
Red hot Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne set out Lions stall leaving Wallabies an uphill task
Some notable performance justified Andy Farrell's selection, particularly in the back row, showing that there's a lot more to team selection.
Public focus was on most recent form, whereas Farrell proved why he's the man in charge with his selection of Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry.
The Beirne selection was less surprising.
He's one of the head coach's go-to guys in the Irish team and there are much clearer intangible attributes to Beirne.
The Kildare man is a captain and leader while being a dominant setpiece player.
It wasn't a case of whether Beirne would start, it was more about whether he would play in the second row or back row.
While accepting his player of the match award after the 27-19 win, Beirne discussed his recent form being poorer than he would have liked, yet unsurprisingly, he stepped up when the challenge was at its highest and he put in a standout performance.
Beirne won a penalty in the breakdown within 20 seconds, giving the Lions an immediate 3-0 lead, which meant that Australia were under pressure from the beginning.
Aside from his leading tackle count, Beirne had two breakdown turnovers and a crucial maul turnover when Australia were beginning to find some momentum.
As Farrell said, Beirne is a Test-match animal, and he justified his selection after receiving some criticism during the week.
The more surprising selection was Curry, considering the form and quality of other players in the back row.
While the Sale forward won't give you the same volume of match moments as Beirne, or the other back-row options for that matter, everything that Curry does is of the highest intensity.
Not only did he set the physical tone for the Lions from his very first tackle, Curry was clever in his work rate and impacted the game at crucial times.
He certainly strikes me as a guy that thinks his way through the game, and prepares himself both mentally and physically behind the scenes.
Australia's Tom Lynagh made his starting debut on Saturday.
His timing was pretty poor in attack, contributing to a lot of clunky play from the home side.
However, Curry was a thorn in his side and disrupted any chance that Lynagh had of leading a cohesive attack.
Joe Schmidt had clearly set Australia up for a clever move off their first scrum launch play.
Teams often use a dummy play down the short side of a ruck or scrum to force the opposition back field to move across to that side.
They then throw the ball back in the other direction to a more vulnerable defence because the backfield are out of position from chasing hard on the initial side.
The Wallabies tried that in the first play, but when the ball was flashed back across the scrum to Lynagh running flat, Curry was aware and rushed the young out-half.
It meant that centre Len Ikitau's timing off Lynagh was poor and the Australian out-half's kick to the manipulated back field didn't hit its mark.
It's a small thing and might not be caught upon your first watch of the game, but small, sharp moments like this is what makes Curry shine in Test matches.
He stayed up field and alive in the defensive line, despite the ball being thrown in the other direction.
It might sound basic, but top internationals do the basics consistently and effectively. Club players switch off in that moment, Curry didn't.
He had another standout moment from an Australian lineout overthrow move.
The England international cut out the throw, offloaded to Finn Russell who sent Huw Jones into space.
Curry didn't stop and admire his contribution.
He raced around in support and when Jones faded onto a Russell pass to create a 3 v 2 situation on the right-hand touchline, Curry was on hand to finish the 2 v 1 after receiving the pass from Russell and Dan Sheehan (below) finished in the corner.
They're small moments that make big impacts.
These are moments that don't show up on the stats sheet.
Curry won't have the same volume of actions as Jac Morgan or Josh van der Flier, something that was used as evidence against his selection during last week.
However, when you notice the impact of the moments that he has, he more than justified the chance that Farrell gave him, in an unbelievably competitive position.
International rugby doesn't rely on the same volume of efforts as club rugby.
The ball-in-play time is often lower and players contribute equally.
At club level you get top players doing the work of others.
At international level that's rarely needed. Curry fit into a system and when called upon, he gave everything in the moment.
He played on the edge, and might have been penalised or even carded at times, but good players can play on the edge and find a way to stay out of trouble.
Curry did that for the Lions last weekend and he had a huge part to play in the dominant parts of their victory.
It's not to say that Van der Flier, Morgan or Henry Pollock wouldn't have contributed very positively to a Lions win, they probably would have. Curry certainly did.
Farrell can enjoy the first victory, knowing that when his selection was questioned, the players that he showed loyalty to, paid him back in spades.
He'll have to prove his value as a coach once more next week in what is arguably the most difficult game.
Win and the series is over as a contest, with a freebie to finish off the tour.
Lose and it's a draw with all the momentum against the Lions.
There'll be a few impactful players returning to the wounded Wallabies.
I'm not sure they'll have enough impact to turn this Test series around. The hosts were pretty poor for large parts of the game.
The Lions indiscipline left the Wallabies back into the game.
With their replacement half-backs, Australia showed that they have something to build on.
You'd expect Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson to take control from the start on Saturday and give Schmidt's side a better chance of competing in the opening quarter, instead of playing for pride in the closing one.
The Lions will make some changes too.
Their bench didn't provide the punch that Farrell would have expected.
McCarthy's injury might force at least one change, otherwise I think the starting pack will be the same, with a greater chance of changes coming onto the bench and potentially a back-three player.
It's still all to play for and Australia could pull off a surprise this weekend.
However, they didn't have enough punch across the pitch last week, and I don't think the return of Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and even a few others are going to tame this Lions tour.

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Irish Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Lions star once compared to Beckham and dated Charlotte Church now works in pub
Once hailed as 'the David Beckham of rugby', Gavin Henson was on the brink of joining the sport's legends. There was a period when Wales' golden lad was frequently in the news, and not always for his exploits on the pitch. As the British and Irish Lions gear up to clinch a series win over Australia this Saturday, fans will remember Henson's contribution to the 2005 tour of New Zealand. The adaptable fly-half and centre, who later flaunted his dance skills on Strictly Come Dancing during a rugby hiatus, travelled to New Zealand as part of the squad that took on a legendary All Blacks team. Henson's glitzy image extended off the field, particularly due to his high-profile romance with singer Charlotte Church. Since hanging up his boots, the Welshman has kept himself occupied as the successful landlord of a pub near his residence, and Wales Online delves into Henson's Lions stint and his life after rugby. Gavin Henson's Lions tour Henson's time with the Lions was short and somewhat sour. Taking on New Zealand, who were world champions at the time, was an intimidating task even for the most seasoned players, reports Wales Online. At just 23, Henson was picked by coach Clive Woodward to join the Lions on their tour, making five appearances that summer. This included playing inside centre in the second Test, which ended in a crushing 48-18 defeat to the hosts, who went on to win the series 3-0. Unfortunately, Henson bore some responsibility for New Zealand's opening try in that Wellington encounter. His missed tackle on Dan Carter allowed the All Blacks to race 70 metres upfield, with skipper Tana Umaga crossing for the hosts' first score. (Image: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) A troublesome stinger injury ruled Henson out of the third Test, despite having bagged two tries against Southland previously. By that stage, though, the Lions' chances of success had already evaporated after suffering a second straight Test defeat. More recently, Henson correctly forecast that head coach Andy Farrell would pick his son, Owen, for the squad. He also put forward the intriguing proposition that England's Fin Smith should get the nod ahead of Scotland's Finn Russell for the Tests, though this hasn't materialised. "The No. 10 spot is a big decision for Farrell to make... probably the biggest," he told The Rugby Paper in June. "Personally, I would start with Smith. He brings other players around him into the game, whereby with Finn Russell it is more of an individual thing. You need to bring the whole game around him – and I'm not sure we have the time with the limited warm-up games to do that." What is Gavin Henson's net worth? Determining an exact figure for Henson's current wealth is tricky, but Yahoo! earlier this year estimated his worth at around £800,000. This estimate is largely based on his rugby career, with little information available about his current earnings from running The Fox pub and any other business ventures he may have. Henson first made a name for himself playing for Swansea before moving to the Ospreys, who were then a formidable force in European rugby. This move led to him securing a four-year contract with the region in 2005, which The Guardian reported was worth £750,000 (almost £190,000 annually before tax). In the early days of professional rugby, such a sum represented a massive payday, particularly for someone just starting their career. After that deal ended, Henson played for several clubs including Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and the Dragons, although he never quite managed to recapture the brilliance of his early rise. After retiring from rugby at Newport in 2019, the versatile star quickly moved into the hospitality industry by becoming the landlord of The Fox (formerly The Fox and Hounds). Today, Henson has turned his venture into a roaring success, often promoting his brand through speaking engagements. (Image: Mark Lewis) In conversation with The Times, he said: "I was coming to the end of my career, and it [the pub] had been sat here for 18 months, two years. It was not nice for the village, and I needed something to do after rugby and to be busy, not to mourn rugby and get depressed, as they say everyone does. "But be careful what you wish for because this is so full-on. We want to feel like we've achieved something with the pub. We're perfectionists. We're all about the detail." Charlotte Church romance Henson's relationship with Church became public in 2005 when he was at his rugby peak. Their first child, daughter Ruby, arrived in September 2007. The pair then welcomed son Dexter in January 2009 and appeared headed for the altar after becoming engaged that year. However, wedding plans were cancelled in mid-2010 when Henson and Church decided to go their separate ways. Their five-year relationship was constantly under the spotlight, with extensive coverage in newspapers and celebrity magazines. This relentless media scrutiny likely played a major role in their breakup, as both Henson and Church had faced intense public attention since their early careers began. The former couple have remained tight-lipped about why they separated, though Church told Heat Magazine it was a joint choice: "When he proposed, I was overjoyed. It was amazing. I really was going to marry Gav and spend the rest of my life with him. (Image: Dave M. Benett, Getty Images) "But then he came back from Norway [where he filmed reality show 71 Degrees North], and he'd changed, and I'd had time to think. We had both had a change of heart, so we were both of the same mind." Now, it's understood they keep an amicable relationship whilst raising their teenage children together. Henson has since moved forward and wed Katie Wilson Mould in 2019, whilst Church married musician Jonathan Powell in 2017.

The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Here's the Lions team - including nine Irish starters - for Saturday's second Test
Murray Kinsella Reports from Melbourne ANDY FARRELL HAS brought Bundee Aki, Andrew Porter, and Ollie Chessum into his Lions starting XV for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies in Melbourne [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports]. Despite Joe McCarthy missing out due to injury, Ireland head coach Farrell is calling on nine Irish starters in his Lions team as he looks to clinch the series at the MCG. Porter comes in at loosehead prop as Ellis Genge drops to the bench, meaning it's an all-Irish starting front row of Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong. Chessum starts in the second row in place of McCarthy, who has a foot injury. Maro Itoje captains the side again, while the back row of Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, and Jack Conan is unchanged. Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell continue as the halfbacks, but there's a change at inside centre as Aki comes in for Sione Tuipulotu, who is left out of the matchday 23 altogether. Having initially been selected to start, Garry Ringrose misses out due to a head injury, as Huw Jones instead continues at number 13. The back three of James Lowe, Tommy Freeman, and Hugo Keenan is unchanged. There are a few fresh faces on the Lions bench, with Ireland's James Ryan, Wales' Jac Morgan, England's Owen Farrell, and Scotland's Blair Kinghorn included. Meanwhile, Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has brought heavy hitters Will Skelton and Rob Valetini into his starting XV for the second Test. Second row Skelton and back row Valetini missed last weekend due to calf injuries. Advertisement Hooker Dave Porecki also comes into the Wallabies team, while back row Langi Gleeson returns from injury as part of a 6/2 split on the bench Lions: 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Huw Jones 12. Bundee Aki 11. James Lowe 10. Finn Russell 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Maro Itoje (captain) 5. Ollie Chessum 6. Tadhg Beirne 7. Tom Curry 8. Jack Conan Replacements : 16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Ellis Genge 18. Will Stuart 19. James Ryan 20. Jac Morgan 21. Alex Mitchell 22. Owen Farrell 23. Blair Kinghorn Australia: 15. Tom Wright 14. Max Jorgensen 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Harry Potter 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Jake Gordon 1. James Slipper 2. David Porecki 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Rob Valetini 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (captain) Replacements : 16. Billy Pollard 17. Angus Bell 18. Tom Robertson 19. Jeremy Williams 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Carlo Tizzano 22. Tate McDermott 23. Ben Donaldson Referee : Andrea Piardi [Italy].


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Australia v Lions: Second Test minute-by-minute live updates
10.20am For Ronan O'Gara, Melbourne offers the Wallabies a final lifeline — but Joe Schmidt's side must find belief before it's too late. " Will Skelton has more than a role for himself this weekend, he has a role for Australian rugby. He needs to play well which will give belief to his teammates," O'Gara writes. "Joe Schmidt clearly didn't like his chances of going deep into the first test but will need his lock and back row Rob Valetini to go for an hour in Melbourne and help sow doubts into the tourists by ensuring, minimum, it's a one or two-score game at that stage." British & Irish Lions scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park arrives. Pic: Billy Stickland 10.17am Here's the team news for the second Test. Rob Valetini and Will Skelton are the big story out of the Wallabies squad. Their inclusion is vital for their hopes of tying the series. AUSTRALIA: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, David Porecki, Alan Alaalatoa; Nick Frost, Will Skelton; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson – captain. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: H Keenan (Ireland); T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), B Aki (Ireland), J Lowe (Ireland); F Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); A Porter (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, O Chessum (England); T Beirne (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), E Genge (England), W Stuart (England), J Ryan (Ireland), J Morgan (Wales), A Mitchell (England), O Farrell (England), B Kinghorn (Scotland).