British & Irish Lions keep rolling with classy Reds victory

Wed, Jul 2, 2025, 11:45 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The British & Irish Lions rolled through the Queensland Reds. Photo: Getty Images
The British & Irish Lions rolled through the Queensland Reds. Photo: Getty Images

The British & Irish Lions have continued their attacking supershow with a 52-12 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

The visitors were all class as they picked apart the Reds' defence despite a strong start from the hosts.

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The Queensland Reds were fired up in the first half and took it to the Lions through Wallaby Hunter Paisami.

Paisami’s ball to Harry McLaughlin-Phillips put them in prime position for their forwards to battle through the advantage line and it was Jeffery Toomaga-Allen there to dive over for the opener.

The Lions were unrelenting with their attacking pressure, forcing some desperate Reds defence as their counter-attack proved the difference throughout the 80 minutes.

Winger Tommy Freeman delivered for the Lions, diving over untouched in the corner to level the scores.

The hosts were quick to respond as a fluky bounce from Kalani Thomas’ grubber set up Josh Flook to dive over.

Irish prop Andrew Porter put the Lions in front three minutes later after they turned down the penalty shot for a five metre quick tap.

Duhan van der Merwe extended the lead with a classy finish in the corner right before half-time for a 21-12 advantage.

Lachie Anderson nearly produced a wonder try before half-time when the Lions failed to collect the restart, with his hands just hitting the line before he could ground it.

The Lions picked up from where they left off as Jamison Gibson-Park created a half break for Maro Itoje to touch down.

This took the visitors into another gear and Jac Morgan ran a perfect line from a second-phase scrum attack to put the game out of reach for the Reds.

Freeman added his second on the hour mark, followed over by Huw Jones' kick intercept for their seventh try of the night.

Garry Ringrose scored after the siren to cap a magnificent performance for the visitors.

The only concern for the Lions will be the fitness of Elliot Daly, as he dealt with a forearm issue throughout the second half. The English fullback will go for scans, brought into the starting side before kick-off for Hugo Keenan due to illness.

British & Irish Lions 52 (Freeman 2, van der Merwe, Porter, Itoje, Morgan, Jones, Ringrose tries; Russell 4, F. Smith 2 cons) def Queensland Reds 12 (Toomaga-Allen, Flook tries; McLaughlin-Phillips cons)

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