‘There's not real confidence but there's a quiet resolve': bad cop Joe Schmidt back on familiar beat in Australia
The camera in Canberra lingered on a beaming Joe Schmidt like he was some sort of benevolent dictator, Brumbies scarf draped around his shoulders. The saviour of Australian rugby, in brilliant Technicolor.
Behind the smile, his mind was processing the information as it always does. The whole of Australian rugby hopes that Schmidt's logical brain will be the difference when it comes to taming these Lions next weekend. So much rests on his shoulders.
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North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Jack Conan says nerves mounting as Lions prepare to name first Test team
Six matches into their tour, all of them producing wins except the Dublin curtain-raiser against Argentina, and the Lions management have finalised selection for Saturday's series opener at Suncorp Stadium. The players will be told who has made the matchday 23 at a meeting on Wednesday and Conan believes the performances delivered over the last four weeks have not made selection easy. Tuesday Training 🏉 T minus 4 days to the 1st Test 🇦🇺🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 15, 2025 'Everyone will be a bit nervous, but everyone has gone incredibly well, especially in the back row,' said Conan, who is expected to be named at number eight when the team is officially announced on Thursday. 'It's tough for the coaches, I'm sure, and hopefully we've given them plenty of headaches over the last while. No matter who's been out there, they've taken their opportunity really well. 'It's about those lads who get to run out at the weekend to do right by the lads who aren't playing. 'It's going to be unbelievably special to play the first Test so hopefully everyone can make the most of it.' No area of the team has been more competitive than the back row, with Conan the closest thing to a certainty given he is the only specialist number eight in the 44-man squad in Australia. England duo Ollie Chessum and Tom Curry just hold the edge in the race to be picked as flankers, but Farrell is blessed with options in both positions. 'There's huge amounts of class and talent in the back row. It's been great to get to know the lads, to learn off them, to see how they do things and to push each other on as well,' Conan said. 'That level of talent pushes everyone on to be your best and I think everyone has been at their best. No one can say they've been poor over the last few weeks. 'Especially in the back row, the standard has been unbelievably high, so it's been a joy to play with the lads and get to know with them.'
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Guy Pepper enjoying dream England Tour debut in Argentina
Despite huge competition in the back row, he established himself as a key figure for Johann van Graan's men as they went onto win the treble – even scoring a stunning try in the final only for it to be disallowed for a knock-on earlier in the play. Pepper has since earned an international call-up, made his England debut in La Plata and then set up the series-clinching try in San Juan. At just 22, the back-rower now heads to the USA for the final leg of England's tour off the back of a near-perfect 12 months. He said: 'It's been unbelievable, the potential to do it with a different group has been class. Argentina is something that I didn't quite know what I'd experience, it's certainly different to what I thought it would be. Not for good or bad reasons, just different. It's been class and can't wait to go over to Washington next. Wrapping up our two-match series against Argentina in style 🏆 Relive the thrilling second Test in San Juan ⬇️ — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 14, 2025 'My parents got out for the first Test and they stayed on. They have been following us around, one of the few, but it's been great.' England arrived in Argentina without 13 British & Irish Lions, while co-captain Jamie George was a late withdrawal from the second Test before he heads Down Under to join up with the squad. In spite of that, England have managed to earn an impressive series win against Los Pumas, Pepper at the heart of the second victory breaking clear before sending Jack van Poortvliet over for the winning try one minute from time. England boss Steve Borthwick has raved about both the depth his team is developing, but also the spirit within his young squad and Pepper echoed those sentiments. He added: 'The group here has been great. The lads being away with the Lions gives the opportunity for a few boys who have been knocking on the door. Luke Northmore (the Harlequins centre who made his debut in the second Test) getting his cap, who I know has been in and around the squad for a while now. So it's exciting to get this opportunity and get 2-0 against Argentina. 'Argentina beat the Lions, we knew there was a challenge going to come our way. The way we have trained in the last few weeks now has been unbelievable and the spirit of the group has been class. The whole tightness of the group has been spot on. The way we have trained has transferred onto the pitch.' Purchase your tickets to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Jack Conan says nerves mounting as Lions prepare to name first Test team
Six matches into their tour, all of them producing wins except the Dublin curtain-raiser against Argentina, and the Lions management have finalised selection for Saturday's series opener at Suncorp Stadium. The players will be told who has made the matchday 23 at a meeting on Wednesday and Conan believes the performances delivered over the last four weeks have not made selection easy. Tuesday Training 🏉 T minus 4 days to the 1st Test 🇦🇺🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 15, 2025 'Everyone will be a bit nervous, but everyone has gone incredibly well, especially in the back row,' said Conan, who is expected to be named at number eight when the team is officially announced on Thursday. 'It's tough for the coaches, I'm sure, and hopefully we've given them plenty of headaches over the last while. No matter who's been out there, they've taken their opportunity really well. 'It's about those lads who get to run out at the weekend to do right by the lads who aren't playing. 'It's going to be unbelievably special to play the first Test so hopefully everyone can make the most of it.' No area of the team has been more competitive than the back row, with Conan the closest thing to a certainty given he is the only specialist number eight in the 44-man squad in Australia. England duo Ollie Chessum and Tom Curry just hold the edge in the race to be picked as flankers, but Farrell is blessed with options in both positions. 'There's huge amounts of class and talent in the back row. It's been great to get to know the lads, to learn off them, to see how they do things and to push each other on as well,' Conan said. 'That level of talent pushes everyone on to be your best and I think everyone has been at their best. No one can say they've been poor over the last few weeks. 'Especially in the back row, the standard has been unbelievably high, so it's been a joy to play with the lads and get to know with them.'
