Birrell surprise as Joint prepares for Raducanu test
Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell has sprung a surprise at the Eastbourne Open, tipping out 2020 Australian Open champion and world No.29 Sofia Kenin in straight sets.
Birrell, 27, the world No.77, bounced back from a first-round exit at Nottingham last week to put out Kenin, of the United States, 6-4 6-4 in the pre-Wimbledon tournament.
It provides more encouragement for Gold Coast resident Birrell, who has reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and Brisbane, along with ventures to the second round at Miami and Rosmalen so far this year.
She was also a success story at the Australian Open in January, where she won the mixed doubles with John-Patrick Smith.
Another Australian, Maya Joint, who eliminated two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday, has discovered that her reward will be a second-round clash with home favourite Emma Raducanu.
The British No.1 and seventh-seed had to recover from a first-set setback, deal with blustery conditions on England's south coast and manage a back problem on the way to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 win over Ann Li, of the United States.
She also revealed that she had received "some pretty bad news" but added: "so I would like to keep it personal, if that's OK?
"But it was difficult, very emotional at the end and probably just a release of different emotions."
Raducanu has been troubled by her back since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month.
But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she appeared to come through her opening examination at Devonshire Park unscathed.
"It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments," the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview.
"It really meant a lot to me and I'm really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set. I'm very, very happy to come through that.
"It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I think I found another gear and a another level."
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova retrieved two match points against British opponent Harriet Dart's serve before rallying to win her first-round tie.
Dart was 40-15 up on serve leading 5-4 in the decisive third set of a rain-affected round-of-32 match that second-seeded Krejcikova went on win 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.
It was just the second victory this year for the 17th-ranked Krejcikova, whose season did not start until May because of a back injury.
Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini had contrasting victories on the Bad Homburg grass on as the two top seeds progressed to the last eight in Germany.
Top seed Pegula, of the United States, quickly dispatched qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Paolini, Italy's No.2 seed, needed two hours and 32 minutes to beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (8-6) in the joint second-longest two-set WTA match of 2025 so far.
Poland's Iga Swiatek, the fourth seed who has never won Wimbledon despite five grand slam titles, also reached the last 16 after beating fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus 6-4 6-4.
Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell has sprung a surprise at the Eastbourne Open, tipping out 2020 Australian Open champion and world No.29 Sofia Kenin in straight sets.
Birrell, 27, the world No.77, bounced back from a first-round exit at Nottingham last week to put out Kenin, of the United States, 6-4 6-4 in the pre-Wimbledon tournament.
It provides more encouragement for Gold Coast resident Birrell, who has reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and Brisbane, along with ventures to the second round at Miami and Rosmalen so far this year.
She was also a success story at the Australian Open in January, where she won the mixed doubles with John-Patrick Smith.
Another Australian, Maya Joint, who eliminated two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday, has discovered that her reward will be a second-round clash with home favourite Emma Raducanu.
The British No.1 and seventh-seed had to recover from a first-set setback, deal with blustery conditions on England's south coast and manage a back problem on the way to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 win over Ann Li, of the United States.
She also revealed that she had received "some pretty bad news" but added: "so I would like to keep it personal, if that's OK?
"But it was difficult, very emotional at the end and probably just a release of different emotions."
Raducanu has been troubled by her back since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month.
But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she appeared to come through her opening examination at Devonshire Park unscathed.
"It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments," the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview.
"It really meant a lot to me and I'm really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set. I'm very, very happy to come through that.
"It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I think I found another gear and a another level."
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova retrieved two match points against British opponent Harriet Dart's serve before rallying to win her first-round tie.
Dart was 40-15 up on serve leading 5-4 in the decisive third set of a rain-affected round-of-32 match that second-seeded Krejcikova went on win 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.
It was just the second victory this year for the 17th-ranked Krejcikova, whose season did not start until May because of a back injury.
Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini had contrasting victories on the Bad Homburg grass on as the two top seeds progressed to the last eight in Germany.
Top seed Pegula, of the United States, quickly dispatched qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Paolini, Italy's No.2 seed, needed two hours and 32 minutes to beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (8-6) in the joint second-longest two-set WTA match of 2025 so far.
Poland's Iga Swiatek, the fourth seed who has never won Wimbledon despite five grand slam titles, also reached the last 16 after beating fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus 6-4 6-4.
Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell has sprung a surprise at the Eastbourne Open, tipping out 2020 Australian Open champion and world No.29 Sofia Kenin in straight sets.
Birrell, 27, the world No.77, bounced back from a first-round exit at Nottingham last week to put out Kenin, of the United States, 6-4 6-4 in the pre-Wimbledon tournament.
It provides more encouragement for Gold Coast resident Birrell, who has reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and Brisbane, along with ventures to the second round at Miami and Rosmalen so far this year.
She was also a success story at the Australian Open in January, where she won the mixed doubles with John-Patrick Smith.
Another Australian, Maya Joint, who eliminated two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday, has discovered that her reward will be a second-round clash with home favourite Emma Raducanu.
The British No.1 and seventh-seed had to recover from a first-set setback, deal with blustery conditions on England's south coast and manage a back problem on the way to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 win over Ann Li, of the United States.
She also revealed that she had received "some pretty bad news" but added: "so I would like to keep it personal, if that's OK?
"But it was difficult, very emotional at the end and probably just a release of different emotions."
Raducanu has been troubled by her back since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month.
But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she appeared to come through her opening examination at Devonshire Park unscathed.
"It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments," the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview.
"It really meant a lot to me and I'm really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set. I'm very, very happy to come through that.
"It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I think I found another gear and a another level."
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova retrieved two match points against British opponent Harriet Dart's serve before rallying to win her first-round tie.
Dart was 40-15 up on serve leading 5-4 in the decisive third set of a rain-affected round-of-32 match that second-seeded Krejcikova went on win 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.
It was just the second victory this year for the 17th-ranked Krejcikova, whose season did not start until May because of a back injury.
Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini had contrasting victories on the Bad Homburg grass on as the two top seeds progressed to the last eight in Germany.
Top seed Pegula, of the United States, quickly dispatched qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Paolini, Italy's No.2 seed, needed two hours and 32 minutes to beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (8-6) in the joint second-longest two-set WTA match of 2025 so far.
Poland's Iga Swiatek, the fourth seed who has never won Wimbledon despite five grand slam titles, also reached the last 16 after beating fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus 6-4 6-4.
Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell has sprung a surprise at the Eastbourne Open, tipping out 2020 Australian Open champion and world No.29 Sofia Kenin in straight sets.
Birrell, 27, the world No.77, bounced back from a first-round exit at Nottingham last week to put out Kenin, of the United States, 6-4 6-4 in the pre-Wimbledon tournament.
It provides more encouragement for Gold Coast resident Birrell, who has reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and Brisbane, along with ventures to the second round at Miami and Rosmalen so far this year.
She was also a success story at the Australian Open in January, where she won the mixed doubles with John-Patrick Smith.
Another Australian, Maya Joint, who eliminated two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday, has discovered that her reward will be a second-round clash with home favourite Emma Raducanu.
The British No.1 and seventh-seed had to recover from a first-set setback, deal with blustery conditions on England's south coast and manage a back problem on the way to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 win over Ann Li, of the United States.
She also revealed that she had received "some pretty bad news" but added: "so I would like to keep it personal, if that's OK?
"But it was difficult, very emotional at the end and probably just a release of different emotions."
Raducanu has been troubled by her back since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month.
But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she appeared to come through her opening examination at Devonshire Park unscathed.
"It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments," the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview.
"It really meant a lot to me and I'm really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set. I'm very, very happy to come through that.
"It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I think I found another gear and a another level."
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova retrieved two match points against British opponent Harriet Dart's serve before rallying to win her first-round tie.
Dart was 40-15 up on serve leading 5-4 in the decisive third set of a rain-affected round-of-32 match that second-seeded Krejcikova went on win 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.
It was just the second victory this year for the 17th-ranked Krejcikova, whose season did not start until May because of a back injury.
Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini had contrasting victories on the Bad Homburg grass on as the two top seeds progressed to the last eight in Germany.
Top seed Pegula, of the United States, quickly dispatched qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Paolini, Italy's No.2 seed, needed two hours and 32 minutes to beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (8-6) in the joint second-longest two-set WTA match of 2025 so far.
Poland's Iga Swiatek, the fourth seed who has never won Wimbledon despite five grand slam titles, also reached the last 16 after beating fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus 6-4 6-4.
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Wallabies looking past Fiji flop as Lions series looms
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Wallabies' preparation for Lions the priority: Larkham
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome." Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome." Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Brother v brother as Lions brace for tough Force battle
Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013. Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013. Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013.
