Australia vs British & Irish Lions first Test — as it happened

Those who declared confidently that the Wallabies would be a really poor side, that they would crumble in the face of the red jersey, were confounded utterly. The second half would have given the Australians every confidence that they can turn things round.

Read the full report here.

The Wallabies head coach tells Sky Sports: “I felt like the players really dug in.

“Frustrating to go in 17-5 at half-time and then straight after half-time.

“Last 30 minutes we earned our way back into the game, and to finish as close as we did, having not had a lot of time together, I’m proud of the players.

“I’ve learnt that we’ve got character.

“It’s very early to say what we’ll be doing next week.”

Speaking with Sky Sports, the Lions hooker says: “The atmosphere reminds me of the World Cup – proper Test rugby feel about it.

“Stuff to work on but the important thing is it’s 1-0 to us.

“This is something I didn’t think I was ever capable of — it’s surreal.

He references the desire to better the set piece routines by next weekend: “The scrum didn’t give us much today, that’s something we’ll have to look at. It’s a brilliant start.”

The Lions coach tells Sky Sports he was delighted to get the result.

“Big occasion, I thought we did the shirt proud. How we attacked the game in the first half was pleasing, especially here at the spiritual home of the Wallabies was pleasing.

“Back row were immense, so glad for them because they stood up. Our physicality was spot on. In the second half we struggled with a bit of discipline.

“Plenty to work on which is a good place to be going into game two.”

The Australia captain tells Sky Sports: “We didn’t get our game going.

“Nothing will change for us, we’ll double down on our preparation and come back a better team.

“Such a big honour, I love representing Australia, but it’s a bit disappointing at the moment.

Owen Slot

Was ever a stadium so quiet at the end? It feels like we knew after 10 minutes who was going to win and spent the next 70 waiting to have that confirmed.

Also speaking to Sky Sports, the captain says it was a “tough old game”.

“No game is perfect, that definitely wasn’t. It puts us in a good position as we can have some honest conversations. There’s a lot to build on and we’re not complacent or comfortable.

“We put pressure on ourselves, but we’ll build, get better and move on.

On his 100th Test cap: “Very humbled. To God be the glory. I’m very grateful to represent England and the British and Irish Lions and I’m hoping for a couple more Tests.

The player of the match Tadhg Beirne tells Sky Sports: “Proper Test match, particularly last quarter, it was a real battle. Australia will probably take a lot of confidence from their performance especially in the last quarter.

“We need to work on discipline, but overall we controlled the game well.

“I loved it. Some of the performances before weren’t my best, but getting the call-up from Faz [Farrell] was a real honour.”

There’s the full-time whistle, and it’s yet another victory for the Lions in Brisbane, continuing their perfect record in the Queensland capital. There’s still plenty of work to do, and the Australians can take a lot of heart from their second-half performance.

It started off so raucous and loud, and now it’s all a bit flat inside the Suncorp Stadium as the result of this first Test has been long known. The Lions go 1-0 up, as they did in 2021, and so will be delighted to have come out with a bang, but I do wonder whether this is good for the series as a whole for the Wallabies to be so well beaten in the first Test.

The Australians follow winning teams, so you’d think that the 10,000 empty seats at the MCG for the second Test may not quite be so in demand.

A good consolation try from Tate McDermott shows the Wallabies spirit, but the reality is that they have been a little way off the Lions here. At least they have beaten the spread, which had them losing by ten!

Tate McDermott goes over for the Wallabies to make the scoreline look a bit more respectable. The conversion is hastily taken by Donaldson. There’s a minute left and the Aussies have finished strongly here.

What has surprised me is the lack of impact from the Lions bench (Owen Slot writes). It seemed smart to bring them on around 55 minutes because the Lions had gone a bit flat. But the new brigade have hardly changed that.

Lions have a penalty and Itoje elects to give it to Marcus Smith for a straightforward three points (Owen Slot writes). This takes them outside two scores which pretty much ties up the game. It kind of pays the Wallabies a bit of respect by doing so.

Really scruffy and indisciplined last 10-15mins from the Lions and Australia finally capitalise to make it 24-12 (Alex Lowe writes). Hard to think the comeback is on with 12 minutes to go because the Wallabies have so little. It would be great for the series if the Wallabies can get another try asap.

Marcus Smith comes on… at No10 (Will Kelleher writes). He wasn’t even picked as a fly half on this tour, and is now playing there in a Test match!

Interesting call, as he has only has come on in that play-making position once on this tour, against the Waratahs in Sydney. He has usually been used as a full-back.

The hard work gets the reward. Phase after phase against the Lions defence and the replacement Carlo Tizzano has it. Donaldson, the replacement fly half knocks over the conversion, and there’s a bit of a shift at play here. Twelve to play.

The Lions are getting a lot of beneficial calls in this game (Alex Lowe writes). The decision not to sin bin Tom Curry at the end of the first half.

Harry Wilson, the Wallabies captain, was convinced he had scored but the referee refused to check. Then Ben Earl, with the Lions on a warning, could easily have been binned for a no-arms tackle after Suaalii had cut a brilliant line. The officials were “very sure” he used two arms. Didn’t look like it to me.

An excellent game for Tom Curry, who now potters off (Will Kelleher writes). He never quite had the series he could have in 2021, so that has been his best game for the Lions in his fourth consecutive Test. Ben Earl now comes on to add some energy.

You feel Australia have to score soon, to keep their heads up and themselves in this game.

That was a complicated decision, but I feel like Ben O’Keeffe has got it right (Will Kelleher writes). The most questionable bit was whether Ben Earl tackled with two arms, but the referee was convinced. “We’re very clear about that,” he said. Jack Conan technically won a jackal turnover penalty in the in-goal area, in the end. A great effort, that.

They needed that! Suaalii runs a sturdy line off a scrum under the posts, clatters into Ben Earl and his mates help shunt him over. The Wallabies may just have a glimmer.

After a bit of to and fro about his nationality and eligibility for the Lions in the country of his birth, the Scotland centre didn’t hold back on his celebrations after scoring the first try of the series.

The referees are checking a clear out by Tadhg Furlong… there’s no card but it will be a penalty for shoulder to head contact, but there’s mitigation in the fact that Len Ikitau, the centre, was on his way up.

Re Curry. He would have been unlucky to receive yellow (Stuart Barnes writes). Sometimes penalties are just penalties. No malice, good reffing.

The usual form on this tour is that it is tight-ish and then the Lions bench blows the Australian team away (Will Kelleher writes). With Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher. Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl to come on in the pack, that could well make the difference here again.

Speaking to the Australian journalists, one of them said what else would you expect, really, when the Lions can combine four (three) high-ranked nations. Their point was it would be like South Africa, New Zealand and Australia combining to tour Scotland, and then everyone being surprised when they battered them.

I hope for the sake of the series that this stays tight right until the end. Nothing like some Test match drama.

A scathing assessment of the Wallabies at half-time from Christy Doran, the rugby editor of the Australian publication the Roar…

What a game Tom Curry is having (Owen Slot writes). He just stole the lineout and then gave the offload for the Dan Sheehan try on the opposite touchline. Wow, he is playing well. And really, in my opinion, he shouldn’t be on the pitch.

Russell’s conversion is good and the Lions take a 19-point lead.

Watching on in Brisbane today is a group of mates for whom this tour means an awful lot…

Read Owen Slot’s piece on the tour that became a homage to an old friend.

Stuart Barnes

Half time, Lions 7/10, Australia 3/10. Lions in control and impressive in some ways but a way to go before we herald the “greatest” ever Lions. Loving the two Tadhg’s.

Tom Curry was probably lucky not to be yellow carded there (Will Kelleher writes). Certainly the Australians in the crowd and on the pitch were livid it wasn’t a sin bin for taking Tom Lynagh out in the air.

Then a mild debate ensues, as Lynagh’s penalty was caught on the plane of touch by Finn Russell. Usually a penalty can be kicked to touch and then play continues after the hooter has gone, but the referees thought Russell’s act had ended the half.

Tadhg Beirne has gone off for a head injury assessment. He took a heavy blow a few minutes before half-time, and is being checked during the break.

Such a dominant half from the Lions (Owen Slot writes). They have a 17-5 lead but it feels like more. The Wallabies have actually done well to get their five points because their attack is going nowhere.

Their try came from one up and under. Nothing else has worked for them. The Lions have been so dominant in the collisions and we know how close they were to finishing one or two more tries themselves.

The Wallabies are badly missing Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who both failed to prove their fitness in time (Alex Lowe writes). Joe Schmidt said he would have played them if this was the third Test. If they were that close, he should have played them today.

Try and win the first Test and then worry about the rest of the series. Without them, the Wallabies are losing the physical battle. They cannot stop the Lions momentum and cannot generate enough of their own.

The Lions fail to score four times from close range: Huw Jones, Joe McCarthy, James Lowe and then Maro Itoje being held up (Alex Lowe writes). Eventually, Tom Curry crashes over after a series of heavy-duty carries eventually cracks the Wallabies.

Finn Russell’s cross field kick just evades… Joe McCarthy? The big lock has found himself on the wing and can’t quite reach it for an easy score in the corner. Russell will be disappointed with that.

You have to say that that try is brilliant for the game (Will Kelleher writes). There was a danger that the Lions were going to pull away, but Max Jorgensen has just fired up the Wallaby response, with lightning pace down the right wing, after that spilled high-ball from Hugo Keenan.

Game back on. Now how do the Lions respond? Tasty stuff so far!

The 20-year old wing Max Jorgensen gets Australia right back in it! It’s not out of very much – the wing contests a kick with Keenan, nicks it off him and finds the corner after escaping the attentions of Finn Russell.

A good game for the selectors so far. Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry — two players who hadn’t hit top form on this tour but in whom the selectors put their faith — they’ve both been outstanding (Owen Slot writes). The power of the Lions defence has stopped the Wallabies runners thus far. These two right in the middle of everything.

There’s the first bit of needle. A late clear out after the whistle and it boils over a bit with a few players getting to know each other. The referee gives both captains a stern talking to, and we have a scrum inside the Aussie half. The home side have a penalty, and need something to get their game going.

That’s the first scrum penalty the Lions have conceded all tour.

That is a massive let-off for Australia who are on the brink of being out of this game inside 25 minutes (Alex Lowe writes). They were carved open far too easily. Lions lineout on halfway. Conan carries up the middle. From the breakdown, Gibson-Park goes left and with one fend from Lowe on Jorgenson, the Lions are in behind. Huw Jones should have finished that. Australia have not fired a shot yet.

This might not stand. Jones doesn’t release the ball after being tackled, so has to release the ball before getting back up, which he doesn’t do. It’s ruled out. There’s boos around the stadium, but that’s probably the right call. We’re back to 10-0 Lions.

Huw Jones is over for his fourth try of the tour. Strong running from James Lowe, who finds Jones inside him. He’s tackled but is going with enough momentum to roll over and smash it down.

The pitch markings are in Wallaby gold. The stands are in Lions red. And they are all on their feet to celebrate some magic touches from Finn Russell — a kick in behind that forced Harry Potter to concede a lineout; a delayed pass through the tackle and then a floated ball over the top for the try (Alex Lowe writes).

It was reminiscent of that ball he threw for Huw Jones against England, except this time it was five metres from the Wallabies line. The platform was built on huge carries from Dan Sheehan and Ellis Genge, and a Lions ability to keep the ball alive and play what they see.

Here’s a shock, hot-take. Finn Russell is really, really good (Will Kelleher writes). Two incredible passes in that move — one delay and pop for Dan Sheehan, and then a skip-three for Sione Tuipulotu to score. He had a penalty advantage, but still, what a ball!

Tuipulotu goes over! A wonderful score from the centre, who latches on to a beautiful missed pass from his Scotland team-mate Finn Russell, who converts easily.

The Lions look in great nick here — fast, fit and hungry. The Wallabies can’t live with it.

Harry Potter, the Australian wing, fluffs his lines to give the Lions a lineout inside the Aussie 22. The first chance to show their set piece prowess. Smart hands from the backs but there’s a penalty won by Fraser McReight for the Wallabies.

Yeah, the Lions didn’t pick their jackalling back-row… and then Tadhg Beirne wins a jackal turnover within 50 seconds for the first penalty!

Finn Russell bangs it over and we are away.

Ally McCoist’s favourite song Hell’s Bells draws to a close, Finn Russell has the ball in hand, and we are off.

Andy Farrell’s selection for the first Test has been locked in for a couple of days now… but if you were the big fella from Wigan, who would you pick?

Use our interactive selector tool to compare your picks with those of our writers.

After initially failing to make it as a pro, the Scotland centre got his break in South Africa, and lines up for his first Lions Test match tonight.

Read Will Kelleher’s article on the centre’s unusual path to the top of international rugby.

Players Alex Lowe is excited to see this evening (in no particular order):

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. He carved up England at Twickenham last November and then got into a scrap with Sione Tuipulotu at Murrayfield and told him, “See you next time”. Next time is now.

Tom Curry. Welsh fans are fuming that he was picked ahead of Jac Morgan, although I rather feel that Tadhg Beirne was picked ahead of Morgan because the question was not whether curry played but which jersey. He is a big game player. Made for this stage. He will go around smashing people for 80 minutes.

Finn Russell. Always a great talent. At Racing 92 he was encouraged to be a risk taker. That club is about a highlights reel. Over the last two years at Bath, Russell has become a brilliant all-court fly half, capable of playing any style of game. His risk-reward ratio has a better balance to it — but he is not afraid to throw the pass if it’s on, or launch the cross kick.

Fraser McReight. The best poaching open-side flanker in the world and a legit successor to George Smith, David Pocock and Michael Hooper. The Lions thought they had issues at the breakdown in the tour matches. Things could be about to get a whole lot tougher.

Really interesting watching Owen Farrell during the warm-up (Owen Slot writes). Completely and utterly a team man. Always talking, communicating. Helping Finn Russell earlier with his kicking practice. Happy in a bib, holding tackle bags. Smile on his face. He’s not playing, he’s not in the 23. But he really relishes this environment.

Blimey, that’s a lot of red shirts behind the goal…

For all the selection debates, there is one glaring omission for the Lions today — a Welshman.

Ten Wales players started last time out against Australia in 2013. The absence of any in a Test for the first time since 1896 is the saddest sign yet of nation’s decline.

More from Elgan Alderman here.

Away from all the hullabaloo in Brisbane, something quite special happened for a former captain. Alun Wyn Jones, who led the Lions to South Africa in 2021, was made honorary colonel of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh recently, a position personally approved by the King.

Here he is at Maindy barracks (he’s on the right).

We have heard from our sources on the ground here that the Lions coaching staff are really nervous (Will Kelleher writes). That lies in contrast to the bullishness we have heard on the record from the players and Andy Farrell — perhaps it comes from the weight of expectation. The Lions are ten-point favourites with the bookies, but the game is not played on a betting slip, is it?

I have some sort of feeling we might get a red card in this series — not necessarily tonight, as there will be so much of a focus on tackle height. Remember we have 20-minute reds, so if we see one the player will be replaced after 20 minutes, after a “bunker” check — unless it’s a horrendous act of foul play.

Andy Farrell’s side seem intent on blasting their way to a physical victory, but if the Wallabies can stay in the match today, they have an ace up their sleeve in the electric Tate McDermott.

Read more from Stuart Barnes here.

Strange pre-match emotions, unlike any other I’ve ever known before a Lions game (Owen Slot writes). I don’t actually care who wins. I’m a massive Lions lover and I want the Lions to win the series. But the greater fear is the Lions running away with it by 15+ points and killing this series dead before it’s even got going.

You can weigh up the arguments either way, the strengths and weaknesses of each team, but on paper the Lions are way ahead. I just hope we don’t see that on the pitch.

Judging by the number of red jerseys on Caxton Street — and those starting to fill up the stands — there will be more than 50 percent Lions fans in the Suncorp Stadium (Alex Lowe writes).

They appear to have survived the kiss-cam section of the big match build-up without outing any affairs.

Speaking to Will Greenwood on Sky Sports, the Lions starting hooker said: “It’s been a special week. The buzz around the city and in the stadium has a really special feel about it.

On the shirt presentation ceremony: “That was something special. The opportunity for my dad to present me with my jersey was pretty special.”

On the atmosphere in the dressing room: “Trying my best to stay level-headed. We’re talking about staying calm, and staying true to who you are.”

On the occasion of his 100th Test cap, the Lions captain told Sky Sports: “This is something myself and the whole team are massively excited for. The opportunity to perform is great and one we’re looking forward to.

Asked about his final message to his team-mates: “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Lions fans are giving the pubs on Caxton Street plenty of cash as the atmosphere keeps building…

When asked by Sky Sports about the bookmakers having the Lions as heavy favourites, the Wallabies head coach: “For us we focus on what we can do, we can’t influence the bookies!

“There’s a quiet resolve in the team, sometimes you don’t want too much energy, because that can burn out pretty quickly. They’re ready to build their way into kick-off.

“They’ve prepared well and I think they will step up tonight.

On Tom Lynagh: “Tom knows this stadium, he’s played here a lot. He’s a good example of the calm you need in the midst of the storm.”

Earlier this week, Andy Farrell warned the Lions not to take the Australian underdogs too lightly despite their injuries, but urged his players to embrace the pressure of the favourites tag.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Lions head coach said it was a “great day to walk around town and see tens of thousands of Lions fans. What a privilege to be part of this.

“We’ve had a good preparation, the longer weeks helps. We want to deliver when it matters most.

“Most things need to go right for us against a desperate Australia side — it means a lot to them and it means a lot to us. Nothing focuses the mind like a Lions series.”

The England prop bulldozed Michael Hooper for England in 2022. He returns three years later, two stone heavier, with one big responsibility — to be the “emotional driver” of a team built to outmuscle the Wallabies.

Tap here to read Alex Lowe’s article on the prop’s vital importance.

There’s been another Test match on this morning, an absolute ding dong between the All Blacks and France in Hamilton. Despite some fantastic defending from France on their own lines, including holding up the All Blacks three times, a 29-19 victory for New Zealand completes the series clean sweep.

The capital of Queensland has seen some fantastic action in past tours, not least from Jason Robinson at the Gabba 24 years ago.

Will Kelleher went to find out just how difficult it would be to stop such a great player at full tilt… and ended up in a heap.

Read the two-time captain’s thoughts on the honour of wearing the red jersey.

More than two hours before kick-off and the streets of Brisbane are absolutely heaving. Will Kelleher gets amongst it…

After watching Sonny Bill Williams in an exhibition boxing match against Paul Gallen, an old rugby league rival, the Lions head coach felt inspired. He wants his side to fight like the dogged boxers in the ring, tough and relentlessly physical — but braced and ready for a punch in the face from the underdog Wallabies.

Read Alex Lowe’s full preview here.

It’s a depleted Australia side up against the Lions tonight, with players like Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Noah Lolesio all missing through injury.

Tom Lynagh, the Surrey-educated son of Michael who took the plunge with a move down under, starts at fly half at the tender age of 22. Talk about in at the deep end.

You can read Owen Slot’s article from earlier this week on why Lynagh’s selection is such a gamble here.

It’s buzzy and lively around the Suncorp Stadium with 100-person queues out of the doors of the pubs on Caxton Street (Will Kelleher writes). This is the first time on this tour so far that we’ve had a sense of the massive away support. They’ve all turned up at last! It is a much younger crowd too than for the tour games.

Will Skelton is outside the ground signing jerseys — what a shame he’s not playing today, and nor is the powerful back-row Rob Valetini. The Lions surely will look to overpower the Wallabies now those two aren’t playing.

The gold certainly stands out.

You can tell it’s the first Lions tour in front of fans for eight years, after the rather damp squib atmosphere-wise in South Africa thanks to Covid four years ago.

The streets of Brisbane are awash with red. Groups of mates, young and old, having a few beers in the sun before a great sporting occasion. Looks a pretty rubbish way to spend a Saturday night, really…

A reminder of Andy Farrell’s Lions 23 for the first Test…

Good morning and welcome along to the Times’ live coverage of the first Test between the British & Irish Lions and Australia in Brisbane.

Stay right up to date with all the build-up action, analysis and updates from our team of writers at the Suncorp Stadium.