Full Time: The Lions 12 - 14 Brumbies
12:23: Full time and the Lions lose their first game on tour. Would have much preferred if they had played the Brumbies earlier in the tour. You wouldn't think any of the first XV today will be involved on saturday.
12:22: Brumbies grinding down the clock now. Looks like they've won it now.
12:21: Murray tries a chip to Wade from the scrum. It doesn't come off and now the Lions are back in their own 22.
12:19: Lions have a scrum just outside the 22 and try to force a penalty.
12:16: The play is begging for a drop goal but the Lions take it one phase too much and the Brumbies win the penalty.
12:14: Lions get good territory but Wade cheaply kicks it away. They have a lineout 10m out now though.
12:12: Lions win a penalty and Farrell goes for the posts. He gets it and the Lions are down by 2.
12:11: Kearney launches a 60m kick to pin the Brumbies near their own line.
12:09: Simon Zebo comes on for Shane Williams. A good contribution from Zebo could could cement his place in the test 23.
12:06: Lions pressure in the Brumbies 22 goes unrewarded as the Brumbies force a penalty for holding on.
12:03: After sustained pressure the Lions win a penalty and Farrell reduces it to five points. The Lions have really upped it since the replacements have come on.
12:00: Hibbard loses his first lineout but has a chance to redeem himself outside the Brumbies 22 and does.
11:59: Immediately the Lions win a penalty after a huge scrum. Hogg goes for goal but hits the upright for the second time.
11:56: Brumbies go straight out from the restart and the Lions have a scrum on the halfway. Cole, Hibbard, Lydiate and Corbisero come on for Stevens, Best, O'Brien and Grant.
11:55: Sean O'Brien wins a penalty in front of the Brumbies posts and Hogg makes it 14-6.
11:52: Ryan Grant gets penalised for a high tackle at a maul and Mogg kicks it to make it 14-3. The Lions badly need to go to the bench.
11:51: The Brumbies turn it over and pin the Lions back in their own 22.
11:48: It does but the Lions can't create much and they now have a scrum outside the Brumbies 22.
11:46: Brumbies kick straight out on the full and the Lions have a lineout in a good position. Will Best's throw hold up?
11:43: Brumbies get a penalty in front of the Lions post and Mogg kicks the 3 points. Brumbies number 8 Peter Kimlin is having a stormer and could force himself into test contention. Brumbies lead 11-3.
11:38: Wade gets a little room before being taken high. The Lions go to the corner from the penalty but Best's throw gets stolen. Possibly the worst game of Best's career so far.
11:37: Lions make no changes. Gatty obviously wants the starters to show some toughness. If things don't improve there will be changes soon though. And right on cue, Best throws it crooked.
11:36: Here's a great clip of the Australian commentators saying how Stuart Hogg looks a little older than 20 years old. Rich coming from that weather beaten leathery commentary team.
11:33: This best thing about the game so far has been the Liberty Insurance ad that just played on Sky. Good god, that American lad knows how to walk with a purpose.
11:27: Here is some of what people are saying about the game on twitter:
Lions' scratch backline looking like what it is - a scratch backline. Need to get Faletau, O'Brien and Grey on the ball thumping it up.
— Demented Mole (@dementedmole) June 18, 2013
All the uproar about Rory Best not making the original squad but when a hooker can't get the basics right, there is a serious problem.
— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) June 18, 2013
Understandably disjointed from the Lions backline so far. O'Brien and Faletau doing their best to get on front foot. #Lions
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) June 18, 2013
11:23: The Lions win the restart and win a penalty in front of the posts after the hooter sounds. Hogg ends the half with by making reducing the deficit to 8-3.
11:21: Brumbies get another kickable penalty after Lions use hands in the ruck. This time Jesse Mogg gets it. 8-0 Brumbies. The Lions haven't been held scoreless in the first half of a game since 1980 according to Australian commentary.
11:19: The Brumbies force a penalty in the Lions and half and line up another shot at goal. Scrum-half Ian Prior misses and it is still 5-0. Lions lucky to only be down 5.
11:15: Best throws a very crooked throw making it his third lost lineout of the game.
11:12: Brumbies take a shot at goal while the physio comes on to take a look at Sean O'Brien's arm. Lets pray he is ok. Fullback Jesse Mogg misses the penalty and O'Brien continues.
11:07: This patched together Lions team is looking exactly that, no cohesiveness or continuity so far.
11:05: Brumbies centre Kuridrani frees his hands and makes a beautiful offload but luckily for the Lions the Brumbies knock on and the Lions get a scrum in their 22.
11:02: Toby Faletau penalised for not releasing and he Brumbies have a lineout outside the Lions 22. Brumbies winning the collisions so far.
11:01: Lions win a penalty in 22 but Hogg hits the post and the Brumbies clear. Poor miss from Hogg.
11:00: A lot of rugby being played betweeen the 22's so far but the Lions have a lineout in Brumbies 22 now.
10:56: Wade is stuggling a little so far, one missed tackle and a handling error. But if he gets some space you feel he might be able to make something happen.
10:53: Matt Stevens wins a turnover at the scrum and celebrates in style.
10:51: Best has lost two lineouts already. He hasn't performed well on this tour at all, the problems that plauged him during the season have resurfaced here.
10:50: Here is the opening Brumbies try, you can judge the defence for yourself.
10:49: Hogg redeems himself with a nice grubber to take play close to the Brumbies line.
10:47: Hogg kicks straight out on the full from the restart. The Brumbies are not Combined Country for sure.
10:46: Williams fumbles the ball defending a kick near his own line but the Lions clear the danger. The Brumbies counter and centre Kuridrani gets the ball out wide. He easily goes through the tackles of Kearney and Wade for a soft try. Brumbies lead 5-0.
10:43: We're off here in Canberra and Tipuric and Wade force an early turnover. Lions go close with Shane Williams just being forced into touch before he could touch down. Lions had a great move off the top of the lineout to set up the chance.
10:37: Footage of a shirtless Sean O'Brien laying down the law in the dressing room. It is evident why he is called the Tullow Tank/Carlow Cannonball.
10:31: This is an interesting tidbit if it is true:
According to Will Greenwood, Jamie Heaslip was the last man of the original 37 to be picked. #Lions
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) June 18, 2013
10:25: Time for a few worthless tips from yours truly: The Brumbies to win between 1-10 at 9/2, Shane Williams to score two or more tries at 6/1, Christian Wade to score two or more tries at 6/1 and Zebo anytime try scorer at 6/4. All of those tips are likely useless and redundant.
10:16: And here are the teams:
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Andrew Smith, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Peter Kimlin (c), 7 Colby Faingaa, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Leon Power, 3 Scott Sio, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Ruan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Jean-Pierre Smith, 18 Chris Cocca, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Mark Swanepoel, 22 Robbie Coleman, 23 Zack Holmes.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stuart Hogg, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Ian Evans, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Simon Zebo.
10:15: Hello and welcome to the Balls.ie live blog for the Brumbies vs the Lions. There are a lot of interesting talking points coming into this game that make it far more than just a dead rubber before the test series: the return of Shane Williams, the electric pace of Christian Wade and whether any of the backrow can force themselves into the test lineup. And given the Brumbies lineup, the game is sure to be competitive. The spread currently stands at Lions -10, which isn't a particularly appealing spread if you want to bet on the men in red.
