Aki successfully campaigns for fines role
The latest episode of the Lions' in-house behind-the-scenes documentary has dropped on YouTube, taking in the warm-up defeat by Argentina in Dublin.
There are some interesting tidbits to note.
Captain Maro Itoje, who said his team had played too much 'tippy-tappy' rugby after defeat by the Pumas, was banging that same drum in training beforehand.
Advertisement
"We were looking to force the pass a bit and in forcing the pass we turned the ball over and invited more pressure on ourselves," he said after a session before the game.
"In the moments when things don't go our way, let be more direct, let's back our physicality."
Elsewhere, there is insight into the make-up of the various tour committees with Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman being given responsibility for 'joke of the day' on the bus and Ireland centre Bundee Aki in charge of fines.
"Bundee was desperate to be on the fines committee," said Itoje.
"I had a few people tell me he shouldn't be allowed - that the power goes to his head - but he was so hungry for it I said he could have it."
Advertisement
England's Ellis Genge is one of the early stars. The England prop is noticeably vocal in the dressing room before and at half-time in the game against Argentina. There is also a nice moment as he praises Tadhg Beirne's scrum technique to assistant coach John Fogarty in training.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
England players driven by 'humbling' loss to Wallabies
Star utility back Elliot Daly says England were "humbled" by the Wallabies last year and is determined to ensure the British and Irish Lions don't suffer the same fate. The Lions, made up of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, have been installed as hot favourites to defeat Australia in the upcoming three-Test series. The Wallabies have slipped to eighth in the world rankings and didn't even make it out of the group stage at the 2023 World Cup. But Australia have become a much more emboldened unit under master coach Joe Schmidt, their win over England at Twickenham last year evidence of that. An 84th-minute try to Max Jorgensen lifted the Wallabies to a famous 42-37 win in what proved to be the finest moment under Schmidt's leadership. MAX. JORGENSEN. 🔥#Wallabies #AutumnNationsSeries — Wallabies (@wallabies) November 9, 2024 Daly didn't play against the Wallabies on that fateful day at Twickenham, but he still remembers it well. "They humbled us, and watching that game was pretty tough," Daly said. "It was one where we had control of it and lost it, so it probably hurt a little bit more. "They showed the quality of a couple of their players in space and hopefully we can shut that down. "The way they are playing the game is exciting and they have got some dangerous players." The Lions begin their Australian tour with a match against the Western Force at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. And Lions players are already on notice after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week. In the direct aftermath of that loss, Daly had a strong message for his teammates in the group huddle. "(There was) disappointment in the group," Daly said. "I just felt I wanted to say, 'Lads, this is our first game together, it wasn't perfect and there is stuff we can work on, but we need to use this as a stepping stone for when we get out to Australia and get on the front foot'. "On this tour, with a game every four days, we need to bounce back quickly and take the positives and go to the next game." Daly is on his third Lions tour and will line up against a familiar face on Saturday - Western Force star Kurtley Beale. Beale played with Daly at English club Wasps in 2016-17 and they formed a strong friendship. "If he didn't get injured in that semi-final against Leicester in 2017 I think we would have won the title," Daly said. "He came at a time when we were playing attacking rugby and he slotted in really well. "He is such a good lad to have around the group and is one guy you can always go for a beer with or a coffee and end up having a laugh."
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Vikings fans clamor for tickets ahead of Ireland's first-ever NFL regular season game
Vikings to head to Dublin for first ever NFL regular season game in Ireland Vikings to head to Dublin for first ever NFL regular season game in Ireland Vikings to head to Dublin for first ever NFL regular season game in Ireland The Minnesota Vikings are taking their show overseas this season, twice. The team has played in London before, but Ireland will be a first. As of Wednesday morning, tickets are still available for the Sept. 28 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Dublin's Croke Park. This will be the first regular-season NFL game played in Ireland, and only the second NFL game played in the country since 1997's preseason match-up between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears. Vikings fans were among the thousands scrambling to score tickets for the showdown in Dublin. "Demand vastly outstripped the supply of tickets," said Conor Brophy, host of the NFL Irish Podcast. "It was over 600,000 people in the queue at one stage. There's only 76,000 tickets available for the game." Vikings fans are flooding social media, posting photos of their purple gear, looking for tickets and asking for advice on where to stay, what to do and how to have fun in Dublin. Brophy says he's counting the days. "The excitement here is palpable," he said. "We've seen fandom for the game grow, and people have come to it from many different directions." WCCO Where there's a draw, there's a price. Tickets range from about $100 to $600. If you book through the team's site, they have all-inclusive packages starting at $1,300 per person. Locally, Irish fans are embracing the NFL with the same buzz as a sold-out concert tour. "The only comparable excitement that I would have seen is when Taylor Swift was coming here," Brophy said. With just under 100 days til the game, talk about a "Cruel Summer." But that gives Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell time to prepare. He says he's ready for the challenge on the field and off. "When you think about opportunities to play in unique atmospheres, what better way to do that?" O'Connell said. With scam sites popping up fast, fans are being told if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Kickoff in Dublin will be at 8:30 a.m. CST, or 2:30 p.m. IST. And the team returns to London just days later to face the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Minnesota is 4-0 in regular season games in London, including wins against the Steelers in 2013 and the Browns in 2017. The Vikings also played four international exhibition games in the '80s and '90s, winning all as well. , and contributed to this report.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
USMNT summer transfer primer: Where will Weah, Tillman, Reyna and others go?
Most European transfer windows are set to open on July 1, and a number of U.S. internationals should factor in heavily and find themselves caught in the summer swirl of player movement. This window is especially important in that, one year out from the 2026 World Cup, many players will be looking for regular playing time so that they can lock down spots on Mauricio Pochettino's final roster. Advertisement The names that have been linked to moves range from expected starters in next summer's tournament to those who are trying to earn regular roles within the team. It includes players in MLS who could move abroad, as well as players abroad who could move to MLS. We spoke to sources around the players, teams and leagues to gather as much information on potential moves. Those sources were granted anonymity to protect relationships as many deals are still being completed. Here is a look at some of the players in the pool who could be on the move in the coming month: The Athletic can confirm reports of discussions between Nottingham Forest and Juventus regarding a move for the American winger. At this point, sources indicate that Weah and Forest have not spoken at all about personal terms or Forest's vision for Weah at the club. With Juventus playing in the Club World Cup, the winger has stayed focused on his on-field responsibilities. This could be an impactful move for the U.S. Weah logged 18 starts in 30 games for Juve, playing left wing, right wing and even as a right back and wingback. A chance to move to Forest and play as an out-and-out winger would be a positive development, especially considering the limited options at the position. Weah is a difference-maker and a good personality in the U.S. locker room. The right role in the right team could help to push his game, and his profile, to an even more elevated position with the group. The breakout player of the Gold Cup, Tillman could soon find himself back in Germany. The player has come to terms with Bayer Leverkusen, sources confirm, but there is a dispute as to whether or not Leverkusen can trigger a release clause in Tillman's contract. According to reports, PSV claims the release clause only applies to Bayern Munich, which sold Tillman's rights to PSV last year. Leverkusen, however, is attempting to trigger that clause to bring Tillman back to the Bundesliga for around €35 million ($40.7 million). Advertisement If the two clubs can come to an agreement on a transfer, or on the validity of the release clause, then this will be a big move for the player. Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga last season and will play in the Champions League, though it also lost manager Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. Erik ten Hag has taken charge, meaning Tillman could be in line to become one of his first major signings. Amid a solid Gold Cup, Tillman has put himself into the picture to start when the full-strength U.S. squad is together. He'll need to continue playing — and playing well — either at PSV or a new club to hold on to that spot. This summer did little to inspire confidence that Reyna is anywhere close to figuring things out for club or country. He missed out on the Gold Cup with the U.S. because Dortmund wanted to keep him for the Club World Cup. Through two games in the competition, he hasn't played for Dortmund at all. Reyna is going to move this summer. The question is to where. The hope is that the player can find a possession-based team where he will get a chance to play regularly. That last part is the most important. Reyna has not been able to stay healthy or play regularly since 2020-21, his age-17 season. That is a long time. There is interest from clubs in Spain and Portugal. Other teams from Europe's top leagues have sniffed around. This decision is critical if Reyna is going to have any chance to get back on track. It didn't take long after the season for Musah's name to pop up in the swirl of rumors around the market. It seemed, at first, that Musah was destined to stay in Serie A, making a switch to reigning champion Napoli. That move, though, seems to have hit a snag. Most recent reports indicate Premier League side West Ham is trying to bring Musah back to London, where he came up through the Arsenal academy. Our sources, however, indicate AC Milan has not yet heard any solid interest from a Premier League team. Advertisement When Pochettino announced his roster for this summer, Musah was missing for what the manager called 'personal reasons.' Those reasons still have not yet been clarified, but Musah will hope to stay in Pochettino's rotation for the future. What's clear is he won't be back at AC Milan. 'I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the project we have with coach Allegri,' AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare told reporters. 'We are seeking deep-lying midfielders for a three-man midfield. Musah doesn't have these characteristics. He can play in a two or three-man midfield but with different characteristics. This is the real reason why we want to do something different.' A potential move to West Ham – or anywhere he goes – would come with a clear directive. Musah has to find his position. He has seen time at central midfield, right midfield and even right back. Musah's ability to carry the ball out of pressure has always been an asset, but he hasn't provided enough going forward. If he can add some consistency and final product, Musah's stock will continue to go up. At the end of the Championship season, it would have been a solid bet that Sargent ended up back in MLS this summer. Now? It feels less likely. Sargent was arguably the best striker in the Championship last season. And while he now has Premier League aspirations, it's unclear if any team will meet Norwich's substantial asking price. Last year, FC Cincinnati had a massive offer in the range of $20 million turned down. Norwich wanted $25 million. Sargent, though, could be Norwich's best bet for promotion. For a player like Sargent, it could be about how the forward market shapes up and where the money moves that determines whether he stays or goes. When Johnny arrived in U.S. camp this summer, all indications were that a deal sending him from Betis to Atlético Madrid was wrapped up for €30 million. An attempt to stop Johnny in the mixed zone was met with a stern head shake and a smile. That's as close to a comment as the player has given. The deal seems to be reaching the final stages soon, though. GiveMeSport reported Tuesday that it should be completed this week. Johnny had an awful turnover in the U.S.'s 2-1 loss to Turkey, leading directly to a goal that changed the momentum of the contest. He hasn't started for Pochettino at the subsequent Gold Cup, totaling 10 minutes off the bench in two substitute appearances during the group stage. Advertisement Nevertheless, a move to play for Diego Simeone at Atlético could certainly help the Brazilian-American and his evolution as a midfielder. The hope is that his club form will eventually translate to the international level. It hasn't yet. The former FC Dallas homegrown product's red-hot form with PSV last season added some real intrigue and competition to the position battle at the No. 9, where no one has been able to stay healthy or in-form enough to grab the starting job. Pepi himself fell victim to a season-ending knee injury in February, and he hasn't played since. The question for Pepi at PSV is whether he can start consistently there and carry his form over to a more regular role. Would he get the chance, perhaps, to do so with a Premier League club? Is it worth the risk to make a move ahead of the 2026 World Cup? Pepi was the biggest snub from the U.S.'s 2022 World Cup roster, and his move to Augsburg in Germany may have contributed to that decision — though a loan to Dutch side Groningen and plenty of goals wasn't enough to sway Gregg Berhalter. Pepi, who is under contract through 2030, will have to make sure any potential move doesn't come at the cost of regular opportunities to get on the field and score goals. Interest is starting to heat up around Agyemang, who has been the U.S.'s starting No. 9 in this Gold Cup. Derby County looks to be the team that will take the Charlotte FC striker overseas to the English Championship. Talks are advancing, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the striker already giving a green light to the move. Sources said that Charlotte first started to receive offers and interest around Agyemang last summer, with more offers coming in January and another round now this summer. GiveMeSport was first to report interest from English Championship sides in the 24-year-old striker, as well as KRC Genk in Belgium. Advertisement It's a big move at a crucial time for Agyemang. His competition at the forward position is deep, and one of his rivals, Sargent, plays in the same league he's mooted to be joining, which allows for a more direct comparison. Keep an eye on Tanner Tessmann. With news of Lyon's potential relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial issues, Tessmann could be on the move this summer. There are a number of teams that had interest in the midfielder when he left Venezia, and they've started to sniff around already to see if he could be had for a bargain price. … It's also worth watching goalkeeper Matt Turner, who is expected to move from Crystal Palace to Lyon. Could that transfer be at risk now? Lyon is appealing the decision. … One other name to watch? New England left back Peyton Miller. He's been on the youth team rosters, but the player has been catching the eye of multiple Premier League teams. One source put it at as many as 15 teams that have inquired. He won't turn 18 until November, but it wouldn't be a shock to see a team purchase him now and loan him back through the end of the calendar year.
