Farrell: Lions Test spots still 'up for grabs'
Maro Itoje returns as captain for the Canberra showdown to lead a starting XV full of players considered first choice in their positions, including half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell.
The fixture with the Brumbies is being treated by Farrell as a dry run for the series opener against the Wallabies on July 19.
But he insisted his Lions stars still have to earn the jersey after leaving the door open for others to stake their claim, with Saturday's match against an AUNZ Invitational XV the final opportunity to impress.
"The truth of the matter is we have got a good side that's going to take the field on Wednesday and I will tell you what I said to the team," the head coach said.
"There's always going to be speculation, but it's up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from now on in with regards to the chance they have got on Wednesday and on Saturday.
"Players can play themselves in and players can play themselves out, but we are looking for a cohesive team performance and that is what we are trying to achieve.
"There has to be movement in selection. The nature of the format of these two games allows for us to be open-minded.
"We play on Saturday after this and have a full week's worth of training, so you have to stay open-minded. A closed book is not good for anyone.
"I wouldn't call it a blank slate, you have always got ideas, but you need to leave wriggle room for things to unfold and make a judgement on what you see over the next couple of games."
Providing X-factor on the bench are back row Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are viable options against Australia.
In normal circumstances flanker Tom Curry and prop Tadhg Furlong would be assured of Test places, but they need big games following underwhelming tours so far.
Prop Ellis Genge, flanker Ollie Chessum and full-back Blair Kinghorn must also put their best foot forwards amid fierce competition for places. The likes of Dan Sheehan, Itoje, Gibson-Park, Russell and Jack Conan are nailed-on starters.
After a disappointing performance against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, the Lions are looking to build momentum before heading to Adelaide for their penultimate midweek game.
The Brumbies were the only provincial side to beat the Lions in 2013 and are dangerous opponents.
"There is a real sense of excitement because there's a lot of history that goes with this fixture," Farrell said.
"The last two occasions we have played the Brumbies there have been four points in it, for and against. We know the challenge ahead and it's something we have been looking forward to."
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Frenzy after AFL star's classy interview following gruesome injury
WARNING: Violent content. Footy fans have been left in awe of Andrew Brayshaw after a troubling post-game interview where blood poured from his head. The Fremantle star showed no sign of distress as he spoke to Fox Footy after the Dockers' big comeback win over Hawthorn on Saturday — except for a gruesome head wound. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Brayshaw grinned and spoke with class during his on-field chat with Fox Footy's Kath Loughnan on the Optus Stadium turf just moments after the final siren sounded on the home team's 13-point win. Loughnan appeared to have second thoughts about going through with the interview, saying she earlier asked Brayshaw if he was really up for it. You can watch the ugly incident in the video player above. 'You let me know if you feel dizzy at all during this interview as I see the blood rushing down your face,' she said. She finished the interview by saying: 'I really feel like I need to let you go to the doctor. Thanks for chatting Andrew'. Brayshaw had come from the field in the final minute of play and was escorted to have a seat on the bench by a medical official. With blood coming down his head, Brayshaw waved to the crowd to fire them up with his hand gestures as he walked off the field. Replays showed he had taken a knee to the head during a marking contest late in the game. Brayshaw was at the bottom of a pack when teammate Luke Jackson launched into the air and accidentally took Brayshaw out in a sickening collision. None of it seemed to bother Brayshaw, who was much more interested in speaking about the impact Michael Walters had on the club as the Dockers celebrated the veteran with a special farewell. Brayshaw was the player everyone wanted to hear from at the end of the game after he provided the spark his team needed with a career-high 14 tackles, to go with 29 disposals, and six clearances. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said Brayshaw's performances are usually a gauge for how his side plays. 'He was disappointed with his game last week as well,' Longmuir said. 'I know (midfield coach) Joel Corey asked him for more defensively, and he's a barometer for us when he's bringing his pressure, when he's bringing his trademark efforts to chase down. 'So, yeah, him leading the way, and all our leaders leading the way in an area of focus is really important.' The interview divided footy fans and there was a frenzy of social media comments made about the incident. Many fans praised Brayshaw for his bravery. Fox Footy commentator Adam Papalia said after the interview: 'Well that just typifies Andrew Brayshaw.' Footy fans on Reddit called in 'badass'. Others said it was in similar fashion to interviews UFC fighters hold inside the Octagon after fights. One footy fan posted on X: 'Brayshaw doing post game interview with more blood than a Jaws movie. 'Never seen that before haha.' The win was Fremantle's seventh in eight weeks and they are now four points ahead of the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs. Longmuir said he'll let the players enjoy the win over the Hawks before looking towards the their blockbuster against Collingwood. 'Yeah, it's the biggest challenge in footy,' he said about the Round 19 task. 'You go not only to take on Collingwood, who are the best team in the comp, but you go and take on the Magpie Army and the crowd and yeah, it's a great challenge for us. 'So, we'll enjoy this win first. Wins are hard to come by. 'Allow the players to sit in it for a few days and then we'll start prepping for Collingwood, so a great challenge.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
6-0 6-0! Swiatek's historic blitz to win Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
New Entain Australia boss Andrew Vouris hits ground running in new role at the helm of wagering giant
Newly-appointed Entain Australia boss Andrew Vouris is waiting for no one in his plans to make his mark on the Australasian arm of the global betting behemoth. Vouris – who succeeds Dean Shannon at the helm of wagering brands Ladbrokes and Neds after the highly respected executive stepped down recently declaring 'the time right for change' – assumes the top job with a wealth of wagering experience behind him. Renowned for his no-nonsense approach and a love for innovation which has earned him the respect of racing's most senior figures, Vouris' 17-year wagering tenure has been as diverse as it has been rewarding. And it's that firm grasp of a complex and always evolving wagering ecosystem that pinpointed Vouris as the man to lead the organisation into a new frontier, having undergone a total management overhaul in the past year. 'I've been really forthright in my communication to the team – I want us to win, yes, but not at all costs,' Vouris said. 'We've got a hardworking and passionate workforce both here in Australia and New Zealand but there's always room for improvement and we're steadfast in our commitment to do that. 'With challenges comes opportunity.' The pointed comments in part speak to Entain Australia's ongoing Federal Court battle with AUSTRAC over historic allegations of noncompliance with anti-money laundering laws. In 2017, when working for Tabcorp, Vouris had responsibilities in helping navigate that company's own AUSTRAC proceedings, before coming out the other side. Vouris acknowledged that the matter continued to place a heavy burden on the organisation but he was now very much in the mindset of looking forward rather than back. 'I obviously can't speak on the matter specifically other than to say as an organisation we have changed significantly and continue to do so,' Vouris said. 'My prime focus is putting all our energy into connecting with our customers and stakeholders as best we can. 'At the core, punters want great products and competitive prices and that's our focus. 'Our integration of the New Zealand TAB in the past year or two has absorbed a lot of our resources but with that now complete, we can get back to innovation and growth which is a passion of mine.' The seismic change hasn't just been confined to a management revamp, with Entain Australia undergoing something of a realignment across other facets of the business. That included the cessation of a number of initiatives including the winding up of Ladbrokes Racing Club in Australia. 'At the end of the day we are a bookmaker – that's our business, bookmaking,' Vouris said. 'When you over-complicate things and overextend yourself you can lose your way.' With a successful background in start-ups (Unikrn and Luxbet) and a decade at Tabcorp, Vouris is as qualified as anyone to speak to the exponential threat facing racing. 'The tax regime is a huge concern for the long-term sustainability of racing – that's been well documented,' Vouris said. But Vouris said the challenges ddi not end there. 'Offshore and emerging cryptocurrency casino operators are a major threat too,' he said. 'They are growing at exponential rates, and the foreign licensing isn't returning anything on the domestic front. 'Some of the financial projections of what's being spent in these offshore casino markets is frightening and should be alarming to Australian racing. 'Action really needs to come now.' Quizzed on whether these challenges could ultimately impair Entain Australia's ability to remain aggressive in the racing sponsorship space, Vouris refused to rule it out. 'While others have been retreating in his space we've tried to remain as aggressive as possible,' he said. In recent months, rumours have intensified about the prospect of major corporate bookmakers like Ladbrokes and Sportsbet playing a role in bringing a national tote to life. It's been mooted that Tabcorp's hopes of merging the three tote pools includes plans for middle and best tote money from the top corporates also being channelled into the pool in a bid to generate even higher liquidity. But Vouris isn't sold. 'Show me a punter that would rather take a national tote price against the best price of the current three totes,' he said. 'I'm not convinced a national tote will be the huge win for racing it's being sold as. 'I think there's a lot that hasn't been considered on that front.'
