The Daily Star Ireland
The British and Irish Lions continued their tour of Australia with a commanding 52–12 victory over the Queensland Reds, overcoming a slow start to assert their dominance in the second fixture of the campaign. The match, held at Lang Park in Brisbane before a crowd of over 46,000 spectators, saw a range of try-scorers as the tourists gradually broke down their Super Rugby opponents.
The Lions endured a nervy opening period marked by unforced errors and missed opportunities. Within the first 26 minutes, Queensland crossed the try line twice through Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Josh Flook, giving the home side and their fans early momentum. Handling mistakes, lost set-pieces, and penalties characterized the Lions’ performance in the opening stages, reflecting the squad’s limited preparation time and rotation.
Despite early setbacks, the visitors recovered their rhythm and began to display their depth and cohesion. Tommy Freeman crossed twice, while additional tries were contributed by Andrew Porter, Duhan van der Merwe, Maro Itoje, Jac Morgan, Huw Jones, and Garry Ringrose. The Lions’ eventual total of eight tries underlined their physical and tactical superiority once they gained control of the contest.
Second-Half Surge Showcases Lions’ Depth
Much of the Lions’ resurgence stemmed from the improved connection between scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and fly-half Finn Russell. The pair, starting together for the first time on tour due to Gibson-Park’s recent injury, linked effectively despite minimal shared training time. They guided the Lions through the early turbulence and set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Finn Russell, who had also played against Western Force four days prior, was substituted at the 50-minute mark along with Elliot Daly, who sustained a blow to his arm. Daly had only been included in the starting lineup after Hugo Keenan withdrew due to illness. The back had made his 11th consecutive appearance in a Lions matchday squad, highlighting his reliability and versatility.
Maro Itoje, absent from the tour opener, silenced any doubts over his status with a commanding display in the second row. His performance, which included a try and significant impact at breakdowns and lineouts, reaffirmed his central role in the Lions’ plans.
Additional standout contributions came from Jac Morgan, who scored a try following a break by Alex Mitchell, and Duhan van der Merwe, who finished a sharp move initiated by slick passing from Jack Conan and Ollie Chessum. Gibson-Park’s own dynamic play, including a darting run that paved the way for Itoje’s score, marked a significant step in his recovery and re-integration into the squad.
The closing quarter of the match saw the Lions’ bench take over, with replacements maintaining the tempo and capitalizing on a fatigued Reds side. Tries from Huw Jones and Garry Ringrose added further distance to the scoreline, closing out the match in dominant fashion.
