'We got the job done'
REACTION: An inconsistent British and Irish Lions survived a ferocious battle to stretch their unbeaten streak to seven Tuesday with a nervy 24-19 takedown of an aggressive First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Led by Owen Farrell, the tourists edged the home side four tries to three under a closed roof at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium with what was effectively a B team.
But they often lacked dynamism against a fired-up team with limited preparation but expertly marshalled by veteran Wallaby Kurtley Beale.
The Lions controlled the contest early with two tries in the opening 10 minutes, but the hosts refused to go away with plenty of niggle and brutal tackling.
They struck back to reach the break all square at 14-all before the Lions lifted in the second half, then survived a late Pasifika fightback.
“Probably wasn’t our best performance, but massive credit has to go to the First Nations and Pasifika boys, I thought they came at us,” said B&I Lions skipper Farrell.
“They got off the line well, and they caused some trouble. We started the game well, but didn’t manage to get a foothold throughout.
“Thankfully, we got the job done in the end.”
The odds were always against Beale’s side, but the veteran was proud of how they responded.
“Really proud of the boys,” he said.
“We came out and I thought we did what we said we were going to do, and that was to push it to the lines.
“It’s been a really special week, coming together to represent our families and our cultures, which is really special to us.”
Beale, a 95-Test Wallabies veteran, said his team showed the aggression needed for Australia to get on top of the B&I Lions to level the series.
“You need to take it to them, head on,” the 36-year-old said.
“There were patches there where we had the momentum and the Lions were taking a back step, and it created opportunities for us.
“These boys, they love the physicality, and I think playing rugby, you need physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off.”
Relieved Lions coach Andy Farrell said his team strayed from their game plan after taking the early lead.
“I thought, 14 points up and finding space everywhere we started to play the game a little bit like an exhibition match and it was never going to be like that,” he said.
“I was pretty pleased with how we redressed that at halftime and started showing some proper intent in our game, delighted to keep the Ws [wins] rolling.”
* Sources: AFP & AAP
