Brisbane]
John O’Sullivan’s player ratings for the first Lions test are in.
[Lions player ratings: Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne impress in first Test win over Wallabies]
Australia now have all the work to do if they want to win just their third ever series against the Lions, while the Lions are in position to win their eighth over the Wallabies.
Andy Farrell’s first test as Lions coach ended in a win, so he’s pretty happy with things after the game.
Harry Wilson, Australia’s captain, says they have to focus on the next test as soon as possible.
Player of the Match Tadhg Beirne with an honest assessment of the performance. Individually, it’s a really good bounce back from some imperfect performances so far on the tour.
Here’s Dan Sheehan’s try that widened the gap too far for the Wallabies to get back into today’s test.
Australia put up a better fight after going down by 19 points early in the second half, but it was too big a deficit to make up. The Lions will be concerned about that final quarter, but were much the better team across the 80 minutes. Big performances from Beirne, Curry, Russell and Gibson-Park.
Another bit of good news for Ireland out of that Lions game, Tadhg Beirne is the player of the match!
Full-time: Australia 19 – 27 Lions
80 Mins: Australia try to pass through the Lions and get another try, but they’re only going backwards, and eventually put it out of play. The hooter sounds but the lineout is played.
78 Mins: Try for Australia! McDermott this time. Potter makes a breakthrough with some fast footwork off the wing, and after a couple of phases the replacement scrumhalf McDermott sneaks in.
Australia 19 – 27 Lions
76 Mins: Itoje possibly lucky there, he knocks on a Wallabies pass, but Ben O’Keefe deems it to be part of a legitimate tackle.
Australia 12 – 27 Lions
75 Mins: Gibson-Park is off for Mitchell. The Irish scrumhalf has had a superb game.
Australia 12 – 27 Lions
73 Mins: Itoje gives away the ball, but there’s a penalty advantage right in front of the posts for the Lions, and Smith taps it over.
Australia 12 – 27 Lions
71 Mins: Some good Lions play gives Gibson-Park a chance for a short kick, which deflects and somehow lands with Will Stuart anyway. Poor knock-on halts the momentum though.
Australia 12 – 24 Lions
67 Mins: Try for Australia! The Wallabies keep trying to force it over the line, and eventually get over, with Tizzano getting the score off the bench. Donaldson converts the kick.
Australia 12 – 24 Lions
66 Mins: Lynagh has made way, what a tough match for your test debut. The Lions are struggling to get on the ball at the minute, but they’re still shutting out Australia. Penalty out wide for Australia inside the Lions half. Marcus Smith comes on for Finn Russell.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
62 Mins: Two bad lineouts by the Lions, the first today really. Nearly a perfect grubber by Wilson for Potter to get in behind, but he can’t ground it after an unlucky bounce.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
60 Mins: Try disallowed for Australia, Suaalii. Big TMO review there, ends in a Lions penalty, sucking the air out of the Wallabies.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
59 Mins: Offside scrum, and Itoje gets warned that the next one will be a yellow too, as they’ve been caught for it a few times.
57 Mins: Will Stuart is on for Furlong, Bundee Aki replaces Tuipulotu and Ben Earl gets on too.
57 Mins: Another Australian lineout as they search for a second try. Their captain Wilson dives for the line, but it’s held up. They’ll go back for their penalty advantage for offside.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
55 Mins: Nice clearance from Gibson-Park and Australia set up to attack again. Big breakthrough from Frost to get to the 22. High tackle penalty advantage leads to an Australian penalty.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
52 Mins: Penalty for Australia, the second penalty the Lions have conceded from the scrum. Wallabies lineout about ten yards short of the line. But the Lions stop the attack and will have a scrum to clear it now.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
51 Mins: Andrew Porter has come on for Genge. The Wallabies start building an attack, but it bobbles out of the hands of Williams for a Lions scrum.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
49 Mins: TMO review here of Furlong head-high contact on Ikitau. There’s mitigation there though, and Ben O’Keefe only gives a penalty to Australia, no card.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
49 Mins: A bit of kicking back and forth, before the Australian fullback Wright is crunched by Beirne. The Lions have won this battle for territory, as the Wallabies concede a lineout inside well inside their half. The Lions force it further up the field again then.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
46 Mins: The camera focuses on a pretty deflated looking Joe Schmidt. Australia have a scrum just before the 22, but Australia end up giving away a penalty for obstruction. A bit unlucky, as Tom Curry nearly got in the way when he was well offside, but the ref wasn’t interested.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
43 Mins: Joe McCarthy makes way for Ollie Chessum. McCarthy is getting a bit of treatment, but it doesn’t look too serious.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
42 Mins: Try for the Lions! And it’s Dan Sheehan! Gibson-Park kicks for touch straight away, and the long Australia lineout is intercepted by Curry. Jones drives in further, and then those two combine a couple of phases later to play in Dan Sheehan for the first Irish try of the Lions tour! Russell converts from a really tight angle.
Australia 5 – 24 Lions
The teams are back out on the pitch at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Here’s Tuipulotu’s try, the first of the 2025 Lions test series.
It’s been a dominant first half for the Lions, who could have put more scores on the board really. Jorgensen’s try was a bit of individual brilliance by the Wallabies winger, but was an isolated moment in a half where Australia failed to carve out many chances.
Half-time: Australia 5 – 17 Lions
39 Mins: Good turnover by Australia, but they don’t follow it and Lowe boots it back under little pressure. Lions lineout just inside their half. Short from Sheehan to Gibson-Park. Nice box kick, Lynagh claims it superbly and is then crunched very late by Curry, who has thrown his weight around a few times now.
Australia 5 - 17 –ions
35 Mins: Try for the Lions! Tom Curry with the try! Itoje gathers the lineout and a few carries get them close, but the captains carry effort is held up. Another penalty for the Lions. Sheehan taps it and dives, Genge tries next, and then Curry gets over the line! Russell converts.
Australia 5 - 17 –ions
34 Mins: The ball bobbles up, but Itoje grabs it and makes ground. Huw Jones makes another big carry and the Lions get a penalty advantage. Gibson-Park switches to Lowe, but he can’t get it over the line without knocking it on. Russell chooses a lineout.
Australia 5 - 10 –ions
32 Mins: Gibson-Park and Russell help move the Lions forward. Keenan gets his hands to a loose ball. Intricate play from the Lions, but they move the ball forward so easily. Russell switches the play with a kick, but McCarthy can’t quite ground it without knocking it on.
Australia 5 - 10 –ions
28 Mins: Try for Australia! Jorgensen. The Lions’ scrum collapses, and Lynagh moves the Wallabies out of their half. They need a score on the board, but the Lions defence looks solid. Lynagh covers well when the Lions clear, and Jorgensen competes for the next kick with Freeman, wins it, beats Russell and finishes. Lynagh can’t convert from a tight angle.
Australia 5 - 10 –ions
26 Mins: Lions win that lineout and break out, Genge makes a big carry, but the ball slips out for the Wallabies to reclaim possession. Little bit of handbags, with McCarthy at the forefront, but nothing serious. Ref lets them off with a stern warning.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
24 Mins: Gibson-Park and Freeman go down the blindside, but it all gets a bit complex and Australia get a lineout. Lynagh’s kick is nearly fumbled by Lowe, but him and Keenan muddle through. Australia get a turnover in the Lions then as Gibson-Park can’t get to the ball. Lynagh somewhat wastes his kick chance, giving it straight to Freeman.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
22 Mins: Lynagh takes the penalty, and then Australia earn another to get them out of their half. They lose it softly, but then the following kick from Australia was nearly perfect. Keenan played it well, it bounced over the try line, and the Lions will set up now in the Wallabies half.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
20 Mins: Try disallowed for the Lions. Big turnover by the Lions, and Russell wallops it downfield, forcing Lynagh to put it out of play. From that lineout Keenan and Lowe linked up to stretch Australia on the far side, and then Lowe sent Huw Jones into the clear. He was tackled, failed to release the ball, and clambered over the line. Let off for the Wallabies, but probably the right call.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
17 Mins: First bit of good Australia play for a while now, Keenan gives up a scrum after a kick comes bobbling out of him. They work it to the Lions 22, where the Lions hold them for 10 phases so far.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
14 Mins: Lynagh is being targeted under high kicks, with Freeman getting right on him. Freeman gathers a long Wallabies kick, but Lowe is a bit wasteful with his kick going out over the end line.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
12 Mins: Superb take from Keenan after the restart. Then Lowe touches a Gibson-Park kick back, and they force an Australia lineout in their own 22.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
9 Mins: Bad knock on by Australia right after by Ikitau. Gibson-Park takes a free kick after the scrum collapsed and the Lions fly at the Wallabies line again. Russell carries well, there’s a penalty advantage and then an amazing Russell pass finds Tuipulotu who gets it over the line! Simple conversion from Russell.
Australia 0 - 10 –ions
6 Mins: Great kick by Russell, who puts it right to the far corner, where Potter mishandles it for a Lions lineout. Great carry from Freeman after the resulting lineout, but the Wallabies win a penalty for not releasing, and the danger is snuffed out.
Australia 0 Lions 3
4 Mins: Australia get their first bit of sustained possession and Lynagh nearly finds a gap in the defence. Luckily James Lowe is in the way, and Huw Jones gets his hands on the next kick.
Australia 0 Lions 3
1 Mins: And we’re off, the first Lions-Australia test of the tour is under way. Straight away there’s a penalty for the Lions at the first breakdown! Russell will go for the posts, and he gets it from about 30 yards.
Australia 0 Lions 3
The teams are out! Lights shows, pyrotechnics, and general razzmatazz all ‘round.
Both teams look ready to go here in their dressingrooms, only a few minutes away.
The warm-ups are over, as the players head back down the tunnel for some last words before the game.
With less than 15 minutes left until kickoff, read Gerry Thornley’s tour diary, chronicling some of the lighter stuff from the week with the players.
[Gerry Thornley’s Lions Tour Diary: Take me to Churchie, then Death and Taxes]
There was an expectation of tension between Johnny Sexton and Finn Russell on the Lions tour, but thankfully that has dissipated. Russell is going to be a particularly key man for the Lions today.
[Johnny Sexton backs ‘flash’ Finn Russell to produce his best on first Lions start]
Here’s the Lions results so far on this tour:
Lions 24 – 28 Argentina
Force 7 – 54 Lions
Reds 12 – 52 Lions
Waratahs 10 – 21 Lions
Brumbies 24 – Lions 36
AUNZ Invitational 0 – 48 Lions
Barry Sheehan, father of Dan, has been writing about the experience of being a parent on tour with the Lions. It’s a “vicarious life” writes Sheehan.
Just an hour to go before kickoff now, people slowly filtering into the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Australia have only won a Lions series twice in history, while the Lions have beaten the Wallabies in seven series. The last tour of Oz was won by the Lions in 2013, while the 2001 series was an incredible win for the Wallabies.
New Zealand have beaten France 29-19. Good start for Southern Hemisphere sides today.
With eight players in today’s line-up, Ireland makes up the majority of this Lions starting 15, and it could have been more writes Gerry Thornley.
[Gerry Thornley: If anything there could have been more Irish in Lions side for first Test]
Having previously helped Ireland return to the top table, Joe Schmidt knows all about turning a team’s fortunes around. The Wallabies head coach will have a few tricks up his sleeve according to former Ireland and Lions scrumhalf Conor Murray.
[Conor Murray: Never assume anything when playing against a Joe Schmidt team]
Matt Williams emphasised the importance of these tests for Australia, in a historically weak era for the Wallabies.
Finn Russell has been one of the standouts so far on the Lions tour. On the other side, the inexperienced Tom Lynagh has been chosen to direct the Wallabies’ play in the absence of the injured Noah Lolesio.
[Lions v Wallabies head-to-heads: Finn Russell v Tom Lynagh]
Meanwhile, at openside flanker, England’s Tom Curry will be under the microscope, with plenty of competition for his spot. Australia’s Frasier McReight is one of the most influential Wallabies players, especially at the breakdown.
[Lions vs Wallabies head-to-heads: Fraser McReight v Tom Curry]
Here’s the preview of today’s game, with the Lions heavily fancied to win in Australia. However, the Wallabies beat England and Wales, and lost narrowly to Ireland last year, so they will be hopeful that their fortunes are changing.
[Joe Schmidt plots unlikely Lions scalp amid feeling of ‘now or never’ for Australian rugby]
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the British and Irish Lions first test against Australia. Finally, the warm ups are over and the test match is here. Kickoff in Brisbane is at 11am Irish time.
Here are the two teams that have been named to start this first test:
Australia: T Wright; M Jorgensen, JA Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter; T Lynagh, J Gordon; J Slipper, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa, N Frost, J Williams; N Champion de Crespigny, F McReight, H Wilson. Replacements: B Pollard, A Bell, T Robertson, T Hooper, C Tizzano, T McDermott, B Donaldson, A Kellaway
British and Irish Lions: H Keenan (Ireland); T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), J Lowe (Ireland); F Russell (Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Ireland); E Genge (England), D Sheehan (Ireland), T Furlong (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, J McCarthy (Ireland); T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), A Porter (Ireland), W Stuart (England), O Chessum (England), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), B Aki (Ireland).
