Aussie trio set to roar for Lions in Argentina Test
The British and Irish Lions have thrust their three Australian stars into the team for their one-off Test against Argentina in Dublin that will launch their eagerly awaited tour Down Under.
Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu and Irish prop Finlay Bealham are both named in the starting lineup while Ireland wing Mack Hansen is among the replacements for Friday's contest, which will be the launchpad for the three-Test trip to take on the Wallabies.
It's a real boost for the three Australian-born players that they have been given first crack at playing in red for the Test side, which will be captained by England's Mario Itoje.
Itoje leads a starting XV that will feature English playmakers Marcus Smith at fullback, and Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith in the halves.
Coach Andy Farrell has put his faith in Scottish skipper Tuipulotu in a centre partnership with Ireland's Bundee Aki after the Melburnian returned from being injured for much of this season.
Canberra's Bealham has been pushed straight into the lineup after only being drafted in as a late addition to the squad last week because of Scot Zander Fagerson's injury withdrawal.
Hansen, one of Farrell's favourites when he was coaching Ireland, will get his chance to show off his mercurial skills from off the bench.
Hansen's compatriot Tadhg Furlong will be given the opportunity to prove his fitness after struggling with a calf injury that ruled him out of Leinster's United Rugby Championship final victory over the Bulls.
"Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time. It's a truly special moment and one that very few players ever get to experience," Farrell said.
"Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team."
The three Australian players will be among 14 players in all making their Lions debut against the Pumas.
Argentina have named a much-changed line-up with a first start for centre Justo Piccardo and three potential debutants off the bench.
Coach Felipe Contepomi has taken the opportunity to blood several new players in the matchday 23, though the side will be led by an old hand in hooker Julian Montoya.
Tomas Albornoz has been selected at flyhalf and forms the halfback pairing with Gonzalo Garcia, while Piccardo and Lucio Cinti are the centres.
British & Irish Lions team:
15 Marcus Smith (England), 14 Tommy Freeman (England), 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), 12 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), 10 Fin Smith (England), 9 Alex Mitchell (England); 1 Ellis Genge (England), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 3 Finlay Bealham (Ireland), 4 Maro Itoje (England, capt), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6 Tom Curry (England), 7 Jac Morgan (Wales), 8 Ben Earl (England). Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), 17 Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), 18 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 19 Scott Cummings (Scotland), 20 Henry Pollock (England), 21 Tomos Williams (Wales), 22 Elliot Daly (England), 23 Mack Hansen (Ireland).
Argentina team:
15. Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (capt), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martín Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquín Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.
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The 15-time tour winner was the runner-up at the US Women's Open three weeks ago but hasn't won in nine starts this season. With The AP. Australia's women's golf stars are saluting the "huge" opportunities as they eye not only major championship glory but the equal-biggest purse in the sport's history. Former champion Hannah Green and dual major winner Minjee Lee will spearhead a nine-strong Australian challenge vying for a monster $US12 million ($A18.5 million) pot at this week's Women's PGA Championship in Texas. Like at the US Open earlier this month, Sunday's winner is set to receive a whopping $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million) after officials on Wednesday morning revealed 15 per cent increase in this year's total prize pool. "I just saw that email about 20 minutes ago actually, that it had increased another couple of million. Yeah, it's huge," Karis Davidson said on a Zoom call from the US. "Women's sports and golf is definitely growing and trending in the right direction. "I don't know if it'll ever be on par with the men's, but it's definitely improving and the LPGA is doing the best they can to improve our tour." Playing the event for the first time since 2023, Davidson is thrilled to be back on the big stage after taking six months out of golf last year while feeling disillusioned. The revitalised 26-year-old enters the season's third major championship fresh off a career-best tied for seventh at last week's LPGA Meijer Classic, having held a share of the halfway lead in Michigan. "Just coming back, I have a new perspective with the game," Davidson said. "I wouldn't say it's just because I'm playing well. I have had these good results due to enjoyment." The Queenslander is certainly enjoying the perks back on tour, while also bracing for a true test at the Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco course."You can really feel it when you turn up to the course," Davidson said. "It's just the set-up is different and you can really feel like you're at a major. Like, in our locker room this week we have menus for food and trust me talking about food. "But the course is set up longer and tougher and everyone's out there really grinding. "It's my privilege to be able to compete in a major again." Steph Kyriacou, Gabriela Ruffels, Grace Kim, Cassie Porter, Hira Naveed and Robyn Choi round out the Australian contingent in Texas. While Davidson was happily dining with Airbnb housemates Green and Kyriacou on Tuesday night, world No.1 Nelly Korda was conspicuously absent from the traditional champions dinner because of a sore neck. The American had therapeutic tape on the back of her neck when she spoke to the media on Tuesday. Korda skipped two tournaments during the LPGA Tour's Asia swing because of a minor neck injury, but said she would be ready for Thursday's first round. "I hit a shot out of the rough and my neck went into a full spasm," Korda said, adding that she felt better but also acknowledged that it was impacting her swing and preparation. "Obviously with the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to. "But I have a great (physical therapist) who takes care of me. Trying to work through it, but I'll be ready by Thursday." The 15-time tour winner was the runner-up at the US Women's Open three weeks ago but hasn't won in nine starts this season. With The AP. Australia's women's golf stars are saluting the "huge" opportunities as they eye not only major championship glory but the equal-biggest purse in the sport's history. Former champion Hannah Green and dual major winner Minjee Lee will spearhead a nine-strong Australian challenge vying for a monster $US12 million ($A18.5 million) pot at this week's Women's PGA Championship in Texas. Like at the US Open earlier this month, Sunday's winner is set to receive a whopping $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million) after officials on Wednesday morning revealed 15 per cent increase in this year's total prize pool. "I just saw that email about 20 minutes ago actually, that it had increased another couple of million. Yeah, it's huge," Karis Davidson said on a Zoom call from the US. "Women's sports and golf is definitely growing and trending in the right direction. "I don't know if it'll ever be on par with the men's, but it's definitely improving and the LPGA is doing the best they can to improve our tour." Playing the event for the first time since 2023, Davidson is thrilled to be back on the big stage after taking six months out of golf last year while feeling disillusioned. The revitalised 26-year-old enters the season's third major championship fresh off a career-best tied for seventh at last week's LPGA Meijer Classic, having held a share of the halfway lead in Michigan. "Just coming back, I have a new perspective with the game," Davidson said. "I wouldn't say it's just because I'm playing well. I have had these good results due to enjoyment." The Queenslander is certainly enjoying the perks back on tour, while also bracing for a true test at the Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco course."You can really feel it when you turn up to the course," Davidson said. "It's just the set-up is different and you can really feel like you're at a major. Like, in our locker room this week we have menus for food and trust me talking about food. "But the course is set up longer and tougher and everyone's out there really grinding. "It's my privilege to be able to compete in a major again." Steph Kyriacou, Gabriela Ruffels, Grace Kim, Cassie Porter, Hira Naveed and Robyn Choi round out the Australian contingent in Texas. While Davidson was happily dining with Airbnb housemates Green and Kyriacou on Tuesday night, world No.1 Nelly Korda was conspicuously absent from the traditional champions dinner because of a sore neck. The American had therapeutic tape on the back of her neck when she spoke to the media on Tuesday. Korda skipped two tournaments during the LPGA Tour's Asia swing because of a minor neck injury, but said she would be ready for Thursday's first round. "I hit a shot out of the rough and my neck went into a full spasm," Korda said, adding that she felt better but also acknowledged that it was impacting her swing and preparation. "Obviously with the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to. "But I have a great (physical therapist) who takes care of me. Trying to work through it, but I'll be ready by Thursday." The 15-time tour winner was the runner-up at the US Women's Open three weeks ago but hasn't won in nine starts this season. With The AP.
