Live Commentary: British and Irish Lions 64-0 Combined Country - as it happened

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Lions 64-0 Combined Country - as it happened
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British and Irish Lions faced Combined Country in the fourth match of their Australia tour.

Time is running out for the players to stake their claim for a start in the first Test against the Wallabies, with just three games remaining before their opening clash with the Aussies, prior to Tuesday's game.

Head coach Warren Gatland's side started as overwhelming favourites, having won all of their games so far.

They showed why by running in 10 tries to secure a massive win.

Read how it all unfolded in our live commentary below.

12.20amThat's it from me this morning. I hope you enjoyed the match. See you soon.
12.19amThere is the end of the match. Easy easy win for the Lions, who no go look towards their next match against the Waratahs on Saturday.
80 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 64-0 Country (Leigh Halfpenny)
80 minSuper kick from O'Driscoll who plays through Davies to score with the final move of the match.
80 minTRY! Lions 62-0 Country (Jonathan Davies)
79 minLast attack for the Lions in this match.
78 minThe Lions turn the ball over, before O'Driscoll fumbles on the 10-metre line.
75 minI'm surprised that O'Driscoll is still on the field and isn't being wrapped in cotton wool on the Lions bench with the game at this stage.
75 minTMO gives the lineout, correct call.
74 minO'Driscoll goes over in the corner, but I don't think this will be given as his toe was out of touch.
72 minGreat determination then from O'Driscoll on the counter. He goes full pelt to try to keep the ball alive by slide tackling it on the touchline.
71 minCountry pushing from the scrum. They pass it wide as the crowd grows excited, but the Lions end the move at the last second.
70 minAnother shocking throw from Rory Best in the lineout and the Country are nearly in on a try after a horrible error from Halfpenny, who gets knocked over when going to catch the ball. Country kick the ball forward before Maitland kills it in his own score zone. Country are still going for it, and they have a 5-metre scrum.
68 minThis could be a try for Country! Ah-Wang intercepts pass but surely knocks it on. He then goes to the line and puts in down in front of Hogg. It's not been given though, as the TMO gives the knock on.
67 minHalfpenny adds the extras from the kick.
67 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 57-0 Country (Leigh Halfpenny)
66 minNothing that Country could do to stop Sean O'Brien there. He picks the ball out from Maitland from a ruck under the posts and chooses to go at it alone before scoring.
66 minTRY! Lions 55-0 Country (Sean O'Brien)
65 minSome nice hands from the Lions as they close in on the try line, in particular Stuart Hogg, but Country defend well once more to hold up Conor Murray.
64 minThe Lions are starting to become guilty of a few too many handling errors. Matt Stevens the latest.
62 minThey kick into touch on the halfway line, before winning their own lineout.
62 minPenalty given to Country, chance to make ground forward.
61 minThe Lions are awarded a penalty after Country failed to release the ball in the ruck. Hogg kicks it out for another promising lineout for the Lions.
60 minWow, wasn't expecting that. Country turn it over and clear, the Lions are coming roaring back though.
60 minIt's a good throw, and the Lions must score here.
59 minThe Lions get themselves in another nice position for this lineout. Rory Best to take the throw.
57 minNormal service resumed for Halfpenny, who places that kick in between the posts to convert his own try.
57 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 50- Country (Leigh Halfpenny)
56 minHalfpenny makes amends for his earlier miss. Hogg picks the ball up and dummies a pass before playing it outside to Halfpenny, who cannons through the pack to score.
56 minTRY! Lions 48-0 Country (Leigh Halfpenny)
53 minGood defence from Country, who win a penalty.
51 minHe is human. Halfpenny takes over the kick duties and smashes this one wide of the right post from the touchline. It was a hard kick, but he never looked like scoring it.
51 minCONVERSION MISSED! Lions 43-0 Country (Leigh Halfpenny)
50 minThey lasted just under 10 minutes, but Country have conceded again and it's another tour try for O'Driscoll. It was an easy score for him after the Lions worked a huge overlap on the right side.
50 minTRY! Lions 43-0 Country (Brian O'Driscoll)
49 minLions pressing once again. Country are standing firm at the death for now, but the chance is still on.
48 minThe Lions have a lineout on Country's 22. Good chance for another score.
46 minOfficial attendance of 20,071 announced at Hunter Stadium. A few empty seats still.
45 minThe Lions come forward once more, this time down the left, but Halfpenny fumbles it to the floor. No question marks over that one.
44 minThe Lions slice through Country like a knife through butter, but knock it on. Play goes on though and Country do well to string a few passes together before clearing the danger.
42 minThings start to look a bit more positive for Country who go on the attack with a nice line. However, the ball is spilled by Alex Gibbon, and we'll have a scrum.
41 minOne change at half time for the Lions, as Halfpenny comes on as a winger in place of George North. Be interesting to see who kicks now after Halfpenny's wonderful display against Western Force.
40 minTHE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
11.34amThe players are back out and ready to go.
11.23amEasy as you like for the Lions this first half, as expected. Nearly a point a minute as tries from Alex Cuthbert, Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg, Richard Hibbard and two for George North separate the sides.
11.22amIt's a terrible throw from Hibbard, and the ball is put into touch for half time.
40 minHALF TIME: Lions 38-0 Country
39 minThe Lions look as if they want to finish the half with a try. Lineout to come in a similar position to where Hibbard scored earlier.
37 minSo close! The pass the ball along the line again and it ends up with O'Brien on the touchline. He goes over, but Walsh says no try due to O'Brien's foot going into touch. It goes to the TMO, who backs Walsh's decision. Nice call.
37 minNice lineout from the Lions on their own 10-metre line as they break downfield. I can smell another try.
36 minAs for the competitive debate of this tour. The Lions can only play what is in front of them, seeing as that the tour was arranged by the Australian board. Seems odd that they wouldn't want to try to tire the Lions out before the Test series.
35 minWell, not all so easy then. Hogg sends his kick horribly wide right from the left.
34 minCONVERSION MISSED! Lions 38-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
33 minHey guess what. Yep, the Lions have scored again. It's a second for North and a sixth for the Lions. Lovely hands along the line for the Lions having dominated the scrum, and then North has a lot of room to run into on the far side. Easy for the Lions.
33 minTRY! Lions 38-0 Country (George North)
32 minScrummage time on Country's 10-metre line.
28 minHogg makes it four from five but just keeping the ball inside the left post.
28 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 33-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
27 minAnd as I say that, the Lions score again. This is so easy for them as well. Hibbard takes the throw before picking the ball out from ruck following the lineout, and floats over to score. Not sure how this kind of game is going to help the Lions.
27 minTRY! Lions 31-0 Country (Richard Hibbard)
26 minBetter defence from Country at the moment. They're keeping out the Lions at the bitter death currently.
25 minLions have a lineout five metres from the try line. Could be another score on the way shortly.
24 minQuiet few minutes in this match, which gives everyone a chance to catch their breath. The Lions are doing so well with the turnovers in this match. That's killing the hosts.
21 minNo post this time for Hogg, who swings it right but between the sticks.
21 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 26-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
20 minAnd just like that, the Lions turn it around. Tipuric turns it over, gives it to North who offloads to Maitland. He gases it down the left flank, avoiding several challenges, and plays it back inside to North who goes over for the try.
20 minTRY! Lions 24-0 Country (George North)
19 minCountry scream at Steve Walsh for a penalty, and they get it. Another lineout on the way.
17 minThe Lions being driven back from this lineout. Holding strong so far though.
15 minChance for Country. Maitland's kick from his own 22 is charged down, and Country look to push their way towards the try line. They receive a penalty after being awarded a rather long advantage. They knock it into touch for the lineout; not settling for three points.
13 minHogg doesn't manage to convert this one though as he rattles the left post from just over the 10-metre line. He looks confident though Hogg.
13 minCONVERSION MISSED! Lions 19-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
12 minI told you this would be hard work for me! What a few minutes for the Lions and for Hogg. He picks up the ball from Tipuric and it opens up for him. Hogg absolutely burns it through the Country defence in a flash and adds the third try of the match.
12 minTRY! Lions 19-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
11 minAnother great kick from Hogg, easy one this.
11 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 14-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
11 minThe hammering has begun and it's a lovely score for the Lions. a great team moves ends in a one-handed pass from Cuthbert to Murray, who dives under the posts.
10 minTRY! Lions 12-0 Country (Conor Murray)
10 minWhat a start for Hogg, almost at the halfway line, but he smashes it between the sticks to add the extras.
9 minCONVERSION SCORED! Lions 7-0 Country (Stuart Hogg)
9 minThe Lions get their first of the game, working the line from the lineout before O'Driscoll played in Cuthbert on the wing who dived into the corner for the score.
8 minTRY! Lions 5-0 Country (Alex Cuthbert)
7 minAnother fine boot from Stuart Hogg who knocks the ball into touch from a deep position. He seems to be adjusting well having not played at fly-half since his school days; mind you, he is only 20.
6 minThe Lions scrum is absolutely brutal as they force the Country pack miles back, but they can't make the most of the move as the ball heads out of play.
5 minWe'll have another scrum on the 10-metre line. The Lions have made a bright start to the game, but Country are holding on so far.
3 minThe first bit of flair from the Lions comes from the skipper as O'Driscoll plays a wonderful no-look pass to centre partner Roberts.
2 minCountry turn the ball over and clear it away. Only as far as Alex Cuthbert though, who smashes into a ruck on the 10-metre line.
1 minAn early touch from Hogg, who puts the ball into touch. Good kick, lineout for the Lions, to be taken for Hibbard.
0 minWE'RE OFF!
10.40amSteve Walsh is today's referee.
10.39amAnd here come the Combined County XV.
10.38amO'Driscoll leads the Lions out onto the field; ball in one hand, cuddly toy lion in the other.
10.38amGoing back to the partnership involving today's centres Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, who started four games together on the 2009 tour of South Africa. The pair impressed in two warm-up victories, but were part of losing teams in the opening two Test matches against the Springboks.
10.36amJust seen shots of the players getting ready in the changing room. The shirts are on, so are the game faces.
10.35amLIONS RECORD IN NEWCASTLE: Played: 6, Won: 5, Lost: 1
10.34amNot long to go now, we're slightly behind schedule at the moment.
10.30amProbably the most interesting part of the Lions selection is Hogg at fly-half. The Scot is third choice at number 10 behind the injured Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton, but he hasn't played there since he was a schoolboy.
10.24amLess than 10 minutes to go until kick off!
10.23amCATT: "It is what dreams are made of. "I have an opportunity to play against the best centre in world rugby. He is a superstar, there is no other word for it. When he was out here last time [on the Lions tour in 2001], he basically did what he wanted at will."
10.22amHere was the latter had to say about facing B'OD.
10.22amJust to further highlight the difference in pedigree between the two sides; Brian O'Driscoll, the Lions' captain, has 131 Test caps, whereas his opposite number, Lewie Catt, works full-time as an electrical engineer.
10.21amCOUNTRY BENCH: Kearney, Evans, Abraham, Arnold, Dyer, McCormack, McCarthy, Ah-Wang
10.20amLIONS BENCH: Best, Grant, Stevens, A. Jones, Faletau, Phillips, Davies, Halfpenny
10.20amHere are the replacements for both side.
10.17amCOUNTRY XV: Trist, Gibbon, Catt, Siakisini, Cox, Roberts, Snowden, Hirsimaki, Mann-Rea, Metcher, Battye, Enever, Stanford, Butler, Davidson
10.15amToday's side contains four Scotsmen; Maitland, Hogg, Gray and Grant.
10.15amSo Brian O'Driscoll is again named as the captain of the side, and he is partnered in the centre by James Roberts - just like he was in the 2009 tour. Welsh duo Alex Cuthbert and George North are the men on the wings, while usual full-back Stuart Hogg starts at fly-half.
10.13amLIONS XV: Maitland, Cuthbert, O'Driscoll, Roberts, North, Hogg, Murray, Corbisiero, Hibbard, Cole, Gray, Evans, O'Brien, Tipuric, Heaslip
10.12amTime for some team news then.
10.11amOn top of that, this Country side has a carpenter, plumber, electrical engineer, medical student and removal man among 14 semi-pros in the squad.
10.10amJust to put into perspective why the Lions are such strong favourites for the match, they have 505 caps in their starting lineup, whereas Country team has none.
10.09amThe Lions are massive favourites for the match, with some predicting that it could be a 100+ scoreline in favour of Warren Gatland's side, regardless of the injuries they are currently having to deal with. If that is the case then I could be in for a tiring shift!
10.08amHaving overcome a stern test on Saturday against Queensland Reds, the Lions are just over 20 minutes away from facing the - supposedly - easiest team of the tour in the form of the Combined Country XV.
10.07amGood morning, and welcome to Sports Mole's continued live coverage of the Lions tour, as they take on Combined Country in the fourth match of their travels.
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