Lions' first try: Michael Rhodes

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• ACT Brumbies
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• Minute-by-minute from Canberra
• Thrush cited for late tackle

The Lions upset the odds on Saturday with a surprise, yet thoroughly deserved, 29-20 win over the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.

Still win-less at home this season, few would have expected the side from Jo'burg to claim victory on Australian soil but they did so in emphatic fashion, bagging a four-try bonus point in the process.

Newly-arrived Springbok pivot Butch James has dominated the headlines about the Lions this week but it was young fly-half Elton Jantjies who was in the limelight after a masterful performance.

The talented but sometimes erratic 20-year-old created two fabulous tries, constantly threatened the Brumbies defence and landed four of his five kicks at goal.

More remarkable was the Lions' defensive display. Normally a sure bet to concede a bucketload of tries, John Mitchell's side fronted up and made their tackles in aggressive and organised fashion.

For the Brumbies, their wretched season went from bad to worse as their predictable tactics and general lack of intensity saw them give away an early lead for the second time in as many weeks.

The Brumbies were 10-0 up at the end of the first quarter thanks to a try from hooker Stephen Moore, who muscled his way over from short range, but the Lions would dominate proceedings for most of the rest of the game.

Flank Michael Rhodes stretched out an arm to score and cap a period of sustained pressure from the Lions forwards before wing Deon van Rensburg found himself at the end of an overlap to cruise over for the visitors' second try and claim the lead.

The Lions went into the break 12-10 but were able to extend their advantage soon after the restart when Jantjies produced a spectacular offload on his inside to put Alwyn Hollenbach over.

Jantjies was again at the origin of the Lions' bonus point try, breaking clear before cleverly offloading to full-back Jaco Taute, who raced home.

Brumbies claimed a late consolation try against the run of play, after Giteau had sparked a counter attack from his own tryline, but were unable to trouble the visitors' defence in the closing stages and finished empty handed.

The Lions visit the Waratahs next week while the Brumbies travel to Perth to face the Western Force.

The scorers:

For Brumbies:
Tries: Moore, A. Smith
Cons: Giteau 2
Pens: Giteau 2

For Lions:
Tries: Rhodes, Van Rensburg, Hollenbach, Taute
Cons: Jantjies 3
Pen: Jantjies

Yellow card: Cilliers (Lions - 19th min - late tackle)

Brumbies: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Andrew Smith, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Giteau (c), 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Colby Faingaa, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Ben Hand, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Jono Owen/Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Ma'afu/Jono Owen, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Henry Speight.

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss (c), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Cobus Grobbelaar, 19 Rory Kockott, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Butch James.

Referee: Nathan Pearce (Australia)