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Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The totally different Lions team Andy Farrell is now likely to pick
The totally different Lions team Andy Farrell is now likely to pick The British and Irish Lions landed in Australia earlier this week as their tour Down Under begins properly Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly in training (Image: Getty Images ) With the tour warm-up out of the way and the British and Irish Lions now Down Under, the 2025 tour of Australia is well and truly underway. The 28-24 defeat to Argentina would have offered a lot to head coach Andy Farrell, with his side showing promising signs in attack but ultimately proving wasteful with their execution. Still, having carried the ball more than any Lions team since the 2013 warm-ups, it was a clear indication of how Farrell's Lions are going to play. After three tours with Warren Gatland in charge, this is a very different Lions team when it comes to gameplan. Possession-based rugby, with multiple carrying options off four-man pods and flankers holding their width on the edges, is straight out of Farrell's Ireland playbook. Unsurprisingly, given the Ireland-heavy squad, the tour is likely going to be defined by which players from the other home nations fit best into that system. That is where the first match on Australian soil will be interesting, as Farrell now has a number of his Leinster contingent available. Article continues below Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and full-back Garry Ringrose were injury doubts as the tourists landed in Perth earlier this week, ahead of their Saturday clash with the Western Force. But, while a decision will have to be made on those two later in the week, it seems likely Farrell's Leinster Lions, as well as others involved in domestic finals with Bath and Leicester Tigers, will feature this weekend. The Lions have a number of forwards who didn't feature in Dublin last Friday after joining up late due to club commitments, so it's just a question of whether Farrell chucks them straight in or hands them a bench slot. An all-new front-five of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Joe McCarthy and Ollie Chessum seems feasible, while Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan should feature in the back-row - with the Lions perhaps needing just a little more directness in the defeat to Argentina. Bath fly-half Finn Russell, widely tipped as the favourite to start the Tests against the Wallabies, seems perfect for Farrell's system. The pod system will allow him to sweep behind the bank of options and dictate play with his wide range of passing. It seems likely he'll start this weekend, with Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams - having been on the bench against Argentina - likeliest to partner him if Gibson-Park isn't fit. Farrell might even decide it's sensible to start Williams regardless of any late fitness test for the Ireland half-back. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In midfield, Farrell went for two 12s in Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu against Argentina. Rather than double up on outside centres this time around, he might be tempted to move Tuipulotu back to inside centre and partner him with Scotland team-mate Huw Jones. In the back-three, it could feasibly be an all-Ireland affair. James Lowe and Mack Hansen could start on the wings. If Keenan is fit, he's the only out-and-out full-back currently with the Lions - with Scotland's Blair Kinghorn still with Toulouse. If not, Elliot Daly seems a sensible option to start there, unless Farrell wants another look at Marcus Smith in the role. If Farrell also wants to look at Smith as a fly-half option, then a bench place alongside Ringrose could be an option. Then it's probably a case of looking at a number of the forwards used on Friday night. Tadhg Furlong needs minutes, having barely featured off the bench before being forced off against Argentina. Wales captain Jac Morgan, having been taken off after 49 minutes, makes sense to provide back-row cover this weekend. Possible Lions team to face Western Force: Elliot Daly/Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Henry Pollock, Josh van der flier, Jack Conan. Article continues below Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Jamison Gibson-Park/Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Garry Ringrose.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
The World Rugby decision that means Ireland must hit ground running in November
Andy Farrell's return to the Ireland hot seat will coincide with higher than usual stakes for Ireland's tough Autumn Series campaign following confirmation that the Rugby World Cup draw will take place in December. Farrell joined the British and Irish Lions on a sabbatical after the 2024 Autumn internationals and will resume in the Ireland hot-seat in August after the Lions' return from their trip to Australia. The 49-year-old, his Ireland-heavy coaching staff and the record number of 15 Ireland internationals who have been selected for the 10-game tour won't have much time to recover before setting their sights on a vital November schedule. Ireland are facing the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1st before returning to Dublin to take on Japan (November 8), Australia (November 15) and South Africa (November 22). Currently third in the world rankings, Farrell will want his charges to maintain as high a place as possible to give themselves the best chance of breaking through that World Cup quarter-final glass ceiling at the next finals in Australia in 2027. The November Tests, however, will see them face the world's top two - South Africa and New Zealand, while Australia are currently ranked eighth following an upturn under Joe Schmidt. Even prior to November, Ireland must ensure that they take care of business on the lower profile summer tour to Georgia and Portugal with those games also counting towards the December rankings. Paul O'Connell will lead a squad depleted of frontline experience for the two-Test series, so it will be interesting to see if that plays into team selection. For the first time the World Cup draw will take place with all teams qualified for the finals. "It means that every match counts in the race for all important rankings positions ahead of the draw," said World Rugby in a statement. The final qualification tournament will take place in Dubai in November, with four teams competing across three matchdays for the final place at the World Cup. Belgium will participate in that tournament, with qualifiers still due to take place in Africa, South America and the Pacific. Meanwhile, World Rugby has approved the global trial of the 20-minute red card in elite competitions following what it describes as an extensive review of "successful" closed trials in Test and 'elite' club rugby over the past year.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Andy Farrell names his Lions squad but leaves door open for son Owen and others
Andy Farrell has left the door open for two more British and Irish Lions call-ups after a record 15 Irish players made the squad for the tour of Australia. Head coach Farrell, who is on sabbatical from the same role with Ireland, has leaned heavily on his Ireland contingent, who make up the largest group of the four nations involved. England have 13 players travelling - including skipper Maro Itoje and 20-year-old bolter Henry Pollock - Scotland have eight and Wales two. But there was disappointment, too, for a number of Ireland frontliners - not least Caelan Doris, who Farrell said was "in the mix" for the Lions captaincy and is "devastated" that a shoulder injury suffered in Saturday's Champions Cup loss to Northampton has ruled him out of the tour. Also just missing the cut are 22-year-old out-half Sam Prendergast - he was "100% in our thoughts", insisted Farrell, and centre Robbie Henshaw. However second row James Ryan, winger Mack Hansen and hooker Rónan Kelleher were seen as possible rather than probable inclusions beforehand and all three made the cut. Leinster lead the way with 12 players selected, while Connacht have two picks and Munster have one. Farrell has not included his son, Owen, who has endured an injury-hit season with Racing 92. However the Lions supremo admitted that there was still time for him and others to make a claim, with room for a couple of others for the 10-game, 12-week marathon. It begins with a warm-up in Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 20 and ends with the third Test against Joe Schmidt's Australia in Sydney on August 2. 'There's 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us down the track if and when needed," said Farrell. "Owen, like a few other guys, would be in that type of bracket. 'It leaves a bit of wiggle room, because obviously it's six weeks before we leave these shores anyway, so there's all sorts of things that could happen. 'Fingers crossed to the players that are selected, they don't, but we've left ourselves some wiggle room to be able to see how people progress because there are a few guys that are trying to play back into fitness form, etc, you know. So we'll see what we've got and if or when that's needed, we'd like to call them. It's definitely going to happen. It always does." Johnny Sexton, who is travelling to Australia as part of Farrell's Ireland-heavy coaching staff, reiterated the point. "It's a huge day for all the players and their families, and I've been on both sides of it, when it's one of the best days in your career and I've been in the place where it's probably one of the worst days in your career," said Sexton. "So look, it's a very special day that they'll remember forever but the one thing I would say is that if you're not picked, there's still plenty of rugby to be played. "(Alex) Corbisiero came out to Australia and won us the series and wasn't in the initial squad, so I'm sure everybody will be trying to prove their point over the next few weeks. But all the best to the lads, it's a very exciting squad."
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jonathan Sexton joins Andy Farrell's Ireland-heavy coaching staff for Lions tour
FILE - Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell prior to the start of the Rugby World Cup match between Ireland and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis outside of Paris, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File) FILE - Ireland's Johnny Sexton passes the ball during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) FILE - Ireland's Johnny Sexton touches his badge during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, in London, Saturday, March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File) FILE - Ireland's Johnny Sexton touches his badge during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, in London, Saturday, March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File) FILE - Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell prior to the start of the Rugby World Cup match between Ireland and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis outside of Paris, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File) FILE - Ireland's Johnny Sexton passes the ball during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) FILE - Ireland's Johnny Sexton touches his badge during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, in London, Saturday, March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File) LONDON (AP) — Former Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton is joining the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia as an assistant coach to Andy Farrell. The 39-year-old Sexton will take up a full-time coaching position with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on his return from Australia. Advertisement Sexton was the Lions test flyhalf across the victorious 2013 tour against the Wallabies and the 2017 series draw in New Zealand. Farrell also coached Sexton with the Lions and Ireland, and made him Ireland captain from 2020 until retiring after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 'I am hugely excited to continue the next chapter in my coaching journey with the British and Irish Lions and I would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity,' Sexton said in a statement on Thursday. 'It promises to be an exciting tour to Australia and I know from experience the challenges that await us." Sexton joins the already Ireland-heavy Lions coaching team of Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman announced last month. Advertisement 'I coached Johnny for the very first time during the 2013 Lions tour to Australia and the love that he had for the British and Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis," Farrell said. 'His influence on that Lions team and that series win, our only win in the last 24 years, should not be underestimated. His fight and his dedication as a player is something that he will bring to this Lions tour and I know that the players will relish his experience and expertise alongside all of our assistant coaches.' The Lions begin the nine-match, three-test tour in June. Since calling time on his distinguished playing career, Sexton has been working in a management position for a glass and metal packaging company. Advertisement The former Leinster flyhalf — his country's record point-scorer with 1,108 in 118 caps — returned to the Ireland camp on a part-time basis in November. Alongside news of his Lions appointment, the IRFU announced Sexton will become a full-time assistant coach from Aug. 1 with various men's and women's national age grade sides up to senior level. 'I am extremely passionate about the opportunity to work with current and future players,' he said. 'I've been extremely fortunate to have great coaches, who nurtured and developed my skills, and I am keen to share my experiences with the next generation and help them achieve their goals.' ___ AP rugby:
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Jonathan Sexton joins Andy Farrell's Ireland-heavy coaching staff for Lions tour
LONDON (AP) — Former Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton is joining the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia as an assistant coach to Andy Farrell. The 39-year-old Sexton will take up a full-time coaching position with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on his return from Australia. Sexton was the Lions test flyhalf across the victorious 2013 tour against the Wallabies and the 2017 series draw in New Zealand. Farrell also coached Sexton with the Lions and Ireland, and made him Ireland captain from 2020 until retiring after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 'I am hugely excited to continue the next chapter in my coaching journey with the British and Irish Lions and I would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity,' Sexton said in a statement on Thursday. 'It promises to be an exciting tour to Australia and I know from experience the challenges that await us.' Sexton joins the already Ireland-heavy Lions coaching team of Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman announced last month. 'I coached Johnny for the very first time during the 2013 Lions tour to Australia and the love that he had for the British and Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis,' Farrell said. 'His influence on that Lions team and that series win, our only win in the last 24 years, should not be underestimated. His fight and his dedication as a player is something that he will bring to this Lions tour and I know that the players will relish his experience and expertise alongside all of our assistant coaches.' The Lions begin the nine-match, three-test tour in June. Since calling time on his distinguished playing career, Sexton has been working in a management position for a glass and metal packaging company. The former Leinster flyhalf — his country's record point-scorer with 1,108 in 118 caps — returned to the Ireland camp on a part-time basis in November. Alongside news of his Lions appointment, the IRFU announced Sexton will become a full-time assistant coach from Aug. 1 with various men's and women's national age grade sides up to senior level. 'I am extremely passionate about the opportunity to work with current and future players,' he said. 'I've been extremely fortunate to have great coaches, who nurtured and developed my skills, and I am keen to share my experiences with the next generation and help them achieve their goals.' ___ AP rugby:
