logo
Ruthless Lions run in eight tries to down Force 54-7 in Perth

Ruthless Lions run in eight tries to down Force 54-7 in Perth

The Herald2 days ago

The British & Irish Lions gave the Western Force a lesson in ruthless finishing as they kicked off their Australia tour with an ultimately comfortable 54-7 victory in front of a big crowd at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly both crossed twice with skipper Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy and Alex Mitchell also scoring as a much-changed Lions team bounced back after their 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week.
Henry Pollock's first start in a Lions shirt did not disappoint with a line break to set up one try and a chip-and-chase earning the field position for another, as well as a yellow card late in the first half.
Flyhalf Finn Russell, who kicked five of six conversions before being replaced, gave a masterclass in playmaking to reinforce his position as favourite to lead the Lions backline in the Test series against Australia in late July and August.
'I think it's an improvement, especially on the scoreline side and how we sort of closed down that game towards the end,' said hooker Sheehan.
'But still plenty of things to work on, the discipline was nowhere near good enough and there was too much access for Western Force tonight.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Junior Boks grounded after thrashing Aussies in U-20 champs opener
Junior Boks grounded after thrashing Aussies in U-20 champs opener

TimesLIVE

time6 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Junior Boks grounded after thrashing Aussies in U-20 champs opener

The Junior Springboks will savour their opening round victory over Australia in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, but the team will keep their feet firmly on the ground and prepare for the next big challenge, their second pool match against England on Friday. South Africa U-20 coach Kevin Foote was a happy man after his team scored 11 tries to beat the Australians 73-17 in their Pool A opener in Calvisano, Italy, on Sunday. Foote praised the team's conditioning as they outplayed Australia for large parts of the game, which was staged in extreme heat and humidity. 'The conditions were tough, but we managed our nutrition and hydration well,' he said. 'Our preparation was key, both physically and mentally and I think our conditioning was outstanding and for that the team's conditioning staff deserve praise for their hard work.' What a stunner from the Junior Boks 🤩🇿🇦 Siya Ndlozi turns on the gas 💨 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 29, 2025 Foote was pleased how his players kept to their game plan against the tactically astute Australians. 'We executed our plans perfectly and adapted well under pressure. We balanced our kicking and running game well and our leadership on the field was calm and composed. 'The boys made mature decisions under pressure, which was crucial.' The Junior Bok coach highlighted the seamless integration of new players, with Jaco Grobbelaar and Jaco Williams both joining the team just before they left for Italy. SA U-20 captain Riley Norton, who had a good game at lock, was also pleased with their effort. 'It was a great win against a quality Australian side, but we can improve on certain areas,' said Norton, adding there will be no room for complacency, especially with defending champions England their next opponents on Friday. 'It is just one game under our belts and we want to learn and continuously improve as the tournament progresses,' he said. 'I'm glad for the win and excited for the forthcoming challenges, which will require thorough preparation and review.' England opened their campaign beating Scotland 56-19.

Junior Boks turn attention to England U20s after Aussie mauling
Junior Boks turn attention to England U20s after Aussie mauling

The Citizen

time8 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Junior Boks turn attention to England U20s after Aussie mauling

The Junior Springboks have quickly shifted their focus to defending champs England, after crushing the Aussie U20s in their tournament opener. Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton says they still need to improve if they are to challenge England, after they destroyed Australia in their World Rugby U20 Championship opener on Sunday. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton said the job isn't done and that they would enjoy the win, but prepare for the next battle, after they opened their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign with a 73-17 mauling of Australia in Calvisano, Italy on Sunday. The Junior Boks were a class apart as they ran rampant, outscoring their Southern Hemisphere rivals 11 tries to three, as they got their world champs campaign off to a perfect start. Norton however wasn't completely satisfied, and highlighted that they would have to be even better if they wanted to challenge tournament defending champs England in their second pool match on Friday. 'It definitely wasn't the perfect performance. Australia played some great rugby there at the end, and there are definitely things for us to improve on. But I am proud of the gents,' said Norton. 'We will enjoy the victory, but then its straight back to work. It's only a five day turnaround and we have to get ready for England who are a great team. 'So back to the drawing board, and let's get ready for England. We have to be close to our best (to beat them). They are a great team, well coached and winners from last year. 'It is a great rivalry we have with them. We love playing against England, we love the physical battle, it is very set piece dominated. So we are going to be ready for it and are really excited.' Positive start It is however an extremely positive start for the Junior Boks, especially after they finished third in the U20 Rugby Championship (TRC) on home soil just a few months ago, where they lost to champions New Zealand and thre a 17-0 halftime lead away in going down 29-24 to Australia. Norton admitted that they felt they had a point to prove after their struggles in the TRC, and that he was proud of the improvements they have made since then. 'It (the loss) definitely did play a part. We spoke about it a lot. Australia played well (in the TRC), but we never like losing, especially at home in front of our fans. So it was something that fuelled us and everything worked out,' said Norton. 'What pleased me most (in this game) was the way we managed to hold onto the ball for numerous phases and that we could take it coast to coast. I think from the TRC that was something we really wanted to improve on. 'Our outside backs were just unbelievable. You see when they have a one on one, they can score from anywhere. So that was the best thing. But also our set piece, us as South Africans that's something that we pride ourselves on and I think it fired as well.'

Ali Bacher urges ICC to expand Proteas' Test cricket schedule
Ali Bacher urges ICC to expand Proteas' Test cricket schedule

IOL News

time9 hours ago

  • IOL News

Ali Bacher urges ICC to expand Proteas' Test cricket schedule

Former South Africa captain Ali Bacher urged the ICC to expand the Proteas' Test cricket schedule following their World Test Championship victory, highlighting the need for more matches to balance the dominance of England, Australia, and India in international cricket. Picture: Sapa/IOL Following the Proteas victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, former South Africa captain Ali Bacher has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to see the Rainbow Nation play more matches in the longest format of the game. In the two-year cycle which ended with South Africa qualifying for the final, the Proteas played the joint fewest number of games in the qualifying period. South Africa played just 12 matches, while the big three nations in world cricket - Australia (19), India (19) and England (22) - had a much more full calendar. It's for that reason that the victory of South Africa over Australia in the final could do much to sway the ICC to schedule more matches for the Proteas.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store