Darcy Graham scored a try on his British and Irish Lions debut, but was in tears as he was forced off with an ankle injury as the tourists stumbled to a 24-19 victory over a First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne.
The [[Lions]], helped by a yellow card to home wing Triston Reilly, made a terrific start with debutant duo Jamie Osborne and Graham crossing on their first appearances, before the Scotland wing was forced off.
The home side hit back to draw level thanks to tries from Reilly and number eight Tuaina Taii Tualima, both converted by ex-Wallabies legend Kurtley Beale as the teams turned around tied at 14-apiece.
A second try from Osborne gave the tourists the lead early in the second half before Duhan van der Merwe crossed for his fifth try of the tour, only for Rob Leota to hit back with nine minutes to go.
The Lions held on, but this was not the statement win many predicted as preparation for the second test.
Here are the main talking points.
Darcy Graham makes his mark before cruel injury strikes
The Scotland wing was arguably the unluckiest player to miss out on the initial squad, but 75 days on from that disappointment, his big day arrived in the famous red jersey and Graham was determined to make the most of his chance.
His first involvement nearly set up a try for Van der Merwe, while his second carry drew a wild challenge from Triston Reilly, who was sent to the sin-bin.
However, moments later after another break up the touchline, he was caught awkwardly in a ruck and picked up a knock. He battled on bravely but eventually had to give way, leaving the field in tears.
Kinghorn proves fitness but errors could cost Test place
On his first appearance since limping off against the Brumbies two weeks ago, the Scotland fullback proved his fitness with a couple of trademark breaks on the outside early on.
However, his intercepted pass was picked off by Triston Reilly as the First Nations/Pasifika side got back into the game. It led to a shift in momentum that also saw Tuaina Taii Tualima power over as the Lions’ early lead was cancelled out.
He had another pass picked off just before half-time as the home side threatened to take a shock lead at the break.
But when the First Nations Pasifika side put the pressure on in the final 10 minutes, a wayward Kinghorn error offload put the Lions under the cosh as Rob Leota crashed over to set up a grandstand finale.
Scott Cummings and Ben White further test chances
As injury doubts grow over Joe McCarthy following his early withdrawal in the first test in Brisbane, Andy Farrell may need to draft a lock into the second test squad. And Cummings did everything in his power to become that man with an industrious showing here.
The Glasgow Warriors forward won all three of the tourists’ first lineouts and carried well in close quarters.
By contrast, his second row mate James Ryan ended up in the sin-bin when the Lions came under pressure early in the second quarter, with the home side getting back in the game.
White, meanwhile, was busy around the breakdown and kicked well as he looks to usurp Alex Mitchell for a place on the bench in Saturday’s second test.
However, his 80 minutes, with Mitchell on the bench for the duration, suggests Farrell is not considering that change.
But a tough night for Edinburgh duo as test hopes fade
While Cummings did all he could, it was not the day Pierre Schoeman would have wanted.
He started well, carrying strongly to get the Lions on the front foot, but faded as the game wore on. He appeared hampered after taking a whack to the back and was sent into reverse by Taniela Tupou at a scrum.
The Edinburgh Rugby prop looks to be a distant third choice behind Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter in the loosehead pecking order and may require injury misfortune for one of them if he’s to feature in the series.
His Edinburgh colleague Duhan van der Merwe also needed a big performance to try and show Andy Farrell he deserved a place in the test team, he delivered another try – his fifth of the tour – but was largely well-marshalled when he had chances to attack.
Scotland duo make Lions debuts from bench
After featuring for [[Scotland]] in the win over Samoa on Friday, Gregor Brown was summoned from the [[Lions]] bench with 25 minutes to go, giving James Ryan a break. It meant he packed down alongside [[Glasgow Warriors]] colleague Cummings, and joined his cousin Blair Kinghorn on the field.
Ewan Ashman then entered the fray for his debut for the final six minutes alongside while Rory Sutherland – a test starter in South Africa four years ago – took over from his [[Scotland]] colleague Schoeman as the beleaguered [[Lions]] looked to hold on.
First Nations and Pasifika XV: Andy Muirhead, Filipo Daugunu (Debreczeni 10), Lalakai Foketi, David Feliuai (McLeod 40), Triston Reilly, Kurtley Beale (captain), Kalani Thomas (Goddard 54); Lington Ieli (Parce 54), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Asiata 45), Taniela Tupou (Doge 45), Darcy Swain, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru (Leota 51), Charlie Gamble, Tuaina Taii Tualima (Vocevoce 67)
Tries: Reilly (17), Taii Tualima (22), Leota (71)
Conversions: Beale (18, 23)
Yellow card: Reilly (4)
British and Irish Lions: [[Blair Kinghorn]], [[Darcy Graham]] (Ringrose 16), Jamie Osborne, Owen Farrell (captain), [[Duhan van der Merwe]], Fin Smith (M Smith 66-72), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman (Sutherland 74), Jamie George (Ashman 74), Finlay Bealham (Clarkson 51), James Ryan (Brown 54), Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan (Earl 51), Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock
Tries: Osborne (7, 44), Graham (11), Van der Merwe (63)
Conversions: F Smith (8, 11)
Yellow card: Ryan (23)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Attendance: 30,420
Player of the Match: Charlie Gamble
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