The ACT Brumbies were not able to repeat their 2013 heroics - but they won plenty of hearts, as a strong British & Irish Lions had to dig deep to overcome the Canberra side.
The visitors lead 19-10 at the break in Canberra, after thrilling first half that has seen the hosts ask plenty of questions of the full strength Lions side.
The close contest continued into the second half, with the Lions scoring several tries early on before the Brumbies fought back - but it wasn't enough as the visitors prevailed 36-24.
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Whilst they are without a host of Wallabies, the Brumbies' back up players produced a strong showing against their more fancied opponent.
The homeside scored four tries to five, but Finn Russell's perfect night with the boot proved a huge difference.
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80+3' BRU 24 BIL 36 The Lions go to the corner again, go quickly, the Brumbies try to hold - but the numbers run out and Chessum bundles over to score… or has he? We're going upstairs. It's held up! Fulltime!
80+2' BRU 24 BIL 36 Debreczeni attempts a cross kick, but the bounce isn't kind. Lions attack on the 22 as the siren sounds. The Brumbies will not repeat their victory - but make an infringement, and Hooper is sent to the bin.
79' BRU 24 BIL 36 Brumbies clear off the restart and Lions earn a penalty for playing the scrum half. Russell goes to the corner, the Lions want a try to finish. They go to the maul, but the Brumbies shut them down and they knock it on. Into the final minute.
76' BRU 24 BIL 36 Brumbies tap and go - and score! Bowren comes up with the chocolates. Debreczeni converts.
75' BRU 17 BIL 36 Mitchell comes on for the Lions as Reimer nabs another penalty for the Lions holding on. They go on the attack into the Lions 22. They look dangerous and earn a penalty, they go again, up the guts, and earn another advantage. It comes to nought but the Lions get a warning.
72' BRU 17 BIL 36 Brumbies try and kick through - but it just runs dead. Scrum on the Lions 10m line. Lions win the scrum and go long, but the Brumbies regather and return fire as we head into the final ten minutes.
69' BRU 17 BIL 36 Great run by Pollock gets the Lions to the Brumbies line. They concede a penalty and get a warning. Lions go to the corner, a great maul and a try! Josh van der Flier comes up with the goods and Russell converts. Lachlan Hooper comes on for his debut.
66' BRU 17 BIL 29 Mack Hansen gets a colourful response. The Brumbies win another penalty for holding on - and the Lions aren't happy with a bit of push and shove. They win the lineout and go, but then knock it on. Scrum Lions. Debreczeni is on in his final game.
62' BRU 17 BIL 29 A good Russell kick pins the Brumbies back in their own line, but they win the lineout and clear - but the Lions have a good opportunity here. Brumbies unload the bench and Reimer comes on as well to a big cheers from the crowd. They concede another penalty in front of the sticks, and they're going to take the points - and the crowd let them know about it! Russell strikes it.
58' BRU 17 BIL 26 Brumbies concede a penalty and Lions go to the maul, the Brumbies make a mess of it - but have they got it down? We're going upstairs… and… it's no try, held up. Goal line dropout. Pollock is on the field.
56' BRU 17 BIL 26 A good charge down from the Lions sees the Brumbies defending on their own line. They clear to the 22 and the Lions attack - but knock it on. Scrum to Brumbies. They win it and clear. Official crowd: 23,116.
52' BRU 17 BIL 26 Great attack play by Toole and the follow up pressure sees the Lions tackled in their own try line - 5m scrum to Brumbies as the benches start to empty for both sides. They fling it wide - and Creighton scores! Lonergan converts.
50' BRU 10 BIL 26 Great play by the Lions, Smith kick through and Ringrose gathers up to score. Critical first score of the second half. Russell converts.
48' BRU 10 BIL 19 Free kick to the Lions for numbers in the lineout, and they clear and survive. Brumby lineout on halfway, they win and send it high, and O'Donnell beats Smith - but knocks it on bringing it down. Scrum to Lions, and after a few resets, earn a penalty for collapsing the scrum.
44' BRU 10 BIL 19 A good start by the Lions, with several bombs falling back in their favour - but the Brumbies turn it over and Toole is off! The Lions run him down but concede a penalty for taking out the half back. Brumbies go to the corner, but lose the lineout! Lions clear.
40' BRU 10 BIL 19 The teams are back out on the field and we are back underway.
40+1' BRU 10 BIL 19 Disaster for the Brumbies. A short dropout backfires and Marcus Smith scores on halftime! Russell converts and the Lions hold a handy lead at halftime.
39' BRU 10 BIL 12 Into the final minutes the Brumbies regather well, but the Lions strip and try to attack, but knock it on. The Brumbies clear, Lions attack again and kick through, but the Brumbies ground it and earn an goal line drop out.
37' BRU 10 BIL 12 The Brumbies warn a advantage for the Lions collapsing the maul, they fling it wide - and Toole goes over! Lonergan slices it to the side.
35' BRU 5 BIL 12 A Finn Russell cross kick has resulted in favourable field position, and the Brumbies capitalise - with a great kick to the corner. The Lions nearly both the lineout, but concede a penalty for holding on in their own territory. Brumbies go to the corner.
30' BRU 5 BIL 12 Lions earn a penalty for Brumbies not staying on their feet, and go to the corner. After a few phases, they finally catch the Brumbies short wide and Lowe scores! The Lions go ahead for the first time tonight. Russell converts. Feliuai is off for a HIA.
26' BRU 5 BIL 5 Lions attack again, the Brumbies defence holds again - and Lonergan grabs a penalty for the home side, they survive! Kinghorn is off early, Marcus Smith is on.
24' BRU 5 BIL 5 Brumbies regather well, but then concede a penalty for offside. Lions win the lineout, and then earn another penalty for the Brumbies playing the halfback. They go the maul again, the Brumbies stand their ground, they go wide - Lowe is going to the line. Has he scored? We're going upstairs. Muirhead has done an amazing job, it's held up! Goal line drop out.
21' BRU 5 BIL 5 Lions regather well off the restart, with Lowe making a great nudge down the field, forcing Meredith to clear. The Lions look dangerous, but concede a penalty for not staying on their feet. They then concede a second penalty for offside, and the Brumbies are into Lions territory. They attack, but the visitors strip and go wide.
17' BRU 5 BIL 5 Brumbies win the scrum but Feliuai attempts a loose pass and gifts it back to the Lions. Scrum to Lions - and they get the shove on and earn an advantage. They go wide, and after a few phases, Chessum gets over to score. Russell attempts to convert but it hits the post. The sides are tied.
14' BRU 5 BIL 0 Lions go to the air again, Brumbies regather and try to go wide, but the Lions pounce through good pressure. They can't link up and knock it on. Scrum to Brumbies. Bunch of Wallabies spotted in the crowd, as well as Joe Schmidt.
12' BRU 5 BIL 0 Lions earn a free kick and go quickly, but the Brumbies manage it well and clear. Aki is in space and looks to link up - but the ball goes into touch. A kicking battle ensues and the Brumbies survive, clearing into Lions territory.
7' BRU 5 BIL 0 The Lions regather the ball and go on the attack, but the Brumbies bundle them into touch. The Brumbies win the lineout and clear. The Lions attack again and go aerial, but the Brumbies manage it well. However, there is a knock-on, scrum to the Lions.
4' BRU 5 BIL 0 The Brumbies do a quick lineout, and pound the line hard. The Lions are condensed - and the Brumbies score! First blood to the home side. Taii Tualima comes up with the win. Lonergan misses but the hosts lead.
3' BRU 0 BIL 0 A bump back by Kinghorn falls the way of the Brumbies, and they start well. The Lions concede a penalty for a tackle in the air and the Brumbies immediately go to the corner. The Lions hold the maul out but concede another penalty for offside. They go to the corner again.
KO T-MIN 2: The teams are out on the field. The wait is over. Lets roll!
KO T-MIN 5: The Brumbies have departed the field as the names get read out. Finn Russell, Mack Hansen and Maro Itoje gets a cheer from the crowd. However, the Brumbies get a much more vocal response, with Andy Muirhead, Corey Toole, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Hooper and Stephen Larkham.
KO T-MIN 10: The Lions have departed the field, the Brumbies are still on the field but in their huddle.
KO T-MIN 30: Both sides are in the midst of their warm up. Gaps are filling up quickly in the crowd.
KO T-MIN 50: The Lions and Brumbies are out on the pitch and have commenced preparations. The crowd is building very nicely here in Canberra, we'll looking close to a full house!
KO T-MIN 60: Coin toss is happening now on the field, and... Lions have won the toss, will kick off, and the Brumbies will receive and run right to left. Captains shake hands, and head off to commence preparations.
KO T-MIN 80: No changes confirmed for either side. The Lions have just arrived at the ground as the gates open and a decent crowd of people flood in. Brumbies are close behind.
KO T-MIN 90: Hi everyone, and welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Brumbies-Lions match at GIO Stadium. We are expected to have a capacity crowd here in Canberra. Conditions are clear skies at the moment, but a classic cold night in the nation's capital. There is a small chance of wind and rain later in the evening, but it's holding well so far.
ACT Brumbies 24
Tries: Taii Tualima, Toole, Creighton, Bowron
Con: Lonergan 1/3 Debreczeni 1/1
Cards: Hooper (Yellow - 81')
British & Irish Lions 36
Tries: Chessum, Lowe, Smith, Ringrose, van der Flier
Con: Russell 5/5
Pen: Russell 1/1
BRUMBIES (15-1): Andy Muirhead; Ben O'Donnell, Ollie Sapsford, David Feliuai, Corey Toole; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan (capt); Tuaina Taii Tualima, Rory Scott, Tom Hooper; Cadeyrn Neville, Lachie Shaw; Rhys van Nek, Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli
Replacements: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton
LIONS (15-1): Blair Kinghorn; Tommy Freeman, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum; Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje (capt); Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
The Lions' clash with the ACT Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm for the UK coverage and 7:30 pm for the Australian coverage.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 pm but expect it to be closer to 8:00 pm.
