Summary

  • British & Irish Lions beat Japan 28-10 at Murrayfield

  • Captain Alun Wyn Jones goes off injured with left arm injury in eighth minute

  • Flanker Justin Tipuric also goes off injured in first half

  • Josh Adams, Duhan van der Merwe & Robbie Henshaw score in first half

  • Tadhg Beirne powers through to score before Japan reply in second half

  • 16,500 spectators for first Lions match since 2005 played in UK

  • First of six fixtures before Lions face South Africa in three-match Test series

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    That's all from us after a winning start for the British and Irish Lions.

    The victory was somewhat marred by an early injury to captain Alun Wyn Jones, with Justin Tipuric having to leave the field too.

    We do not know the full extent of those injuries yet, but if you want to catch up on what happened in the match you can read Tom English's report here.

    Of course, that isn't the end of today's rugby. You can follow live text and radio commentary of the Premiership final here.

  2. Henshaw's defence celebratedpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton is a fan of Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw's work.

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  3. Postpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    The joy of a Lions tour is of course selection chat.

    Biggar is one of the early stars to shine, with Tadhg Beirne also seeming to have caught eyes.

    The flanker made 49m and 10 carries as well as beating three defenders and claiming two turnovers.

  4. 'I'm delighted' - Biggarpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Biggar has laid down an early marker for the other fly-halves on the tour: Finn Russell and Owen Farrell.

    Farrell came on as an inside centre - the position he usually plays for England - but may get the chance to start at 10 later in the tour.

    Biggar said: "Personally I'm delighted to start the tour well and hopefully I can build on that.

    "We've only been together a couple of weeks, I think as a first hit out, this is a team [Japan] that go to the quarter-final. So for us to come away with a win [is] a really positive start."

    Dan Biggar was named MOTMImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Dan Biggar was named MOTM

  5. 'A stepping stone' - Biggarpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Man of the match Dan Biggar told Channel 4: "I'm pleased with that result.

    "The second half was a bit of a slog as we made some errors. We played some good rugby in the first half and we can use it as a stepping stone.

    "[We were] just trying to do the basics early doors.. we just managed [it well] everything seemed to click.

    "It was great to play in front of this crowd and I want to thank them. It's been awesome playing in front of them."

  6. Postpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Lions chairman Jason Leonard hands the trophy for this win rather unceremoniously to Alun Wyn Jones and he sort of half raises it into the air. That's that then.

  7. Captain Jones on the pitchpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    We are yet to learn the extent of the injury that saw Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones leave the field in the first 10 minutes.

    He was down and cradling his left arm. The Wales legend is out on the field now laughing and joking with England captain Owen Farrell, but he is doing all his handshakes with his right hand and his left hand is kept firmly in his pocket.

  8. Postpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    What did you make of that then?

    Thumbs up for: 'This is in the bag, Springboks have no hope'.

    Thumbs down if you're not so sure.

  9. Full-timepublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Oh, it does end.

    Anthony Watson grabs an interception and immediately sends a pass into touch.

    The Lions' defence was tested with 14 men left on the pitch at the end, but they have held firm for a confident victory.

  10. Postpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Japan want another try too. Maybe this will never end.

  11. Postpublished at 82 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    The Lions look like the fancy one more try, but they can't seem to make it past Japan's 10m line.

    Instead, they concede a turnover and then a penalty.

  12. Postpublished at 80 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    The Lions win a penalty on the floor and Dan Biggar kicks to touch with 10 seconds left on the clock.

  13. Postpublished at 80 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Ryoto Nakamura spills the ball and Dan Biggar picks it up, scooping it under his legs to Robbie Henshaw.

    Japan are right back at the Lions though and Kotaro Matsushima comes from nowhere to fly into the 22. His pace is something else. Thankfully he falls over as Duhan van der Merwe gives chase.

  14. Lions losing momentum?published at 16:52 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

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  15. Postpublished at 77 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Japan get to within metres with their forwards and Yu Tamura decides to try another route.

    The fly-half chips over, but Anthony Watson is there to cover any threat from the right wing.

    The Brave Blossoms will have a 5m scrum. They'd love to end with a second try. A great test of the Lions' defence.

  16. Biggar named man of the matchpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Fly-half Dan Biggar has had an excellent game, showing expert game management and pin-point kicking.

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  17. Postpublished at 75 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Have Japan got time for one more try with just over five minutes remaining?

    Kotaro Matsushima slices through, but is eventually brought down.

    Kazuki Himeno does make it across the line but excellent work from Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson means he is held up.

  18. Postpublished at 74 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    A missed opportunity for Japan as quick offloads leave Ryohei Yamanaka with space on the left wing, but Yu Tamura's pass sails straight into touch.

    They get a second chance as we come back for an earlier penalty and Tamura kicks to the corner.

  19. Postpublished at 72 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Being a man short in defence isn't what you want against an attack as speedy and snappy as Japan's.

    A one-handed offload round the back from centre Timothy Lafaele to fly-half Yu Tamura is testing, but the Lions hold strong.

  20. Lions down to 14 menpublished at 70 mins

    British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Uh oh.

    Number eight Jack Conan has had to leave the field. The Lions have already emptied their bench so they'll play the last 10 minutes a man down.