The British & Irish Lions Struggle to Beat the First Nations and Pasifika XV
In a hard-fought match, the British and Irish Lions, with a modified lineup, achieved a 24-19 victory against the First Nations and Pasifika XV (FNP) on Tuesday. This was the most complicated match they have faced on their tour.
The team led by Andy Farrell maintains its perfect streak in Australia, despite a less brilliant performance that could generate some doubts in the selection for the second test against the Wallabies on Saturday.
Two tries from Jamie Osborne, added to those of Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, were enough to overcome a combative First Nations and Pasifika team, which kept the score tied at 14 points at halftime.Owen Farrell, captain of the British and Irish Lions, in a tense and hard-fought match.The hosts, with a great display, offered a lesson in ferocity to Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies. Tristan Reilly, Seru Uru, and Rob Leota scored tries for the FNP team, the latter bringing them within five points with ten minutes to go.
This result allows the Lions to have defeated the four provincial teams of the nation and the invitational teams from Australia and New Zealand.
Now, they will seek to secure the test series with a victory over the Wallabies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, before the final test on August 2.
It probably wasn’t our best performance, but you have to give a lot of credit to the First Nations and Pasifika guys, who came for us tonight.
Owen Farrel, Lions captain on Tuesday
Farrell was involved in the action, pushing Reilly after the hosts’ winger took down Graham in a tackle that saved a try and earned him a yellow card in the fifth minute.Jamie Osborne scored two tries in the Lions’ victory.Moments later, Farrell set up the Lions’ first try with a high pass that Osborne caught and touched down.
Farrell also participated in the second try, this time for Scottish winger Graham, who found space free.
FNP were losing 14-0 at 11 minutes, but Reilly returned to the field to intercept a pass from Fin Smith near the Lions’ 22-yard line and run to score an easy try.
Incredibly, FNP tied the score with a try converted by Uru, who broke through in the 23rd minute.
The Lions’ second row, James Ryan, received a yellow card in the same play for delaying the ball in the ruck.
With fewer players, the tourists prevented FNP from scoring for the rest of the first half, but they were lucky not to concede a third try after another interception.
The local fans, hoping for a surprise, were euphoric in the crowd of 30,420 people, but Osborne silenced them shortly after the restart, with opener Smith compensating for his erratic passes with a long pass that set up the center’s second try.
The Lions’ victory in Melbourne was the most hard-fought of their tour so far.The errors continued, with forward passes and knock-ons denying the Lions two certain tries before Van der Merwe took advantage of a Farrell pass to cross in the corner.
FNP responded, carrying the ball to the try line before Melbourne’s Leota, and former Wallaby, broke through to reduce the difference to five points in the 71st minute.
The drums resonated among the Pacific islanders in the stands, but the Lions defended well to ensure they reached the second test against the Wallabies in winning form.
Not many people gave us a chance. We proved that we deserve to be there, and we played very hard for each other.
