How’s it going, everyone? Welcome to The 42′s live updates from the Lions’ second tour match in Australia.
Andy Farrell’s men will face Les Kiss’ Reds at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, at 11am, and it’s Gavan Casey with you here to bring you the blow-by-blow action if you need to sneakily follow the game on your phone during the workday!
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
I’ll ping you notifications for every try or major incident — but you can toggle that option off near the top of this liveblog if you’d prefer to check in a bit more intermittently yourself.
Should be a solid test for the Lions today against a side coached by the next Wallabies boss. I’m looking forward to it.
Lions captain Maro Itoje returns to the second row after being stood down for the 54-7 victory over the Force, forming an engine room partnership with Ollie Chessum.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and fullback Hugo Keenan recover from injury to make their first appearances of the tour after recovering, with Leinster and Ireland teammate James Ryan also involved for the first time from the bench.
Andrew Porter and Jack Conan make their first starts, while Bundee Aki returns to the midfield where he’s partnered by Scotland’s Huw Jones, who is also making his Lions bow.
Finn Russell continues at out-half having impressed at Optus Stadium against the Force.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The Reds’ job has been made harder by the absence of six players who remain with the extended Australia squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji on Saturday.
While Schmidt released hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami, the likes of Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson remain in camp.
Kiss was still able to name a squad boasting nine Wallabies and two All Blacks, with experienced fullback Jock Campbell captaining the side.
The pack has been stiffened by the inclusion of prop Aidan Ross, who signed for the Reds after playing for the Waikato Chiefs in the recent Super Rugby final.
Ross, who played a Test for the All Blacks in 2022, will form a front-row with Faessler and former New Zealand prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Both Ross and Toomaga-Allen have previous experience packing against the Lions in 2017 for Super Rugby clubs.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto partners Josh Canham in the second row, with Seru Uru and John Bryant as the flankers with Joe Brial at number eight.
Kalani Thomas at No.9 and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips form the half-back pairing with Paisami and Josh Flook together in the centres.
Aidan Ross, who recently moved from Super Rugby finalists the Chiefs, starts for the Reds. Photosport / Jeremy Ward/INPHO
Photosport / Jeremy Ward/INPHO / Jeremy Ward/INPHO
Reds
15. Jock Campbell (Captain)
14. Lachie Anderson
13. Josh Flook
12. Hunter Paisami
11. Tim Ryan
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
9. Kalani Thomas
1. Aidan Ross
2. Matt Faessler
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4. Josh Canham
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
6. Seru Uru
7. John Bryant
8. Joe Brial
Replacements:
16. Josh Nasser
17. George Blake
18. Sef Fa’agase
19. Ryan Smith
20. Angus Blyth
21. Connor Vest,
22. Louis Werchon
23. Isaac Henry
Lions
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Reds captain Jock Campbell — a fun-to-watch fullback who is just outside Wallaby contention at the moment — and Lions skipper Maro Itoje shake hands at the coin toss.
Kiwi ref James Doleman, who was also in charge for the Lions’ defeat to Argentina at the Aviva, is again the man in the middle in Brisbane today.
2 Jul 2025
10:55AM
It’s almost go-time in Brisbane. Dunno about you but I’m particularly excited to see the midfield combo of Bundee Aki and Huw Jones today.
Aki will feel the door is open after a couple of middling performances by Sione Tuipulotu against Argentina and the Western Force.
In fairness, Tuipulotu is only just back from injury and is bound to get sharper, but Aki can lay down a bit of a marker today.
1′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: Jock Campbell gets the action underway at Suncorp.
The Lions take the kick-off — hallelujah, after last week’s debacle — and Gibson-Park finds a solid touch on the exit.
2 Jul 2025
11:05AM
3′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: There was a late change to the Lions XV, with Hugo Keenan missing out on his debut through illness, unfortunately.
The Leinster fullback will have to wait for his first appearance of the tour.
England’s Elliot Daly, who has been impressive so far, deputises at 15.
2 Jul 2025
11:06AM
4′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: The Lions work their way up towards the Reds’ 5′ and win a scrum, but Will Stuart is penalised. Great start by former Chief Aidan Ross, who hasn’t been with the Reds a wet week.
2 Jul 2025
11:07AM
6′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: Maro Itoje is causing serious hassle to the Reds’ lineout so far. One steal and one significant disruption.
Kalani Thomas puts a beautiful chip in between Huw Jones and Duhan van der Merwe, and centre Flook does extremely well to gather full-sprint and dive over for the Reds’ second try.
McLaughlin-Phillips is off the mark with a poor conversion effort, but the Reds are back in the lead.
Incidentally, they scored only 12 points in a competitive defeat to the Lions during the 2013 tour. They have 12 already today!
2 Jul 2025
11:31AM
28′ – REDS 12-7 LIONS: The Lions go close to levelling proceedings almost immediately off first phase.
Tommy Freeman reaches for the line under the posts but is just short and loses control of the ball.
The Lions, though, had a pen advantage for a high tackle. It’s a five-metre penalty and the Lions will tap and go.
Lions win a free-kick at scrum time on the Reds’ 22′.
Gibson-Park attacks the short side. Lovely hands by Ollie Chessum and Jack Conan, the latter of whom puts Duhan van der Merwe over in the left-hand corner.
Russell again converts from the touchline. His place-kicking has been excellent.
2 Jul 2025
11:41AM
37′ – REDS 12-21 LIONS: Very nearly an immediate response by the Reds, straight off the restart! What the hell happened there?
There was a disconnect between Gibson-Park and Conan, both of whom left the ball drift over their heads, and as it rolled into the in-goal, Lachie Anderson dove for the ball.
Anderson is out of play, though, and doesn’t quite get downward pressure.
All of which results in a scrum to the Lions on halfway as the restart was never touched, which is a crazily fortuitous result from poor Lions play!
2 Jul 2025
11:44AM
39′ – REDS 12-21 LIONS: The Lions have had nine handling errors in this first half in comparison to the Reds’ three.
Their latest opportunity goes amiss when Huw Jones’ slightly wonky pass to Rónan Kelleher is spilled by the Ireland hooker in the Australians’ 22′.
After a big carry by Bundee Aki from the Reds’ 22′, Gibson-Park makes a nice half-snipe around the corner and swings an underhanded offload inside to the skipper who crashes over.
Russell converts from close range.
Clinical by the Lions. Good stuff.
2 Jul 2025
12:12PM
52′ – REDS 12-28 LIONS: Farrell changes his entire front row and the half-backs. So, Genge, Cowan-Dickie and Bealham on, as are Mitchell and Fin Smith.
Excellent lineout steal by Itoje — his second — after the subs come on. The skipper has had a fine game so far.
2 Jul 2025
12:15PM
54′ – REDS 12-28 LIONS: Lions win a penalty deep inside the Reds’ 22′ for hands in the ruck.
Aki does well to hold a bit of a hospital pass by Fin Smith. The Lions reload and Mitchell feeds Morgan on the short side, with the Welshman easing over as the Reds defence is in disarray.
Smith converts for 35-12.
2 Jul 2025
12:19PM
59′ – REDS 12-35 LIONS: James Ryan on for his Lions debut!
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Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions
How’s it going, everyone? Welcome to The 42′s live updates from the Lions’ second tour match in Australia.
Andy Farrell’s men will face Les Kiss’ Reds at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, at 11am, and it’s Gavan Casey with you here to bring you the blow-by-blow action if you need to sneakily follow the game on your phone during the workday!
I’ll ping you notifications for every try or major incident — but you can toggle that option off near the top of this liveblog if you’d prefer to check in a bit more intermittently yourself.
Should be a solid test for the Lions today against a side coached by the next Wallabies boss. I’m looking forward to it.
Lions captain Maro Itoje returns to the second row after being stood down for the 54-7 victory over the Force, forming an engine room partnership with Ollie Chessum.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and fullback Hugo Keenan recover from injury to make their first appearances of the tour after recovering, with Leinster and Ireland teammate James Ryan also involved for the first time from the bench.
Andrew Porter and Jack Conan make their first starts, while Bundee Aki returns to the midfield where he’s partnered by Scotland’s Huw Jones, who is also making his Lions bow.
Finn Russell continues at out-half having impressed at Optus Stadium against the Force.
The Reds’ job has been made harder by the absence of six players who remain with the extended Australia squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji on Saturday.
While Schmidt released hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami, the likes of Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson remain in camp.
Kiss was still able to name a squad boasting nine Wallabies and two All Blacks, with experienced fullback Jock Campbell captaining the side.
The pack has been stiffened by the inclusion of prop Aidan Ross, who signed for the Reds after playing for the Waikato Chiefs in the recent Super Rugby final.
Ross, who played a Test for the All Blacks in 2022, will form a front-row with Faessler and former New Zealand prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Both Ross and Toomaga-Allen have previous experience packing against the Lions in 2017 for Super Rugby clubs.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto partners Josh Canham in the second row, with Seru Uru and John Bryant as the flankers with Joe Brial at number eight.
Kalani Thomas at No.9 and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips form the half-back pairing with Paisami and Josh Flook together in the centres.
Reds
Replacements:
Lions
Replacements:
Reds captain Jock Campbell — a fun-to-watch fullback who is just outside Wallaby contention at the moment — and Lions skipper Maro Itoje shake hands at the coin toss.
Kiwi ref James Doleman, who was also in charge for the Lions’ defeat to Argentina at the Aviva, is again the man in the middle in Brisbane today.
It’s almost go-time in Brisbane. Dunno about you but I’m particularly excited to see the midfield combo of Bundee Aki and Huw Jones today.
Aki will feel the door is open after a couple of middling performances by Sione Tuipulotu against Argentina and the Western Force.
In fairness, Tuipulotu is only just back from injury and is bound to get sharper, but Aki can lay down a bit of a marker today.
1′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: Jock Campbell gets the action underway at Suncorp.
The Lions take the kick-off — hallelujah, after last week’s debacle — and Gibson-Park finds a solid touch on the exit.
3′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: There was a late change to the Lions XV, with Hugo Keenan missing out on his debut through illness, unfortunately.
The Leinster fullback will have to wait for his first appearance of the tour.
England’s Elliot Daly, who has been impressive so far, deputises at 15.
4′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: The Lions work their way up towards the Reds’ 5′ and win a scrum, but Will Stuart is penalised. Great start by former Chief Aidan Ross, who hasn’t been with the Reds a wet week.
6′ – REDS 0-0 LIONS: Maro Itoje is causing serious hassle to the Reds’ lineout so far. One steal and one significant disruption.
8′ - TRY FOR THE HOSTS! It’s Jeffery Toomaga-Allen!
Hunter Paisami makes a sublime linebreak up the middle and the Lions can’t get set on their own line. Former Ulster man Toomaga-Allen crashes over.
That was all a bit too easy for the Queenslanders. Les Kiss will be delighted, though — a super score from their point of view.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips converts for 7-0!
12′ – REDS 7-0 LIONS: Tremendous maul defence by the Reds to hold up Bundee Aki at the back of a lineout maul for a goal-line drop-out.
This is a mile a minute so far!
The Lions are making gains but the Reds are tearing into them at every opportunity.
17′ – REDS 7-0 LIONS: Toomaga-Allen wins a scrum pen off Andrew Porter.
The Lions showing loads of promise but moves are breaking down at the crucial moment. And the Reds are dominating the scrum battle so far!
20′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! TOMMY FREEMAN!
The Lions win pen advantage from a lineout maul near the Reds’ try-line.
They swing right, nice touch by Aki, Huw Jones flings one to Elliot Daly, and Daly puts Freeman away down the right-hand side!
Gorgeous score.
Finn Russell converts from the right-hand touchline for 7-7.
25′ – REDS 7-7 LIONS: Reds win a pen as Will Stuart is pinged for not rolling away near halfway.
Hosts have a lineout in the Lions’ 22′ and they’re attacking the gainline with force. Chance here.
26′ – TRY FOR THE REDS! Josh Flook! Great score!
Kalani Thomas puts a beautiful chip in between Huw Jones and Duhan van der Merwe, and centre Flook does extremely well to gather full-sprint and dive over for the Reds’ second try.
McLaughlin-Phillips is off the mark with a poor conversion effort, but the Reds are back in the lead.
Incidentally, they scored only 12 points in a competitive defeat to the Lions during the 2013 tour. They have 12 already today!
28′ – REDS 12-7 LIONS: The Lions go close to levelling proceedings almost immediately off first phase.
Tommy Freeman reaches for the line under the posts but is just short and loses control of the ball.
The Lions, though, had a pen advantage for a high tackle. It’s a five-metre penalty and the Lions will tap and go.
29′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! ANDREW PORTER!
The Ireland loosehead burrows over off second phase after Rónan Kelleher’s tap and go on the Reds’ 5′.
Russell dinks over the simple conversion and the tourists lead.
Cracking game, this, so far.
The Lions attack has looked scintillating at times — but so too has the Reds’, in fairness.
36′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! DUHAN VAN DER MERWE!
Lions win a free-kick at scrum time on the Reds’ 22′.
Gibson-Park attacks the short side. Lovely hands by Ollie Chessum and Jack Conan, the latter of whom puts Duhan van der Merwe over in the left-hand corner.
Russell again converts from the touchline. His place-kicking has been excellent.
37′ – REDS 12-21 LIONS: Very nearly an immediate response by the Reds, straight off the restart! What the hell happened there?
There was a disconnect between Gibson-Park and Conan, both of whom left the ball drift over their heads, and as it rolled into the in-goal, Lachie Anderson dove for the ball.
Anderson is out of play, though, and doesn’t quite get downward pressure.
All of which results in a scrum to the Lions on halfway as the restart was never touched, which is a crazily fortuitous result from poor Lions play!
39′ – REDS 12-21 LIONS: The Lions have had nine handling errors in this first half in comparison to the Reds’ three.
Their latest opportunity goes amiss when Huw Jones’ slightly wonky pass to Rónan Kelleher is spilled by the Ireland hooker in the Australians’ 22′.
Really enjoyable half. The Lions have been error-strewn and brilliant in attack in almost equal measure. Should be further in front in truth.
But the Reds have been physical and dynamic with ball in hand in their own right.
Realistically, the benches are going to tell and the Lions will pull away in the second half. But that first 40 was a solid test of their whiskers.
Tries by Tommy Freeman, Andrew Porter and Duhan van der Merwe have them in a nine-point lead at the break.
41′ – REDS 12-21 LIONS: Finn Russell gets the game back underway.
More of the same — with fewer handling errors — would serve the Lions nicely here against a decent side.
45′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! MARO ITOJE!
After a big carry by Bundee Aki from the Reds’ 22′, Gibson-Park makes a nice half-snipe around the corner and swings an underhanded offload inside to the skipper who crashes over.
Russell converts from close range.
Clinical by the Lions. Good stuff.
52′ – REDS 12-28 LIONS: Farrell changes his entire front row and the half-backs. So, Genge, Cowan-Dickie and Bealham on, as are Mitchell and Fin Smith.
Excellent lineout steal by Itoje — his second — after the subs come on. The skipper has had a fine game so far.
54′ – REDS 12-28 LIONS: Lions win a penalty deep inside the Reds’ 22′ for hands in the ruck.
They opt for the scrum, interestingly.
57′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! JAC MORGAN!
Aki does well to hold a bit of a hospital pass by Fin Smith. The Lions reload and Mitchell feeds Morgan on the short side, with the Welshman easing over as the Reds defence is in disarray.
Smith converts for 35-12.
59′ – REDS 12-35 LIONS: James Ryan on for his Lions debut!
60′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! FREEMAN GRABS HIS SECOND!
It all stemmed from an excellent jackal-penalty win by Bundee Aki.
The Lions hammer away at the Reds from close range and eventually Freeman finishes powerfully on the left.
Smith converts. The Lions are running riot now.
Bundee Aki has been outstanding in this one.
64′ – REDS 12-42 LIONS: Elliot Daly has hurt his lower arm here in an attempted tackle on Jock Campbell.
Down receiving treatment. Hopefully it’s not a bad one for the Englishman.
66′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! HUW JONES GETS IN ON THE ACT!
A try from nothing: the Scotland centre catches clean an attempted chip and chase by Tim Ryan and takes it to the house from halfway.
Smith’s conversion drifts wide.
68′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS: Shake of the head from Daly there after he went off. Ah, will be gutting if that lower-arm injury halts his tour.
69′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS: Ben Earl is gone into the centre. Garry Ringrose on the wing. Tommy Freeman at fullback after Daly’s injury.
75′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS: Game petering out now. Benches emptied on each side. No real rhyme or rhythm to anything as the minutes tick by.
A job well done by the Lions overall. Clinical and promising second half.
79′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS:Jac Morgan wins a jackal penalty near halfway — his second of the game — and the Lions have a lineout in the Reds’ 22′.
Last play here, most likely. Around 40 seconds to go.
80′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS: Hunter Paisami — superb throughout — denies the Lions as he dislodges the ball from Genge.
The Reds attack from deep, again through that man Paisami, but Morgan wins another jackal penalty — just as he’s named Player of the Match!
Last chance for the Lions as they attack again on the Queensland 5′.
They win another penalty as the Reds stray offside.
84′ – REDS 12-47 LIONS: Another Lions pen as Tim Ryan deliberately knocks on in a tackle as the tourists try to go wide.
Lions will take a scrum on the Reds’ 5′ with the clock deep in the red.
85′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! GARRY RINGROSE!
The dam breaks and Fin Smith flicks a beautiful skip pass out to Ringrose on the wing. A walk-in, such was the quality of the pass.
Smith’s conversion from the touchline goes wide. That’ll do it.
A good performance by the Lions, who come close to racking up the same scoreline against the Reds as they did the inferior Force on Saturday.
Jac Morgan named man of the match. Maro Itoje outstanding, as was Bundee Aki.
Smiles on faces. Job done.
Thanks for joining us for live updates! Catch you for the next one: the Waratahs on Saturday!
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As it happened Lions Liveblog