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Irish Times
25-07-2025
- Irish Times
Former All Black Brad Thorn has just one regret: he never played against the Lions
Brad Thorn achieved pretty much everything over the course of his truly extraordinary career. Famously, when completing a short-term deal with Leinster at the end of the 2011-12 season, Thorn became the first player ever to win the World Cup, Super Rugby and Heineken Cup. But there was one thing he never did, and it remains the biggest regret of his career. He never played against the Lions. It was a case of timing, for this New Zealand-born resident of Queensland – who played for the Kangaroos and the All Blacks – had returned to Rugby League with the Brisbane Broncos when the Lions visited New Zealand in 2005. 'I remember playing the Springboks in 2009 and they'd had a good ding-dong battle with the Lions. We played them in South Africa in two Tests straight after it. We're 100-year-old rivals. Usually, it's like a war but the first Test in Bloemfontein just felt flat. The energy just wasn't there. It fell flat on our side and they had a flatness too because the Lions are every 12 years for the host nation. It's such a big deal and they had put everything into it. 'You wouldn't be able to say that about many Springboks-All Blacks Tests. It just shows the emotion and the importance of a Lions tour, and that was a pretty classic series in '09.' READ MORE Thorn put his name forward to play the Lions in their warm-up match in Hong Kong in 2013 but was turned down, and thus it remained an unfulfilled ambition. So now he's a fan, like so many others. 'The Lions are big in Great Britain and Ireland, but they're huge in the southern hemisphere too. This is something that's got Aussie rugby excited for some time. It's huge, the history of it, and the thing that makes it so cool is the Lions fans. They travel so well.' Fans at the Australia v British & Irish Lions match in Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on July 19th. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Thorn was in the Suncorp Stadium – just five minutes from where he lives – last Saturday, and believes the Wallabies will be significantly better in this second Test with that game under their belts and with the return of Rob Valetini. 'He's a go-forward guy. You need that in the Test arena. You've got to have the artillery. You know the old saying, don't take a knife to a gunfight.' Thorn is also glad Tom Lynagh has been retained as the Wallabies outhalf as he is a player he coached through the Queensland Reds set-up since the age of 17. [ Joe Schmidt plots unlikely Lions scalp amid feeling of 'now or never' for Australian rugby Opens in new window ] 'I know his father and I'm so proud of him, mate, and so much respect for him. I just love the story. He could have played in Europe, but he came back to the other side of the world, where his name is legendary. That's a heavy name to carry, Lynagh. 'You meet Michael, you can't help being a little bit in awe. 'Noddy' is a legend over here and a real gentleman. Tom could have stayed in Europe but came and within a couple of weeks I had him when I took the boys to military camp, which are brutal; food deprivation, sleep deprivation, in the heat and bush of Queensland. And he got a bit of banter about his accent but he put his head down and got through that. 'He's a very skilful guy. Very similar to his father. He looks like a soft-faced boy, but he will put his body on the line. He loves to run the footy but when I was the Reds coach, I thought he had the best kicking game in Australia, just like his dad.' Australia's Tom Lynagh with his father Michael after the first Test against Lions on July 19th. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The Lions have grown and shown more cohesion with each game, even allowing for last Tuesday's match. But for the Wallabies to have a chance of levelling the series, Thorn believes Lynagh was the right choice at outhalf. 'If I'm playing them, I want to play in the right end of the field. You wouldn't be mucking around too long in your own half. To do that you need to have an outhalf with a good kicking game and Tom's kicking game can be a strength for Australia.' Thorn is now an assistant coach with Brisbane Boys' College and believes that at grassroots level rugby union is still healthy. 'I don't think the playing numbers are too much different between league and union in Queensland. It might be 50,000 rugby/60,000 league, but as well as being 23 years since Australia's last Bledisloe Cup no Australian team has reached a Super Rugby final since 2014. 'You think about that, mate. You're trying to have heroes, you're trying to sell a game. You need to have some wins, you need to at least have teams in the final.' He describes Rugby Australia's decision to get rid of the National Rugby Championship as 'crazy', adding: 'You've got to have that level, in my opinion.' Thorn speaks with vast experience, and can reflect on an exceptional 23-year playing career which encompassed two spells at the Brisbane Broncos from 1994 to 2000 and from 2006 to 2007, and two stints in rugby union from 2001 to 2004 to 2016. New Zealand's Brad Thorn celebrates victory against France at the 2011 Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park, Auckland. Photograph:In league he was part of three grand final title wins and played in the State of Origin series and for Australia. In union, he was part of the aforementioned treble title wins, playing 59 times for the All Blacks, and had fruitful stints in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, England and Ireland. 'I loved it. I just thank God for how that all played out. Basically, if you look at it, I had 10 years at the Broncos, with all those experiences, and then I had about 10 or so years in rugby. So I almost got to have two careers. I got to do them both.' [ Brad Thorn to return to top-class rugby at age 41 Opens in new window ] Thorn played until he was 41 and attributes his longevity to his assiduous preparation, something which his then Leinster team-mates still reference. He actually loved preseason and was fortunate to largely avoid injuries, unlike his brother. 'He got all the injuries I didn't get and had to stop playing as a young guy.' When playing with Leicester at the age of 40, Thorn was doing an hour's preparation before training, and then 'a foam roller, full-body stretch and a hot-cold shower after every training'. Paul O'Connell was one of those who rang Thorn to seek advice. 'A great, great guy. My message to him was, by that stage in your career, you become the expert of your own body. You listen to all the physios and doctors, and you are the best-placed guy to know where your body's at and what it needs.' If Thorn left a lasting imprint on Leinster in his three months and eight games for the province in 2012, the reverse is also true. Leinster's Brad Thorn with the trophy following their Heineken Cup Final defeat of Ulster at Twickenham in May 2012. Photograph:'I had a coffee with Joe [Schmidt] and Mike Cron a few days ago and we were talking fondly about those times. That's one of the highlights of my career. It was an absolute joy. I just felt like I connected so well, and they took me in, and my mindset was, 'Wherever I go, I'm there to serve. I'll give everything I have on and off the field, and more than what you asked for.' 'And I had great times, great battles; the game in Bordeaux against Claremont,' he added, signalling out that epic 19-15 semi-final win. 'Yeah, we went to war against them. They had internationals on the bench and we had players like Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll, Leo Cullen and Cian Healy, and also Seán O'Brien. 'We loved Ireland. Me and my wife still talk about it because my wife's heritage is half Irish and half Maltese.' On retiring in 2016, Thorn and Mary-Anne returned home to Brisbane with their four children, Brendan (who is now 21), Aiden (20), David (18) and Neva (16). On foot of coaching Queensland Country to the NRC title in 2017, he became the head coach of the Reds in advance of the 2018 season. They had finished 14th the season before and made steady progress in Thorn's six seasons at the helm, finishing seventh and eighth in 2022 and 2023 before losing quarter-finals away to the Chiefs and eventual champions the Crusaders. He had intended to stop coaching altogether but was persuaded by former Samoan international Dan Leo to be an assistant coach at Brisbane Boys' College, where he is now in his second season. 'I have four children and wherever I went, they went. We didn't leave them behind,' says Thorn, who made a vow that he and his family would stay in Brisbane until at least Neva finishes high school. 'It's been a reverse of what everyone else does. Usually you start in schools, go to a club, and then you go to the next level. I was like a baby thrown into a pool, trying to keep my head above water and learning as I went,' he says of his time with the Reds. 'I gave it my best effort and I like to think it was left in a better place when I finished. 'Les Kiss has done a good job now and I'm enjoying doing the coaching I'm doing. I'm doing other things as well and having a bit more fun with my family because as a head coach, it consumes you. It's not a nine-to-five gig, mate, but thank God I got that opportunity and we'll see what happens going forward.' Growing up in New Zealand, he had liked going to church, but his family stopped doing so for a few years after moving to Australia when he was nine. His parents and brother went back seven or eight years later and, encouraged by a good friend and Australian rugby league team-mate Jason Stephens, Thorn followed suit at the age of 23. 'Where my body is as a Christian, it perfectly aligns with a team sport. Because rugby is team first. It's not the individual first, it's the team, and caring about your mates and serving the team, and having humility. 'So, I thank Him for what you say is that great career, and getting to play all over the world. I'm so fortunate. I'm so grateful.'
Irish Times
19-07-2025
- Irish Times
Lions v Australia first Test: What time is kick-off today and what TV channel is it on in Ireland?
What's happening? Andy Farrell 's British & Irish Lions play Joe Schmidt 's Wallabies in the opener of their three-Test series against Australia. When and where? The game will be played on Saturday, July 19th, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland. Kick-off is at 11am Irish time. Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week Listen | 37:54 Where can I watch? The match will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event. The Irish Times will also have live updates of the game, as well as reaction, player ratings and analysis from our team of writers. READ MORE [ Five areas where the Australia v Lions Test series will be won and lost Opens in new window ] Have we any team news? Eight Irish players have been named by Andy Farrell in the British and Irish Lions starting XV for Saturday's First Test against Australia in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, kick-off 8pm local time/11am Irish. There are also another three on the bench, although there is no place for Josh van der Flier. As expected, Hugo Keenan starts at fullback, with James Lowe on the left wing and Jamison Gibson-Park at scrumhalf. As well as Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, an ever-present in the last two Test series, there is Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan at number eight and Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker. Conan also played in every match in the last series, while Beirne was a replacement in the first two Tests. Ronan Kelleher, who wasn't afforded a minute's action four years ago, will make his Lions Test debut off the bench, which also includes Andrew Porter, who missed out on the South African tour due to injury, and Bundee Aki. A little surprisingly, having started the Third Test four years ago, the Connacht centre loses out to Sione Tuipulotu. In the enforced absence of Garry Ringrose, Tuipulotu is accompanied by Glasgow midfield partner Huw Jones and outhalf Finn Russell, while in addition to Tommy Freeman, there are three English forwards: Ellis Genge, captain Maro Itoje and Tom Curry. Despite starting only one game on this tour at openside, Curry is another of the four forwards who also started the Third Test in South Africa and thus preferred to van der Flier and the sole Welsh squad member, Jack Morgan, which means the Lions will be without Welsh representation in a Test for the first time since the 19th century. The bench is completed by five English players, namely Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS : H Keenan (Ireland), T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), J Lowe (Ireland), F Russell (Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Ireland), E Genge (England), D Sheehan (Ireland), T Furlong (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, J McCarthy (Ireland), T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland). Replacements : R Kelleher (Ireland), A Porter (Ireland), W Stuart (England), O Chessum (England), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), B Aki (Ireland) Joe Schmidt has gambled on the 22-year-old Reds outhalf Tom Lynagh to fill the void left by Noal Lolesion's absence by handing him his full international debut in Saturday's First Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. The Wallabies head coach has also rolled the dice by naming Nick Champion de Crespigny for his Test debut in the absence of influential, ball-carrying backrower Rob Valetini, the back-to-back winner of the John Eales Medal, awarded to Australia's player of the year, who has been sidelined with a calf injury. AUSTRALIA: T Wright, M Jorgensen, J Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter, T Lynagh, J Gordon, J Slipper, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa, N Frost, J Williams, N Champion de Crespigny, F McReight, H Wilson Replacements: B Pollard, A Bell, T Robertson, T Hooper, C Tizzano, T McDermott, B Donaldson, A Kellaway How has the Lions tour gone so far? The Lions got an unexpected send-off in Dublin last month, suffering a 28-24 defeat to Argentina. While the results certainly improved when the pride landed in Australia, some issues have persisted. The wins over Western Force and the Queensland Reds flattered the tourists, Andy Farrell's team putting 50+ points past their opponents on both occasions, but their subsequent victories over the Waratahs and the Brumbies were unconvincing. Of course, those games were only warm-ups for what is yet to come, so perhaps can be viewed as experiments rather than indicators of form, but they may also serve as a warning that this series may not be the walk in the park that had been expected. Wallabies warm-ups? Australia played just one warm-up game ahead of the Test series, facing the Flying Fijians in Newcastle (the Australian one, not the England one) on July 6th. [ Australia secure controversial late win over Fiji with disputed try Opens in new window ] Joe Schmidt's side came away with a 21-18 win, but Fiji can feel a little hard done by after a late try for Harry Wilson was awarded despite there being no clear evidence he had grounded the ball.
Extra.ie
18-07-2025
- Extra.ie
It feels like the Lions are walking into a Wallabies ambush in Brisbane
Andy Farrell had a chance encounter with an old sparring partner when he was walking the streets of Brisbane earlier this week. The British and Irish Lions head coach got a pleasant surprise when he spotted Gorden Tallis, an icon of Australian rugby league. The pair had many battles in their playing days. Farrell v Tallis. The 'Man of Steel' vs the 'Raging Bull'. Andy Farrell had a chance encounter with an old sparring partner when he was walking the streets of Brisbane earlier this week. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Tallis is fondly remembered for his storming displays in State of Origin, the gripping three-game slugfest between New South Wales and Queensland. You'll find plenty of his impressive feats on YouTube, namely an iconic tackle on Brett Hodgon. It's well worth a watch. Queensland, as it happens, recently secured an unlikely 2-1 series win against their bitter foes, despite being widely written off as one of the worst teams in the state's illustrious history. A worrying omen for the highly-fancied Lions perhaps? Gorden Tallis is fondly remembered for his storming displays in State of Origin. Pic:'He used to say that everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs,' Farrell told a packed press conference on Thursday, recalling his impromptu meeting with Tallis. 'He said 'we never, ever saw it that way,' and Australia will be exactly the same.' Gorden Tallis locks horns with Andy Farrell and Tony Smith in 2000. Pic: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT Right there is a timely reminder of the sporting mentality of this nation. Rugby union has fallen on hard times in Australia. In truth, the game has been in a steady decline since 2003, Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal in the World Cup final proving something of a flashpoint. Rugby league and AFL have stormed ahead. The 52,000-capacity Suncorp Stadium will be packed to the rafters and the atmosphere will be electric before kick-off. Jonny Wilkinson nails a drop goal during the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. Pic: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images The Lions have brought a legion of travelling supporters and the cash injection from this series is thought to be in the region of 250 million Australian dollars for the local economy. Yet there is a sense that this series has not grabbed the wider Australian public. The Lions is scarcely mentioned in news bulletins, radio or in newspaper articles across the country. For these Wallabies players, these looming games against the much-vaunted tourists isn't just about pride. There is far more on the line for the hosts than bragging rights. There is far more on the line for the hosts than bragging rights. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher If Australia suffer a 3-0 whitewash, it would be disastrous for the professional game in their country. It would be another nail in rugby union's coffin in Oz. The next few weeks is a golden opportunity to reinvigorate this sport. An upset today or, dare they dream, a series win would be shot of life for the entire organisation, especially with a home World Cup in 2027. It should serve as a powerful motivator for the home side. On paper, the Lions should win this opening Test comfortably. Farrell's team is stacked with proven, Test match animals across a stellar matchday 23. If you want to get a real sense of the quality of this Lions side, look at the players who failed to make the cut: Pierre Schoeman, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jac Morgan, Fin Smith and Owen Farrell. The injured trio of Blair Kinghorn, Mack Hansen and Garry Ringrose are all set to come back into contention for the second game in Melbourne, too. That's quite the playing roster. On paper, the Lions should win this opening Test comfortably. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan Australia, meanwhile, are without the destructive Will Skelton and powerful flanker Rob Valetini, arguably their best player for the past two years. They have rolled the dice at No10, with the 22-year-old Tom Lynagh starting his first international game. Nick Champion de Crespigny is another debutant on the blindside flank. They look a weight class below the Lions in the tight five. But Test rugby can bring out another side in previously unheralded players. Especially Australians. This is a proud rugby nation. This is a country which has won two World Cups and finished second in two other tournaments. The Lions are overwhelming favourites but history is not on their side. The 2013 series win in Australia remains the only triumph in the professional era. This tours don't come easy. And it's not like the Wallabies don't have quality in their ranks. In Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, they have a genuine superstar. The former rugby league prodigy has taken the 15-man game by storm. Like Israel Folau, another cross-code convert, did in 2013, he is set to have a huge impact in this series. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is a genuine superstar. Pic:The hosts have genuine gas in the wide channels, with Tom Wright and Max Jorgensen offering so much threat. Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost are two seriously underrated locks while Fraser McReight is a top-class openside flanker who will attack the breakdown with ferocity all evening. The Wallabies captain and No8 Harry Wilson is another character who doesn't get enough plaudits. There's plenty of impact on the bench with Ulster-bound prop Angus Bell, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott and Andrew Kellaway all primed to make a big impact. And then there's the Joe Schmidt factor. Known for his obsessive work ethic, forensic analysis and intense methods during his time with Leinster and Ireland, the Kiwi has cut a more relaxed figure in this gig. Schmidt answered an SOS to the Wallabies a few years back after Eddie Jones' disastrous second stint in the job. He has galvanised the entire operation and it's a credit to the New Zealander that that this team looks competitive ahead of this series. Schmidt is a serious operator. He transformed Irish rugby. He brought Leinster to another level and continued in the same vein when the national tame came calling for his services in 2013. Joe Schmidt is known for his obsessive work ethic, forensic analysis and intense methods. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher Some of the revisionism of his trophy-laden tenure in Ireland has jarred. It must have stung Schmidt as well. It feels like a lot of the praise which has been heaped on Farrell, his successor, has come at the expense of Schmidt. He has already helped mastermind an All Blacks win against Ireland in a 2023 World Cup quarter-final. No doubt, he has a masterplan to down the Lions in the coming weeks. If the Wallabies come out firing, knock the Lions off their rhythm and make this a dogfight, then all bets are off. Expect a few trademark Schmidt strike moves and a few moments of genius from Suaalii. Lest we forget, it's not like the Lions have looked invincible either. Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, James Lowe and Hugo Keenan have been picked on pedigree and not recent form. No doubt, the Pumas defeat in Dublin sowed a few seeds of doubt as well. The closer we get to this Test opener in Brisbane, the more it feels like the Lions are walking into an ambush. Farrell got an early warning this week. Another Schmidt masterclass is on the cards.
