
Lions tame gutsy Brumbies to make it four straight wins
In the Lions' previous two games against the Brumbies, Australia's top Super Rugby side, only two points had separated them each time -- the tourists won 30-28 in 2001 and lost 14-12 in 2013.
This time the Lions were convincing winners as players jostle for position in Andy Farrell's team for the opening Wallabies Test in Brisbane on July 19.
After two statement wins over Western Force and Queensland Reds, the tourists were scrappy against the NSW Waratahs, struggling to convert territory and possession into points.
In response, Farrell named his strongest side of the tour so far and they were more cohesive, marshalled by English skipper Maro Itoje.
They cut down on the handling errors and showed more attacking intent under the guidance of Scottish playmaker Finn Russell, although the defence was leaky with the hosts' crossing four times.
While the Brumbies were without their top players, who are on Australia duty, they still boasted plenty of firepower and had a brilliant start.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan gave away a penalty and the Brumbies launched into a rolling maul that saw Tuaina Taii Tualima burrow over after just four minutes.
The tourists woke from their slumber and levelled 10 minutes later when Bundee Aki broke the defence, with Russell luring two defenders before offloading for lock Chessum to dot down.
They should have had another try soon after but Ireland winger James Lowe failed to ground the ball and the opportunity went begging.
Having lost Elliot Daly to a broken arm last week, there was a further fullback blow for the Lions when Blair Kinghorn went off in the half for a head injury assessment and did not return, with Smith replacing him.
The Lions dialled up the pressure and Lowe had another chance on the half-hour mark, which this time he took after sharp hands from Sheehan and Jack Conan.
Russell added the extras for a 12-5 lead, but the Brumbies kept coming and struck back with another well-deserved try, courtesy of winger Corey Toole.
But a goal-line dropout by the Brumbies as the hooter sounded cost them, with the Lions gathering and attacking the line, with Smith finishing for a 19-10 lead at the break.
An early second-half try to Garry Ringrose, who got on the end of a Smith grubber kick, stretched their advantage to 26-10, but the hosts again hit back when substitute Hudson Creighton scythed through the defence.
The Lions did not panic and a Russell penalty increased their buffer before a converted try by Josh van der Flier put the game beyond reach.

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France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri turns personal disappointment into motivation to win at Spa
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France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri holds off Norris at Spa, extends championship lead
The 24-year-old Australian managed his tyres expertly to remain out of reach in the closing laps as the Briton, 25, who had started on pole, closed in on a harder-wearing compound, finishing 3.415 seconds clear as McLaren reeled off their sixth 1-2 in a dominant season. It was Piastri's first win at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, his sixth this season and the eighth of his career, extending his lead in the drivers' championship to 16 points after 13 of this season's 24 races. For McLaren, it was a 10th win this year. Charles Leclerc came a solid third for Ferrari ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, under the race leadership of new team boss Laurent Mekies for the first time, and Mercedes George Russell. Alex Albon clung on to finish sixth for Williams ahead of chasing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who started from the pit lane, and Racing Bulls' rookie Liam Lawson. Gabriel Botoleto was ninth for Sauber ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpine. "That was lively!" said the cool Piastri, who swept past Norris on lap one. "Very lively. I knew that lap one was probably my best chance of winning the race. I lifted a little as I went through Eau Rouge and then it was enough. "The rest of the race we managed really well. Maybe the medium wasn't the best in the last five-six laps, but we had it almost under control! I was disappointed after yesterday, but it turns out that starting second was not too bad." Norris conceded he couldn't have won. "Oscar just did a good job – there's nothing much more to say. He was committed a bit more in Eau Rouge and that was it. Oscar deserved it today." Leclerc said: "Max was behind me all race within two seconds so it's never easy. I knew the first part was the trickiest and I'm pretty happy we managed to keep that third place." The race began, after an 80-minute delay due to heavy rain, with the entire field on intermediates to run for four laps behind a safety car, clearing standing water. Piastri's craft and calm Four drivers started from the pitlane – Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton – having made changes to their power units or set-up overnight. They began at the rear of the field ahead of the rolling start at the start of lap five. As the lights went green, Norris powered away to lead through La Source, but he was unable to resist when Piastri sneaked out of his slipstream to take the lead going into Les Combes chicane. "Why do I have no pack?" asked Norris, realising he lacked electric power. "We used a lot on the safety car re-start," McLaren responded. On lap 12, Hamilton was the first in for medium slick tyres, rejoining 18th, followed by Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell and more. Norris stayed out one lap longer for hards, hoping to profit if his rival's rubber degraded in the closing laps. He was the only one. By lap 15, everyone else had switched to mediums and it was Piastri on top ahead of Norris by 9.3 with Leclerc third leading Verstappen, Russell, Albon and… in flying form, Hamilton. As Norris closed in, Piastri said his tyres were already degrading. "I think it will be tough to get to the end," he told race engineer Tom Stallard, raising the prospect of a dramatic finale. On lap 26, Norris slid wide at Puhon, falling back to nine seconds adrift before remounting his charge. It was a process of marginal gains as Piastri managed his tyres. Norris was close but Piastri's craft and calm prevailed.


France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri wins Belgian GP, extends championship lead
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc came third as Piastri stretched his lead in the drivers' standings over Norris to 16 points. Heavy rain delayed the 13th round of the season by 80 minutes, with organisers eventually allowing a rolling start after four laps behind the safety car as the sun finally appeared. Pole sitter Norris was quickly passed by Piastri as Norris complained he had a problem with his car's battery. Piastri then produced a controlled race from the front to lead home McLaren's sixth 1-2 of the season. "I knew lap one was going to be my best chance of winning the race," said Piastri. "Rest of race we managed really well," the Australian added. "Oscar did a good job, nothing more to say," said Norris. Max Verstappen, winner of Saturday's sprint, took fourth in Laurent Mekies' first race weekend as Red Bull team principal after the sacking of Christian Horner a fortnight ago.