Praise for Lynagh & 'Aussie' Lion returns
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The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
No doubts for Owen Farrell after late call to Lions tour
Owen Farrell did not hesitate to answer the call to join his fourth British and Irish Lions tour even though he was aware of the potential 'poison' his involvement might generate. Farrell captains the Lions for the first time in Tuesday's match against the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium, 17 days after arriving in Australia as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly. The former England captain had just finished a testimonial golf day for former Saracens team-mate Jackson Wray when his father Andy called with the invitation to join the squad. Mechanical issues with his car meant he was able to disappear to answer the phone without raising the suspicions of his golf partners. 'When I got asked to come, the first thing that popped into my head was 'yes',' Farrell said. 'It wasn't a discussion. Elliot got a knock and I got a phone call. 'Can you get ready?' and I said 'Yeah.' That was it. I wanted to take the opportunity and I'm glad I'm here.' Until his cameo against AUNZ on July 12, his most recent international appearance was at the 2023 World Cup, after which he stepped back from England to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing. It was a response to the vitriol that ensued after he was banned for a high tackle against Wales in the build-up to the tournament and the booing he received during England's march to the semi-finals. The 33-year-old struggles to comprehend why he is such a polarising figure but has learned to deal with the darker moments by retaining perspective, while 'making sure I look after myself and giving myself a break'. 'I understand that times are different now,' he said. 'Sometimes it catches fire and just takes a life of its own and goes wherever it goes and there's momentum behind it. But no, I don't always understand it. 'The good and the bad – both are a poison. That's not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us. 'If you go and knock on someone's door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn't really listen to their answer. The people that I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people. Your mates. 'Not to say that people will just pat you on the back because you have people who will tell you how it is, but they'll give you a real answer. If you do that and you're in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it. 'Because there are times where people can say this, that and the other and it just go over your head. And there's times where you're not in the best place of all time and you're almost waiting for something to set you off.' Farrell – the Lions' most experienced player – roomed with the squad's youngest in 20-year-old Henry Pollock when the squad were in Canberra to face the ACT Brumbies. 'He's fascinating. Fascinating. What did I learn about him that I can tell you?! He's brilliant. His energy is nuts. He's always on,' Farrell said of the rising star of English rugby. 'He's always taking the mick out of people. He's got no regard for what anyone's done in the past or anything like that. He looks like he's being himself, which is brilliant.'
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Owen Farrell opens up on his Lions return, social media ‘poison' and new-found perspective
Many a young British traveller claim to have found themselves during a year abroad; perhaps Owen Farrell really has. It is a Monday evening in Melbourne and Farrell is sat at Marvel Stadium as a British and Irish Lions captain, a situation that feels remarkable given his initial omission from the tour party. It may only be the midweek meeting with the First Nations & Pasifika XV for which Farrell has been installed as skipper but across an illuminating half-hour, the qualities that have made him such a valuable late addition become perfectly clear. The focus, the winning edge, the emphasis on the team – they do not come as a surprise. The joviality and a willingness to open up about a tricky 18 months? That's rather more unexpected. This is, of course, a figure known for being publicly more taciturn than talkative, as guarded an individual as one will come across in rugby. But as he bares sections of his soul, and cracks jokes about the antics of his Canberra roommate Henry Pollock, this is a different Farrell – one, pleasingly, in a far better head space than the player who stepped away from England duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 'I just got asked to come on tour and I thought I'd love to,' Farrell explains. 'I went and did something different for a while, and I'm coming back now, but it was just where I was at the time and the opportunity that was there. I wanted to take it and I'm glad I'm here. 'I appreciated my time in France. It obviously didn't go well and I was injured for a large period of it but I don't regret it. I'm happy with being back. There's loads left in me and I'm just determined to enjoy it. I'm really enjoying this tour.' Ostensibly the playmaker is here to talk about tomorrow's tour encounter, but he and all involved are aware of the questions likely to come. It is the first time that the 33-year-old has spoken at length since being summoned after the injury to Elliot Daly, a call that plenty in rugby expected to come but still met with plenty of noise. Farrell junior fielded his father's call while on the golf course celebrating the testimonial of old Saracens chum Jackson Wray – 'it was his testimonial about four years ago, but he still had a golf day,' Farrell quips. Having snuck away from playing partner Alex Goode, the decision to accept the call-up came quickly, despite a sabbatical from England duty that is still, technically, ongoing. He arrived here not laden with an expectation of earning a Test shirt but simply to do his best for the team. Naturally, the drive to be the best never dims but Farrell himself concedes that he is touring with a different mindset to how he'd have dealt with this situation five years ago. 'I think the most important thing is that I come here be myself, help and then see where that goes,' he says. 'And genuinely, I'm not saying that but don't mean it. I mean it. We'll see what happens.' Several times he is pressed on a possible England return; several times he gently brushes it away. A move back to Saracens after his struggles with Racing 92 will again make him available to Steve Borthwick – with three English fly halves on tour in Australia but new centurion George Ford in as good a form as any of them, big decisions loom. That discussion can wait, though, for Farrell has not fully made up his mind what comes next. What he knows, though, is that he is enjoying his rugby deeply in Australia having joined a select group of four-time tourists. Tuesday's match in Melbourne will be his 20th in Lions red – for a squad short of those who have experienced a proper tour, the acuity accumulated is invaluable. Farrell is clear, though, that his goal is to make the most of his time in Australia. How does he do that? 'Take it for what it is,' he suggests. 'Have some perspective. There are obviously a lot of external factors that can creep in but ultimately, it's up to me how I am. Making sure I'm looking after myself, making sure I'm giving myself a break at times. 'I'm not someone who needs revving up too much. it's normally the other way of coming back down and relaxing. So having some perspective and making sure I look after myself in that way will, I think, lead to me being more myself.' It is encouraging to hear Farrell talk in such terms after stepping away from the international arena to prioritise his mental well-being in November of 2023. Again, though, his call-up for this trip was met with a reaction beyond that which would have been received by any other player. Does Farrell understand why he generates such strong opinions in each direction? 'Not really.' What does he make of the social media praise and criticism? 'Both are a poison. The good and the bad. That's not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us. 'If you go and knock on someone's door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn't really listen to their answer. The people that I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people. Your mates. Not to say people will just pat you on the back, you know that you have people who will tell you how it is but they'll give you a real answer. I think if you if you do that and you're in a good place yourself then you can deal with it.'
Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Wales appoint Steve Tandy as new head coach
The 45-year-old Welshman will become the permanent successor to Warren Gatland on September 1 following almost six years as Scotland's defence coach. Tandy is tasked with reviving his country's fortunes after their record 18-match losing run finally ended on July 12 with a 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe. His first match in charge will be on Sunday, November 9 against Argentina in Cardiff, which will be followed by meetings with Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa on the following three weekends. 🚨 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 🏴 The WRU is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Tandy as the new Head Coach of the men's senior national side. 🤝#CymruAmByth — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 21, 2025 'Becoming head coach of my home country is a massive honour and a privilege,' said Tandy, who will lead Wales into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. 'I am looking forward to playing a role in the rebuilding phase of Welsh rugby and taking the national team back to competing with the best countries in the world. 'I am excited about the potential of Welsh rugby and the group of young, hardworking players we have.' Gatland's second spell as Wales boss ended in February on the back of a 22-15 defeat to Italy in the second round of this year's Six Nations. Matt Sherratt took over on a temporary basis and oversaw defeats to Ireland, Scotland and England before leading this summer's two-match tour of Japan, which began on July 5 with a 24-19 loss in Kitakyushu. Matt Sherratt guided Wales on a temporary basis (Jane Barlow/PA) Tonmawr-born Tandy was head coach of Ospreys between 2012 and 2018, which included winning the PRO12 title in his first season, before serving as defence coach for Australian side the Waratahs. The former flanker was also part of Gatland's backroom staff for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa in 2021. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'After a thorough and detailed appointment process, Steve emerged as the standout candidate, and we know we have secured the very best coach for the job. 'This is a keystone appointment for us and an integral part of our five-year strategy as we look to achieve sustainable success for our senior men's side. 'Steve fits the bill in terms of the affinity he will be able to create with a young group of players with huge potential, but also the galvanising effect we know he can have on the whole rugby ecosystem as a proud Welshman . 'Our task now is to ensure Steve has the support and resources he needs to succeed in this role.'
