Lions hang on but few players push Test claims

1 day ago 3

BBC Sport at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

First Nations and Pasifika XV (14) 19

Tries: Reilly, Uru Cons: Beale 2

British and Irish Lions (14) 24

Tries: Osborne 2, Graham, Van der Merwe Cons: F Smith 2

The British and Irish Lions survived a serious examination against First Nations and Pasifika to continue their winning run on Australian soil.

On a nervy night at the Marvel Stadium, Jamie Osborne and Darcy Graham scored early to put the Lions into what looked like a commanding 14-0 lead, but things started to go awry from there.

Graham went off hurt not long after he scored and the wing, parachuted in for this game, was emotional as he left the field.

Pasifika then thundered their way into contention when wing Triston Reilly and flanker Seru Uru went over for converted scores to level it at 14-14 at the break.

The Lions experienced all sorts of problems in dealing with the physicality of their hosts, but Osborne's second put them back in front.

Just after the hour mark, Duhan van der Merwe scored in the corner, his fifth try of the tour, from captain Owen Farrell's lovely delayed pass but back came the underdogs.

With 10 minutes left, Pasifika scored when Rob Leota piled over after another bombardment. The conversion was missed, much to the Lions relief, and the gap was five.

And at five it stayed on a bruising and troubling night for the tourists.

Line-ups

First Nations & Pasifika XV: Muirhead; Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu; Beale (capt), Thomas; Ieli, Paenga-Amosa, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Tualima

Replacements: Asiata, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, McLeod

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn; Graham, Osborne, Farrell (capt), Van der Merwe; F Smith, White; Schoeman, George, Bealham, Ryan, Cummings, Morgan, Van der Flier, Pollock

Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Clarkson, Brown, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Ringrose