Overview

• The Lions extended their unbeaten Australian tour run to seven with a nervy 24-19 victory over the hastily assembled First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne.
• Scotland winger Darcy Graham exited after 16 minutes with a tour-ending ankle injury, creating an urgent vacancy on the wing.
• Marcus Smith passed a head-injury assessment and remains in contention, while Owen Farrell’s composed captaincy bolstered his case for a Test bench role.
• Veteran Wallaby Kurtley Beale marshalled the First Nations & Pasifika XV to a spirited showing that exposed miscues among Lions fringe players.
• Andy Farrell must now fill gaps left by Graham and manage Joe McCarthy’s fitness doubts, choosing between Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn at fullback and assessing loose-forward cover from Jac Morgan.