We want to be one of the best Lions teams ever – Ben Earl reveals lofty target
The Lions have so far dispatched all four Super Rugby franchises, each of them missing the bulk of their Australia stars, with the defeat to Argentina in Dublin that launched the tour the only blemish.
The hectic schedule of four matches in 11 days across four different cities has prevented any serious training from taking place, but Earl insists there can be no excuses in the pursuit of a lofty goal.
'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about – being one of the best Lions teams ever,' the England number eight said.
'You can't be the best Lions team ever and lose 3-0 in the Test series or not win many games. But also it's how we go about things.
'Games like this one you have short preparation, sore bodies and are at the end of a tough two-week block, so you've got some excuses there if you wanted to roll over and not put your best stuff forward.
'But then you'd be doing yourself, the jersey, the brand itself a complete disservice.'
While head coach Farrell has repeatedly highlighted the challenges posed by preparation being limited to training walk-throughs and meetings, his players are relishing the regular action.
Ben Earl (left) is relishing his experience with the Lions (Robbie Stephenson/PA)
'It's been great. It's been unbelievable,' Earl added. 'At this time of the year – what are we, 54 weeks into a season now almost? – just playing is so fun, so enjoyable, so exciting.
'It's the meetings, the analysis, the review stuff that can get tiresome. It's the coolest thing to be able to play with players that previously you were previewing on how to stop them.
'I can wholeheartedly say that it's the best thing I've ever done by a mile. I've learnt more in the last five weeks than I probably have in the last four years in terms of seeing the game differently, playing with different people and competing on the training pitch.
'But it's also been learning that, actually, going into a rugby performance you don't need to do seven days of going into a monastery and coming out on a Saturday and being able to play.
'You just have to work out what you're good at, what you're going to do as a team and try and do it and see where you're at after 80 minutes. That's pretty cool.'
The Lions depart Adelaide for Brisbane on Sunday to begin preparations for the first Test, with Farrell scheduled to name his team on Thursday.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
No funeral: for the Wallabies and rugby in Australia this was a new beginning
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Seething Wallabies legend fumes at controversial call and lashes out at 'weak' officials - as British media accuse Australia star of 'DIVING'
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He had followed James Ryan into the breakdown and removed Carlo Tizzano from the contact area. The Aussie had fallen away from the scramble of bodies, clutching his head, after Morgan had appeared to get his shoulder under Tizzano's neck. HUGO KEENAN WINS IT FOR THE LIONS! 🦁 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 26, 2025 A former Wallabies legend has been left fuming for Jac Morgan's (right) clearout on Carlo Tizzano (left) in the dying embers of the Lions against the Wallabies at the MCG on Saturday The ball was subsequently recycled and sent out to Keenan on the left side of the pitch but the Wallabies players were incecensed about both the force and manner in which the Welsh flanker had cleared out the Western Force flanker. 'That decision is 100% completely wrong. The referee got it wrong,' Turinui said after the game. 'His two assistant referees got it wrong.' 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'Everyone can make their own decision on that, you just have to read law 9.20, and I guess you just have to listen to the description from the referee, and then watch the vision,' Schmidt said. He added: 'Our perspective is, we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're talking about. You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders, and there's no binding with the left arm, the hands on the ground. 'So that's what we've seen, and we've watched a number of replays from different angles, and so it is what it is. We just have to accept it.' Andy Farrell, as expected, saw nothing wrong with the incident. 'I spoke to Joe Schmidt and he felt it was a penalty, but I just saw it as a clearout,' the Lions coach explained. 'I don't know where Jac Morgan was supposed to go - it looked like a rugby incident to me. I think it was the right decision in the end.' Wallabies captain Harry Wilson then explained that the decision left his team-mate, Tizzano, with a 'sore' neck. 'Obviously I saw a shoulder to the neck, Carlo was pretty sore after it,' he added. Schmidt, though, fumed that the Wallabies should have got a decision at the end of the match, adding that he was left 'gutted' following the refereeing call. 'I couldn't quite believe that we didn't get a decision at the end,' he said. 'But, you know, that's the wicked backlash that sport can have sometimes. 'I think it was described as arriving at the same time. And we can all see that's not the case. And we can all see clear contact with the back of the neck. 'You know, might be a different decision on another day and another time. 'I've been gutted a few times in my coaching career, but that is right up there. 'I felt we earned more than what we got.' Sports columnists in the UK including The Telegraph's Oliver Brown, accused Tizzano of 'diving' during the match, while also telling Australia to 'stop moaning'. Others on social media questioned the acts of the Wallabies players, with one writing: 'Tizzano with a dive straight out of a Brazilian football league. Get in!' Another wrote: 'Tizzano should be facing a ban for that. 'Shameful behaviour, diving and rolling around like a toddler.' 'Tizzano went full Hollywood,' wrote another. But others online were less sympathetic to Jac Morgan, with one writing: 'So blatantly a contact straight to the head. They didn't arrive at the same time... Tizzano had hands on the ball.'
BBC News
an hour ago
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In pictures: How the Lions fought their way to victory in Melbourne
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