The British and Irish Lions continued their strong start to the Australian tour, securing a commanding 52-12 victory over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. This win marks their second consecutive triumph in Australia, following a 54-7 tour-opening win against Western Force. Despite falling behind twice early in the first half, the Lions showcased their resilience by turning a 12-7 deficit into a 21-12 halftime lead, before unleashing a dominant second-half performance.

Captain Maro Itoje, making his first appearance on the tour, played a pivotal role in triggering the Lions' second-half surge. Five minutes after the break, Itoje powerfully ran onto an inside pass from scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park to score beside the posts, effectively cracking the game open. This try initiated a period where the Lions scored three tries in 15 minutes, solidifying their control over the match. Itoje, reflecting on his first win as Lions captain, stated the team aimed to take a step forward, acknowledging improvements in clinicality, sharpness, and accuracy with the ball, despite some remaining errors.

The Lions' strategic approach focused on high-tempo play, consistently spreading the ball to the edges to generate space and scoring opportunities. Flyhalf Finn Russell once again orchestrated the Lions' attack before being rested after 55 minutes. Winger Tommy Freeman was a significant beneficiary of this attacking mindset, scoring two tries, while Bundy Ake effectively created opportunities in midfield.

Openside flanker Jac Morgan delivered a standout player-of-the-match performance, strengthening his contention for a Test start. Head coach Andy Farrell heaped praise on Morgan, humorously remarking that the versatile forward could play "wherever he wants" in the back row, whether at six, seven, or number eight. Morgan's impressive display included a try, 44 meters carried (the most by any forward), three turnovers, and a game-high 18 tackles, shared with Itoje and Jack Conan. Morgan expressed his commitment to versatility and learning different back-row roles, recognizing the fast-paced nature of the tour. He also shared a light-hearted comment about needing to slow down his Welsh accent for better communication within the squad, while affirming the strong bonding among the players. Morgan paid tribute to compatriot Tomos Williams, who suffered a tour-ending hamstring injury, expressing how much Williams' character and contributions would be missed.

Additional tries for the Lions came from prop Andrew Porter, Duhan van der Merwe, Huw Jones – who plucked a chip kick out of the air and sprinted 60 meters to score – and Garry Ringrose, who capped off the scoring with a try five minutes into stoppage time. The Reds, despite missing several key players due to international duty, posed an early threat, with prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen scoring in the ninth minute and center Josh Flook reclaiming the lead with a try in the 25th minute, showcasing their attacking capabilities.

The win, however, came with a new injury concern for utility back Elliot Daly. Daly, who was a late replacement for Hugo Keenan (ruled out with illness), sustained a forearm injury in a tackle late in the second half and did not finish the match. Head coach Andy Farrell confirmed Daly would undergo medical scans, expressing crossed fingers for the outcome. Daly had been in strong form, having started both tour games at fullback and proving a valuable asset, especially after scoring two tries in the opening match against Western Force. Farrell, while concerned for Daly, conveyed confidence in the Lions' depth at fullback, noting that Hugo Keenan would soon be fit and Blair Kinghorn was ready to play. The Lions are facing a demanding schedule with five games in two weeks before the three Test matches against the Wallabies on July 19, 26, and August 2. Itoje highlighted that improvement and learning often occur more effectively in games than in training, viewing the packed schedule as a "blessing in disguise."