The British & Irish Lions secured another victory on their 2025 tour today, overcoming a determined First Nations & Pasifika XV with a 24-19 scoreline at Marvel Stadium, however, Lions captain Owen Farrell admitted the performance was far from seamless, describing periods of the game as "frantic."
This tour match, a new addition to the Lions' schedule, proved to be a challenging encounter despite the Lions securing the win.
Speaking to Sky Sports immediately after the final whistle, Farrell offered a candid assessment of the match.
"It was probably too much," Farrell confessed. "Massive credit must go to them; they came out and fired into us."
"We got a great start, but we didn’t manage to get a foothold in the last 60 minutes. Thankfully we got the job done in the end."
"It felt a bit frantic at times, if we could have been calmer, we could have settled into what we do better."
"We regrouped at half-time and managed to be a bit more direct, but they found their way back into the game again."
While this non-Test victory adds another win to the Lions' tour record, Farrell's honest assessment highlights areas for significant improvement, particularly in maintaining composure under pressure and asserting control for longer periods.
With the crucial Test series against Australia still to unfold, and the Second Test just days away on Saturday, July 26, the Lions will need to iron out these "frantic" passages if they are to secure a commanding series win.
For now, however, they can reflect on a gritty victory that keeps their tour momentum going.
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