Tom Curry proved too hot for the Wallabies as the Lions got off to a winning start – but they were made to sweat by the proud Aussies. The tourists got the job done against a side ranked sixth in the world with Curry playing out of his skin before tiring but the hosts never threw the beach towel in. Their two late scores put a gloss on the scoreline but were reward for a second half when they made Andy Farrell’s men defend like dogs to protect their lead.
Curry, whose selection ahead of Wales flanker Jac Morgan was slammed, turned in a world-class hour scoring a try and hounding the Aussies to distraction. Tadhg Beirne, the Ireland blindside, was another who justified his selection as was No.8 Jack Conan as the entire starting back row turned in a power-packed display. Finn Russell, in his first Lions Test start, ran the game in the first half when the Lions sprinted to a 12-point lead before being taken off with 13 minutes left.
Marcus Smith replaced the Scot and skipper Maro Itoje ordered the England man to kick a penalty shortly with seven minutes and the game in the bag. The message from the captain was the Lions were here to win and not play pretty rugby, and in Brisbane they did the first and not much of the second.
The Lions have never lost a Test match in Brisbane and they were not in the mood to lose that record here. Fans starved of a tour four years ago, when the trip to South Africa went on behind Covid-slammed closed doors, turned up in their droves in Queensland.
The bars on Caxton Street, on the walk from central Brisbane to the ground, were heaving with punters making the most of their chance to see the Lions in action again in the flesh. But the Lions have been on Easy Street so far on this trip down under, with five wins out of five on Aussie soil, against line-ups that would not make top four in the Premiership.
But this was supposed to be the game when the Wallabies, coached by master tactician Joe Schmidt, caught an under-cooked touring team on the hop. That plan did not last long as the Lions motivated by the Sea of Red in the stands and in the streets, motored to a 17-5 lead at the break. And it could have been more.
From the off they targeted the Aussie rookie No.10 Tom Lynagh, son of Wallaby rugby royalty Michael, but try telling that to Ellis Genge and Dan Sheehan who both ran straight into him early on.
The Lions were not great in the first half, but they did not have to be, but still managed two scores from centre Sione Tuipulotu and flanker Curry. Russell was calling the tune, involved twice in the lead-up to Tuipultu’s score and it was his long pass that put his Scottish midfield in under the posts.
That was 10-0 to the tourists but the Aussies hit back, on 28 minutes, when Hugo Keenan contested a high ball but got stripped by home wing Max Jorgensen and he sprinted over to score.
Keenan, had been unfit at the start of the tour, and ill during it and looked off the pace as did wing James Lowe who kicked aimlessly before the break. Curry then put the Lions back in control, driving over after Sheehan’s quick tap and the England man repaid the favour shortly after half-time when he put the hooker Sheehan over in the corner.
But Australia never go away, and they have plenty of ticker, and on the hour thought they grabbed their second try Joseph Suaalii went over but was done for not releasing. But they got one when replacement back frow Carlo Tizzano burrowed over from short range to close it to 12 points. Smith landed his three-pointer before Tate McDermott clawed another try back for the never-say-die hosts but the Lions won handily.
Scorers
Australia: Tries: Jorgensen, Tizanno, McDermott; Cons; Donaldson (2)
Lions: Tries: Tuipulotu, Curry, Sheehan; Cons: Russell (3); Pens: Russell, Smith