Latest news with #FirstNationsPasifikaXV
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Lions defend late call-ups for tour games amid accusations of devaluing the famous red jersey
The British and Irish Lions have defended the decision to summon four new reinforcements to provide back-up for the final tour match against a First Nations-Pasifika XV in Melbourne next Tuesday. A day after confirming a call-up for rookie Ireland prop Tom Clarkson – taking the dominant Leinster contingent up to 14, level with England – the tourists announced that a trio of Scots are on their way to Australia. Wing Darcy Graham joined up with the Lions here today, while prop Rory Sutherland and hooker Ewan Ashman will arrive in Melbourne on Sunday. The three Scotland players had been in Auckland preparing for a Test against Samoa after a defeat against Fiji in Suva last weekend. There are echoes of the controversial 'Geography Six' saga from the 2017 tour of New Zealand, when the then head coach Warren Gatland called up half a dozen players, including Finn Russell, based on proximity rather than merit alone. With Jamie Osborne and Jamie George also being brought in as additional cover, the Lions squad will number 44 early next week, temporarily. Eight years ago, Gatland's decision causes tensions with the established tour party, but current captain Maro Itoje was adamant that there will no such issue this time, saying: 'I have no doubt that they'll be welcomed in. 'The boss, Andy, has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series. 'All of the players that have been called in are quality players. 'They are players like everyone else in the team, who have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career. 'We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. 'We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways. 'I have no doubt that everyone who has called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal.' Graham was sent off in the defeat against Fiji, but his red card was deemed sufficient punishment and he has been cleared to play for the Lions if selected. He was seen as a prime contender for a place in the initial squad, announced in London on May 8, so the 28-year-old Edinburgh flier's belated involvement is well deserved. The Lions' Scottish forwards coach, John Dalziel, emphasised the logic of sending for back-up and the justification for picking players of true Test pedigree, saying: 'Coming off the back of five games in two weeks and now we're into the business side of it, the Test week, we're looking at some knocks and injuries from the games. 'It's about the ability to add a little bit of depth and cover to facilitate training this week – and looking at next week where we have Saturday, Tuesday, then second Test. 'It just takes an injury in training or at the weekend and, in specialist positions, you're a bit light. 'We felt it's the right time in the tour to bolster that up in areas that are going to be vital. 'Darcy Graham, in a lot of people's eyes, was very, very close to selection. 'He's a fantastic player; a lad who would probably be, rightfully, a bit disappointed at not making it originally. 'He's somebody who will come in with Garry Ringrose not available for the next two games.' The Lions are not concerned for Mack Hansen's fitness ahead of the first Test on Saturday Asked if the call-ups devalue the Lions shirt, Dalziel added: 'No. Naturally, at this stage of the tour, the games are more intense. 'Geographically, we're getting people here if they do need to play. I think it's the right time to do it with the right players. 'We're not giving away opportunities lightly. These are quality players like Darcy Graham and Rory Sutherland, an ex-Lions international. 'These are players who will come in and add value to the group.' However, when asked if the reinforcements could be released again after the final midweek game, Dalziel added: 'Yeah. It'll be on an individual basis, based on what's going to happen through the week and Saturday again as well. 'We'll make a decision after that.' Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie are going through 12-day return-to-play protocols after sustaining head injuries – with the former hoping to be free to play again by next Tuesday and the latter by next Saturday, when the second Test takes place in Melbourne. Meanwhile, with the series opener at Suncorp Stadium looming this weekend, Dalziel played down any suggestion of an injury to Ireland wing and match-day 23 candidate Mack Hansen.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Andy Farrell is repeating ‘Geography Six' mistake with latest Lions call-ups
In a loud echo of the 2017 Geography Six controversy, the British and Irish Lions have brought in the Scottish trio of Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman as training cover. What their epithet is has yet to be determined. One wag in Brisbane went for the 'Jock-graphy three' or if you extend it to include Thomas Clarkson, the Ireland prop who was called up on Sunday on a similar pretext, you could go for the 'First Nations Four'. Either way, it is clear they are being called up to protect Andy Farrell's players for the match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV which takes place on July 22 between the first and second Tests. From a utilitarian perspective, this is perfectly understandable that Farrell would not want to risk any Test squad players, especially his front rowers, for a midweek game. John Dalziel, the forwards coach, confirmed that they will head home following the match so that will massively save on the old expenses bill. None of the picks are offensive in themselves – although it would have been so much funnier if Farrell had called up three more Leinster players. Winger Graham might have been the unluckiest player to miss out on the original squad selection, especially considering the presence of Scotland team-mate Duhan van der Merwe. Sutherland, the loosehead prop, is now a two-time Lions tourist. Ewan Ashman becomes the squad's fifth hooker, which is not as overkill as it seems given Luke Cowan-Dickie's concussion return to play protocols and the fact that Jamie George is only halfway through his marathon trip from the Andes to Australia. It is all perfectly understandable, particularly because Scotland are so close by in New Zealand preparing for a match against Samoa. 'I think naturally at this stage of the tour that the games are more intense,' Dalziel said. 'Geographically, we're getting people here if they do need to play. I think it's the right time to do it with the right players. We're not giving away opportunities lightly.' The problem is that the founding principle of the Lions is that only the best of the best get to pull on the famous red shirt. Impinging upon that principle, however logical the decision might appear on paper, is a risky business. Rightly or wrongly, many people already feel disconnected from the Lions because of the presence of eight foreign-born players in the squad. It is easy to see how this round of call-ups will cause other supporters to feel disillusioned as they were for the Geography Six affair, which Gatland said he later regretted. When George was called up to replace Cowan-Dickie, Farrell was adamant that he wanted the 'right man'. If Farrell really wanted the right men, why did he not send for the England props – Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes – who took the Argentina scrum to the cleaners over two weeks? Class now appears to have been overtaken by convenience. None of this is the fault of the players being called up, but they will arrive as second-class citizens. Lions in name but not spirit. When the Geography Six – Tomas Francis, Gareth Davies, Finn Russell, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey and Allan Dell for those with exceptional memories – were called up to cover the midweek game against Hurricanes, props Joe Marler and Dan Cole refused to come off. Captain Maro Itoje was at pains to emphasise that would not be the case this time around. 'I have no doubt that the boss has called them in because we believe they will help our goals of winning the Test series,' Itoje said. 'All the players called in are quality players who have a high level of experience. We are all in this together. It is not us and them. You have seen in the past how late call-ups can have a huge impact on the tour in a positive way.' It also raises the question of why the Lions are playing this match against the First Nations & Pasifika team three days after the first Test against another scratch side. Given the pitiful performance by the AUNZ Invitational side in Adelaide and a lower quality talent pool, it feels that this game has little purpose behind it beyond making money.
CNA
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Farrell calls up Scotland trio into Lions squad
MELBOURNE :British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has called up Scotland's Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham into his squad as injury cover for the tour match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV. The three have been pulled from Scotland's squad in New Zealand ahead of their test against Samoa in Auckland. Winger Graham will arrive later on Monday, the Lions said, two days after he drew two yellow cards and left Scotland a man down for the last part of their 29-14 loss to Fiji in Suva. Glasgow Warriors loosehead prop Sutherland, who played in two tests of the previous Lions tour in South Africa, will join the camp in Melbourne on Sunday along with Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman. The First Nations-Pasifika clash is on July 22 at Melbourne's Docklands stadium. Former Australia utility back Kurtley Beale features in the Toutai Kefu-coached First Nations-Pasifika squad named on Monday along with test players Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Pete Samu. The 27-man squad has 20 players with Pacific islands heritage and five Indigenous Australians, including ACT Brumbies fullback Andy Muirhead and scrumhalf Harrison Goddard. On the Lions' side, Farrell has been busy calling in reinforcements ahead of the series-opener against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday. England hooker Jamie George was called into the squad following a head-knock for Luke Cowan-Dickie during the 48-0 drubbing of the invitational Australia-New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Old head O'Connor an asset for Wallabies: Beale
Overlooked for his own fairytale recall, Kurtley Beale is applauding the selection of fellow Wallabies veteran James O'Connor to face the British and Irish Lions. Beale will still get a chance to tackle the tourists, leading an historic First Nations and Pasifika XV that will line up for the first time at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. The 36-year-old has overcome a hamstring twinge that ruled him out of the Western Force clash that opened the Lions tour last month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies) After injury to first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio, 35-year-old O'Connor, who was part of the 2013 Lions series, was a surprise inclusion almost three years after playing his last Test. O'Connor was in the thick of action in his first training session; both he and the Wallabies posting a photo on social media that showed stitches to a cut above his eye with blood dripping down his face. Beale, who also played in the losing campaign 12 years ago, said an experienced head such as O'Connor would add value to the squad and in particular to the playmakers in Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. "You definitely need, like, a bit of an older head ... I feel like there's value, not just for the two young 10s to bounce ideas off, to compete with, but also for the whole squad in general," Beale told AAP. "I know from from the past, being in a squad with Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, two guys that I looked up to in terms of playing the same positions and just bouncing ideas and kind of learning how they they craft a game, it's really important in the background, right?" Beale watched the Wallabies snatch a last-gasp win over Fiji last Sunday and believed there were enough signs in their first Test of the year to give hope they could topple the classy Lions. "I think we do have a chance," he said. "The Wallabies' performance against Fiji, it lacked a little bit of cohesion, the finishing touches, but I thought we created a some great opportunities. "There were couple of forward passes and we nail those and there's scoreboard pressure, we're in front, and we start to kind of get into a game plan. "I'm sure the guys understand that and no doubt they'll be working really hard to put it all together so that we go out there confident and stick it to the Lions in game one." First Nations and Pasifika coach Toutai Kefu has so far unveiled five players - Queensland's Seru Uru, NSW Waratahs pair Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble and Brumbies speedster Andy Muirhead - and touted Beale as his captain, although the flyhalf said nothing had been made official. "If that's the case, what an absolute honour," said the 95-Test veteran, who still harbours ambitions of adding to that Test tally. "It's a huge privilege to be able to represent my culture and represent the team at this level against the Lions. "After being involved last time there's a bit of redemption there ...it'd be great to be able to kind of get back and put in a performance that we can all be proud of."
CNA
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Kiss to coach invitational team against Lions, Kefu leads Pasifika
SYDNEY :Wallabies coach-elect Les Kiss will coach the AUNZ Invitational XV and Toutai Kefu the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British & Irish Lions in tour matches in July, Rugby Australia said on Monday. Australia has only four Super Rugby sides after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels last year and the Lions will play the tour matches against the invitational sides in Adelaide and Melbourne as preparation for the test series. Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach from Joe Schmidt in July next year, said it would be a privilege to lead the AUNZ side along with a coaching team including former All Blacks boss Ian Foster for the July 12 clash. "The British & Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams and to be able to play them at an iconic Australian venue such as the Adelaide Oval will be an incredible spectacle," he said in a press release. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game and linking up with the wider management in due course." World Cup-winning Wallabies number eight Kefu, who was coach of Tonga until 2023, said it would be a particular honour to lead the inaugural First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22. "First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world," Kefu said. "The significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British & Irish Lions." The first clash between the Lions and Australia will take place in Brisbane on July 19 with the second and third tests in Melbourne and Sydney on the following two Saturdays.
