The British and Irish Lions defeated First Nations & Pasifika XV 24-19 to maintain their unbeaten tour of Australia - but the victory has done little to dispel the nerves in the camp.
The Lions appeared to be cruising at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium when they established a commanding advantage through two early scores.
Jamie Osborne crossed first, followed by Darcy Graham, as the tourists raced to a 14-0 advantage with Fin Smith adding both conversions.
However, the positive start quickly turned sour when Graham was forced from the field shortly after his score.
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|The British and Irish Lions looked to be in control before a series of late mistakes
The winger, who had been drafted into the side for this fixture, appeared visibly distressed as he hobbled off with an ankle problem, casting doubt over his availability for Saturday's second Test against Australia.
The momentum shifted dramatically as the First Nations and Pasifika XV stormed back into contention through their formidable forward play.
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Winger Triston Reilly touched down to begin the fightback, with the hosts' physical approach causing significant problems for the tourists.
Flanker Seru Uru then powered over for another score, with veteran Kurtley Beale successfully converting both attempts.
The Lions found themselves unable to cope with their opponents' aggressive tactics and made numerous handling errors throughout the period.
By the interval, the scores were locked at 14-14, with the tourists' early dominance completely erased in a troubling half-hour spell at Marvel Stadium.
Jamie Osborne restored the Lions' advantage after the restart, crossing for his second score of the evening to make it 19-14.
The tourists extended their lead further when captain Owen Farrell produced an expertly-timed pass to send Duhan van der Merwe over in the corner.
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|The match turned ugly as the Lions were given a serious test
The Scottish winger's score marked his fifth of the tour, putting the Lions 24-14 ahead with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Despite regaining control of the scoreboard, the visitors continued to struggle with their handling and faced sustained pressure from the physical First Nations and Pasifika pack.
The hosts refused to surrender and mounted a late surge that left the Lions clinging to their advantage.
Rob Leota crashed over following sustained forward pressure with ten minutes remaining, reducing the deficit to 24-19 after the conversion attempt drifted wide.
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The tourists endured an anxious final period, repeatedly conceding possession through handling mistakes as their opponents pressed for a dramatic equaliser.
The First Nations and Pasifika XV maintained their intensity until the final whistle but ultimately fell short.
The Lions secured their third consecutive victory on Australian soil, though the performance raised serious questions about their readiness for Saturday's second Test in Brisbane.