Brumbies 14-12 Lions: provincial side silence Lions

Stuart Hogg of the British and Irish Lions gets caught by Siliva Siliva and Scott Sio. Picture: Getty

BRUMBIES 14

Tries: Kuridrani Penalty: Mogg (3)

LIONS 12

Penalty: Hogg (2), Farrell (2)

Bullocking centre Tevita Kuridrani scored the only try in the first half and full-back Jesse Mogg slotted three penalties for the hosts, who held on as the Lions tried to roar back late in the second half in front of more than 21,000 frenzied fans at Canberra Stadium.

While the proud Brumbies players celebrated an historic win over what was effectively a Lions second team, the tourists’ management will have to act quickly to lift spirits ahead of Saturday’s first Test against Australia in Brisbane.

“Full credit to the Brumbies, they frustrated us. It was a tough day at the office,” a sombre Lions coach Warren Gatland said after his team were humbled on a field made sodden by a hail-storm. “I think it’s just part of being on tour, isn’t it? You get a bit of a knock, you take your disappointment and, in the end, it’s how you respond to it, how this group of players responds to it for the weekend. It’s just getting back on the horse again.”

Brumbies coach Jake White hailed the win as on par with his 2007 World Cup triumph as coach of South Africa.

“It’s a massive result,” said White, who has turned the previously struggling franchise into Australia’s top Super Rugby side in less than two seasons.

“We got together 18 months ago and no one would have ever dreamt that we would have not only achieved Super Rugby-wise what we have but to get a win against the Lions just doesn’t happen. We’re really mindful of the fact that this is as big as it gets for any boy who’s played at this level.”

The Lions, who were always behind, managed two penalties each from Scotland’s Stuart Hogg and England’s Owen Farrell strikes. Hogg also twice saw penalties hit the post.

The side featured a new-look three-quarter line of Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees and 36-year-old Shane Williams but they lacked quality preparation time and the backs were powerless at times, having to scamper and retreat as a disorganised and mistake-riddled Lions pack performance helped the Brumbies eight dominate.

Gatland’s Test players were deliberately wrapped in cotton wool but hopes of an invincible tour are now over. The Lions fell behind inside five minutes after Williams – the oldest back ever to play for the Lions – had an early chance to show his pace, but the Brumbies cleared and put together a sustained passage of attacking play.

It ended with Kuridrani barging through the attempted challenge of Wade and Rob Kearney to score a try that underlined how big a task the Lions faced.

It was the first time the Lions had been behind in a game since they trailed Queensland Reds 10 days ago and they were not helped by a malfunctioning lineout, with skipper Rory Best’s erratic throwing a problem.

The Lions should have opened their account midway through the half but Hogg saw a straightforward penalty chance bounce back off a post.

The Brumbies were content to play things tight and use their ball-carrying forwards, although the Lions had a fleeting opportunity when Williams jinked clear but put a foot in touch.

Mogg then sent a 52-metre penalty just wide after Lions prop Ryan Grant was whistled by French referee Jerome Garces for offside. The forwards continued to struggle for quality possession, which meant a difficult opening 40 minutes for half-backs Hogg and Ben Youngs.

Mogg made it 8-0 with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and, despite Hogg responding, the Lions could have few complaints. They began the second period with a greater sense of purpose and it took some stiff defence to keep them out before familiar problems surfaced. A botched lineout led to a Brumbies break-out and, when flanker Sean O’Brien was penalised for not rolling away, another

successful Mogg kick restored an eight-point advantage.

The Lions conceded turnover after turnover and, with their set-piece not functioning, there was very little the hastily-assembled back division could do.

Grant conceded another penalty, this time for foul play, and Mogg completed his penalty hat-trick before a second Hogg strike kept the Lions in it.

Mass changes came midway through the second half when Gatland sent on a new front row of Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole, with flanker Dan Lydiate replacing O’Brien. With 20 minutes to go, Gatland replaced Hogg with Farrell as playmaker.

His first contribition was to kick an angled penalty that brought the Lions back to within a try of levelling the game.

Another Farrell penalty made it 14-12, setting up a tense final nine minutes as the Brumbies tired.

The Lions substitutes continued to up the ante, but it was ultimately to no avail.

“I think the forwards should stand up and take a lot of the heat,” Best said.

“We were very confident and we just didn’t turn up tonight. We let our standards drop tonight. We didn’t want to lose the momentum that we’ve gained on this tour.”

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Clyde Rathbone, Matt Toomua, Ian Prior; Ruan Smith, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Leon Power, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Colby Faingaa, Peter Kimlin (capt).

Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, Jean-Pierre Smith, Chris Cocca, Etienne Oosthuizen, Jordan Smiler, Mark Swanepoel, Robbie Coleman, Zack Holmes

Lions: Rob Kearney; Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Shane Williams; Stuart Hogg, Ben Youngs; Ryan Grant, Rory Best (capt), Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Sean O’Brien, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (for Best, 57), Alex Corbisiero (for Grant, 57), Dan Cole (for Stevens, 57), Geoff Parling (for Evans, 60), Dan Lydiate (for O’Brien, 57), Conor Murray (for Youngs, 60), Owen Farrell (for Hogg, 60), Simon Zebo (for Williams, 69).