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

The ACT Brumbies weren’t able to replicate their heroics from 12 years ago against the British & Irish Lions, going down swinging 24-36 to the touring side on Wednesday. It was an impressive performance from the Brums, who took on a fairly full-strength Lions outfit.

Tuaina Taii Tualima and Corey Toole scored first-half tries as the hosts gave themselves a real shot of an upset. Replacements Hudson Creighton and Liam Bowron crossed for a five-pointer each during the second term but the Lions were a class above.

Here’s how the Brumbies rated:

1. Lington Ieli – 5
Lington Leli was outplayed by an All-Star Lions front-row from practically minute one, both at the set-piece and around the park. The Lions definitely had the Brumbies’ number at scrum time during the first term, and Leli was absent in general play. Leli was usually slower and out of sync with teammates in the defensive line, with the prop struggling to make a difference.

Ruan Pienaar paid tribute to Willie on his 100th Bok cap

Ruan Pienaar paid tribute to Willie on his 100th Bok cap

2. Lachlan Lonergan – 6

Lachlan and Ryan Lonergan were watching on from the stands at GIO Stadium when the Brums shocked the Lions in 2013. 12 years on, the brothers were named to start for the Canberra-based club, and they both enjoyed solid performances.

Lonergan was a workhorse in defence, clocking in with a game-high 11 stops before suffering an injury early in the second half. The hooker received some medical attention, but after deciding to play on, it was a different story performance-wise.

After running to the lineout, Lonergan missed the target with the throw and failed to hit the mark at another set-piece soon after. Lonergan had been perfect from five throws during the first half, but the Lions were just a class above during the second.

3. Rhys Van Nek – 6

In a 55-minute shift, Australia A representative Rhys van Nek worked really hard and was able to put up some solid stats against the touring side. While the Lions got the better of the Brumbies at scrum time, van Nek worked hard in general play, looking to make a difference. Van Nek finished with the fourth-most tackles out of any Brumbies player and a handful of carries.

4. Lachlan Shaw – 6

Lachlan Shaw kept himself busy against the Lions but it wasn’t the type of stuff that caught the eye at first glance. Shaw finished in the double digits for tackles completed but was fairly absent in attack, instead doing some damage at the set-piece and breakdown.

5. Cadeyrn Neville –  7

36-year-old Cadeyrn Neville’s crowning moment came a few minutes before half-time, with the veteran lock securing a penalty at the breakdown. It was an important moment in the context of the match, with Corey Toole scoring out-wide in the phase that followed. Neville was otherwise reliable as a jumper at the lineout, and the second-rower was among the game leaders for tackles completed.

6. Tom Hooper – 6.5

After playing 12 minutes off the bench against Fiji on Sunday, Wallaby Tom Hooper backed up to play for the Brumbies before heading overseas. Hooper is heading to England with Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, and the utility did the jersey justice yet again in this swansong farewell.

Hooper was one of the Brumbies’ hardest workers in attack, with the blindside flanker running the ball bravely at the Lions’ defensive wall. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Hooper play the Lions at least one more time at least during the upcoming Test series.

7. Rory Scott – 7

Rory Scott put up some impressive numbers during a 50-minute shift on Wednesday, on both sides of the ball. When Scott was replaced, the openside flanker led the way with a team-high seven carries and had made the second-most tackles out of any Brumbies player. Scott is one to watch moving forward, having already played for Australia A and 30 games for the Brums.

8. Tuaina Taii Tualima – 7

Tuaina Taii Tualima set the tone with an early try, after the Brums had marched up the field with some effective attack. While that was Taii Tualima’s highlight moment, the No. 8 was generally more prolific in defence. As for attack, Taii Tualima had carried the ball four times for only two metres with about 10 minute left in the fixture.

9. Ryan Lonergan – 8

Ryan Lonergan was perhaps the unluckiest omission from the first Wallabies squad of the year, with a familiar trio selected instead ahead of the Fiji Test. Lonergan has been on the cusp of national honours for quite some time, captaining the Australia XV against England A last November, and it’s not hard to see why.

Lonergan missed what seemed to be a routine shot at goal early in the match, but the skipper was largely good from there against the tourists. It was the fundamentals that stood out – boasting an elite game, and proving reliable with box kicks as well.

On top of that, Lonergan went above and beyond for the Brumbies in the 25^th minute, putting his body on the line to win a penalty at the breakdown. It really does seem like a matter of when, not if, Lonergan gets the chance to wear Wallaby gold sometime in the near future.

10. Declan Meredith – 6

Declan Meredith was good enough without standing out. Meredith’s kicks didn’t seem to trouble or test the Lions too much, and Ryan Lonergan was a more assertive game-driver in attack. In the 59^th minute, a Meredith clearance failed to make it beyond the 22-metre line – with the visitors setting up for a lineout in a strong attacking position.

11. Corey Toole – 8

Corey Toole has been unusually quiet during the first 37 minutes before sending the Canberra crowd into a frenzy, diving over for a decisive score. That was Toole’s first carry of the match, proving to be the speedster’s only run during the first half.

Toole’s standout moment during the second half was a clever kick-and-chase, which saw the No. 11 secure a five-metre scrum for the Brums. It was a positive performance from Toole overall, who had been released from Wallabies camp to play.

12. David Feliuai – 4

David Feliuai was superb for the Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific but the midfielder wasn’t able to replicate that form against the Lions. Feliuai’s most memorable involvement was a poor offload in the 14^th minute, which was an ambitious behind-the-back flick pass.

With that ball going to ground, the Lions were awarded a scrum, and Ollie Chessum ended up scoring in the next passage of play. Feliuai was otherwise bested in defence by Bundee Aki in general play and didn’t get the ball too much before leaving the match for a HIA.

13. Ollie Sapsford – 6

Ollie Sapsford was right up there with the best for tackles completed but that wasn’t necessarily the full story when looking back at the New Zealander’s performance. Sapsford had the equal-most turnovers lost out of any player, and the midfielder was also fairly quiet in attack.

14. Ben O’Donnell – 6

After an injury-riddled campaign with the Brumbies, Ben O’Donnell’s first game of the season would also be his last. O’Donnell lined up on the right wing in his last Brumbies game, with the top moment to speak of being a superb cut-out pass try-assist for Corey Toole. O’Donnell was also one of the team leaders for carry metres, with the winger taking advantage of most opportunities that was presented.

15. Andy Muirhead – 6

Not a fullback. Andy Muirhead made a stunning front-on try-saving tackle on James Lowe during the first half but otherwise didn’t look as threatening as usual. Ironically, that tackle was made out on the edge. Muirhead rushed some passes which went to ground, and was beaten under the high-ball seemingly every time.

Muirhead was better during the second half, registering a staggering number of running metres, there’s little doubt that the outside back’s best position is on the wing. It’s not all doom and gloom but Muirhead is far more effective out-wide.

Substitutes

16. Liam Bowron – 7
17. Cameron Orr – 5
18. Feao Fotuaika – 4
19. Lachlan Hooper – 5
20. Luke Reimer – 6
21. Harrison Goddard – 5
22. Jack Debreczeni – 5
23. Hudson Creighton – 7