'Not sugar coating anything' - Farrell laments Lions' costly errors in Argentina loss
The Lions head coach admitted his side's performance in a historic first Lions game on Irish soil at a sold-out Aviva Stadium had not lived up to his expectations as Pumas fly-half Tomas Albornoz led Felipe Contepomi's Pumas to a famous maiden victory over the tourists.
Tries from Bundee Aki and Ireland team-mate Tadhg Beirne either side of a penalty try off the back of a powerful Lions lineout drive were some of the highlights. But a matchday 23 missing 14 players who were involved in English and URC finals six days earlier for Bath, Leicester Tigers and the largest one-club contingent within the touring party, 10 of the dozen Leinstermen selected by Farrell, went down to defeat.
Argentina prevailed in front of the remarkable sight of 51,700 supporters forming a 'Sea of Red' in Dublin more readily associated with stadia of the ilk of Loftus Versfeld or Eden Park.
The Lions will fly Down Under on Saturday, heading to Perth, Western Australia ahead of a tour opener against Western Force seven days later and asked for what response he wanted from his squad, Farrell said: 'Obviously a better all-round performance. You can single out one thing but it's not just one thing, it's a compounding of quite a few bits.
'The amount of balls that we threw blindly, either to the opposition or the floor, is probably a stand-out. If you combine that with the kicking game and the aerial battle and what is disappointing is scraps on the floor from that type of battle, it always seemed to go to Argentina so there's a bit of fight and hunger from them that we can't accept.
'Then you combine stuff at the breakdown, the lineout or whatever, and it's too much. It's too much when it all comes together, it's just compounded, and there's a reason why people do get cramp or look a bit tired or are not able to capitalise on opportunities you have created, because probably subconsciously you're suppressing yourself with the compounding of errors. It obviously needs to be addressed.'
Asked about his own performance as head coach, the 2023 Grand Slam-winning Ireland boss said: 'Obviously not good enough. I always take full responsibility, that's my role. It doesn't matter what department or whatever, I'm in charge of the job lot so it obviously wasn't good enough and I need to be better.
'We're not sugar-coating anything because we need to be honest because if we're not honest how do we gain trust with each other? We have to say it as it is. There are certain things we said we were going to do and we need to own that and review that properly.' Farrell urged his players to take ownership of the red jerseys of which they were now in possession.
'We've got to own that. We've got to take responsibility for that.
'We are the British & Irish Lions so we've got to own the right to take that jersey forward. It shouldn't be heavy. We've got brilliant players within our squad and they need to embrace that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Famous English club change name to ‘Red Bulls' after takeover by energy drinks giant – and fans are happy about it
HAVING A BALL Famous English club change name to 'Red Bulls' after takeover by energy drinks giant – and fans are happy about it RUGBY giants Newcastle Falcons have been renamed following a takeover by Red Bull. The Premiership side will be known as Newcastle Red Bulls going forward. Advertisement 2 Newcastle Falcons have been named Newcastle Red Bulls following a takeover Credit: Getty 2 The change will take place from the 2025-26 season Credit: PA They will continue playing at Kingston Park and Steve Diamond will keep his role as Director of Rugby for the foreseeable future. A statement from the club read: "Newcastle Rugby Ltd are pleased to announce that Red Bull has taken full ownership of the club. "The newly-named Newcastle Red Bulls will proudly remain at Kingston Park and will build for sporting success with a commitment to developing local rugby talent through a strengthened academy program, delivering a world class fan experience and embracing the innovative approach that Red Bull has brought to its sports initiatives across the world. "Steve Diamond will remain in his role of Director of Rugby, ensuring continuity and expertise as he prepares the team for the new season and helps to set the foundations for a club that aims to compete for trophies in England and Europe in the coming years." Advertisement READ MORE IN SPORT FINAL WHISTLE Shamed Premier League ref David Coote slapped with ban for Jurgen Klopp rant Meanwhile, Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, said: "Together, we aim to elevate rugby to new heights and deliver unforgettable moments for our fans. "We're delighted to have acquired Newcastle Red Bulls and look forward to empowering the club to reach its full competitive potential." Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney added: "Red Bull's investment in Newcastle is a very positive development and demonstrates the confidence in and potential of the Gallagher Prem, which is experiencing growing attendances, increased youth audiences and rising TV viewership. "We've been pleased to support the club, the league and Red Bull in the process which will be the first major new investment in a Prem club since 2016. Advertisement "Having a Gallagher Prem club in the north of England is critical to rugby in the region both for preserving a rugby fanbase and its role in talent development and community outreach. "We look forward to Newcastle Red Bulls going from strength-to-strength next season and congratulate all those involved in making today's announcement a reality." Fans are also thrilled about the news, with one person taking to X to write: "Delighted for all the Newcastle fans and will strengthen the Prem and English rugby. Newcastle would have been relegated and probably gone had many got their way. "Rugby correctly ring fenced and after the dreadful Covid impact, the sport can start to build and move toward financial sustainability. Advertisement "I look forward to the dynamism and energy that the Red Bull marketing team will bring to our sport and hope this shows the way for other top brands to associate themselves with the game." Another commented: "Absolutely fantastic news for the Premiership, European Rugby, club Rugby in England and most importantly, for Newcastle Falcons and Rugby in the North. "I really hope Red Bull is allowed the opportunity to create Newcastle as one of Europe's best Rugby sides." While a third said: "As a Wasps fan this is fantastic news for Newcastle fans who have stuck with them through tough times. Look forwards to seeing a lot of upsets this season."
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Jac Morgan's pivotal Lions moment reignites jackling debate in rugby
Another Lions tour added to the annals, and everyone is more or less happy. The British & Irish Lions take a series win, just about, and Australia have a pivotal moment at the end of the second Test to whinge about, or console themselves over, depending on your viewpoint. Certainly, these days, it is difficult to know what disciplinary outcome may pertain to each incident in the cut and thrust of elite rugby. Most people with eyes can appreciate there was no head contact when Jac Morgan tried to clear out the jackling Carlo Tizzano in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's winning try, but there is no doubt, either, that Tizzano was in an exposed position, just as that particular split-second represented an impossible situation for Morgan. Had he gone any lower he would have made contact with the head, higher and he would have missed the clearout altogether. Beyond the noise of yet more grown-ups who should know better carrying on as if they were the first to find themselves on the wrong side of a contentious decision, a wider question has bubbled up again – and this one has been brewing for a while – about whether the time has come to put the jackal to sleep once and for all. Indeed, lexically, World Rugby has tried to do just that. In the latest amendment to its law book, all mentions of 'the jackal' and its variations have been replaced by 'the stealer'. This may be because of the conjugation of a verb that did not exist in the English language until rugby came along. Before it removed them altogether, World Rugby chose to spell the inflections of the verb 'to jackal' so that they matched those of the verb 'to tackle', rather than 'to pedal', causing mayhem in editorial offices across the world. READ MORE Some people consider the jackal sacrosanct, the ultimate embodiment of the contest for the ball that distinguishes rugby union from various other collision sports. Once upon a time it tended to be the preserve of the openside flanker. Nowadays, with hundreds of tackles a match, a team need multiple players proficient at the skill. But once upon a time really is not very long ago in this case. The jackal is a phenomenon of the professional era. A few years ago, in the Welford Road press room, discussing it were a couple of former internationals; one who retired just before the game turned pro, the other whose career started just after. When they were asked who first became renowned for their jackling, there was a moment's silence. The international from the amateur era looked blank. The one from the pro era, after some thought, offered Josh Kronfeld, the All Blacks openside of the late 1990s. Which feels about right. New Zealand flanker Josh Kronfeld hurdles in on England's Matt Perry during the Rugby World Cup pool match at Twickenham in 2009. Photograph:This is not to say no one ever went for the ball after a tackle in the amateur era, but there was not a name for the practice, and the window of opportunity was brief, with 'hands off' called the moment an opponent bound on to form a ruck. There are two main arguments for querying the jackal's pervasiveness in the modern game. The first is a safety matter, although why we should pick on that area above any other is not obvious. Rugby is a dangerous game. The sooner the authorities recognise that by reserving their sanctions for deliberate acts of recklessness, the fewer impossible disciplinary quandaries there will be to resolve. Jacklers, though, do place themselves in vulnerable positions – and it is not just the head that is exposed. A team doctor in the English Premiership mused about 15 years ago that there was a new injury in rugby, which had been seen previously only in surfing, when the surfer is hit by a wave while crouched on the board. That injury, a serious one, is called an avulsion, when the hamstring is torn from the bone, and it is the jackler who suffers it if hit hard enough by a clearout. So much for the safety. There is also a compelling argument on rugby grounds. The great poser these days is how to get players back into the ruck. The game has never been more vibrant and entertaining on the field, but insofar as there are bad games, which of course there are, they usually play out to the relentless thud of hit-up after hit-up as defenders fan across the field. The main reason they can do that is that they need to send only one player in at every tackle to jackal, who in turn invites two or three of the attacking side to clear out, thus tilting the balance beyond the ruck in favour of the defending side. Make it illegal to use hands after the tackle, so the theory goes, and the ruck will become the primary contest for the ball at each tackle. A turnover can be won when the first defender steps over the ball. Thus teams will need to resource the rucks if they want to maintain possession or win it back. That should create space elsewhere. It sounds reasonable, but there will almost certainly be downsides, as there always are in rugby's eternal quest for the perfect set of laws. A personal view is that far too much latitude has been extended to the jackler, who is now granted rights to handle the ball, if the first one there, long after any ruck has formed. At the very least, rugby might consider a return to what used to be lore: that all hands come off the moment a ruck is formed. A happy side effect might be to calm the ardour of the clearout, where players almost panic at the sight of a jackler and charge in desperation. Any situation that permits a defender to put the attacking side in an impossible situation needs reviewing. The jackler is a prime example. Coming to a law trial near you … –
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Alan Shearer slates Newcastle's 'nightmare' summer amidst Isak's impending departure
It's fair to say that no team ever wins the Premier League in the transfer window, but you can certainly lose it in the transfer window and it seems like Newcastle United aren't on the trajectory to the top of the Premier League table. After finishing fifth and qualifying for the Champions League, many had The Magpies as dark horses to compete for the title this season if they recruited well. And while adding squad pieces like Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale has improved their depth, the countless rejections and this now impending Alexander Isak departure has casted a dark cloud over their season. With rumoured failures to sign James Trafford, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike and more, it appears that Newcastle mightn't have the pull many thought they would have when they were bought by the Saudi Public Investment Fund in 2021. Alexander Isak. Pic:And with the drama surrounding Alexander Isak and the Swede's desire to leave Newcastle for Liverpool. He has already told the club that he'll never play for them again according to David Ornstein of The Athletic after they rejected a British record fee from Liverpool earlier this month and banning him from training with the first team. He has now returned to first team training however, but it still remains that Newcastle look like they couldn't have prepared worse for the season if they tried. It's left a lot of fans and pundits disappointed including former Toon legend Alan Shearer. Alexander Isak. Pic:'So far, Newcastle's pre-season has been a nightmare. There is no other way of describing it' Shearer said in his BBC column. The ex-England captain then goes on to describe that Newcastle seemingly decided not to replace two key members in terms of recruiting players in Sporting Director Darren Eales and Sporting Director Paul Mitchell. 'Newcastle went into the summer with no chief executive or sporting director, which I find amazing. They knew Darren Eales was stepping down as chief executive last September – 11 months ago – and Paul Mitchell left as sporting director at the end of June.' Alan Shearer. Pic: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images 'I don't know why they haven't appointed anyone yet or if that has hindered them in the transfer market, because I am not inside the club, but from the outside it is not a good look. It's a mess, and it begs the question about who has been making the big decisions.' It's been far from ideal preparation for Newcastle as they are looking towards Brentford's Yoann Wissa and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins as potential Isak replacements. They get their season underway away at Villa this Saturday, with kick off at 12:30pm live on TNT Sports.
