Latest news with #FirstNations&Pasifika
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Five Lions now in contention for second Test selection
Owen Farrell Starting his first game for the Lions on his fourth tour, Farrell captained the midweek side on Tuesday from inside centre and confirmed his status as a squad leader with an authoritative performance, his short kick over the top providing midfield partner Jamie Osborne with the assist for the second try of the night. It could have been enough to oust Marcus Smith as the back-up playmaker, able to play 10 and 12. Read More Osborne brace helps Lions limp over the line against a stern First Nations and Pasifika side Garry Ringrose After missing the first Test due to a concussion, the outside centre was forced to play longer than anticipated off the bench after replacing injured wing Darcy Graham on 16 minutes. Pushing starting 13 Jamie Osborne out to cover Graham's right wing position, Ringrose immediately dovetailed well with Owen Farrell, sharp in attack, solid in defence. Ringrose could be in line to replace Huw Jones as the starting outside centre or join Farrell on the bench, the Irishman able to cover 13 and the wings. Blair Kinghorn The Toulouse and Scotland full-back was making his first appearance in nearly two weeks having sustained a knee injury against the Brumbies in Canberra and it was a mixed bag of a performance. Was he the focus of Farrell's criticism of playing 'exhibition match' rugby after having two passes intercepted, one of them leading directly to a First Nations & Pasifika try? Perhaps there is still a way into the Test mix, if not by ousting 1st Test full-back Hugo Keenan then by starting on the left wing, or stealing ahead of Ringrose as the Lions no. 23. Jamie George The three-time Lions tourist may have leapfrogged Ronan Kelleher for the back-up hooking role behind Dan Sheehan thanks to his superior lineout throwing. The lineout against the First Nations & Pasifika was not perfect, with three lost from a total of 26 thrown and playing 73 minutes before being replaced may count against the England Test centurion. Jac Morgan The Welsh flanker whose omission from the first Test matchday squad caused a beleaguered rugby nation to wail in despair got a second bite of the cherry from blindside rather than openside at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday in a back-row alongside fellow Test hopefuls Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock. His withdrawal from the fray after just 50 minutes suggested there may be plans being made for Morgan's involvement this Saturday at the MCG.
The 42
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions, Australia tour 2025
About your hosts The First Nations & Pasifika side, meanwhile, is a fairly hastily-arranged team composed of First Nations peoples, i.e. those who hail from the Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Māori, and Cook Island cultures which contribute to the rugby union community across Australia. They were chosen as the Lions' final warm-up opponents due to the collapse last year of Super Rugby's Melbourne Rebels, who had been due to fill this slot in their home city. Today will be the invitational side's first ever game. The First Nations' head coach is Tongan-Australian great Toutai Kefu, who won a World Cup in 1999 and starred in the Wallabies' first ever series win over the Lions in 2001. Kefu's assistant coach is All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, whom you might recall played a key role in the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand… Toutai Kefu in action against Ireland in 2002. INPHO INPHO Tana Umaga (R) renewing acquaintances with Brian O'Driscoll for an advertising campaign in 2018. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
