Bundee Aki of the British & Irish Lions makes a break against the Brumbies, 2025. Photo: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland, PHOTOSPORT
The British and Irish Lions were made to work, but eased to a 36-24 win over a depleted ACT Brumbies team in Canberra on Wednesday in a victory soured by another backline injury.
Lions fullback Blair Kinghorn came off early in the first half and spent the rest of the match icing his left knee at Canberra Stadium.
Kinghorn's injury is another headache for coach Andy Farrell ahead of the first Wallabies test next week, having already lost Elliot Daly for the three-match series.
With lock Maro Itoje recalled as captain and flyhalf Finn Russell directing traffic, Farrell fielded a lineup tipped to match his team for the series-opener.
They had a poor start, conceding a try in the opening minutes, but scored five themselves to notch their fourth successive win on their Australian tour following victories over Western Force, Queensland Reds and the New South Wales Waratahs.
Ollie Chessum, James Lowe and Marcus Smith scored tries in the first half, with Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier crossing after the break.
"The Brumbies were very good today. They challenged us throughout the whole game," said Itoje.
"Obviously, things for us to work on, things for us to tidy up. We need to be a bit more accurate in the opposition 22, but I think a step forward."
The Brumbies were lacking virtually all of their Wallabies players but produced a contest on a cold night in Canberra, with tries from Tuaina Taii Tualima, Corey Toole, Hudson Creighton and Liam Bowron.
The Lions play a combined Australia-New Zealand Invitation side in Adelaide this weekend.
-Reuters
