Maro Itoje welcomes ‘quality players' into Lions squad as Scots are summoned
Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham will join up with Andy Farrell's men over the coming week, swelling the size of the squad to 44 in the wake of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George and Tom Clarkson also being added.
Advertisement
The fresh faces have been brought in to provide cover that will prevent key personnel from playing in the Test series while backing up in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Scotland's Rory Sutherland is one of the new faces in the British and Irish Lions squad (Jane Barlow/PA)
Farrell's decision to turn to those from Scotland's tour of nearby New Zealand has evoked memories of eight years ago when Finn Russell, Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davie joined Warren Gatland's Lions.
Picked because of their geographical location with their national sides and not on merit, they were shunned by some squad members and Gatland later revealed that internal concern over 'devaluing the jersey' forced him to not deploy them off the bench against the Hurricanes.
Advertisement
Itoje's Lions will take a different approach with their captain declaring 'we are all in this together'.
'I have no doubt that they will be welcomed in,' said Itoje ahead of the Saturday's first Test in Brisbane.
'The boss, Andy, has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series.
'All of the players who have been called in are quality players. They are players like everyone else in the team, have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career.
'We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways.
'I have no doubt that everyone who has called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal.'
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Itoje has doubled down on Henry Pollock's revelation that the Lions are determined to complete a series whitewash of Australia – an aim that has been noted by the hosts.
'That's definitely the ambition. It goes without saying – no one ever wants to lose a game,' Itoje said.
'It would be a bit weird if one of my team-mates said we want to win two and lose one.
'If you asked any of the Wallabies players, I hope it's also their ambition to win all the games.
'We want to win, but all we're focussed on is this Saturday. The other two games will look after itself.'
Henry Pollock is seeking a Lions whitewash of Australia (David Davies/PA)
After playing four matches in four different states in 11 days, the Lions are based in Brisbane where preparations for the first Test have begun,
Advertisement
'We know there's going to be a big step up. As we get closer and closer to the game, we'll sharpen and sharpen,' Itoje said.
'There's a healthy tension in the squad because we know this is what we've been working towards.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jordan, Ritchie join Graham in missing Samoa finale
Scotland will face Samoa on Friday without two more key players after back Tom Jordan and flanker Jamie Ritchie were ruled out through injury following winger Darcy Graham's call-up by the British and Irish Lions. But forwards Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman are available to face the Samoans in Scotland's final summer tour game before they join the Lions squad. Advertisement And Matt Fagerson will be fit after recovering from a knock picked up in their defeat by Fiji, while fellow back row Ben Muncaster and lock Gregor Brown are also back in training after missing Friday's Test. Scotland coach Pete Horne revealed it was not such good news for Ritchie, who picked up a foot injury against Fiji, and Jordan, who found out after battling against pain to finish the game that he had a hand fracture. "He had a little bit of pain after the game," Horne said. "He's such a tough bugger - he doesn't really complain about anything - but he had a bit of swelling in his hand. "He went for a scan and an x-ray and he's actually got a fracture." Advertisement Scotland's defeat by Fiji dented their hopes of improving their world ranking in order to be among the top seeds at the World Cup draw in December. However, Horne said that head coach Gregor Townsend did not have to be persuaded to part with Graham. "Gregor's a massive supporter of the Lions," he said. "If they'd needed them now, he'd have been all for them going away. "But, then, getting another game with us, I think is part of the Lions' plan. They were happy for them to play this weekend and I think the fact that we're playing on a Friday definitely helps. Advertisement "Friday night to the Wednesday isn't as bad as a Saturday to Wednesday. So I'm sure Gregor will be quite willing to support any plan that Andy [Farrell] and the Lions have and if it means limiting a little bit of game time or whatever then I'm sure that'll be the case." Scotland, who initially lost eight players to the Lions, have no plans to call in any late replacements of their own. "By the time anyone gets out of here, it'll take them a few days with the jet lag and stuff - it's a tough old travel," Horne added. "We're pretty well covered, to be honest. "We've got adequate cover across the backs. Training might be a little bit hampered, but I'm sure we'll be fine." Related internet links
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Tempers flare in England-India test series but captains downplay tensions
LONDON (AP) — Captains Ben Stokes and Shubman Gill downplayed the tensions between their England and India teams and regarded them as a normal part of big series. Their five-match series became spiky in the third test at Lord's, where England barely won by 22 runs on Monday. India was angry with England's time-wasting tactic at the end of Saturday's play, India bowler Mohammed Siraj had an altercation with England batter Ben Duckett on Sunday, and on the final day Monday an accidental mid-pitch collision between Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse flared more tempers. The incidents darkened the banter on both sides, especially between the bowlers and their victims but Stokes and Gill didn't have a problem with any of it. 'It makes for an even more exciting test series,' Gill told the BBC. 'When you're in the heat of the moment there's so many emotions involved. 'Both teams are competitive and you're playing to win. There is going to be moments where there is going to be a bit of heat.' Stokes agreed wholeheartedly. 'I think a bit of niggle out in the middle gets over-egged from people watching. A massive series, emotions are going,' he said. 'All 22 (players) are playing for their country. I don't think anyone in the India dressing room or England dressing room is going to be complaining about what was said. 'We are out there putting our bodies on the line. It was always going to happen eventually. I'm all for it. I don't think it went over the line whatsoever. It adds to the theatre.' Siraj celebrated dismissing Duckett on Sunday by yelling in his face and bumping shoulders. On Monday, he was fined 15% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council and handed one demerit point. Four demerit points in a 24-month period could lead to a suspension. Siraj has two. Siraj came to the crease on Monday to booing and was the last man out in an unlucky fashion. But while he agonized at the crease, some England players, including Joe Root, congratulated him on his effort. 'There is always admiration at the end because both teams try everything they can to win the test match,' Gill said. Teammate Washington Sundar welcomed the passion shown by both teams, and said it was natural. 'I would say the aggression is always inside of us in both dressing rooms,' Sundar said. 'It definitely does (fuel energy). I mean, it's a sport and everyone is quite aggressive and quite intense in their own ways. I mean, no matter the sport, if you're an athlete, it's a common factor, I'd say.' England batting coach Marcus Trescothick believed it will draw more eyeballs to the series. 'It's a big series,' he told the BBC. 'It's understandable at times that tempers are going to get to boiling point, and things will be said, and things happen amongst the two teams. We're comfortable with it. We give as much as we get. Those moments that happen, and people pick up on TV, it just adds for more people to come back and view the game.' ___ AP cricket:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
England match-winner Shoaib Bashir praised as injury rules him out of series
Ben Stokes praised Shoaib Bashir's bravery after England's young spinner claimed the match-winning wicket in a thriller against India, despite suffering from a broken finger that rules him out of the remainder of the Test series. Bashir broke the little finger on his left hand while attempting a caught-and-bowled on day three of the third Rothesay Test and has already been booked in for surgery in the coming days. Advertisement But he showed serious fortitude to bat against the 90mph pace of Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday evening and played a brief but decisive role with the ball in an impossibly tense fifth-day finish. With India creeping towards the finish line on 170 for nine chasing 193 in the final session, he bowled last man Mohammed Siraj via a back-spinning ricochet off the face of the bat. Having spent the majority of the last two days watching the game unfold with England's coaching staff, it was a remarkable way for a captivating contest to conclude, securing a 22-run win and a 2-1 lead for the hosts. 'It was great that Bash was able to get that last wicket with everything he had to deal with this week,' said Stokes, who must find a new spinner for the last two Tests. 'He's 21 years old and he's got a very badly broken finger. To go out there and bat for us and to be willing to sit there on the bench, waiting for his moment to come on and bowl, I think just proves how much it means to everyone who gets the opportunity to put the shirt on. Advertisement 'Not even a couple of breaks is going stop anyone getting out there. To finish that game off was written in the stars. It's not good news for Bash, it's very disappointing for us as a team and for him, but I think the courage that he showed (was outstanding).'
