‘Open-minded' Andy Farrell says Lions Test places still up for grabs
The Brumbies are the strongest of Australia's Super Rugby franchises, having finished third in the table, and the fixture is being treated as a dry run for the series opener against the Wallabies on July 19.
Our team to face the Brumbies in Canberra! 🦁#Lions2025
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 7, 2025
But Farrell 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 four weeks 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.
Team is in for @lionsofficial 🦁
The Hooper brothers could play together for the first time in a professional capacity.
Prop Cameron Orr has also been drafted in for this game and could also make his Brumbies debut from the bench.
Read more: https://t.co/qPplU221kJ pic.twitter.com/t8KQSAwZvZ
— ACT Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) July 7, 2025
'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.
'I have heard reports of how enthusiastic and good training has been for the Brumbies as you would expect when the Lions are coming to town.'
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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
The Itoje legacy: Nigerian roots shaped the Lions captain who has inspired a new generation
It is 2017 and Maro Itoje has just been selected as the youngest member of the British & Irish Lions squad. He is asked for his favourite Lions memory and his response is illuminating. 'Ugo Monye scoring his try in the third Test [against South Africa in 2009]. When you're young and growing up, you look at players that look like you. And, by that, I don't mean eyes, ears, nose, I mean who have the same skin colour, who you can identify with. Ugo is one I could identify with, as we're both of Nigerian descent. To see him score that amazing try resonated with me.' On Saturday, when the Lions begin their series against Australia, Itoje will win his 100th Test cap. He is England captain, the first black captain of the Lions and the country's most prominent rugby player. And you cannot help but wonder to what extent he himself has passed the torch. For there can be little doubt that the number of British-Nigerian players making a significant impact in the Premiership is at an all-time high. Gabriel Ibitoye finished the season as joint top try-scorer, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso began it as England's next big thing. Andy Onyeama-Christie, Beno Obano, Nick Isiekwe, Max Ojomoh, Afo Fasogbon and Emeka Ilione all shone across the campaign. The list goes on. Indeed it is five years since Itoje picked his Nigerian British XV on social media, with Monye as director of rugby and his Aunty Funke as team manager. These things are subjective but by most metrics, today's team would be considerably stronger and many of its contingent would have been inspired by Itoje's totemic performance for the Lions against New Zealand in 2017, just as he was by Monye's try. 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'When [Maro] got announced as Lions captain someone on the group chat said: 'Oh, does that mean he won't be available for us next week?' I look at the example of my mum and dad, they're not the biggest rugby fans, I don't know if they'd be able to name him. For those of us within rugby, within sport, it is that idea of you've got someone who is like you, similar to you. To the extent that goes wider? Obviously it will have an impact, the fact that a British-Nigerian is captain of a major sporting international team and now the Lions, it probably will have reach, but I think there is still a job to do.' There is a well-established path from Stallions to the Nigeria XVs and sevens teams to the extent that they sent 11 players for the pre-Olympic qualifiers and the Olympic qualifiers. This year eight players represented Nigeria in the Africa 7s. 'We are very much a pathway for the Nigerian national team but it's actually a bit bigger than that because there's a cultural and community aspect to it as well,' adds Ojigbo 'A lot of boys who are British-Nigerian, they love rugby, they love playing it but they can feel that as if rugby isn't for them or there's no space for them in rugby or they don't feel seen, they still feel on the outside of that. It's creating that space where rugby can be the sport that is open as people try and see and no matter who you are you can find a space where you can flourish in that.' To revert to Itoje's Lions memories, it is telling that the 2005 tour of New Zealand did not register with him. Hardly surprising perhaps, given the disaster it was, but as he has pointed out, he did not start watching rugby until 2007 when he was 13 and a pupil at St George's School in Harpenden at the same time as Owen Farrell, who was three years above him. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'It's typically played in grammar schools and in private schools and Nigerian parents want to give their child the best education and actually that means young British-Nigerian children are going to these schools where rugby is played and they're picking up the ball aged 11, having not had a background in rugby,' says Ojigbo. It is significant, then, that Feyi-Waboso and Ilione are both trainee doctors while Itoje tells a story of how one year, for an April fool's joke, he sent his father an email explaining that he would be concentrating on rugby and no longer intended to go to university. Efe did not speak to him for three days. 'I totally can relate to that and I think every lad who has Nigerian heritage and a similar upbringing would have a similar story to that,' adds Monye. 'The number one reason why you see so many British-Nigerians play rugby is because of the education system. Education in Nigeria is number one so if you can find an opportunity to have your son or daughter attend private school you absolutely will. And just as a direct consequence of that, you're likely to then pick up a rugby ball. 'I think we're a genetically gifted nation. I don't think people are being sent to school to become these legendary rugby players, they are sent there to get great educations and actually if you asked most Nigerian mums and dads, it's education first and that's it.' According to the most recent data, the Nigerian population in the UK is 270,000 but significantly bigger when factoring in those born here. But only somewhere between 6-7% of the population in the UK attends private school, so the scope for untapped potential becomes clearer. Monye illustrates the point perfectly when recalling his playing career. 'When Steve Borthwick announces his side he says, this is the best 23 players in England. I always think, is it? We don't know. We have a pathway within the private school system, it is superb. What about the rest? Imagine if we could tap into that. When I played on the world sevens series, I was considered one of the quickest on the scene, one of the quickest in the Premiership, and in the international game. At my state school I wasn't even the fastest in my class. 'Of course, you need more than just pace or natural ability but genetics matter, in contact sport it bloody matters and I believe there are a lot of lads out there who have the core ingredients, who could be moulded into something special. But we would never know.'
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Samoa v Scotland preview: rugby citadel, a debut at 10 and best wishes to Boan Venter
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Jacob Umaga of Benetton will make his Samoa debut against Scotland. | Getty Images Other notable names on the Samoa team-sheet include Akpi Seiuli, the former Glasgow Warriors loosehead, and Toulon centre Duncan Paia'aua who played for Australia in a non-cap game against the Barbarians. Samoa's captain, Theo McFarland, is a back-row buddie of Andy Onyeama-Christie at Saracens and the pair will be in direct competition on Friday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Townsend expects it to be similar to the Fiji match in terms of the physical challenge. 'All three teams we're playing against on this tour have similar traits,' said the Scotland coach. 'Very powerful, dynamic players, very physical. They might produce something unexpected and the contact area is going to be a real battle. How penalty problems piled up for Scotland 'We don't have that much information on Samoa. They've not played a Test match since July or August last year - they missed out on the November window. 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'And those are harder areas to defend and there's more consequences there if you don't defend well. 'But it happens in games, it's never going to be perfect and I don't want to take anything away from Fiji, because they obviously had some really good moments. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I don't think I've seen that penalty count for a while. I think it was 14 against us and three yellow cards in the end, so it's going to be hard to win a Test match with those stats and we definitely don't want to see anything like that this week.' Interest in Boan Venter is 'hypothetical' Townsend, meanwhile, has wished Edinburgh prop Boan Venter all the best for his South Africa debut. The loosehead would have become Scottish-qualified on residency grounds in time for next year's Six Nations but was called up by Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and will start Saturday's game against Georgia in Nelspruit. 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Rhyl Journal
9 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Dan Sheehan says Lions can fire up travelling support if they ‘give them a win'
The Lions are strong favourites to complete their first triumphant tour since 2013 when they toppled the Wallabies 2-1 and they enter Saturday's opening Test buoyed by a perfect record Down Under of five wins. Fans will start streaming into Brisbane over the coming days and in the face of criticism in the Australian media that Andy Farrell's tourists have shown limited willingness to engage in community events, Sheehan declares winning is the only currency that matters. 'The best way to connect with supporters is to give them a win,' the Ireland hooker said. 'Performance is the way to do that. Yeah we can give them a cheer and a clap after the game but ultimately that's not what they came for – they came for a good game of rugby. If we do that, they'll feel part of it. 'A goal of ours is to make sure that if we have a big crowd on Saturday – which we probably will – we bring them into the game and make it feel almost like a 50/50 game that could be anywhere in the world. 'But I still think it's down to what we put out on the pitch, that's how you get the crowd in behind you. 'It would be a good story and a good legacy to have a winning series. We haven't delved too much into the wider picture. 'We did at the start when we were trying to frame the mindset, but this week has been all about Saturday. 'There's going to be no holding anything back, or waiting for the next two Tests. It's all about Saturday. 'We're in a good spot. The lads are hungry, and we're expecting the Wallabies to be hungry. There will be fireworks on Saturday.' The Lions ruffled feathers in the wake of their 48-0 victory over Saturday's AUNZ Invitational XV when flanker Henry Pollock revealed their intention to whitewash Australia 3-0 and become the best team to have represented the elite of British and Irish rugby. Captain Maro Itoje then doubled down on the desire to put the Wallabies to the sword – and Sheehan believes there is no reason why they should not aim high. 'I don't think that's anything too crazy. It's a massive goal of ours to make sure we reach our potential,' he said. 'If we do reach our potential we have the possibility to be one of the best teams. I think they're fair comments.' Farrell names his team on Thursday with Tom Curry expected to be given the nod in the ferociously competitive openside position ahead of Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier. Tadhg Beirne appears to be winning his battle with Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker, while Sione Tuipulotu has now edged ahead of Bundee Aki in the race to start at inside centre. With Blair Kinghorn losing his battle with a knee injury, Hugo Keenan is favourite to be picked at full-back with Marcus Smith potentially supplying cover from the bench.
