Lions ease to 36-24 win over proud Brumbies in Canberra

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British and Irish Lions Andrew Porter tries to tackle ACT Brumbies Lachlan Hooper during the match.

PHOTO: AFP

CANBERRA – The British Irish Lions were made to work, but eased to a 36-24 win over a depleted ACT Brumbies rugby team in Canberra on July 9 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 fly-half Finn Russell directing traffic, Farrell fielded a line-up 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 added two more after the break. “The Brumbies were very good today. They challenged us throughout the whole game,” said Itoje.

“Obviously, there are still things for us to work on and tidy up. We need to be more accurate in the opposition 22, but overall, I think it was a step forward.”

The Brumbies were lacking virtually all of their Wallabies players but produced a contest on a cold night in