British Lions hit straps to sprint past plucky Reds

Perth Now

3 days ago

Hunter Paisami barged back into Wallabies calculations before the British & Irish Lions swallowed up the fast-starting Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
The tourists were made to work for Wednesday's 52-12 victory in front of 46,435 fans at Suncorp Stadium after the hosts scored first and then lead 12-7 midway through the first half.
Spots in the Wallabies midfield are at a premium with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii set to combine in the centres against Fiji on Sunday.
But bustling centre Paisami, after being pulled from Australia's camp to instead front up against the Lions, gave Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plenty to ponder ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19.
His first touch was a rampaging run that set up Jeffery Toomaga-Allen's first try and he kept the Lions guessing with short kicking and stoic defence.
When Kalani Thomas's grubber was brilliantly swept up on the half-volley by Josh Flook to score, the Reds looked a chance of joining their 1899 and 1971 side in knocking off the visitors.
The Lions, who beat the Force 54-7 with 14 different starters on Saturday, were clunky early but found their groove approaching halftime.
Andrew Porter burrowed over to put them ahead before No.10 Finn Russell, who booted four-of-four conversions before exiting after 50 minutes, straightened the attack and Duhan van der Merwe soared to score inside the left corner post.
A wicked bounce denied Lachie Anderson an incredible try when the Lions didn't collect the restart and the ball dribbled dead.
Lock Maro Itoje made an impact in his first outing as Lions captain and cashed in with a try after Bundee Aki's storming run and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park darted from the ruck.
The Reds got desperate as the match opened up, Huw Jones plucking Tim Ryan's ambitious chip and racing 60 metres to score.
Substitute Gary Ringrose iced the contest with an 85th-minute try as the tourists again passed 50.
Hooker Matt Faessler, another Wallabies squad member, was solid in a 50-minute stint in his return from a hamstring injury while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) put his case forward after being a regular in Schmidt's teams last year.
Russell, the only Lion to start in both games, looked dangerous in his first partnership with Gibson-Park while flanker Jac Morgan earned man-of-the-match honours for his damage around the ruck.
Coach Andy Farrell will have a chance to shuffle his deck again when the Lions play the NSW Waratahs on Saturday.
They'll also play the Brumbies, who beat the tourists in 2013, and a combined Australia-New Zealand outfit coached by Reds coach Les Kiss, before Brisbane's first Test.