British and Irish Lions urged to ‘create moments' ahead of Australia tour opener
The British and Irish Lions have been urged to create memories when they play their first fixture on Australian soil against Western Force on Saturday.
The Lions are eager to kickstart their tour after falling 28-24 to Argentina in the Dublin opener as they build towards the Test series against the Wallabies, which begins in Brisbane on July 19th.
Advertisement
Although they may be the worst performing of Australia's Super Rugby sides this season, the Force have been reinforced by the presence of six Wallabies who have been released for the Optus Stadium showdown.
Scrum coach John Fogarty highlights the importance of the Lions rewarding their supporters – more than 30,000 are expected to head Down Under – after seeing the Aviva Stadium turn red last Friday.
'The lads need to create moments for people to get behind,' said Fogarty, who oversaw a dominant scrum performance against the Pumas.
'Whether it's in a scrum or off a line-out or attacking play or defensive play, we need to make sure we're creating moments that capture the minds of the people that matter most. That's the plan.
Advertisement
'It's an amazing thing, the Lions. You get behind it instantly. It was disappointing against Argentina because you feel like you're letting people down a little bit due to the performance and the result.'
Fogarty believes the Lions will be better for another week together, enabling them to build familiarity with each other.
'There were little things around mentality. Sometimes you come into a game, it's a big occasion and you're in your head a bit and not playing the game on instinct,' he said.
'That's why this week has been so important, we've been getting more cohesive and a bit more in synch so that come game day we can play off instincts. It should all become more natural to us.'
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Lions must take it in their stride,' insists Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu after Aussie jibes
Sione Tuipulotu insists the British and Irish Lions must continue to shrug off any provocation during their tour of Australia. The Scotland captain is one of eight players in Andy Farrell's squad who were born, raised and educated in the southern hemisphere, and he was among those caught in the crosshairs by the Tannoy announcer at Optus Stadium before Saturday's 54-7 rout of Western Force. 'Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu,' was how the centre was introduced when the team was read out for the Lions' opening match on Australian soil. Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Pierre Schoeman were also referenced by the nation of their birth rather than their adopted country, for whom they have qualified either through residency or family heritage. It continued a theme from the hosts that began when Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt described Tuipulotu and New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki as a 'southern-hemisphere centre partnership' in the build-up to the defeat by Argentina in Dublin. Tuipulotu emphasised the words 'good humour' when brushing aside the jibes that he expected on his return Down Under. 'I knew there would be some 'good humour' coming back home to Australia. These are all things we've got to take in our stride,' he said. 'To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don't know how funny that gag is to everyone! 'I'm loving my rugby playing for the Lions and I'm really passionate about it. Andy's brought the group together so well.' Finn Russell was at the heart of the onslaught in his first outing of the tour and the Scot's instinctive play drew approval from Farrell, who said: 'He's ready to go. And that's good.' Tuipulotu, who expects to be firing by the Test series as he continues his comeback from a significant ankle injury, said: 'We're taking ideas from all the nations. Obviously, the coaching style is very Ireland dominant and there are a lot of ideas that we're getting from the Irish coaches, but then those ideas are being sprinkled on. 'We're still growing, there's a lot of growth left in us but the identity at least, you could see how we try to play the game out there.'
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Salford thrashed but hope for brighter days as financial situation improves
The start of a brighter future, or merely another false dawn? Only in the weeks to come will we know just what the latest developments off the field surrounding Salford Red Devils mean but on it these remain troubling and frustrating times. The irony cannot have been lost on any Salford fan who was inside the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Four months ago, they began their season at the same venue amid huge controversy, after the Red Devils chose to field their academy side and lost 82-0 in protest against the salary-cap restrictions placed upon them by the Rugby Football League. At the time there was debate about the merits of those restrictions but months later they remain in place – and with good reason. Since that day in February, Salford have been taken over but their financial troubles have continued, with debts mounting up, significant player sales and salaries being paid late. It is to the immense credit of the players and staff that they have turned up every week and performed with all of this hanging over their heads. Unsurprisingly, with star players sold and the club borrowing players from other clubs, they have been by some distance the weakest team in Super League in 2025, with just one win. Danny Richardson, the latest debutant here after arriving on loan from Hull KR, was the 54th player the head coach, Paul Rowley, has fielded in league and cup. Few would expect anything other than heavy defeat week after week, and that theme continued here as the Saints ran in 11 unanswered tries to win 58-0. This week, though, there was a chink of light off the field. It was entirely possible that Salford could have ceased to exist by Sunday had a winding-up petition filed against the club by HMRC for debts approaching £700,000 gone through. Instead, it was adjourned until September. Why? Salford have secured a bridging loan to the tune of £3m that will enable them to clear their debts to HMRC and the Rugby Football League, hopefully remove the salary-cap measures and open the door for what club sources insist is a multi-million-pound sum in a hedge fund that will be unlocked by the club's new owners once debts are settled. It is not an end to the problems, but respite if nothing else. It is a bizarre situation but given how there were fears Salford could have ceased to exist by Sunday, let alone this year, it is something to cling to. The pressure now falls on the ownership group, led by Sire Kailahi and Curtis Brown, to deliver after months of false promises. The Guardian understands that if those funds are released, the club will be handed over to someone to run it day-to-day and keep it sustainable. That man could be the former Red Devils chief executive, Paul King, who returned from gardening leave to help steward the club through this crisis – and who used his own money to pay the wages last month. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Salford's problems, though, are also Super League's. Having a team under special financial measures being heavily beaten every week is not a good look. This felt more like a training session for St Helens, but that is not the fault of the Red Devils' players or staff, who have acquitted themselves commendably throughout this crisis. There is every chance Salford, who were 12th last year in the IMG gradings which determine promotion and relegation, could be removed from the competition in the autumn if their score suffers as a result of the financial problems which have engulfed the club. There are Championship teams waiting to strike in 2026. But the onus must fall on the game to ensure its ownership tests are more stringent, and that players receive adequate welfare and support when financial strife hits. Salford's players, staff and supporters have been grossly failed this year. The sport should be embarrassed – not only by the look it creates for Super League, but for the toll it has taken on human beings who deserve much better. It must be hoped Salford have reached their nadir and they can look ahead with some level of optimism with this financial crisis finally behind them.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Lambourn makes history with Irish Derby win
Lambourn extended Aidan O'Brien's superb record in the Irish Derby, as the 8-13 favourite's stamina came to the fore to become the 20th horse to complete the Anglo-Irish double after his win at Epsom three weeks was not plain sailing for the victor, who was pushed hard by Ballydoyle stablemate Serious Contender but found the reserves with the finish line in sight to win by three-quarters of a pre-race favourite was expected to turn in a similar run to what it produced on the Surrey Downs when ridden by Wayne Lordan - this time on Puppet Master - but did not have it all his own way as Ralph Beckett's Sir Dinadan proved a test for jockey Ryan Moore to navigate in the early they rounded for home, Moore got Lambourn into position, but suddenly had King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender for looked set for a close finish as they entered the final furlong, but the class and stamina of Lambourn shone through as he galloped to the line and into the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo, who also did the Anglo-Irish Derby Contender finished second at 28-1, with Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff staying on for third at 14-1. "He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well," said a delighted O'Brien."Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride."Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way."He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine."We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat, and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen."
