The British and Irish Lions faced the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney in what was their penultimate warm-up match before the Test series with Australia.
With just one week until the first encounter with the Wallabies, head coach Warren Gatland was hoping that his players impressed on their final auditions for a place in the side.
The Tahs represented one of the sternest challenges for the tourists so far at the Allianz Stadium.
However, in a very competitive match, the Lions put in a fine display to earn a big win.
Read how it all unfolded in our live commentary below.
That's all from me, hope you enjoyed that match. I'll see you Tuesday.
Next up for the Lions is a Tuesday encounter with the Brumbies, before that all important first Test against the Wallabies in seven days time.
Among the individual efforts, Halfpenny hit 30 points in a fine performance. Surely he'll start against Australia.
Fabulous game, and a very impressive performance from the Lions. They were really made to work by the Tahs, who deserve real credit for their display.
FULL TIME: Lions 47-17 Waratahs
The Tahs hit the Lions on the break and look destined to score, but Zebo makes a superb late challenge. Youngs kicks it out, and there is the end of the match.
Closing stages now, good patterns from the Lions as they look for one more try.
Scrum for the Lions.
The Lions take a poor lineout as Tahs turnover. However, they win it back after the hosts fumble it on the far side. Lineout again, this time on the near side.
Five to go.
Farrell nails a top kick, his first of the match. The Lions take a 30-point lead.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 47-17 Waratahs (Owen Farrell)
Jamie Roberts is seen limping up the tunnel, major worry for the Lions.
Too easy for Davies. Ben Youngs does well to bring the ball forward, and the Lions can regroup before passing it outside to Davies who can jog over the line.
TRY! Lions 45-17 Waratahs (Jonathan Davies)
Roberts limps off for the Lions, big concern for Gatland, who may have just had his decision of who to pick at centre for the Wallabies clash helped.
Maitland is the recipient of a lofty pass, before running into a cauldron of tahs players, and they manage to turn it over.
Turnover from the Lions, they're within reach of another try here. Trying both flanks.
The Lions make a mess of it, and the Tahs can kick the penalty into touch on their own 10-metre line.
The first one doesn't work out, so we'll scrum one more time.
Scrum time about 10 metres from the Tahs posts.
It was a great turnover from Warburton, who has had a very good game so far.
The Lions come so close, not once, but twice to scoring. The first time Maitland jets down the wing before flinging a decent offload towards a teammate, but it takes a knock on the way. The second time is from a kick to the far side, which very nearly falls to Zebo, but it bounces cruelly away from him and Horne can brilliant take to kill it in his own try zone.
Kearney is on for his first appearance of the tour.
The move dies as Skelton knocks on close to the try line, and the Lions will have a penalty.
Tahs on the attack, testing times for the Lions.
Here come the changes, as Gatland switches around no less than six players.
The Lions can break, but they fumble the ball and its a penalty to the Waratahs. Nobody tells Phillips this, who thinks the decision has gone his way. He gets penalised and the Waratahs are awarded extra yards.
Great kick into touch from McKibbin, they have the lineout but the Lions can clear.
Tahs are on the attack now, they have a real chance here. But Halfpenny makes a late tackle to stop the attack. The referee awards the advantage, and the Tahs have a penalty from the other side.
Halfpenny makes it eight from eight. Big lead now for the Lions.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 40-17 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Great score from the Lions, Davies brilliantly turns it over and pegs it forward. He holds the ball and the Lions can catch up and play the ball along the line. It ends up with Croft, who everyone thinks is going to pass it, but he brilliant takes on a handful of Tahs defenders and turns on the style to hit the line.
TRY! Lions 33-17 Waratahs (Tom Croft)
Lions have the lineout but O'Connell drops it, and the Tahs can break away.
Incredibly, he gets away with just a strong talking to.
Ulugia is in trouble for clotheslining Zebo who was running onto a kick from the ruck.
No mistake from Halfpenny who hits one from 25 metres and becomes the highest-ever Lions scorer in Australia in a single game with 28 points.
PENALTY SCORED! Lions 33-17 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
The Lions hit a lovely lineout, much improved from the Combined Country, and they have the momentum before earning the penalty.
Sexton has gone off, with Farrell coming on.
Carter, in perhaps his final game for the Tahs, gets a wonderful ovation as he is replaced.
McKibbin makes no mistake with another top kick.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 30-17 Waratahs (Brendan McKibbin)
It goes to the TMO, but there was never really any doubt. They scrum it well, and Skelton offloads superbly to Tom Carter, who forces his way over to score.
TRY! Lions 30-15 Waratahs (Tom Carter)
The Tahs go over and they think they have scored, what follows is some unsavoury scenes as Sexton seems to be to subject of abuse from the Tahs.
Halfpenny, brilliant as always, makes it 25 points for him and 30 for the Lions.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 30-10 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Top-class try from the Lions, and Halfpenny gets his second of the match. They win it well from the lineout and keep their momentum as the Welsh group work the ball to Halfpenny, who darts over to score.
TRY! Lions 28-10 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Neither side made any changes at the break. But I wouldn't give it very long before there is some activity on the bench.
The Lions have a penalty and will kick this into touch. Sexton plays it into touch in line with the 10-metre line.
WE'RE OFF AGAIN!
The two sides are back out onto the field. The second half is just a few seconds away.
That was a great first half, the Lions started and finished sublimely, but Waratahs gave a really good account of themselves in the middle. This game is far from over and I cannot wait for the second half to begin.
And what a way to end a cracking first half with an awesome kick from Halfpenny, the hardest of the lot so far, as the hooter sounds for half time.
HALF TIME: Lions 23-10 Waratahs
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 23-10 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Deserved try and a class one at that. The Lions maintain the advantage and hit the line with some brilliant passing. Davies offloads to Halfpenny who slides over to score.
TRY! Lions 21-10 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Sexton plays a wonderful kick aimed at Zebo but it just evades him. The Lions have an advantage and are on the attack.
The Lions do brilliant to defend and stop the Tahs who attacked very well. They get a penalty and kick into touch and opt for the lineout.
Halfpenny makes a great tackle as Crawford runs through. The Tahs have the momentum but are temporarily halted.
Class kick from McKibbin, who reduces the deficit to six points.
PENALTY SCORED! Lions 16-10 Waratahs (Brendan McKibbin)
The Tahs have a penalty from a long way out. McKibbin will take it.
The Lions hit an almost too powerful scrum, they leave the ball behind and the Tahs can kick it away.
Mitchell tries to kill the ball in his own try zone but fumbles it on his way through, and the Lions have a five-metre scrum.
Halfpenny lofts a kick which just floats through the middle of the posts. Textbook from the Welshman who makes it three from three.
PENALTY SCORED! Lions 16-7 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
Penalty to Lions, and more so, Halfpenny.
The Lions survive the five-metre scrum and manage to turn it over before making their way to the halfway line.
The Tahs go over, but the referee says that the ball was lost. We'll have a scrum.
Adam Jones goes in and takes the man before the ball to give the Tahs the penalty. They could opt for the three points, but it's kicked out into touch and the Tahs have a chance to score.
Foley has been the key man for the Tahs so far, they're giving him the ball to work his magic whenever he can.
The Tahs are on the attack once more. Today is going to be a really good test for the Lions.
The Lions hit a lovely string of passes as O'Connell and Vunipola both show some goods hands. Phillips knocks on but gets the decision for being tampered with. We'll have a scrum.
As if I have to explain a Halfpenny kick. Superb as usual.
PENALTY SCORED! Lions 13-7 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
The Lions have a penalty...
It's a great kick from Foley, who has started the game very well. The Waratahs are right back in this, and are asking questions of the Lions.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 10-7 Waratahs (Bernard Foley)
The Tahs are up and running. They waste little time taking a penalty which Foley drills across field, he finds Peter Betham, who rides two challenges before brilliant offloading to Carter. He then races into the corner to score. The game is alive.
TRY! Lions 10-5 Waratahs (Tom Carter)
The Lions are penalised for driving early in the scrum, the referee gives a penalty to the Tahs, who kick the ball out to the 10-metre line for a Lions lineout.
A real chance to score from this scrum now for the Lions.
Nearly but not quite. The Lions had the numbers gain after the forwards battered the Tahs in the drive. However, Drew Mitchell, who has been sensational for the Waratahs so far, takes out Roberts to force a scrum. He also made that crucial tackle on Zebo earlier.
The Lions have a lineout and take it into a ruck, and drive their way towards the try line. Chance for a try as the Lions dominate.
At a time when the Lions really need to make a statement, they are doing that now.
Another superb kick from Halfpenny, as he puts his kick right down the centre from the 22. Great stuff from the Lions.
CONVERSION SCORED! Lions 10-0 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
This one will count! It's such a brilliant try from the Lions. Zebo gets the ball in the centre, and turns on the gas before giving out to Roberts on the touchline. He goes past two before chucking the ball inside to Sexton, who has a clear run to the corner to score.
TRY! Lions 8-0 Waratahs (Johnny Sexton)
Halfpenny nearly in there after charging down a kick from deep, the Waratahs recover.
The Tahs are trying to build some momentum across the line, and the ball finds Foley but he is absolutely creamed by Alun-Wyn Jones.
That Halfpenny kick was from 50 metres out! Monster.
The chances are that, if the Lions get a penalty kick, Halfpenny will score. He hits a plumb kick just inside of the right post from a long way to give his side the lead. Great start from the Lions.
PENALTY SCORED! Lions 3-0 Waratahs (Leigh Halfpenny)
The Lions have been awarded a penalty after a bad tackle from Horne.
It's not given and, as sad as it is, it is the correct call. Zebo's leg was out of touch. A brilliant challenge by the Tahs. They have been warned though.
NO TRY!
If this is given, then it will be an absolute dream start, as the Lions play some brilliant passing stuff before Zebo rushes down the line and scores in the corner.
TRY! Lions 5-0 Waratahs (Simon Zebo)
HERE WE GO!
The Lions, of course, are wearing their red tops, white shorts and green and black socks.
The Waratahs are out onto the field, sporting a light blue strip.
The Lions have made their way out onto the field, and you should be aware that Rob Kearney, who was thought to be a certainty at full-back to face the Wallabies, makes the bench for the first time this tour having endured injury troubles.
WARATAHS BENCH: Holmes, Aho, Talakai, Timani, Gilbert, Lucas, Volavola, Kingston
The Tahs have two Australia Test players who have been released to play this match; captain Dave Dennis and Rob Horne.
WARATAHS XV: Mitchell, Crawford, Horne, Carter, Betham, Foley, McKibbin, Tilse, Ulugia, Ryan, Skelton, Atkins, Holloway, McCutcheon, Dennis
We have just five minutes until kick off, so let's bring you the Waratahs lineup quickly.
LIONS BENCH: Hibbard, Corbisiero, Cole, Parling, Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Farrell, Kearney.
Lets bring you the replacements for the tourists.
It is also a big day for Simon Zebo, who makes his Lions debut today. Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts have the chance to impress further, as they battle the injured Manu Tuilagi and the legendary Brian O'Driscoll for the centre spots.
So, today is a massively important day for a number of player in the starting XV; none more so than captain Sam Warburton. The Lions skipper has only featured once so far on the tour, and has been struggling with injuries. Combine these facts with the good form of Tom Croft, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien and Justin Tipuric, and Warburton really does have a job on his hands.
LIONS XV: Halfpenny, Maitland, Davies, Roberts, Zebo, Sexton, Phillips, Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, O'Connell , Croft, Warburton, Heaslip
Right, let's get some team news.
ANNOUNCEMENT We've just had a message that All remaining tour games have been moved back 10 minutes - hence today's 10:40am kickoff - and the three Tests have been moved back by five minutes to 11:05am.
The Tahs also had a player sinbinned after just four seconds last time out in 2001, but the hosts have promised a more disciplined performance this time.
While the two teams have a mutual respect for one another, you surely won't forget what happened when these two teams met last time out. Ronan O'Gara will certainly never forget.
Before I bring you the full team news, I'll give you a snippet of selection information. Simon Zebo, who was recently called up to the squad, will make his debut for the Lions today, while his Irish teammate Johnny Sexton has been passed fit for the contest.
There are a number of interesting team selection for both sides, which I will bring to your attention shortly.
After their dismantling of the Combined Country on Tuesday, Gatland will no doubt be chuffed that the Lions will face some sterner competition today.
We have just one week until the first Test against Australia, and the excitement is beginning to build ahead of the series. But first, Warren Gatland's side must endure one of the tougher challenges that they will face of this tour and that comes in the form of the Waratahs.
Good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the British and Irish Lions' latest warm-up match against the Waratahs.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
