Aussie import Tuipulotu strolls over for Lions
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The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Lions channel Australian cricket great by forecasting 3-0 sweep of Wallabies
'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about, about being one of the best Lions teams ever,' Earl said last week. The current Lions squad have set their sights on becoming the first touring team in history, dating back to 1888, to return home having won every game. The mighty 1974 team, containing Wales' galaxy of stars, remained undefeated, but after winning 21 games in a row, they drew the fourth Test with the All Blacks. The 2025 team's claim would come with the caveat of having lost to Argentina in Dublin before they left, however. The Lions' first Test side will be named on Thursday, and it could contain two Australian-raised former Junior Wallabies in the starting side - winger Mack Hansen and inside centre Sione Tuipulotu. Though he didn't start in the stronger sides used against Queensland and the Brumbies, Hansen is admired by Lions coach Andy Farrell for his work rate and capacity to influence games. And a concussion to Irish centre Garry Ringrose has lifted Tuipulotu's chances, given his Scottish centre partner Huw Jones is favoured to take the No.13. The 'Huwipulotu' partnership is well established and in-form, and it could see the Melbourne-raised Tuipulotu given the nod over Bundee Aki for. 'I thought Hugh and Sione were very good so we've got a nice cover there,' Farrell said in Adelaide. 'Obviously, we had a discussion to be had after this game anyway, so who knows which way we would have gone because it was true what we said about leaving it open. 'I know that people think that you've got a fixed mind after Wednesday's game, but that's not the truth so we'll sit down and assess that game and then have a tough task in picking what's going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first one.' Asked if he looked at the Scottish duo as a pair, when it comes to selection, Farrell said: 'No, honestly, we don't. 'We look at what's right for the team. I can't remember ever looking at a sheet over the last three or four weeks and thinking that combination has to happen because of the country that it's from. That doesn't exist in the group and rightly so,' he said. After the furore created early in the tour when Lions chief executive Ben Calveley warned Rugby Australia to release Wallabies to the Super Rugby sides, the Lions have won most games comfortably. The Waratahs and Brumbies held the Lions to 11 and 12-point wins, respectively. Loading Asked if the tour games had been sufficiently testing to prepare the Lions for Test matches, Farrell said: 'The games that we've had have been testing, and if we win with 50 points the competition is not strong enough, but then if somebody puts a tough performance on us, it's us that's not good enough.'
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions channel Australian cricket great by forecasting 3-0 sweep of Wallabies
'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about, about being one of the best Lions teams ever,' Earl said last week. The current Lions squad have set their sights on becoming the first touring team in history, dating back to 1888, to return home having won every game. The mighty 1974 team, containing Wales' galaxy of stars, remained undefeated, but after winning 21 games in a row, they drew the fourth Test with the All Blacks. The 2025 team's claim would come with the caveat of having lost to Argentina in Dublin before they left, however. The Lions' first Test side will be named on Thursday, and it could contain two Australian-raised former Junior Wallabies in the starting side - winger Mack Hansen and inside centre Sione Tuipulotu. Though he didn't start in the stronger sides used against Queensland and the Brumbies, Hansen is admired by Lions coach Andy Farrell for his work rate and capacity to influence games. And a concussion to Irish centre Garry Ringrose has lifted Tuipulotu's chances, given his Scottish centre partner Huw Jones is favoured to take the No.13. The 'Huwipulotu' partnership is well established and in-form, and it could see the Melbourne-raised Tuipulotu given the nod over Bundee Aki for. 'I thought Hugh and Sione were very good so we've got a nice cover there,' Farrell said in Adelaide. 'Obviously, we had a discussion to be had after this game anyway, so who knows which way we would have gone because it was true what we said about leaving it open. 'I know that people think that you've got a fixed mind after Wednesday's game, but that's not the truth so we'll sit down and assess that game and then have a tough task in picking what's going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first one.' Asked if he looked at the Scottish duo as a pair, when it comes to selection, Farrell said: 'No, honestly, we don't. 'We look at what's right for the team. I can't remember ever looking at a sheet over the last three or four weeks and thinking that combination has to happen because of the country that it's from. That doesn't exist in the group and rightly so,' he said. After the furore created early in the tour when Lions chief executive Ben Calveley warned Rugby Australia to release Wallabies to the Super Rugby sides, the Lions have won most games comfortably. The Waratahs and Brumbies held the Lions to 11 and 12-point wins, respectively. Loading Asked if the tour games had been sufficiently testing to prepare the Lions for Test matches, Farrell said: 'The games that we've had have been testing, and if we win with 50 points the competition is not strong enough, but then if somebody puts a tough performance on us, it's us that's not good enough.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Anzac team should be quietly forgotten
The invitational side's drubbing in Adelaide was predictable, although the 48-0 scoreline was worse than expected because of a spiky British and Irish Lions performance that will give their coach Andy Farrell some selection headaches. There's no doubt the respective coaches and players in the AusNZ side got plenty out of the clash – who would say no to some bonding sessions and a game against the Lions at the end of it? – but for the people who really matter, the paying punters, the value of the concept is far less certain. There are definitely more worthy opponents for the Lions – Fiji beat Scotland in Suva at the weekend – and the smart money says the AusNZ team will not be part of the tour itinerary in New Zealand in four years' time. When the time is right after the current tour, it would not be a surprise to see the Lions blow up about the quality of opposition before the three Tests against the Wallabies. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto's impressive audition By selecting Josh Canham over Darcy Swain in the Wallabies squad, Joe Schmidt has signalled a preference for some more ball-carrying presence among his locks. That should mean the door isn't entirely closed on Lukhan Salakaia-Loto if injuries strike during the next three weeks. Salakaia-Loto certainly put himself about in Adelaide, and if there was one criticism of the Lions it was that they did look a little vulnerable to the heavy carries by Salakaia-Loto and Hoskins Sotutu in the first half. A lack of rugby might have counted against Salakaia-Loto's Wallabies hopes, but he has always been one of the few Wallabies who can genuinely put a dent in Test defensive lines. Farrell makes a mockery of selection furore Owen Farrell looked dialled in – and happy – in an impressive cameo for the Lions in Adelaide. Apart from his vast experience, his appeal is obvious: he can come at No.12 and give the Lions a wider attack with the breadth and accuracy of his passing. While the opposition wasn't as rigorous as the Lions might have liked, Farrell must be a reasonable chance of landing a bench role in the first Test next weekend. The Lions' midfield is probably their most contested selection area, but Farrell gives them something neither Bundee Aki nor Sione Tuipulotu can match off the bench, and he probably hasn't travelled thousands of kilometres to sit in the stands. Wallabies' huge call at loosehead
