logo
Lions one win from ending wait – what we learned from the first Test

Lions one win from ending wait – what we learned from the first Test

Glasgow Times5 days ago
Here, the PA news agency examines five things learned from the first Test.
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell in Brisbane (David Davies/PA)
Now finish the job
The sense of anticlimax at the final whistle contrasted starkly with the pre-match buzz around Suncorp Stadium. A gulf in class between the rivals had been exposed during the 42 minutes it took the Lions to canter out of sight and now anything other than an emphatic series whitewash will be seen as failure.
Andy Farrell's men were able to butcher a host of chances and take their foot off the gas after Dan Sheehan crossed early in the second half, yet still be streets ahead. A long couple of weeks awaits the Wallabies.
Huw Jones dive over to score a try that was ruled out (David Davies/PA)
Test match animal
The term coined by Sir Ian McGeechan to describe a special breed of player who rises to the occasion on the biggest stage was typified by Tom Curry, the full-throttle England flanker who terrorised Australia in contact and at the breakdown.
Described as a 'machine' by Andy Farrell, Curry shrugged off his indifferent form in previous tour matches to set the physical tone from the moment he pulverised James Slipper in the opening seconds.
Just a fraction behind him were Tadhg Beirne and Tadhg Furlong, who also fully justified why they were picked on reputation.
Russell shines
For periods of the first half, Finn Russell cast a spell on the home defence. His range of passing released team-mates, created openings and set-up tries to leave former Lions fly-halves Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara purring in the commentary box.
If Australia had a plan to take him out of the game, it clearly did not work as the Scotland ringmaster cut loose behind a dominant pack.
Fresh from steering Bath to the treble, Russell is operating at the peak of his powers and, on current form, is the best 10 in the game.
Marcus Smith kicks a penalty (David Davies/PA)
Farrell's wing woes
Apart from the failure to crush the Wallabies, thereby breaking their spirits heading into the second Test, Farrell will be most concerned about his wings.
James Lowe continued the dismal form he has shown all tour while Tommy Freeman made too many wrong decisions game and both would be fretting over keeping their places if there were strong alternatives.
However, Mack Hansen is struggling with a foot injury and Duhan van Merwe's defensive shortcomings have been exposed repeatedly ever since the curtain raiser against Argentina.
Blair Kinghorn was seen as the first-choice full-back but with Hugo Keenan proving solid enough in the first Test, the Scot could be picked on the wing if he recovers from his knee injury.
Lions captain Maro Itoje is tackled by Australia's Harry Wilson (David Davies/PA)
Skelton and Valetini
The return of powerful forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini cannot come soon enough for Australia. Having missed the first Test with calf injuries, they have been given the all-clear for the attempt to level the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Skelton's sheer physical presence will prevent the Wallabies from being bullied in quite the same way, while Valetini provides a destructive carrying option.
It is upon their availability and the fight shown in the final 30 minutes at Suncorp Stadium that Australia's hopes rest.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alice Pumphrey will cheer on Lionesses with no regrets over switch to boxing
Alice Pumphrey will cheer on Lionesses with no regrets over switch to boxing

The Independent

time25 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Alice Pumphrey will cheer on Lionesses with no regrets over switch to boxing

Alice Pumphrey will sit down to watch the Lionesses' latest bid for glory on Sunday without a flicker of regret that she turned her back on a promising football career to target success of a different kind in the Olympic boxing ring. The Blackpool 19-year-old, who has been named in the 16-strong Great Britain squad for September's World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, was scouted by Manchester United at the age of 11 and signed an academy contract with every intention of making it to the top of the sport. But Pumphrey became hooked after heading to her local boxing gym for the first time to improve her fitness, and almost immediately made the tough decision to rip up her deal with the Red Devils and devote herself full-time to her new obsession. 'I'd been playing football almost every day since the age of four, and I was scouted when I was 11 and playing with a boys' team in Fleetwood,' Pumphrey told the PA news agency. 'I went for a trial with United and they said they were going to give me a contract. That meant I could only play for United, so on the days I couldn't play I got bored and went to the gym for extra fitness. 'After a week I told my dad I wanted to box. He told me to see the season out with United and they tried to convince me to stay. But by then I knew what I wanted to do.' Pumphrey's decision has proved a wise one. A slew of English, British and European junior titles followed, culminating in a world under-19 title in Colorado towards the end of last year, and a full-time place on the GB Boxing squad. She is bullish about her future prospects – having targeted Olympic gold in Los Angeles, followed by turning professional and winning undisputed titles at four different weights – and will stop at nothing to achieve it, uprooting from the west coast to relocate to Batley where she trains in the Purge gym. Pumphrey, once a fleet-footed left winger, is the same age as Lionesses saviour Michelle Agyemang, who will aim to summon more heroics when England face Spain in the European Championship on Sunday. But while she will be an avid viewer, the light-flyweight will not once stop to wonder what might have been had she decided not to follow her heart through those gym doors seven years ago. 'I've never regretted it,' she added. 'In football you've got 10 other people and subs who you have to rely on to win a game, but in the boxing ring it's down to you to perform. 'I don't like having to depend on other people. In that ring it's you and the person who is trying to take your head off, and that's what I love.'

Ollie Chessum urges Lions to take chance to make dreams come true
Ollie Chessum urges Lions to take chance to make dreams come true

BreakingNews.ie

time26 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Ollie Chessum urges Lions to take chance to make dreams come true

Ollie Chessum has challenged the British and Irish Lions to leave Melbourne Cricket Ground without regrets by rising to the occasion in Saturday's collision with Australia. Victory in the second Test would establish an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against the Wallabies and place them alongside the 1997 and 2013 Lions as the only successful tours in the professional era. Advertisement But Chessum insists Australia will be transformed from the side that was overpowered in the Brisbane opener following the return from injury of influential forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini. Ollie Chessum will start the second Test (Robbie Stephenson/PA) 'This is everything you have ever dreamt of,' said Chessum, who has replaced the injured Joe McCarthy in the second row. 'There's no better time to walk towards the challenge – you'd be kicking yourself in years down the line if you didn't. 'This is where – and I can't speak for everyone, although I am fairly sure I can – everyone wants to be: on the biggest stage with the chance to win a Lions series at an arena like the MCG in front of our families. There's nothing better. Advertisement 'Australia are going to draw on every emotional aspect of this game that they can. They are 1-0 down in the series but they are at the MCG, in front of their fans, on their home soil with the series on the line. 'We know they're going to throw the kitchen sink at us and there's a real statement in the team they've named as well. 'Maro (Itoje, captain) said it to us earlier in the week – what we produced last Saturday will not be good enough this Saturday. 'There's a whole different beast coming down the road and we'll have to front up and tackle it head on.' Advertisement The 27-19 victory in the first Test was built on the work of flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne, who made an immediate impact at Suncorp Stadium through Curry's thunderous hit on James Slipper and Beirne forcing a breakdown penalty. 'They did a very good job of setting the intensity. Sat on the bench, I'd been sat down for about 30 seconds when that first hit went in,' Chessum said. 'We knew from then on that the tone was set for the game – for us and for them. I expect no different this week. I expect it to go up another level.'

James Guy hopes to make a splash at another Olympic Games
James Guy hopes to make a splash at another Olympic Games

Glasgow Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Glasgow Times

James Guy hopes to make a splash at another Olympic Games

The 29-year-old, a six-times Olympic medallist, will head into the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with one eye firmly on LA and retirement currently far from his thoughts. Guy said: 'Yes, 100 per cent LA is in the plan. Obviously I'll be 32, turning 33, but I don't look like I'm going to change much in the next couple of years unless something drastically goes wrong.' James Guy (second from left) has never been happier with his swimming career (John Walton/PA) A member of the Great Britain 4×200 metres freestyle team which retained its Olympic title in Paris last summer after taking gold at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Guy is one of the nation's most decorated swimmers. Asked what he still had to tick off, he replied: 'Nothing really. I would say just in terms of where I am right now, I'm the happiest I've probably ever been in terms of my swimming career. 'That's why I'm still going, obviously, back on my best again, hitting personal best times. 'I think in terms of athletes of my age, it doesn't really happen that often, so to be where I am right now, really enjoying the sport, I'll try to do for as long as I can.' James Guy and his 4x200m freestyle relay team-mates were guests at Wimbledon (Adam Davy/PA) The British quartet of Guy, Tom Dean, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards face stern competition for top spot on the podium in Singapore with the Americans in impressive form at their trials. They will walk out having been lauded by the crowds at Wimbledon having been invited along with their partners into the Royal Box for the middle Sunday of the tournament. Guy said: 'We had a really good day, had some great seats. The food was fantastic – we ate scones and food all day and had lunch with the chairwoman of the club. I was talking to her and she said that Tom Cruise was in my seat the day before, so it was actually really, really cool.' Asked if he and his team-mates should have been eating scones as they prepares for the World Championships, he replied with a smile: 'I know. I only had a couple. Matt had more than me – he probably didn't tell you that, did he? I had two or three.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store