Brumbies, British & Irish Lions
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Andy Farrell’s side improve on Waratahs struggle but ship four tries and concede double-digit penalties in Canberra
The Lions slowly pulled clear with second-half tries from Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier, but the strongest line-up fielded by head coach Andy Farrell so far on tour were unconvincing with the series opener against Australia just 10 days away.
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James O'Connor has returned to a Wallabies squad almost three years after his last test when the veteran flyhalf was included to face the British and Irish Lions in the first test on July 19 in Brisbane.
The Lions were improved in attack as they ran in five tries and had three more over the line not given, but were plagued by more breakdown struggles and a high penalty count, plus further handling errors and an injury to Blair Kinghorn.
The Lonergan brothers will look to help the ACT Brumbies pull off another improbable win over the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday, 12 years after cheering from the terraces as the Super Rugby team stunned the touring side in Canberra.
Controversial mid-tour replacement Owen Farrell is in the reserves of the British and Irish Lions side playing an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide on Saturday.
Farrell would be at pains to lose another key player to injury ahead of the looming Test series against Australia which starts in Brisbane on July 19, having already seen both Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly fly home with tour-ending issues to follow Zander Fagerson being ruled out before the trip.