20 Jun 2013

Lions lose to Brumbies

6:08 am on 20 June 2013

The ACT Brumbies stunned the British and Irish Lions 14-12 in Canberra to undermine the tourists' confidence going into Saturday's first test in Brisbane.

The Brumbies soaked up enormous pressure in the final minutes to become the first provincial side to beat a Lions team for 16 years, coach Jake White rating the victory among the finest of his career, a result he says will give heart to the Wallabies going into the test series.

While it was a mid-week Lions selection, the Brumbies were also without their leading players, who are in camp for the Wallabies.

The Lions coach Warren Gatland, who'd put together a makeshift backline with three players flown in late from overseas, rued the loss of momentum after five successive wins on tour.