British & Irish Lions

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British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has admitted that "the Wallabies are on everyone's minds" but made clear the next tour game on Saturday needs to be the main focus.

The Lions defeated ACT Brumbies 36-24 in Canberra to record their fourth straight win on Australian soil.

However, they conceded four tries and now face a combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide in their final warm-up game on Saturday.

"We showed when our attack clicks properly then we have the ability to really hurt teams," Sheehan told BBC Sport.

"I think we need another game to improve, everyone is looking forward to it. The Wallabies are on everyone's minds, but we need to keep our mind on Saturday.

"Everyone has got a good run and good minutes, it has been a fair rotation so far, everyone has to be ready, there is great buy-in and no-one has a fixed idea of where they are."

Sheehan started alongside England's Ellis Genge and Leinster team-mate Tadhg Furlong, which looks likely to be the starting front row against Australia in the first Test on 19 July in Brisbane.

The trio also all came on together in Saturday's 21-10 win over New South Wales Waratahs.

"It [that combination] has been good," the Leinster hooker added.

"We came off the bench last week, it was my first time playing with Genge. The energy he brings is brilliant and it marries up well."

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Another win for the British and Irish Lions in Australia – a fourth straight victory - but how good was the performance with the first Test just 10 days away?

Correspondent Chris Jones, former England wing Chris Ashton and 1997 Lion Paul Grayson break down where things looked good for the Lions and where improvements could be made.

Ashton is not seeing progression as quickly as he would like and asks if some players are feeling the pressure.

The guys also try and answer some all important questions – from do teams need an identity, is the number seven position still wide open and who's nailed on for the Test team?

You can listen to the podcast here.

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British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said Blair Kinghorn was "in good spirits" despite suffering a left knee injury in the Lions' win over the Brumbies.

Farrell said the full-back, who was replaced by Marcus Smith after 25 minutes in Canberra, was singing on the bed where the medical staff were assessing him.

The Scotland star initially tried to run off the injury, which happened when a Brumbies player landed on him.

The Toulouse back later appeared by the side of the pitch, and asked after the match if he feared the worst for Kinghorn, Farrell said: "No.

"Blair is in good spirits. He got a bang on the knee, he carried on for quite a bit but there was no need to keep him going.

"There is a bit of music there and he's singing away as he's being assessed, so we'll see how he comes through that.

"It's late, we have got an early flight in the morning and I don't know what the medical plan is, but we will get on top of that."

Ireland's Hugo Keenan and Marcus Smith are Farrell's other full-back options for the first Test against Australia on 19 July in Brisbane.

Keenan, 29, has only played once on tour after recovering from a calf injury and illness, while Smith - one of five try-scorers in the win over the Brumbies - prefers to play at fly-half.

Elliot Daly started the first two games in Australia at full-back before departing the squad because of a fractured arm.

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The British and Irish Lions maintained their winning run in Australia, beating the Brumbies 36-24 in Canberra to make it four wins from four.

Here's the story of a match which featured nine tries.

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Despite the British and Irish Lions dominating territory, they managed to score only one more try than the Brumbies.

Andy Farrell's side also gained over 200 metres more than the hosts.

Conceding four tries is a big concern.

FT: Brumbies 24-36 Lions

Tries: 4-5

Possession: 43%-57%

Territory: 39%-61%

Metres made: 198-428

Clean breaks: 4-6

Defenders beaten: 12-27

Tackles made: 148-122

Turnovers conceded: 11-15

Penalties conceded: 11-11

Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

Ireland and Lions wing Mack Hansen, who was born and bred in Canberra before moving to Connacht in 2021, has been meeting up friends and family on his first time back in the city for a couple of years.

As well as a visit home, he also returned to boyhood club Gungahlin Eagles.

It is interesting to look back on the Eagles' report of Hansen's departure four years ago., external

"I'll always remember the Eagles as the club I played with my closest mates from school, made many new friendships at the Nest, played in big games like heritage round and a grand final, and going to outstanding 'Silly Sundays' down at Page Tavern," said Hansen back then.

"I'm going to miss the Eagles but am very grateful for all the memories I have with this club, and I can't wait to make my way back one day".

As he admitted earlier this week, he could never have dreamed that return would be in the red of the British and Irish Lions.

Mantej Mann
BBC Sport Journalist

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Owen Farrell's call-up by the British and Irish Lions was met with some criticism because of his lack of game time in recent months but coach Johnny Sexton says the utility back is "already up to speed" in Australia.

Farrell is on his fourth tour after replacing the injured Elliot Daly despite a difficult season with Racing 92 and not having played Test rugby for England since the 2023 World Cup.

Sexton, who played with Farrell on the last Lions tour to Australia in 2013, says the 33-year-old has trained at inside centre and has been "fantastic" since arriving in camp.

"He's already up to speed with how he has trained," said Sexton.

"He came off the plane and knew the plays and everything that was going on. He has trained really well today [Tuesday]. You can see the touches he had and how he was helping the number 10s, because he was at 12 in the bibs team, as we call them – the second team.

"He carved us open a couple of times.

"We can see the value that he's going to bring for the rest of the tour. How could you not bring him? He's a world-class player. I know he's had a little bit of injury, but so has Sione [Tuipulotu] and so has Huw Jones – they hadn't played much in the four or five months before this, just a couple of games.

"When the squad was picked, there were other players who were picked without a lot of rugby. I remember Sean O'Brien getting picked in 2017 with no rugby behind him and he was played into form on tour. You could say something similar about me in 2017 as well.

"Experience is experience. Look at what he's won. He's not just a guy who has hung on to the coat-tails of other people, he's the one who has been driving those teams.

"He's been fantastic to have in camp and I'm sure he's going to add loads for the rest of the tour."

George North in 2013 or Sean O'Brien in 2017..?

Rugby Union Weekly is back with episode three of the Top 10 series as Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts compile their list of the best tries in a Lions Test series.

Where will Dawson's dummy in 1997 rank? Does Jamie's try in the third Test in 2013 make the cut?

Have the former Lions got it right or have they missed out on an obvious Top 10 contender?

Listen to the latest episode here.

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Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

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The latest episode of The Ultimate Test, external – the Lions' in-house film of the tour – has dropped with more delicious tidbits of insight.

The arm fracture that sent home Elliot Daly is covered in detail.

"I think I have broken my arm to be honest, I am no doctor, but I think that is what it is," says the England back in the bowels of the Suncorp Stadium after the win over the Queensland Reds.

The film then cuts to him in a Brisbane hospital, still decked out in full Lions kit, spelling his name out for the receptionist.

His departure, of course, brought Owen Farrell out on tour.

"It's all been pretty quick in it happening, it is good to be over here now," Farrell says, before reflecting that the flight to Australia is "a long way on your own" without the company of team-mates.

Elsewhere Henry Pollock is bad at hurling, Finn Russell's kids are cute and Jac Morgan goes in for that cupping therapy to recover from the bumps and bruises of life on tour.

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Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

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Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan says that he is expecting plenty of trash talk from Lions wing Mack Hansen as he returns to his native Canberra.

Hansen left the Brumbies in 2021 to play for Connacht and made his debut for Ireland, who he qualifies for through his mother, a few months later.

"Super special to be able to go up against Mack, I'm sure he'll be talking heaps of [rubbish] as he always does," said Lonergan, using a slightly stronger term than 'rubbish'.

"We've been great mates since we're about 12 really. Really looking forward to catching up with him, haven't seen him since he went."

Like Hansen, Lonergan was in the stands of the GIO Stadium as a fan when the Brumbies beat the Lions in 2013.

"I still remember it. I think I was sitting over there somewhere as a little fella when we got up over the Lions," Lonergan added.

"Such a memorable moment, even as a fan, so to be able to do it tomorrow as a player [is] super special and the boys are really excited."

Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

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Out-of-favour Australia prop Taniela Tupou has revealed that he is seeing a psychologist to try and rediscover his love for the game.

The 29-year-old was released out of the Wallabies camp last week to play for the Waratahs against the Lions, suggesting he is unlikely to play a part in the first Test at least.

"There is still a lot of work to do before that smile is back," he told the Times., external

"Hopefully it will be one day soon. It has been tough. There is expectation to perform. There is pressure. When I don't do it, then there is more pressure. I let that get to me. It is frustrating."

Tupou will move to French side Racing 92 for next season after not being offered a central contract by Rugby Australia.

Tupou admits that he would have preferred to stay in Australia, but says he is looking forward to the "real challenge" of the Top 14.

He sought out newly-arrived tourist and recent Racing departee Owen Farrell for a chat after the Waratahs' defeat by the Lions on Saturday.

"I asked him if he had left all the money at Racing for me," Tupou joked.

Mantej Mann
BBC Sport Journalist

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Open-side flanker is one of the most competitive positions in the British and Irish Lions squad but England's Tom Curry says he is timing his rise to form perfectly.

Curry will be in possession of the number seven shirt when the tourists face Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday, with Ireland's Josh van der Flier and England's Henry Pollock among the replacements.

Wales captain Jac Morgan and England's Ben Earl are also in contention for the role but Curry is intent on retaining the jersey for the Test series with Australia despite facing "world class" competition.

"I don't do stats and numbers," said Curry.

"I judge my games on how hard I work and that is how I get my enjoyment out of the games, getting off the floor and running, and usually that puts me in the best spot to do what I want to do.

"I feel like I've done that and I feel like I could definitely add and there are moments where I've probably not been the best but I feel like it's building.

"All the back-rowers are great within their own right. From [Henry] Pollock to Josh van der Flier and Jac to Ben [Earl], everyone is word class in their own rights.

"I feel like I'm in a really good place. It was a bit stop-start but now it's back-to-back games and I feel like the more you play the better you get, so I'm timing it well."