Footy legend Gorden Tallis reveals State of Origin secret that could inspire the Wallabies ahead of first Test against the British and Irish Lions
Joe Schmidt 's men are widely expected to be outclassed due to a raft of injuries and their formidable opposition.
Tallis warned Farrell - a former rugby league star with Wigan - that Australia will embrace the underdog tag.
'I actually met Gorden Tallis today and we were reminiscing on a few things,' Farrell, who is also Ireland's head coach, told reporters on Friday.
'The 1994 World Club Challenge final (which Wigan won against the Brisbane Broncos) was huge.
'(But) this seems a little bit bigger. This is huge. This would mean the world to me (beating the Wallabies).
'I actually saw him in the street, walking down the street. I went, 'Gordie, what are you doing here?'
'So we had a good 20 minutes (chat). It was great to catch up again.
'He used to say that everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs (during each Origin series).
'He said 'we never, ever saw it that way,' and Australia will be exactly the same.'
Lions tyro Henry Pollock has boldly declared the series will be a 3-0 whitewash - but Farrell knows the Wallabies will be ready to silence their critics.
'You guys (reporters) have pointed out to me that they are underdogs for this series,' he said.
'I'm sure that they'll want to prove a point in regards to that type of thinking. They'll be fighting tooth and nail, won't they?'
Meanwhile, for the first time in Wallabies history, players will wear their surnames on the back of their jerseys on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
They are echoing Test cricket's lead of moving with the times to make the sport more accessible to viewers.
Schmidt has handed Tom Lynagh his first Test start in the No.10 jersey - 36 years after his famous father Michael also took on the Lions.
The visitors won the series 2-1 on their last tour to Australia in 2013, avenging a 2-1 series loss to the Wallabies in 2001.
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The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Gill and Rahul dig in to lead India fightback after Stokes hits England ton
As England walked off for lunch on the fourth day at Old Trafford they could have been forgiven for thinking their opponents were beaten. India had endured the kind of morning that usually dictates a couple of paracetamol and the curtains being redrawn, such was the pummelling Ben Stokes delivered with bat in hand. It was not just Stokes, either. After his first Test century for two years drove England to 669 all out – 141 from 198 balls – the tourists were tasked with negotiating 15 minutes before the break – a negotiation that could scarcely have gone worse had a couple of contestants from The Apprentice been handling it. Chris Woakes conjured up two wickets in two balls before India had made a dent in the whopping 311-run deficit. And yet by stumps this fourth Test had taken on a different complexion courtesy of a couple of hugely determined performances from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. Resisting for two wicketless sessions that forced the Saturday crowd to make their own fun, they steered India to 174 for two from 63 overs. Though still 137 runs behind, there is a chance of rain on Sunday and the draw that seemed so unlikely is now possible. Kudos must first go to the two set batters, not least after 157 overs in the field. Though a decent surface in the main, enough deliveries were shooting low and yet at no point did their focus waver. Both do obduracy in the most elegant ways, with Gill's low-slung hands still caressing the ball and Rahul all technical excellence. Reaching 78 and 87 not out respectively, two of India's senior pros had delivered a message to those lower down. But it also hinted at some of England's shortcomings when Stokes, their standout performer with the ball, is out of action. The supposed cramps that forced him off the field on day three may well be something more sinister going by the sight of him clutching his upper leg a couple of times. After his five-wicket haul in the first innings, all Stokes could do this time was run through the tactical playbook and wait patiently. Woakes was the pick overall and his new-ball burst was something to behold. First went Yashasvi Jaiswal, squared up and edging to slip as Joe Root clung on at the second attempt. Then came a dismissal that Gautam Gambhir could relate to, Sai Sudharsan's attempted leave on his first ball catching the bat and also flying to the cordon. Think back to the India head coach's dismissal at the Oval in 2014, even if he would sooner forget it. But after the hat-trick ball to Gill was survived, the chief threat came from Liam Dawson trying to trap the two right-handers on the back foot with a bit of skid, only for the ball to be met with enough willow each time. And it was Dawson who put down the one genuine chance to materialise during an afternoon that seemed to just disappear. Gill sliced hard to backward point when on 46, only for the ball to burst through the all-rounder's hands. Had it stuck, India would have been 74 for three and Brydon Carse's account in the match would have been opened. Jofra Archer, his fellow quick, got the new ball to talk initially but a couple impassioned appeals for lbw were declined. This five-match epic is asking plenty of both sets of fast bowlers – even those who joined halfway – and India's attack was certainly relieved to get off the park before lunch. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion Stokes had given them the runaround, both through the completion of his 14th Test century and the 125 runs that were trowelled on to a pile already bulging from Root's historic 150. Not since 2014 had India shipped a 600-plus total in a Test match, while Jasprit Bumrah's runs column running into three figures was simply a first. If the return of Stokes as a force with the ball has arguably been the biggest plus for England in this series then this innings was not far behind. Resuming on 77, Stokes opened up with a couple of imperious fours off Mohammed Siraj and then tipped past three figures with a flick down leg. Out came the celebration not seen for a good while – that crooked finger salute and a look to the sky to honour his late father, Ged. This was the first time an England captain has scored a century and claimed a five-wicket haul in the same Test match and soon the afterburners were lit as he and Carse (47 from 54 balls) ransacked 95 runs for the ninth wicket. When Stokes monstered Washington Sundar for a straight six it took him past 7,000 Test runs, something only Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis had previously combined with 200-plus wickets. But unless Stokes is able to resume bowling on day five, or others step up in his absence, India could yet wriggle free and head to the Oval with a chance of squaring the series. Gill, previously kept quiet for three innings, is also ominously back in the groove.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Ben Stokes finds reward from risking fitness with resurgent century for England
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
England unsure if Stokes will bowl on fifth day
England will "wait and see" whether captain Ben Stokes is fit enough to bowl when they push for victory over India on the final day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, says assistant coach Marcus taking five wickets in the first innings, Stokes did not bowl as India dug in to reach 174-2 at the end of day four, still 137 runs behind. Trescothick said that was because Stokes, who has been dogged by injury issues in recent years and had to retire hurt while batting with cramp on day three, was "a bit stiff and sore"."We are still hopeful he will be better tomorrow and come back out, be a bit looser and ready to go again," Trescothick told BBC Test Match Special."We will assess it overnight and see what happens." Asked about Stokes' fitness on Friday evening, vice-captain Ollie Pope said Stokes was "good to go". Though the talismanic all-rounder batted on in the morning session to score 141 - his first Test century for two years - that he did not bring himself into the attack and that Trescothick cast doubt on him playing a part on Sunday is of appeared weary in the field, often bending over with his hands on his knees and feeling his left hamstring at one stage in the side looked on course for victory when Chris Woakes dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan but, in batting out the remaining 62.1 overs of the day, captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul have given India hope of batting out the final day for a draw and ensuring they head to The Oval 2-1 down with one match to play in the series."Ben Stokes chased one to deep extra cover, he held his hamstring, that was visible for everyone to see," former England captain Michael Vaughan said."We'll wait and see. Ben is a super-human at times. He was probably hoping today that they would get the wickets and he wasn't going to be required. "It doesn't half tell you how important he is to the attack." Stokes had surgery on his left hamstring in January, having torn the same muscle last summer and had a knee operation in November 2023. He only returned to bowling in late May during the one-off Test against Stokes has been England's most consistent seamer this summer. His 16 wickets in the series are the most on either the 129 overs has has bowled is his biggest workload in a single series, despite Trescothick saying after the second hamstring tear in December he may have to manage his bowling workloads. There are also only three days off before the fifth Test next suggested England's management still needs to find a way to protect Stokes, who will be seeking to help England regain the Ashes in Australia later in the year."You have to manage everyone - him no different because of his impact as captain of the team you want him playing as many games as possible,"If we can find a way [to limit his overs], of course it will benefit. The more games he will string together as captain and leader the better that will be for the team."India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will bat if required despite his broken foot.
