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Reilly (17'), Uru (22'), Leota (70')
Tries
Osborne (7', 44'), Graham (10'), Merwe (63')
Beale (18', 23')
Conversions
Smith (7', 11')
The British and Irish Lions had to dig deep in their final midweek clash to hold off a determined performance from the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Jamie Osbourne, twice, Darcy Graham, and Duhan van der Merwe scored the Lions’ tries, and Fin Smith added two conversions.
Triston Reilly, Seru Uru, and Rob Leota scored tries for FNP, with their captain Kurtley Beale, who faced the 2013 Lions for Australia, converting two.
There was heartbreak for Graham though. Moments after he scored his try, the Scot took a knock to his ankle and despite the best efforts of the Lions medical staff left the field looking distraught.
In what was a final audition for those outside the test squad, few made an overwhelming case to be involved in the second test.
Blair Kinghorn fared best of those chasing a test spot. He was secure under the high ball, and while he threw an intercept pass for a FNP try, he otherwise looked threatening with the ball in hand.
QUICK START
It was an eventful first 15 minutes at Marvel Stadium.
Graham twice came close to an opening try, FNP wing Triston Reilly was sin-binned for making contact with the Scot’s head, and Owen Farrell didn’t hold back letting Reilly know his thoughts.
Osbourne opened the scoring when he raced onto Farrell’s chip over that FNP were unable defend, then Graham added the second when he raced onto Smith’s long pass.
A few minutes later though he was going off, his Lions tour apparently over after a quarter of an hour. He took a heavy knock to his ankle, the medics tried strapping it up, but after trying to stand he went to the sidelines, where Finn Russell came down from the stand to give him a hug.
Graham’s Scotland teammate Kinghorn gave Reilly an easy run-in when he picked off his looping pass. Then, with the Lions leaking penalties, Uru drove over from close range to draw FNP level.
SERIOUS TEST
To compound matters, James Ryan headed to the sinbin for cumulative penalties. It meant Jac Morgan covered in the second row, not quite the test audition the lone Welshman wanted.
Garry Ringrose had come on for Graham and showed he was over his concussion with a strong carry. He took up his normal place in the centres, Osbourne went to fullback and Kinghorn to the wing.
FNP were providing more of a challenge than the ANZAC team in Adelaide did. Hardly surprising considering that were coached by Toutai Kefu and Tana Umaga, and captained by Beale, three players with experience of Lions tours.
Plus, they had Charlie Gamble on the openside, who was as disruptive as he had been in the Lions narrow win over New South Wales Waratahs.
There was nearly a score on the stroke of halftime when Kinghorn threw another intercept, but Duhan van der Merwe got back to clear up the kick through.
HALFTIME MESSAGE
Whatever was said at halftime had the right effect. They raised the intensity and played with greater directness.
Osbourne profited from the greater space out wide when he swooped onto Kinghorn’s pass.
Josh Van der Flier came close twice as the Lions hammered the FNP line. Farrell and Smith threw themselves into rucks to show the type of match it was becoming.
The breakdown problems continued, as Gamble continued to impose himself en route to another player of the match award. When they did find their rhythm, the Lions looked good and soft hands from Smith and Farrell gave van der Merwe an easy run in.
FNP continued to defend well, and after another Lions attack broke down, they raced up the other end where local lad Leota dived over to round off a slick move of short, sharp passes.
It set up a fought final five minutes for the Lions, who led by five. FNP couldn’t rally again, and Smith didn’t hesitate when he had the chance to kick out and bring the match to an end.
First Nations & Pasifika XV Starting XV (1-15) Lington Ieli, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Kalani Thomas, Kurtley Beale, Triston Reilly, David Feliuai, Lalakai Foketi, Filipo Daugunu, Andy Muirhead
First Nations & Pasifika XV Replacements (16-23) Richie Asiata, Marley Pearce, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Rob Leota, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Jarrah McLeod
British & Irish Lions Starting XV (1-15) Pierre Schoeman, Jamie George, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Ben White, Fin Smith, Duhan van der Merwe, Owen Farrell, Jamie Osborne, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn
British & Irish Lions Replacements (16-23) Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Thomas Clarkson, Gregor Brown, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Garry Ringrose
