Latest news with #BritishandIrishLions
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
British and Irish Lions lock Joe McCarthy in race to be fit for second Test
With Thursday's training session before Andy Farrell names his team being the final opportunity to prove his fitness, the Ireland enforcer looks likely to miss out. McCarthy came off during the first Test with a foot injury (David Davies/PA) Potentially signposting an adjustment to the pack to face Australia in the second Test, James Ryan and Jac Morgan were replaced early in the second half of Tuesday's 24-19 victory over the First Nations and Pasifika XV. If McCarthy is ruled out, Ollie Chessum could be drafted into the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje, creating a vacancy on the bench, while another option is to move Tadhg Beirne from flanker to lock. Should repositioning Beirne be Farrell's preferred choice, Morgan becomes a contender to make the matchday 23. Given the Lions bullied the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium, unenforced changes to the pack are unlikely. First Test: Brisbane, July 19 - Australia 19-27 British and Irish Lions Second Test: Melbourne, July 26 - Australia v British and Irish Lions Third Test: Sydney, August 2 - Australia v British and Irish Lions Farrell could shake up his back-three, however, after wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman struggled to make an impact in the series opener. Lowe in particular struggled with the poor finishing which has been a feature of his tour apparent again. Of the four possible options to step in, two are injured and one has been repeatedly exposed in defence, with only the fourth offering Farrell room for manoeuvre. Mack Hansen missed the first Test because of a foot problem and has yet to train this week, placing his involvement on Saturday in grave doubt, while Darcy Graham is waiting for scan results after sustaining ankle ligament damage early in his Lions debut against FNP. Duhan van der Merwe, who was fortunate to be selected ahead of Graham in the original touring party, has been targeted by kickers all tour and his defensively frailties would be exploited by the Wallabies. Blair Kinghorn, centre, could have played his way into contention (David Davies/PA) The ace up Farrell's sleeve is Scotland's Blair Kinghorn, who made his comeback from a knee injury at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday and apart from throwing two intercept passes, proved himself ready for Test duty. Nominally a full-back, he is also a high quality option on the wing, the position he has filled most recently for his club Toulouse this season. Owen Farrell showed he is ready for a call-up to the bench in Melbourne if needed with a solid 80 minutes against FNP, Marcus Smith passed a head injury assessment and Garry Ringrose made a successful first appearance since being concussed against ACT Brumbies. In the midst of a schedule of three games in eight days, players have been given Wednesday off, but Farrell and his coaching assistants are to meet to finalise selection. 'I let everyone have their say, I play devil's advocate, we thrash it out and then we all agree,' Farrell said. 'There is all sorts that goes into it – performances, there's no doubt about that – but there is also what's right for this second game? Are a few changes going to freshen it up or do we go with the same guys? 'All that comes into the pot. It's whatever is best for the team and what do we need for a game at the MCG with over 90,000 people. It should be challenging.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
England's depth chart after summer tour triumph
England concluded their summer tour with a convincing victory over the United States after a number of players pressed their Test-match claims against Argentina. With some of Steve Borthwick's big hitters in Australia with the British and Irish Lions, Telegraph Sport analyses how much strength in depth he has in each position on the field. Each player has been designated as stock rising, stock falling or stock neutral following this summer's matches. Loosehead A position which has gone from an area of slight concern - recall Joe Marler being dragged out of international retirement - to an area of genuine, world-class strength for England. Ellis Genge is the starting British and Irish Lions loosehead, having finessed his technique alongside his natural strength and aggression, while Fin Baxter was England's (unofficial) player of the series in Argentina, displaying elements of his game in the loose which had seldom been seen previously, to go alongside fearsome scrummaging. Bevan Rodd looked good off the bench in July, too, while it is a true feather in Asher Opoku-Fordjour's cap that he is able to cover both sides. Emmanuel Iyogun was unfortunate that injury thwarted his chances on tour. Hooker After the three July Tests, hooker looks to be the weakest area of England's front row. There are still decent options - two of them are currently on the Lions tour - but beneath Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie there is a real chance for someone to stake a claim. Theo Dan carried powerfully in the second Test in Argentina but his line-out throwing was concerning; Curtis Langdon is effervescent in the loose but there were errors in the victory in San Juan; Gabriel Oghre was a late call-up and looked sprightly off the bench in Washington DC, but he is fifth choice. Could Kepu Tuipulotu be the coming man? With George and Cowan-Dickie not getting any younger, England might need him to push on sooner rather than later. Tighthead England's No 3 shirt is most interesting owing to potential movers and shakers. Will Stuart was one of England's players of the Six Nations and looked to be the favourite to start in the Lions' Test series. However, the Bath tighthead, for whatever reason, has not quite hit the heights from earlier in the year and has seen Tadhg Furlong pilfer the starting Lions jersey. Concurrently, Joe Heyes was monumental in England's two Tests in Argentina, and may now be at the same level as Stuart in the race for the starting tighthead spot in the autumn. If Stuart does not hit the ground running with Bath at the start of the Premiership season, and Heyes does with Leicester, it would not be much of a surprise to see the Tiger start. Opoku-Fordjour brought impetus off the bench in the July series while Trevor Davison was never really given much of a shot; but England's scrum will shortly not lack for the presence of the Northampton Saint. Afolabi Fasogbon's time will come. Lock England's biggest worry in the pack, which might sound alarmist given that two of their trio of first-choice locks - Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum and George Martin - are with the Lions, with one captaining. But beneath them the options are bleak. It is no coincidence, especially given Steve Borthwick's penchant for versatility, that Chandler Cunningham-South - and, to a lesser extent, Ted Hill - have been used as lock cover off the bench in Tests this year. Alex Coles was in the form of his life for Northampton during their European charge but has never been able to replicate that on the Test stage. Charlie Ewels, to his credit, proved some of the doubters wrong, catching the eye in Argentina, but he is not a long-term answer. Arthur Clark might be, and he looked like he could step up to international rugby in England's victory in the US - and it is understood he had impressed in training in Argentina - while poor old Nick Isiekwe was one of only two players, alongside Fasogbon, who did not feature in any of the three July Tests. Flanker If lock is Borthwick's problem child, flanker is the opposite, where England possess an embarrassment of riches. With Tom Curry and Henry Pollock on the Lions tour alongside Ben Earl and Chessum, England were still able to select a back row of Ben Curry, Sam Underhill and Tom Willis in Argentina. Cunningham-South was England's best player against the Eagles last Saturday while Guy Pepper was England's best off the bench against Argentina a week earlier in San Juan. Pepper also looked pretty handy in Washington DC. Where Borthwick goes from here regarding selection is anyone's guess, although after the second Test against Argentina the head coach did suggest that going forward he would try to cram as many of these fabulous flankers into his matchday 23 as he could. Ted Hill only featured once on tour, and it was off the bench against the US; a fine player but the Bath flanker is clearly not fancied currently, among a cohort of excellence. No 8 England do not bat too deep in terms of out-and-out No 8s, but the options they do have are admirable. Earl must have pushed Jack Conan all the way for the Lions' starting berth while Tom Willis was titanic for England in the two Tests against Argentina. Willis would not have been far off Baxter for the unofficial player-of-the-series gong. Alex Dombrandt is not a bad third choice, and his versatility in switching to centre means he may well be a mainstay of England's bench going forward. There is also Pollock, Cunningham-South and the Curry twins who could cover in case of emergency. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is undoubtedly first choice and one would assume that Jack van Poortvliet will continue to take the bench spot, as he did once he was fit in the Six Nations, despite Ben Spencer starting over the Leicester scrum-half in Argentina. Regarding Spencer, it was pleasing to see him given a shot in England's July Tests; in the second, in particular, he excelled. Harry Randall offers a point of difference - a livewire running threat - but currently sits behind the other three, while Raffi Quirke has sadly slipped down the pecking order after bursting onto the scene to great success in 2021. Given Quirke is only 23, he still has plenty of time. Fly-half Borthwick may well be wishing for a few niggles heading into the autumn to make his selection slightly more straightforward. If all are fit and firing, and if Owen Farrell decides to return to the England fold, then it would appear to be a shoot-out between Fin Smith and George Ford for the starting No 10 jersey as things stand. Ford is the incumbent, but Fin Smith has been with the Lions and also directed England's attack astutely in the Six Nations. Farrell will have to prove himself with Saracens, and that is as long as he wants to return. Marcus Smith has not featured too much for the Lions at fly-half but in his last 25 caps for either England or the touring side only nine have been starting at No 10. Do England have better options as bona fide fly-halves? Perhaps. And, perhaps, Marcus Smith's international future will be as impact replacement covering 10 and 15. Charlie Atkinson came off the bench for England in Washington DC but it was telling that for the two Argentina Tests, Henry Slade and Ben Spencer respectively were fly-half cover. Charlie Atkinson still has a lot of ground to make up. Centre Henry Slade was at the epicentre of England's defensive press in the first Test against Argentina but offered little in attack and, while cruel, his hand injury might well have been a blessing in disguise for Borthwick, forcing the head coach into blooding previously uncapped centres in the second Test and against the US. Slade will be 34 by the time of the next World Cup and, in any case, missed out of selection for the 2023 edition. Luke Northmore was solid if unspectacular in the ensuing matches, but Seb Atkinson proved that he is playing at a level which, at least, showed enough potential to be Test class. Max Ojomoh had some punchy moments at 12 in Washington, too, and times a pass as well as anyone in the English game. Oscar Beard was consigned to one sole appearance on tour, off the bench, despite selection for England's Six Nations squad. Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence, both injured for the July Tests, will both surely come back into the reckoning, with Farrell and Daly both options at 12 and 13 respectively. Wing Tommy Freeman might not have had his greatest day in the first Lions Test in Brisbane but he remains a magnificent wing and England's first choice. When fit and firing, one would expect Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to join Freeman in England's back three - Borthwick recently described the Exeter Chief as 'world class' - although after the long injury lay-off Feyi-Waboso has looked a touch rusty. Despite that, he remains a lethal strike-runner. In the next bracket, Ollie Sleightholme missed the tour(s) with injury and Tom Roebuck did his Test ambitions little harm in Argentina, where he impressed in both Tests. Will Muir was solid against Los Pumas but his performances were not commanding enough to suggest he is now undroppable, but Cadan Murley brings an extra threat. Off the bench against Argentina and starting in the US, Murley looked as though he had gotten over the early nerves which tarnished his Test debut, against Ireland in the first round of the Six Nations. Full-back Despite the greater expanse which Freddie Steward brought to his game in Argentina, and notwithstanding the strong form at No 15 which Elliot Daly has shown for the Lions, it still feels as though George Furbank is England's first choice in this position. Marcus Smith's versatility will probably see him sneak onto the bench if there are tight calls but Joe Carpenter also showed that there would be little risk in starting him in the backfield. With limited opportunities on tour, Carpenter took his form from Sale to Washington DC, where he looked sharp.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Rob Valetini set to return from calf injury to play for Wallabies in do-or-die battle with British and Irish Lions
Wallabies star Rob Valetini has declared himself 'good to go' for Australia's do-or-die clash with the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night at the MCG and has backed the decision not to play him in his team's first Test loss in Brisbane. The presence of the intimidating flanker was sorely missed by the Wallabies in the Lions' 27-19 weekend win at Suncorp Stadium. Missing the game hurt, Valetini thought he was a 'shoo-in' to overcome a calf injury and be fit for the match. 'But it was a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training and a bit of more loading through the calf,' Valetini said in Melbourne. 'I did a session Saturday morning. I did a pretty tough session there, so (the calf) feels good to go. 'I had to put all my focus through my recovery and getting through all my exercise and trying to get the body right for the next two Tests.' However the third Test on Saturday week in Sydney will mean nothing if the Lions clinch the three-game series with a win at the MCG. 'I was eager to get on the field (in Brisbane) but couldn't, and that's the challenge for us this week, knowing what's coming and trying to prepare for that,' said Melbourne-born Valetini, who hopes to deliver a strong performance in front of family and friends. Not that he's feeling any extra pressure to do so despite the series being on the line for the Wallabies. 'I feel like it's just another game of rugby and something I've been playing ever since I was young,' Valetini said. 'I just try to go out there and just do my job, whether that's carrying (the ball) or doing the tackling. I'm just trying to do my bit for the team, and hopefully I can help the other boys as well.' Veteran Wallabies prop James Slipper welcomed the likely return of Valetini, a two-time John Eales Medal winner. 'His size definitely helps – he's a really good player,' Slipper said of the 26-year-old ACT Brumbies back-rower. 'He gives a lot of boys around him a lot of confidence just the way he goes about his business.' Slipper suggested the Wallabies pack would also be boosted by the expected return of towering lock Will Skelton, who also missed the first Test with a calf problem. 'He (Valetini) won't be the only one that we'll be looking forward to seeing back out there this week. We've got a pretty full fit squad to pick from this weekend,' Slipper said. Slipper has now played in two series against the Lions after also being part of the Wallabies squad that lost 2-1 in 2013 when Australia won the second Test of the series – also in Melbourne – to ensure a decider a week later. 'The belief is there in the group. It's about diving into that and making sure we prepare really well,' he said.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Time and TV channel for the Lions v Australia first test today
It's time for the serious action for the British and Irish Lions as they take on Australia in the first of three tests. Andy Farrell's squad have won all five games in the build-up to the opener against Joe Schmidt's side following their 48-0 victory over an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide last weekend. It's the first time the sides have met since 2013 with three test matches in store. The Lions will be hoping they can pick up another series win against an Australia side starting to get some form back. After a disappointing 2024 Rugby Championship they bounced backed with impressive autumn victories over England and Wales before ending their European campaign with defeats by Scotland and Ireland. It's all set up for an intriguing first meeting between the teams. Here is how you can watch the game: Where is the game on? Australia v British & Irish Lions will take place on Saturday 19th July, at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. What time is kick-off? The match kicks off at 11am Irish time on Saturday You can watch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Action from 10am. Is there a live stream? Sky Sports customers can live stream the game via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices. Now TV are streaming the game. Betting odds Australia 4/1 British and Irish Lions 1/6 Draw 22/1 Referee Referee: Ben O'Keeffe(New Zealand) Team News British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong; Itoje (c), McCarthy; Beirne, Curry, Conan Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Aki Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter; Lynagh, Gordon; Alaalatoa, Faessler, Slipper; Frost, Williams; Champion de Crespigny, McReight, Wilson (c) Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Hooper, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson, Kellaway
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions 48-0 AUNZ Invitational XV: Duhan van der Merwe scores hat-trick in eight-try demolition
Hat-trick: Duhan van der Merwe had three of the Lions' eight tries against an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide (Getty Images) The British and Irish Lions completed preparations for their upcoming Test series against Australia with a devastating display in Adelaide on Saturday. Andy Farrell's ruthless side ran in eight tries and Duhan van der Merwe registered a hat-trick against an Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV packed full of internationals, who failed to score a single point in a one-sided 48-0 thrashing. Advertisement It was a fifth consecutive win for the Lions as they continued their 100 per cent record Down Under following a farewell loss to Argentina, but comfortably their most complete performance of the summer so far as they improved in a number of key areas and delivered a warning to the Wallabies ahead of next weekend's First Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Head coach Farrell now has some serious thinking to do ahead of his selection for that match with a clear midweek to come and a number of players stating emphatic late claims for Test involvement, with the majority of his presumed first-choice team given the night off after labouring to a patchy win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday. Scotland scrum-half Ben White marked his first start for the Lions with an early try (Getty Images) The Lions were relentless in attack and ferocious defensively from the outset at the Adelaide Oval as an instant hit from Jac Morgan showcased their energy and intensity, continuing their dominance at the scrum before going ahead with just six minutes on the clock. Advertisement Hugo Keenan - looking to impress at full-back amid the knee injury suffered by rival Blair Kinghorn on Wednesday - did brilliantly to keep a poor kick in play as the Lions broke at pace down the left flank, Van der Merwe sent sauntering through for the opening score. Scrum-half Ben White added a quick-fire second try just three minutes later on his first Lions start, spotting the space from the back of a ruck after Luke Cowan-Dickie's efficient clear out and darting through the space to finish. They maintained that punishing high tempo and had a third try inside 20 minutes when Van der Merwe was sent through again by fellow wing Mack Hansen after more incisive passing and handling, the Lions decisively shedding their unwanted tag as slow starters on this tour. Former All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell could not power his way over for the hosts as the Lions' defence stood strong, before Cowan-Dickie couldn't bring in a pass from Hansen to score in the corner following a fine break from Huw Jones as the AUNZ side received a brief and rare reprieve. Advertisement The only negative from an impressive first half for the Lions was Cowan-Dickie being stretchered off with his head and neck in a protective brace after being hurt while trying to tackle the AUNZ XV co-captain Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Six of the Lions' eight tries came from Scotland players, including Van der Merwe's treble (Getty Images) He initially received treatment on the pitch but was thankfully spotted walking around on the sidelines unaided and in good spirits in the second half. Cowan-Dickie now looks poised to miss the First Test, with England team-mate Jamie George quickly called up. Ireland centre Garry Ringrose will also be absent after suffering a concussion against the Brumbies in midweek and needing to be stood down for 12 days. Advertisement Kinghorn, meanwhile, is in a race against time to be fit for Brisbane, with Farrell - who has already lost both Elliot Daly and Tomos Williams to tour-ending injuries - pondering further squad call-ups after drafting in Ireland's Jamie Osborne as training cover this week. The Lions quickly picked up where they left off after the interval, Sione Tuipulotu adding their fourth try as the Scottish barrage continued after a quick tap penalty under the posts. Owen Farrell then came off the bench to make his first appearance of what is his fourth Lions tour, replacing Jones at 12 as Fin Smith made way for Marcus Smith at fly-half and Tuipulotu shifted to outside centre. Breakdown issues had plagued the Lions against both the New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies over the last week, but they were well on top in that department this time despite AUNZ XV head coach Les Kiss fielding a formidable back row comprised of Frizell, Pete Samu and Hoskins Sotutu, with Frizell sin-binned for collapsing a maul as the penalties mounted from a besieged defence. Henry Pollock completed the scoring when he just beat Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to the loose ball (Getty Images) Scott Cummings added try No5 just three minutes after replacing captain Tadhg Beirne after more strong work from White and man-of-the-match Ben Earl, with Van der Merwe then swiftly wrapping up his hat-trick after more superb handling. Advertisement A seventh score arrived with 12 minutes to play as replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher exchanged clever passes with Pierre Schoeman at the front of the lineout and then shrugged off two defenders to cross the whitewash. White's likely try-saving tackle on Shaun Stevenson kept the AUNZ XV at bay, with Henry Pollock completing the rout at the other end when he touched down a loose ball ahead of Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - the third time the Lions have scored eight tries on this tour having also done so against both the Western Force and Queensland Reds. A miserable night for the AUNZ XV - the first time such a team had been assembled since the 1989 Lions tour - was completed in the final minute when prop Josh Fusitua was shown their second yellow for a dangerous clear out on Morgan.
