Former Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Dan Biggar believes Wednesday’s showdown with the Brumbies could define the tourists’ momentum heading into the Test series against Australia.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell will field what many see as his strongest side yet and Biggar reckons patterns – and selections – can be predicted ahead of the clashes against the Wallabies.
The Lions remain unbeaten so far on their Australian tour, brushing aside Western Force, Queensland Reds and the Waratahs with dominant scorelines.
But the Brumbies — Australia’s standout Super Rugby team in 2025 — represent a significant step up in opposition, and Biggar thinks the pressure is now on to produce a performance that silences recent doubts.
“I think the Waratahs gave the other teams and possibly Australia a really good blueprint on how to stop the Lions,” Biggar said.
“Now, the Waratahs didn't clearly offer a huge amount in attack, but in terms of their defensive line-speed, they just kept coming and kept coming.
“They kept the Lions in the middle of the park, didn’t allow the Lions to get the ball to edges where they can get the ball in the hands of Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan and these guys.
“They kept them in the middle of the pitch and I think that will be something the Wallabies, but more importantly the Brumbies in terms of Wednesday, will be looking to do: try to stop the Lions and frustrate them."
The Brumbies, who reached this year’s Super Rugby semi-finals and finished above all other Australian franchises in the standings, have a history of pushing the Lions to the limit.
They famously defeated the tourists 14-12 in 2013 and nearly repeated the feat back in 2001.
Biggar sees this fixture not only as a physical test but also a psychological one — a final dress rehearsal before Farrell finalises his starting XV for the first Test against the Wallabies on July 19.
“Like we've mentioned a few times, the error count has been high in each game they've played,” Biggar added to Sky Sports.
“I think the Brumbies will look to frustrate and then maybe in those transition periods, a little bit like Argentina did, come alive on counter-attack.”
In terms of team selection, Biggar believes Farrell may already have most of his key decisions made — but there are still two positions where this game could tip the scales.
"The two areas which I think have got the most chance for change from this game are that back-row and the centre partnership," Biggar explained.
"Andy Farrell obviously knows Ireland centres Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki, so he just wants to see how they go. Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu put a really good marker down on Saturday against the Waratahs.
"But I think it's almost a little bit of a trial run for those two [Ringrose, Aki] as well. If they can find a little bit of form and a partnership there, they could be the guys Andy Farrell goes with and are who he knows and trusts.”
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Back-row competition remains fierce, with Biggar highlighting the selection of Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, and Jack Conan in the starting lineup as a possible Test trial run.
It means there could be no place for Wales captain Jac Morgan by the time the Test series comes around.
"Then you look at the back-row in terms of [Ollie] Chessum, [Tom] Curry and [Jack] Conan. He likes Conan at No 8 because it gives him that out-and-out 8 and a lot of the unflashy work and the hard work he'll do.
“I suppose what you do when you pick a Chessum or a Tadhg Beirne in the back-row [at blindside flanker], it allows you to pick two back-rowers on the bench, so you could be looking at — like they've done for Wednesday — Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock on the bench.
“The 6 and 7 berths are still up for grabs a little bit. A strong showing from the two of them in terms of Curry and Chessum against the Brumbies, and they'll be right in the mix."
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