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Match reportDaniel Gallan<\/p>\n
Rob Kitson, as you\u2019d expect, nails this report, praising the Lions and weaving in some cricket chat as the tourists produced the goods at the Adelaide Oval.<\/strong><\/p>\n Rob\u2019s been in great form this tour. It\u2019s great to see the team match our man on the ground.<\/p>\n With that I\u2019ll sign off. Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for writing in and I wish you all the best as we gear up for the Test next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Cowan-Dickie and Ringrose serious doubts for the tour<\/p>\n So two big stories from that Andy Farrell interview.<\/strong><\/p>\n Luke Cowan-Dickie looks like he\u2019s out of the series and Garry Ringrose will likely be out for the first Test.<\/p>\n Jamie George will almost certainly get a call-up as cover at hooker.<\/p>\n Jamie Osborne and even Owen Farrell should provide enough cover in midfield. Does this mean that they go for an all-Scotland midfield for the first Test, or can Jones play alongside Aki?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.14 EDT<\/p>\n Now some words from a happy coach:<\/strong><\/p>\n I thought it was a good professional performance. When you play these types of games, all sorts of things can happen. We played a nice controlled game of rugby and never let them in the game.<\/p>\n We stayed at it. It was never going to be perfect. We kept going as a team and that\u2019s the main thing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the collective. It showed that even on stuff like kick chase, how we worked so hard on defence, we created turnover ball. It was very pleasing.<\/p>\n We need to relax and enjoy this. We need to enjoy a bit of down time. It\u2019s been a long 15 days. I\u2019m really proud of everyone involved, not just the players. It\u2019s been a tough old block.<\/p>\n We want people putting their hands up. This group will roll up together and will go after the Test together.<\/p>\n [Luke Cowan-Dickie] is good and back to being his normal self. It was unfortunate. It was a concussion. It looks like we\u2019ll have to bring someone in but we\u2019ll speak to the medics.<\/p>\n Garry Ringrose failed a concussion. Which is unfortunate for him. He\u2019ll be back later in the series. Jamie [Osborne] coming in means we have cover. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And here\u2019s Earl, speaking to Sky Sports:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI think you could see to a man how much the jersey means to players.\u201d<\/p>\n He credits the team, singling out Ben White who was just as impressive.<\/p>\n He also sings the praises of Pierre Schoeman and Owen Farrell: \u201cHonestly it was like being back at home when he was in my ear shouting next to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No wonder Ben Earl bagged the player of the match award:<\/strong><\/p>\n 14 carries, 57 metres made, 11 tackles.<\/p>\n Has he done enough for a Test spot?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full time: AUNZ Invitation 0-48 British & Irish Lions<\/p>\n That was just about perfect from the Lions. <\/strong>The final move fizzles out and the 50 is missed, but no matter. By a distance that was their best performance of the tour. Every single player stood up. They looked cohesive, they were ruthless on defence with immense line speed, and on attack they were clinical. Superb. No wonder Andy Farrell has a broad smile.<\/p>\n Ben Earl gets man of the match but it could have gone to Jones, Morgan, Hansen or van der Merwe, who bagged a hat-trick.<\/p>\n Outstanding.<\/p>\n No doubt this fan was pleased with the result and the Lions\u2019 performance. Photograph: David Davies\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.06 EDT<\/p>\n 80 min: <\/strong>Smith kicks that penalty out of touch on the 22. But the line-out throw isn\u2019t straight. Morgan gathers the clearing kick and runs it back so the Lions do have one more chance to score. They\u2019re back in the 22. Morgan has it agaib. My goodness, what a game he has had. It\u2019ll be a real shame if he\u2019s not involved next Saturday. Can they score 50 at the Adelaide Oval?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 min: <\/strong>The Lions can\u2019t make the move work and AUNZ come away with it. The spiral the ball down the line and towards the left tram. They\u2019re past the rush defence but White (not playing scrum0half as Mitchell is on) makes a great recover tackle and forces the knock-on. They\u2019re looking at a possible dangerous clear-out on Morgan earlier in the piece.<\/p>\n Yup, yellow card for Fusitu\u2019a who dumped Morgan on his head. <\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 min: <\/strong>Another penalty against AUNZ. This one is off the scrum inside the Lions half. Smith kicks it over halfway for a line-out. One more score will take them past the half century.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! AUNZ 0-48 Lions (Pollock, 76)<\/p>\n He got it! <\/strong>Wow, that is some finish. Poor from AUNZ. Farrell\u2019s grubber was initially fielded by Edmed who then played a wild pass to McLaughlin-Phillips who spilled it. Pollock never gave it up and chased hard before diving for the ball. He had no right to beat McLaughlin-Phillips but that\u2019s exactly what he did. Smith scores the extras. That\u2019s eight tries as Pollock celebrates by checking his own pulse. He\u2019s a point of difference. He might rub some up the wrong way but there\u2019s no denying he is blockbuster.<\/p>\n British and Irish Lions\u2019 Henry Pollock gets his hand to the ball and the Lions have an eighth try. Photograph: David Davies\/PAPollock (left) celebrates. Photograph: James Elsby\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.57 EDT<\/p>\n 76 min: <\/strong>Pollock thinks he\u2019s scored! It came off a grubber from Farrell and a mess at the back from AUNZ. Edmed gathered the kick and passed to McLaughlin-Phillips who spilled it. Did Pollock get there?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 74 min: <\/strong>The Lions inch their way forward with Hansen offering some rangy carries. The winger, with a torn jersey and looking like a Test animal, then unfurls a banana kick to pin AUNZ back in their own 22.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 72 min: <\/strong>Finally we see a bit of spark from the fellas in gold and white and green. Fusitu\u2019a shakes a tackle and they\u2019re up and running. They\u2019re into the Lions 22 and the ball goes right for Stevenson who lines up White in the tram. But the Lions scrumhalf makes a superb tackle and nudges the larger man out of touch. He then brushes himself off and, off the back of the subsequent line-out, launches a long kick to halfway. I\u2019m not sure if White will get a Test on tour with Gibson-Park and Mitchell ahead of him, but he\u2019s been fantastic tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! AUNZ 0-41 Lions (Kelleher, 69)<\/p>\n Swift from the big units! <\/strong>Kelleher shapes to throw a conventional line-out but he plays it short for Schoeman who gives it back to the hooker. There\u2019s no stopping him there, not when it\u2019s a 9 and 10 defending that tight channel. Who said front rowers can\u2019t think fast? Smith doesn\u2019t have his radar and lets another two points go by.<\/p>\n British and Irish Lions’ Ronan Kelleher goes over to score their seventh try. Photograph: David Davies\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.59 EDT<\/p>\n 69 min: <\/strong>Guess what folks. It\u2019s another penalty against AUNZ. It\u2019s come off the back of relentless pressure from the Lions on attack and defence. But it must be said the home side look ragged now. Smith kicks to touch. They go to the maul which Frizell collapses and so cops a penalty and a yellow card. Smith kicks to the corner again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 min: <\/strong>White and Farrell are connecting well. Hansen nudges a grubber for van der Merwe who wanrs a fourth. He can\u2019t get there before it trickles out of touch inside AUNZ\u2019s 22.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 66 min: <\/strong>Another penalty, this one straight from the restart so Smith does what he\u2019s been doing for the past 10 minutes and boots it downfield and out for a Lions throw.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! AUNZ 0-36 Lions (van der Merwe, 65)<\/p>\n Duhan has a hat-trick! <\/strong>Again, it\u2019s so simple. Line-out, maul, penalty advantage, front foot ball, Farrell on the charge before delaying the pass as he draws in the tackler, down the line, through the hands and the big winger has an easy run-in. Smith hits the far upright from the left tram.<\/p>\n Duhan van der Merwe (right) touches the ball down to score his third, and the Lions\u2019 fifth try. Photograph: James Elsby\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.58 EDT<\/p>\n 64 min: <\/strong>Another penalty against AUNZ. To be honest, they look like they can\u2019t wait for the final whistle. Smith kicks to the 22 and they set the maul this time from the line-out. They get the penalty advantage. What can they do from here?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! AUNZ 0-31 Lions (Cummings, 62)<\/p>\n Robust, accurate, ruthless! <\/strong>This is a team try of the highest order. Off the top of the line-out from the left inside the 22, Farrell hit the line hard and got over the line. Earl carried well and took it close. Then it was Cummings who was never going to be stopped from about two metres from the line. Brilliant. Earl is putting on a show.<\/p>\n Smith with the extras from right in front.<\/p>\n Scott Cummings barges his way over for another Lions try. Photograph: James Elsby\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.45 EDT<\/p>\n 60 min: <\/strong>The Lions win a penalty on the ground and Bealham roars in celebration. Think it was Morgan who got over the ball. The Lions have been brilliant at the breakdown. The first time you can say that on this tour. They get another penalty up field inside the AUNZ 22. Smith nudges to the corner. They\u2019ll have the line-out about 10 metres from the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 58 min: <\/strong>Things have become a little stop star for the past 10 minutes. There\u2019s another spill of the pill in the air after Smith hoisted it high. AUNZ have the scrum feed but they\u2019re stuck in their own half. Bealham, on in the front row, gives away a penalty so AUNZ launch it long and now have the line-out.<\/p>\n Beirne is off for Cummings in the second row.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 56 min: <\/strong>Marcus Smith\u2019s first real involvement is to launch a kick upfield. Edmed, who has played well, returns the favour. Lions will have the throw inside their own patch. Cowan-Dickie is shown on Sky and he\u2019s smiling and walking. That is a relief. I thought he\u2019d be in serious trouble but he looks OK.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 55 min: <\/strong>Pollock involved again. When the game opens up he comes alive. This time he\u2019s running down the left and passing for White but the ball drifts slightly forward.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 54 min: <\/strong>Kelleher wins a turnover on the ground as AUNZ runners are read like an open book. Pollock has it in the left tram and chips and chases and catches. Can he get the legs turning? No, he\u2019s wrapped up in contact but that was some slick play from the youngster who couldn\u2019t quite find his support runner on the inside. Knock on and a scrum instead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 52 min: <\/strong>A bit of a lull after those subs. AUNZ have a scrum on the 10 metre line in their own half. This set piece is taking an age to set. \u201cLet\u2019s go please\u201d says the ref, speaking for all of us.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49 min: <\/strong>Yet again the Lions defence comes out on top. AUNZ are playing one pass rugby. It\u2019s not working. Sotutu has some strong carries but the men in gold and white get in a tangle and there\u2019s an obstruction call.<\/p>\n Boos and applause ring out across the stadium as Owen Farrell joins the party! <\/strong>He\u2019s on for Jones who was brilliant.<\/p>\n Marcus Smith also comes on for Fin Smith.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 min: <\/strong>Sustained pressure from AUNZ after the line-out sees them win another penalty. Beirne is getting a talking to from the ref. Maybe another one will see a yellow card. AUNZ tap and go 10 metres out in front of the poles. They don\u2019t quite have the cohesion despite their Test players in the ranks. Can they work something here?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47 min: <\/strong>AUNZ keep the ball and Pollock strays offside. So the hosts will get a line-out to their right just on the 22.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! AUNZ 0-24 Lions (Tuipulotu, 44)<\/p>\n Too easy! <\/strong>They have the advantage and tap and go right in front. White has it and Tuipulotu hits the line to perfection. He steps and shimmies and scores under the poles. That cam from immense defence all the way back in their own half that forced the poor pass from AUNZ. Smith can\u2019t miss the conversion from there. Wonderful from the Lions. They look like a proper Test team tonight.<\/p>\n A shimmying Sione Tuipulotu adds to the Lions\u2019 try tally. Photograph: James Elsby\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.26 EDT<\/p>\n 43 min: <\/strong>AUNZ try a move in midfield but the ball finds nothing but air. Jones pounces and boots ahead and suddenly three Lions players are tearing after the ball. Hansen is first to it but the bounce isn\u2019t kind and he can\u2019t take it in his stride. So he delays and recycles. They go down the line. Pollock and Smith carry. There\u2019s a penalty advantage as the move fizzles so they come back within striking distance, five out right in front.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min: <\/strong>AUNZ get us going and Earl catches and runs and lights up the stadium with a step and a charge. He can\u2019t stitch the offload but that was some burst. Scrum to the home side all the way on the right between the Lions\u2019 22 and halfway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Righto, the players are back out. <\/strong>Another 40 minutes like the one that just passed and more than a few of these Lions will be playing that first Test next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Are you excited to see Owen Farrell in the second half?<\/strong><\/p>\n Liam S. Murray <\/strong>certainly isn\u2019t:<\/p>\n Agree with Stephen Holliday that Farrell Jr. divides opinion, but I don\u2019t know anyone apart from Farrell Sr. who thinks Farrell Jr. deserves to be a Lion in 2025. Injured, out of form, and hasn\u2019t played a Test match in two years. He shouldn\u2019t be anywhere near this squad.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Well Liam, I believe he should have been included in the initial squad. I\u2019m not saying he should play a Test. But the wider squad? Absolutely!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s only fair if we point out that AUNZ haven\u2019t been particularly good.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIts not a great showing by the \u201chome\u201d side. Lots of international star power and caps but they have offered little. Lions blitz-D is doing enough. Huw Jones and Macky likely test starters from opening 40,\u201d says Gerry Keavney.<\/strong><\/p>\n Tom Mayfield <\/strong>adds, \u201cGood morning Daniel here in Virginia. Lots of internatials but look scratch side, maybe not yet match fit.. Lions looking well drilled too.\u201d<\/p>\n All true. But more than one thing can be true at the same time and, as Tom and Gerry have said, AUNZ have struggled as a consequence of the Lions cohesion and aggression.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: AUNZ 0-17 Lions<\/p>\n Salakaia-Loto makes ground on the left and Samu almost connects an offload to support runners on the inside, but that\u2019s the end of a near perfect half for the Lions.<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s by far their best 40 minutes of the tour. Aggressive line speed, accurate tackling and some slick hands from the backs.<\/p>\n If we\u2019re going on performance alone then surely a few of these lads have worked their way into the Test team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min: <\/strong>Again! Solid defence from the Lions. Despite Salakaia-Loto brushing off Morgan, and despite Samu holding firm in the carry, the men in red hold firm and force the mistake as the ball bobbles out of touch around halfway. It\u2019ll be a AUNZ throw, but they\u2019re going nowhere, finding it impossible to breach the red wall.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min: <\/strong>Kelleher replaces Cowan-Dickie at hooker and has to scrum down immediately. AUNZ make some metres and get to the edge of the 22. It\u2019s a little one dimensional and the Lions can size them up on defence. Fakatava delays and Pollock wraps up up. The ball is soon turned over by Earl and Keenan launches a big kick that almost finds a 50\/22. Havili launches a big kick of his own that finds touch back in the Lions half. Again, great work on defence from the Lions. Something has happened to this group. A few players are putting in a serious shift tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cowan-Dickie finally leaves the field. <\/strong>His head is held firm and he\u2019s strapped to a stretcher. His eyes are closed as he gets a round of applause. Let\u2019s hope he\u2019s OK and makes a speedy recovery. My guess, though, is that\u2019s his tour done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some emails.<\/strong><\/p>\n John Holmes <\/strong>also hates the AUNZ kit: \u201cWhat an awful strip worn by Australia, shows a complete lack of imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Holliday <\/strong>has some thoughts on Farrell Jnr:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Farrell selection, and career really, does seem to cause massive divisions. I\u2019d argue though that the divide sees anyone who has ever played rugby at the highest level in the pro camp and those who have not on the other. Sure, it\u2019s a generalization, but it\u2019s absurd that he doesn\u2019t get any credit in some quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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