Itoje returns with a try as Lions overwhelm Reds in Brisbane

Skipper Maro Itoje celebrated his return with a try as the British & Irish Lions pulled away in the second half to beat the Queensland Reds 52-12 in their second tour match in Australia on Wednesday.

Tommy Freeman grabbed two tries and Andrew Porter, Duhan van der Merwe, Jac Morgan, Huw Jones and Gary Ringrose all also crossed as the Lions disappointed those in the 46,435 crowd at Brisbane's Lang Park who were hoping for an upset.

Itoje was rested for the match against the Western Force last weekend, leading to some conjecture that his test place was under threat, but he made a mockery of the idea with a statement performance in the second row.

"I guess as a team, we just wanted to be better today, we wanted to take a step forward," Itoje said.

"And as always, it was rugby. It wasn't perfect but I think, generally speaking, it was a step in the right direction."

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Josh Flook had given the local fans hope of an upset with tries in the first 26 minutes before the tourists, who made nine handling errors in the first half, hit their formidable stride.

Like the Force in Perth, the Reds started strongly and a multi-phase move triggered by a Hunter Paisami line break in midfield led to former All Blacks prop Toomaga-Allen going over under the posts.

Bundee Aki was adjudged held up from a rolling maul in the 12th minute but the Lions made no mistake from their next attacking lineout, moving the ball quickly along the backline for winger Freeman to cross.

The Reds went ahead in the 26th minute when scrumhalf Kalani Thomas angled a grubber behind the Lions defence and centre Josh Flook took the ball at full pace to put the home side 12-7 ahead.

The Lions took a more direct route to regain the lead, the forwards