ACT BRUMBIES 14 (Tevita Kuridrani try; Jesse Mogg 3 penalties) bt BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS 12 (Stuart Hogg 2, Owen Farrell 2 penalties) at Canberra Stadium last night. Referee: Jérôme Garces. Crowd: 21,655.
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BRUMBIES' BEST
3 Peter Kimlin
2 Jesse Mogg
1 Tevita Kuridrani
THE DREAM START
The Brumbies were under the pump in the opening two minutes as the Lions launched an attack. The Brumbies held on desperately and then started their own attacking raid. At every chance they ran the ball and threw it wide. Gaps opened up when fullback Jesse Mogg threw a long pass to Andrew Smith. Smith, who was playing just his second game in three months fooled the defense and sent Tevita Kuridrani through a gap. The powerful Fijian pushed off two defenders and crashed over for the opening try in just the fifth minute. The crowd erupted with excitement in the David v Goliath battle.
THE WALLABIES CONTENDERS
Brumbies Scott Sio and Peter Kimlin will return to Wallabies camp with valuable experience and inside information after a brutal clash in Canberra. Kimlin channelled former Brumby and Wallaby Justin Harrison to be a pest in the line out. He pinched three throws and the Lions would have had nightmares remembering the way Harrison ruined their hopes of winning the 2001 tour. Sio was solid around the park and matched it with more experienced front-rowers. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans released Kimlin and Sio to give them a chance to play for the Brumbies. It means they're unlikely to be part of the first Test, but both have shown they're ready if called on.
THE TEST EXPERIENCE
Both teams went into the match severely depleted ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday night. But while the Test-caps tally was almost 600 to the Lions and 28 to the Brumbies, it was the less experienced side which was calm and composed on the big stage. The Brumbies 28 international appearances were shared between just two players - Cylde Rathbone and Peter Kimlin. Of those, Rathbone had 26 and hadn't played Test rugby since 2006. Kimlin has played just two games for the Wallabies in 2009. While most will say the Lions went in with a second-string team, it mustn't be forgotten the Brumbies were without a dozen stars through injury and Wallabies duties. Guys like David Pocock, Stephen Moore, George Smith, Ben Mowen, Ben Alexander and Chrsitian Lealiifano. The experience gained by the young Brumbies will bode well going into the Super Rugby finals.
ERASING THE MEMORY OF 2001
The Brumbies went within two points of causing a major upset on the last Lions tour 12 years ago. They led by five points with no time left in the match, but the Lions scored a converted try to steal a 30-28 win. The fixture on Tuesday night was like deja vu. The Brumbies led the entire match and had to repel a late Lions charge to hold on. Lions coach Warren Gatland sent in reinforcements with time running out and the Lions superior set piece marched over the young Brumbies. But determined to not let history repeat, the Brumbies got possession with just two minutes remaining and held on to it seal a historic victory.
THE BRUMBIES TURNAROUND
It's hard to believe less than two years ago the Brumbies slumped to the worst season in the club's history. They boasted a team of stars, but were woeful on the field and finished 13th on the ladder. Enter new coach Jake White and a breed of unknown players ready to build their own history. The new generation went within one game of making the play-offs last season. Now they are the first Brumbies team to make the finals since 2004 and the first Australian provincial side to beat the Lions since 1971. The challenge is to keep the momentum when the Super Rugby competition resumes on July 13. Jesse Mogg was outstanding, Matt Toomua continued his development and Peter Kimlin pushed his case for Wallabies selection.
