Itoje will 'savour moment' but wants clean sweep
The Lions were beaten in their opening warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin but have won all eight matches they have played on Australian soil.That record was under serious threat when the Wallabies raced into a 23-5 lead in the first half, but Farrell's side fought back brilliantly before full-back Hugo Keenan crossed for a match-winning try in the final minute.Should they avoid defeat in the final Test, it would be the first time a Lions team has been unbeaten overseas on a tour since 1974."You can see what it means to everyone," Farrell continued. "These lads have dreamed of being a British and Irish Lion all their lives."To get to the point where we come to the MCG, with 90,000 people, with a dramatic finish like that to win the series - it's what dreams are made of."It's a special moment for everyone and we're absolutely delighted that we showed the courage of what it takes to be a Lion and I'm delighted for everyone involved."
Keenan's 'rollercoaster' trip ends with glory
A lingering calf injury, followed by a bout of illness, meant Ireland's Keenan experienced a stuttering start to the tour.In his absence, Elliot Daly made a strong claim for the full-back jersey but the England international's tour-ending injury - and Blair Kinghorn's less serious knee problem - left the way clear for Keenan.At the MCG, he wrote his name into Lions folklore as part of a dramatic finale."It's been a mad trip," he said. "It's not how I imagined it going, getting sick for two weeks and coming into camp a bit injured."It's been a rollercoaster, but I suppose these things happen for a reason, and thankfully I was in full health for the past two Tests."I'm delighted to be involved and delighted that we got the result. They're special moments, having our family and friends out on the pitch with us at the end. It's those moments you play rugby for and you dream of."
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Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
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Panathinaikos 1 Rangers 1 (Rangers win 3-1 on aggregate): New boss Martin survives baptism of fire
As the clock confirmed the 90 minutes had come and gone and darkness closed in, a hush finally descended on Panathinaikos' exuberant supporters. Russell Martin took one last look at his watch, exhaled deeply and drank in the moment. It had been far from pretty, but the fact his side did just enough in the heat of Athens will be remembered long after the minor details of this affair are long forgotten. Handed the most arduous opening assignment as manager of the Ibrox club, he's entitled to take no little satisfaction from this triumph. While he was correct to point out that its outcome would not define his side's season, it was always going to set the tone. Amid a summer of substantial change on and off the park, a two-legged victory against a seasoned European side will further engender an air of positivity around the club. It feels like a steady first step on a journey. Martin and his players may still have to clear two further hurdles to make it to the Champions League proper, but they now have the comfort of knowing they have secured group stage football of some description. The manager will need no one to tell him how differently all of this might have played out, however. With his side struggling for composure throughout the match, Panathinaikos — again — fashioned enough chances to get the job done. While Jack Butland again earned his corn, the fact is that the Greeks were toothless in the final third. A better side would have turned a hatful of chances into more goals and prevailed. There is still much work for Martin and his players to do. That, though, is for another day. For now, all that truly counts is that a work in progress has cleared an awkward first hurdle. Djeidi Gassama is emerging as quite the summer signing. A £2.2million capture from Sheffield Wednesday, the Frenchman made an immediate impact with the second goal in the first leg and made another telling contribution here. Deservedly behind on the night through Filip Djuricic's header early in the second half, Gassama soon quietened the home supporters with a superb flashing strike, his first touch of the night after coming off the bench. From that point on, Rangers looked good to get the result they came for. For all the supporters of Panathinaikos descended on the Olympic Stadium in their numbers, there was never any possibility of its 75,000 capacity being troubled. A temporary home for European matches, this stadium still echoed to the noise of their chants. But the running track around the perimeter of the pitch meant it lacked the hostility and intensity of their more compact home, the Apostolos Nikolaidis. Despite confirming that Gassama was ready to start, Martin kept the Frenchman in reserve, keeping faith the same XI who'd started the first leg. As predicted, Rui Vitoria's side came out swinging, forcing four corners inside the first 10 minutes. With the visitors struggling to get up to the pace of the game, Nico Raskin's clearing header only made it as far as Tasos Bakasetas. Butland was relieved to see the midfielder's strike from 18 yards creep a foot wide of the target. Rangers were certainly looking to get up the park, as Martin had directed them too. In the early exchanges, that proved to be wishful thinking. Fotis Ioannidis worked a one-two with Djuricic. Butland had to be smartly off his line to shut down the angle and make a telling block. Indecision by John Souttar then put Max Aarons in trouble. With the full-back beaten to the ball by Facundo Pellistri, Butland again advanced to save the day. Rangers were already riding their luck. Another green surge up the park brought a further moment of alarm for the visiting bench. Pellistri strode away from the struggling Aarons down the right and dragged Nasser Djiga out of position. His cross was met flush by the head of the flying Ioannidis. Butland didn't know much about it but was again in the right place at the right time. With his side detailed to build from the back, Djiga undercooked a pass to James Tavernier. Duricic pounced and squared the ball to Pellistri. The Uruguayan's failure to hit the target from 15 yards left his manager flapping his arms and looking up to the heavens. With men in white jerseys taking it in turns to give the ball away, there was little respite from the pressure. The half-time whistle was nigh by the time the visitors held the ball for more than a minute. While Raskin headed Joe Rothwell's corner just over the top, Martin's side didn't create a single chance of note from open play in the first period. The manager raced back up the tunnel the instant the half-time whistle sounded, doubtless with some choice words to impart. They didn't have the desired effect. Within nine minutes of the restart, Panathinaikos had the goal they richly deserved. Bakasetas's in-swinging cross from the right caught those in front of Butland on their heels. Djuricic's header back across goal was well-placed. Butland scrambled but could not prevent it from sneaking in. A raised offside flag offered Rangers false hope. As VAR eventually identified, Aarons had played Duricic onside. With Rangers rattled, Ioannidis was a hair's breadth from connecting with Djuricic's cross and squaring the tie. The introduction of Gassama arrived when his side most needed him. Starved of service to that point, Danilo had a pair of strikes repelled by a defender then the keeper. The ball sat up perfectly for the winger. His right-foot strike caught the inside of the far post and went in. The Greeks' lead had lasted just six minutes. Having laboured for so long, Rangers could now see the winning post in sight. Panathinaikos began to force the play. Substitute Adam Gnezda Cerin almost caught Butland out with a speculative cross. Ahmed Touba marched forward and drilled one wide from 30 yards. The introduction of Jefte for Kieran Dowell suggested Martin was now content for his side to sit in and see the game out. Panathinaikos rang the changes, but their body language was becoming that of a beaten side. By hook or by crook, Rangers got the job done. Yet there remains considerable scope for improvement.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
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Ben Stokes' absence offers a worrying glimpse into Ashes grilling... England will be hard pressed to beat Australia without talisman meets Superman, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
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an hour ago
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New-look Dragons must get better
Thomas Young has embraced the pressure of helping the new-look Dragons turn around their 33-year-old flanker has moved from Cardiff as part of a substantial recruitment drive by the Rodney Parade team after a nightmare 2024-25 Tiatia's men finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) after losing 17 straight games following their opening weekend win against the Ospreys."With the signings that have been made and the boys that were already the core here, as a region we have to get better," said Young."That point has been put across to us quite hard over pre-season and it's up to us as players to make sure we go out and do that." Changing the record The Dragons finished 20 points behind 15th-placed Zebre while they also failed to qualify in the Challenge Cup after a solitary success at Newcastle."You play rugby to win and that's definitely our intention, we know that we have got to improve," said Young."That's what pre-season is about, to make sure we improve so that we go out there for the first game and build on what the boys did last year. We've got to get better."Dragons last avoided being Wales' bottom team in 2020, when the Ospreys had that have been plenty of false dawns at Rodney Parade but Young & co are determined to change the record."It's got to turn at some point," he said. "The squad is completely different with a lot of new signings, who have been brought in for a reason."We will soon find out, but it's up to us in the off season to make sure we are on the same page and pushing each other forward, because we should be doing a lot better." Hunting a starting spot Young came through the ranks at Cardiff and then, after spells in England with Gloucester and Wasps, returned to the Arms Park in 2022 to play for his father flanker made 14 appearances last season under Matt Sherratt but eight of those outings were off the hopes to lose his tag as an impact sub and earn the number seven jersey when the URC gets under way against Ulster in Belfast on 26 September."I didn't play as much as I wanted to last year but I still enjoyed it," said Young. "I was involved a fair bit, I only missed the first few games through injury but after that was fit and available."Everyone wants to start but I got seen as something different last year. That was a role I enjoyed but I've come here and want to be starting."Young wants to be in the starting side after effectively swapping clubs with fellow dynamic back-rower Taine he will also be a mentor for young forwards and will soon be joined at training by open-side Harry Beddall, a summer signing from Leicester who is fresh from captaining Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship."I've seen what he has done with the 20s and it's exciting to work with someone like that," said Young."He is well thought of and hopefully I can also learn stuff off him - as much as I can help him, he can help me. "His legs might be fresher but I'd like to think I'll push him as much as he pushes me."
