British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Brumbies | 2025 Lions series

British & Irish Lions player ratings: The Lions avenged their 2013 defeat to the Brumbies with a 36-24 win on a chilly evening at the GIO Stadium in Canberra, maintaining their unbeaten record on Australian soil on tour in 2025.

The Lions didn’t cover themselves in glory against the Waratahs in Sydney in their previous match, and they were given another tough examination by Australia’s most successful Super Rugby side.

Here’s how we rated the players:

15. Blair Kinghorn – 4
A disappointing outing for the Scot, who picked up a knock to his leg eight minutes in. Struggled on manfully before being replaced by Marcus Smith at the start of the second quarter. Dropped an early high ball before the injury in what was a night to forget.

14. Tommy Freeman – 7

Another hard-running, hard-working display from the England winger who always looked a threat whenever given the ball out wide; he just didn’t get enough of those opportunities to back up his outstanding display against the Pumas in the opening match of the tour.

13. Garry Ringrose – 8.5

Really dynamic outing from Ringrose, who clearly profited from having his Ireland midfield partner, Aki, alongside him. Made several good dents in the Brumbies’ defence, including a good break for the Lions’ first try just before half-time. However, his highlight moment came eight minutes into the second half when he set up and scored his third try on tour by throwing a dummy in centre field and then getting on the end of Marcus Smith’s neat grubber.

12. Bundee Aki – 7

Questions still remain about his passing ability in the wide channels, but up close to the gain line, there are few better, whether it’s busting defences or tipping on passes. Gave the Lions a good platform for the first try with a typically strong carry.

11. James Lowe – 5

It was all going horribly wrong for the winger until he strolled home just before the half-hour mark after a sweet handling move. Before that, he’d blown a relatively easy try-scoring opportunity when he failed to ground the ball, and been guilty of a litany of errors, including throwing wild passes, being tackled into touch and over-hitting kicks.

10. Finn Russell – 8

Picked his passes beautifully as the orchestrator-in-chief of the Lions’ attack. Hit the post with his first conversion attempt, but nailed everything thereafter. Some open play kicking didn’t work out as planned, but he improved in that aspect as the game wore on and looks nailed on for the Lions’ No.10 Test jersey.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7

Executed a lovely long-range pass to cut out three defenders for the Lions’ first try and his contestable kicking was again on-point. Would have liked to have made more of the breaks he attempted and almost handed the Brumbies a gift when he dropped a pass from Freeman on his own try line. Temporarily survived being hooked on 55 minutes after a small knock-on at the base of the ruck.

1. Ellis Genge – 6.5

Flew off his feet at an attacking ruck just when the Lions were building some momentum in the first half, but otherwise, he had a solid game, scrummaging well and carrying hard in his 50 minutes on the pitch.

2. Dan Sheehan – 8

By no means was this a flawless display, but the positives far outweighed the negatives, like an early penalty for blocking. Hit his lineout jumpers time and time again (11/11), but it was in the wide channels where he really excelled. Sheehan’s fend and burst of pace down the right ignited the Lions, and he came up with the try-scoring pass for Lowe. 11 tackles in the hour that he was on the pitch.

3. Tadhg Furlong – 6.5

The cornerstone of a dominant scrum and tank-like as a carrier and tackler. Physical on both sides of the ball before being replaced with half an hour to play.

4. Maro Itoje (capt) – 6.5

A relatively quiet outing from the Lions captain, who played to his strengths but not much more. Won his fair share of 50:50s and claimed plenty of lineout ball, including one steal on the Brumbles’ throw, in another good aerial display.

5. Joe McCarthy – 6

Always strong in the carry, but didn’t get his hands on the ball enough to warrant a higher score.

6. Ollie Chessum – 7.5

Managed to run off an early knock to produce a really energetic display, which included a try. Could have had a second in stoppage time, but was held up.  Hit some great lines to challenge the gainline and worked tirelessly throughout to put pressure on clearance kicks.

7. Tom Curry – 7.5

His best display in a 2025 Lions jersey, even if a loose no-look pass at the start of the second half sparked a Brumbies counterattack. The Sale man was at his combative best and had plenty of involvements with ball in hand. Put Smith in for his try with a lovely left-handed offload

8. Jack Conan – 6

Not the impactful display that he’d have wanted, but the Ireland No.8 did very little wrong, either. Showed some good hands in the build-up to the Lowe try.

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher – 6

Maintained the 100% lineout accuracy following Sheehan’s departure.

17. Andrew Porter – 7

Hungry for the ball when he came on and made several strong carries.

18. Will Stuart – 6

Did the nuts and bolts well without anything flashy.

19. Josh van der Flier – 7

Scored at the second attempt from the back of a driving maul, having been held up shortly after coming on.

20. Henry Pollock – 7.5

The irrepressible flanker made a brilliant break down the right and was in the thick of the fray in his 23-minute cameo.

21. Alex Mitchell – 6

Got 10 minutes at the end without any noticeable shift in tempo.

22. Marcus Smith – 5.5

Hopefully, the Quins man will take confidence from scoring a try and coming up with an assist, but looks strangely hesitant in a Lions’ jersey. Had a great opportunity to press for the Test No.15 jersey after getting just under an hour as a replacement for Kinghorn, but didn’t really do enough to silence the doubters.

23. Mack Hansen – 6.5

Got 18 minutes against his former club. A try-saving tackle at one end and nearly barged his way over in injury-time under the shadow of the posts.

Next, Andy Farrell’s squad will head further south to Adelaide on Thursday morning for this Saturday’s game against an Invitational Australia & New Zealand XV.