Itoje insists there will be no repeat of 'geography six' as Scots trio join up
Scottish trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham are set to join Andy Farrell's squad in the coming week, boosting the team size to 44 following the inclusion of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George and Tom Clarkson.
These new recruits have been drafted in to provide cover, ensuring key players won't have to play in the Test series whilst also featuring in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Farrell's decision to turn to those from Scotland's tour of nearby New Zealand has evoked memories of eight years ago when Finn Russell, Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davie joined Warren Gatland's Lions.
Picked because of their geographical location with their national sides and not on merit, they were shunned by some squad members and Gatland later revealed that internal concern over 'devaluing the jersey' forced him to not deploy them off the bench against the Hurricanes.
Itoje's Lions will take a different approach with their captain declaring 'we are all in this together'.
'I have no doubt that they will be welcomed in,' said Itoje ahead of the Saturday's first Test in Brisbane.
'The boss, Andy, has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series.
'All of the players who have been called in are quality players. They are players like everyone else in the team, have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career.
'We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways.
'I have no doubt that everyone who has called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal.'
Meanwhile, Itoje has doubled down on Henry Pollock's revelation that the Lions are determined to complete a series whitewash of Australia – an aim that has been noted by the hosts.
'That's definitely the ambition. It goes without saying – no one ever wants to lose a game,' Itoje said.
'It would be a bit weird if one of my team-mates said we want to win two and lose one.
'If you asked any of the Wallabies players, I hope it's also their ambition to win all the games.
'We want to win, but all we're focussed on is this Saturday. The other two games will look after itself.'
After playing four matches in four different states in 11 days, the Lions are based in Brisbane where preparations for the first Test have begun,
'We know there's going to be a big step up. As we get closer and closer to the game, we'll sharpen and sharpen,' Itoje said.
'There's a healthy tension in the squad because we know this is what we've been working towards.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
25 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Garry Ringrose ruled out of Lions' third Test against Wallabies
Garry Ringrose has been ruled out of the Lions' third Test against Australia this Saturday due to concussion. British & Irish Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman confirmed that the Ireland centre, who missed the first two Tests having reported delayed symptoms before each of the matches against the Wallabies, had been required to enter the 12-day return to play protocols a second time. Having missed the first Test in Brisbane after being stood down 12 days following his initial head injury, Ringrose returned for the Lions against the First Nations & Pasifika XV last Tuesday. He was then selected by head coach Andy Farrell for the second Test but experienced a return of his symptoms before the team was announced publicly, which prompted this second stand-down period. 'He's disappointed as you can imagine,' Goodman said following Tuesday's training session at North Sydney's Shore School. 'Garry was playing some amazing rugby through this tour and someone you know who it's been a dream of his for so long to represent the Lions and he's managed to do that. But he wanted to be a Test-match Lion so it's been devastating for him. 'To his credit he's been good around the group. As you can imagine, anyone that knows Garry, he's a great lad and a team man so the boys have all been disappointed for him. Obviously he's disappointed for himself but he's getting around everyone and making sure he helps prepare everyone as much as he can. 'He's a real leader for us in terms our backline in particular, so he's been great.' The Lions welcomed Mack Hansen, Joe McCarthy and Sione Tuipulotu back to full training on Tuesday as focus turned to securing a 3-0 series sweep this weekend. Wing Hansen had sustained a foot injury in the final game before the first Test, lock McCarthy picked up a foot injury during the series opener while Tuipulotu was ruled out of the second Test with a tight hamstring. 'For this time of tour it's amazing how many people we've got available,' Goodman said. 'Unfortunately Garry has been ruled out of this Test match, but we have Mack, Joe, Sione all out there running today, so they're in contention.' Asked specifically about Hansen, who had been in contention for a Test place on the right wing before his injury against the AUSNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide, the Lions attack coach said: 'I think everyone was impressed with Mack's efforts off the ball through the opportunities he's had; work rate kick-chase, scramble defence, he works really well off his wing to make an extra number on the long edges. 'He communicates very well and I think all of the inside backs appreciate his composure off the ball and the chat he gives. It's been a big strength of his, his work off the ball but also his composure and the way he sees the game. 'He grew up playing a lot of 10 so he's really smart around what he sees and making the right calls off the back of that.' Goodman also spoke about the motivation within the Lions camp to complete a series whitewash over Australia at Accor Stadium this Saturday and finish the tour unbeaten in nine games on Australian soil, though they did lose to Argentina in Dublin on the eve of their departure Down Under. 'It's huge. It's everything for us as a group to get excited about. It was 1974 the last time a Lions team went through the Test series unbeaten, so there's huge motivation for the group. It's one of those weeks where after two hard physical Tests it's about getting the battery filled up and making sure we're good to go by the end of the week.'
Irish Examiner
25 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Don't question our commitment to player welfare, World Rugby tells Joe Schmidt
WORLD Rugby have criticised Joe Schmidt's comments questioning the governing body's commitment to player welfare following the controversial Australia-Lions clearout decision but the Wallabies boss will escape disciplinary action, CEO Alan Gilpin said on Tuesday. Schmidt, a former World Rugby director of rugby and high performance, was left seething following his team's 29-26 second-Test defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Saturday. His anger was directed at the match officials' decision not to award a penalty, when Lions back-rower Jac Morgan cleared out Australia's Carlo Tizzano at a ruck in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's last-minute winning try that secured the series victory for the tourists. TMO Eric Gauzins and referee Andrea Piardi decided there was no foul play in Morgan's actions, though Schmidt and his players felt the Lions player made high contact above the shoulder line on the back of Tizzano's neck as he jackaled over the ball. In his post-match media conference, the former Ireland boss cited rugby's law 9.20b: 'A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders. Sanction: Penalty.' 'I think everyone can make their own decision on that,' Schmidt had said. 'You just have to read law 9.20 and you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision when two players are described as arriving at the same time. Just watch the footage.' Asked how a referee and officials could get such a decision wrong, as the Australia head coach suggested, Schmidt replied: 'Because they are human. Players make errors. Match officials make errors. 'Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they are talking about. You cannot hit someone above the levels of the shoulders and there's no bind with the left arm, his hand is on the ground. That's what we have seen.' UNHAPPY: Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt Gilpin was speaking as World Cup 2027 hosts Australia launched their ticketing plan for the tournament and opened his official speech at the event by attempting to draw a line under the Morgan-Tizzano incident. 'Emotions understandably run very high when a compelling and fiercely contested match such as the one we saw goes down to the wire,' the World Rugby CEO said. 'In those tight contests, decisions made in crucial moments inevitably drive a lot of scrutiny. 'While, from a World Rugby perspective, we always say we do not publicly comment on match officials' decisions, given the nature of the commentary surrounding last weekend, we just want to express our support for the match officials involved. 'There is no other position on the field that is under the scrutiny our match officials are under, and yet they do an incredible job under that pressure they are under in a live environment. I think it is fair to say that when the refereeing groups review decisions, they review them with the coaches and across the game. 'We are always proud to support our officials in that review process and that is what we are doing now and in the coming days with our colleagues from Australia and the Lions. So suffice to say we won't be taking any further questions.' Yet Gilpin did speak to media after the event and said: 'I think it is disappointing when the reaction is one of, 'this means player welfare isn't taken seriously', because we have worked really hard on that narrative. 'Everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda. You can see that from what we are doing with the instrumented mouthguards, all the research, the science, the investigations. 'The way the laws of the game have evolved in the last few years is all about, 'How do we have this great physical contest, but make it as safe as possible?'. That part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements (by Schmidt), but we have a fantastic sport, played in front of an amazing crowd; an amazing game – it's going to create talking points. We know that. As long as that continues to be a respectful debate then we've all got to lean into it.' As for whether Schmidt had said enough to warrant disciplinary action from the sport's governing body, Gilpin said: 'No, look, I think a lot of emotion, understandably. The Wallabies had a chance to win an amazing Test match, so we understand the emotion involved in that. 'Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have got a tough job to do. He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don't think he's called the integrity of our match officials into question.'
The Irish Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘An amazing trainer' – JP McManus & Ruby Walsh pay heartfelt tributes to Edward O'Grady at Galway Races
JP McManus and Ruby Walsh led tributes to legendary trainer Edward O'Grady on day one of the Galway Races Festival. A shadow was cast over Monday's card when word emerged of 3 O'Grady was the pre-eminent Irish force at Cheltenham before Willie Mullins Credit: PA 3 He and McManus went way back together Credit: @RTETwo 3 Walsh paid him a fitting tribute at the outset of RTE's coverage from Galway Credit: @RTETwo Jockey great Walsh acknowledged that reality He stated: "Unfortunately, the week has begun on a sombre note as we learnt this morning of the passing of legendary trainer Edward O'Grady. "He trained his first winner back in 1972...53 years as a trainer is a lifetime given to this sport and may he rest in peace." Billionaire owner McManus had a long working relationship with O'Grady which he reflected on with Read More On Irish Sport The 74-year-old recalled: "He was an amazing trainer. I went to him for the first time in 1978 with the second horse I ever owned - Jack of Trumps. "He did a great job with thing I have to say about Edward is he was always very good to his staff - very kind to everybody." The Limerick native added: "He'll be missed. He was a great judge of a horse and on top of that he looked after everyone who worked for him so well." O'Grady was known as The King of Cheltenham before Most read in Horse Racing And he is also partly responsible for the rise of James Bond hero O'Grady himself hit the big time when he teamed up with McManus to land a huge punt at the Festival in 1982. He trained the first of more than 80 McManus Cheltenham winners in the shape of Mister Donavan. Legendary horse trainer Edward O'Grady dies aged 75 just days after saddling his final runner A fearsome punter, McManus said he won more than £250,000 backing his horse over and over for what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. In today's money the victory would be worth more than £1.1million. O'Grady masterminded 18 Cheltenham Festival winners from his Tipperary base in all, his victories coming in the days when British trainers still dominated. His most famous horses included the likes of Golden Cygnet, who many said was the greatest hurdler of all time despite his only season over obstacles ending in tragedy. Dubbed 'the horse of the century', he won the 1978 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham before suffering a fatal fall in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, cruelly cutting short the career over a horse O'Grady said was 'the most talented I ever trained'. Gay Future, Native Upmanship, Ned Kelly, Back In Front and Tranquil Sea were other big O'Grady horses. O'Grady, who also enjoyed success as a Flat trainer having been forced to switch when farming troubles hit Ireand, was saddling horses right up until his death. His final ever runner was Sovereign Banter who ran at Cork last Friday night - mere weeks after his last winner, Our Soldier, earlier this month. PERSONAL TRAGEDIES Trainer Fergal O'Brien was among the first to pay tribute to a trailblazer in the sport, writing on X: "One of the very best. Sad news." This is the second death to hit racing in as many weeks, after a Despite his success on the track, tragedy was never too far away from O'Grady's personal life. His first wife Judy passed away in 2010, seven years before second wife Maria was killed in a fall. O'Grady later remarried and leaves behind wife Kay and children Jonathan, Amber, Lucy, Mimi and Rosie Mae.
