Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions seized control of the three-Test series against Australia with a hard-fought 27-19 victory in the opener in Brisbane. The Lions dominated the opening 50 minutes, with tries from Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan giving them a commanding 24-5 lead by the 41st minute. Despite a more competitive closing half-hour from the Wallabies, the visitors always looked in control.
Finn Russell was at the heart of the Lions' early superiority, producing a series of incisive passes and an early penalty after a turnover forced by Tadhg Beirne. His offload to Sheehan helped create the first try, before a long ball allowed Tuipulotu to touch down. Curry added a second try from close range, and Sheehan crossed again just after the break following a clever attacking line.
The Wallabies, missing both Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, struggled to make headway in the gainline battle for much of the match. Hugo Keenan was stripped of the ball by Max Jorgensen, who raced away for Australia's first try, but the home side had a second scored by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii disallowed for similar reasons to an earlier Lions effort from Huw Jones that was ruled out.
Russell departed with cramp after 66 minutes, replaced by Marcus Smith, who added a penalty as the Lions' scoring slowed. The Wallabies improved with their replacements and won the final 38 minutes 14-3, leaving the final margin narrower than the balance of play suggested. The visitors will nonetheless travel to Melbourne knowing a second victory would secure the series.
