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Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Gerry Thornley: Ireland's share of Lions adds to begrudgery and pressure
There's never been such an Irish-tinged influence on a British and Irish Lions tour , and this has raised the stakes for Andy Farrell and Irish rugby over the next three weeks. Perish the thought, but if the Lions lose this series against a Wallabies side ranked eighth in the world, we'll never hear the end of it. In the last week this sizeable subplot to the 2025 Aussie odyssey has risen to new heights with the addition of Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson. That means that, in addition a cluster of assistant coaches and backroom staff, Farrell has extended the number of Irish players in the squad from an initial 15 to a fairly remarkable 18. [ Farrell calls up three Scots amid Hansen injury worries Opens in new window ] This also means that Leinster , with a total of 14 players, not only outnumber any other club/province/region as bulk suppliers to this Lions squad, but equal England's increased tally of 14 players. Recall, if you will, how Ciaran Fitzgerald copped so much flak during and after the 1983 tour to New Zealand when a non-vintage Lions team lost the series 4-0 and Superman could have captained the tourists for all the difference it would have made. By contrast, head coach Jim Telfer escaped scot-free, as it were, as did manager Willie-John McBride. READ MORE The anti-Irish blame game even extended to Paul O'Connell on the 2009 tour to South Africa when, if to nothing like the same extent, his captaincy was unfairly condemned in one or two media outlets in the UK. It's one of the anomalies of this tour that the English media pack is bigger than its country's playing contingent, whereas the Irish media pack is heavily outnumbered by the aforementioned 18 players. Andrew Porter with a familiar face after the Lions match against the AUNZ Invitations side. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho There has been sniping over this unprecedented Irish influence since the original 38-man squad was unveiled amid so much glitz in London's O2 Arena, as if it upset the natural order of things when England are usually the bulk suppliers. Yet Clive Woodward's reliance on his English 2003 World Cup-winning side proved entirely flawed, while there was nothing like the same outcry when Warren Gatland picked 15 players, including Sam Warburton as captain, for the 2013 tour. Then again the Lions did win that series. Even so, Ireland's body of work in the last four years – 3-1 v England, 5-0 v Scotland and 4-0 v Wales, plus a series win in New Zealand and a series draw in South Africa – far exceeds that of the other three countries. The sniping, which is more prevalent on social media, was heightened after Osborne and, especially, Clarkson were called in over the last weekend. [ Farrell ponders selection issues ahead of first Test Opens in new window ] Dan Sheehan will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders when the Lions face Australia. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho It is ironic to think that barely a year ago the IRFU performance pirector David Humphreys placed a temporary ban, since lifted, on the provinces signing non-Irish qualified props, and now three of the four tight-heads in this Lions squad are Irish – Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham and Clarkson. The message from the Lions is that Clarkson has been called up to provide additional cover at tighthead. This is presumably to preserve Furlong and Will Stuart, along with the rest of the Test 23, from any involvement in the only remaining midweek match, namely next Tuesday's game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne four days before the pivotal second Test in the same city. This has been given added credence by the subsequent addition of Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham, who were with the Scotland squad in New Zealand. It all has strong echoes of Gatland calling up four Welsh and two Scottish players at a similar juncture on the 2017 tour from their countries' tours to Australia and New Zealand, as well as three English players and the retired Shane Williams in 2013. Joe McCarthy grimaces and bears it while preparing for the Lions' first Test against Australia. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Gatland had planned that from the outset but the addition of the so-called Geography Six generated quite a furore on the basis that it devalued that tour and the Lions jersey. Gatland subsequently expressed his regret over the move too. Farrell was defence coach on that tour, yet clearly the addition of Clarkson and the three Scots had been pre-planned in order to ringfence the Test-match squad. No less than Gatland, Farrell is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If Andrew Porter, Ellis Genge, Furlong or Will Stuart were injured in next Thursday's match, the head coach would have been criticised for risking them. Yet scrapping midweek matches for the duration of the series would make the Tour seem cruelly long for those not in the Test match-day squads. Perhaps if Clarkson's call-up had been announced in tandem with the three Scottish players, rather than in isolation, there wouldn't have been such an over-reaction to his addition. Some of the sniping, admittedly, appears to have emanated from Ireland in the form of an anti-Leinster begrudgery. But the inclusion of 18 players, even if 14 are from one province, should be a source of celebration in Irish rugby. England's Ellis Genge trains for the Lions' meeting with Australia. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho There would have been long odds on Clarkson making the Lions squad at the start of the season, when he had only started 19 games for Leinster. Yet after his breakthrough campaign, when benefiting from the misfortune that befell Furlong, the 25-year-old's call-up to the Lions squad is entirely justified. Clarkson has won eight Test caps, including four in the Six Nations against England, Scotland, Wales and France, so really if anyone across the water was unaware of him, that's more down to them. Clarkson is also in form, having ended the season by starting all of Leinster's last five games in their URC-winning title run-in, including the quarter-final, semi-final and final against the Bulls. True, Joe Hayes started England's series-clinching win in Argentina last weekend and does have eight caps more, but Clarkson also has the additional benefit of working with Farrell and the Ireland and Lions scrum coach John Fogarty. This is why Lions head coaches often lean towards the players they've worked with and know best. For sure, no less than Osborne, Clarkson's call-up may be beneficial for him and Ireland come the next World Cup in Australia two years hence, but it still makes perfect sense. So far, it's just been sniping. But the reaction to Clarkson's call-up was a foretaste of what could be coming were the Lions not to win this series. These last few days have confirmed, more than ever before, they're lurking in the long grass.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions-less Ireland hit rugby century against Portugal
Even without their host of British & Irish Lions stars, Ireland ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their biggest rugby Test win in the first encounter between the two nations. Connacht pair Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton went over twice on their debuts and there was also a brace each for club team-mate and flanker Cian Prendergast and Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien. With fly-half Jack Crowley landing 12 of his 15 conversion attempts - Ireland were also awarded a penalty try - the margin of victory eclipsed their previous biggest win when they scored 13 tries in an 83-3 defeat of the USA in 2000. Ireland Men's team's biggest ever win at Test level – with records falling for points scored (106), winning margin (99), and also tries (16) and conversions (12) scored.#TeamOfUs #WeAreIreland — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) July 12, 2025 Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell was without 17 players, who are all on tour with the Lions in Australia, but his new-look side ruthlessly exposed the chasm between them and their hosts. O'Connell made six changes following last week's 34-5 win against Georgia in Tbilisi and the Irish went over for four converted tries in the opening 14 minutes. Centre Stuart McCloskey touched down in the corner after full-back Jimmy O'Brien's break straight from the kick off, setting the tone for the match.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Endless competition' at Leinster driving McCarthy
Ireland hooker Gus McCarthy believes competition for places at Leinster is helping him develop as a 21-year-old won his fifth Test cap in his side's 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week having made his debut against Fiji in British and Irish Lions Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher ahead of him in the pecking order at Leinster, McCarthy played just three times for his province between the end of the Six Nations and conclusion of the domestic season in June."I haven't played a huge amount. I didn't really get involved in the URC knock-out matches or the latter end of the Champions Cup," said McCarthy."I did get quite a bit of game-time in the middle of the season. It's great to learn from the best, some seriously good talent."The competition is endless, it's constant competition which keeps you on your toes. It's very positive."Ireland will conclude their two-Test summer tour against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday (19:00 BST).The trip is being lead by usual forwards coach Paul O'Connell and an interim ticket of assistants with Andy Farrell and 16 members of his playing panel on tour in Australia with the Lions. "Portugal are a very, very attacking and dangerous side. We've watched a lot of them. They aren't to be taken lightly," McCarthy added. "We're going to put a lot of prep in and make sure we're all guns loaded for Saturday. We're really, really looking forward to the challenge."
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Metcalfe promises strong Wales response after defeat in U20 Summer Series
By Phil Campbell Wales' U20 women's captain Branwen Metcalfe has vowed her side will be back stronger after falling to a 27-10 defeat to Ireland in their 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series opener. The hosts showed determination throughout the physical encounter, reducing Ireland's advantage to 10-5 and 15-10 during the match through scores from Savannah Picton-Powell and Seren Singleton. Advertisement But tries from Irish quintet Sophie Barrett, Robyn O'Connor, Hannah Clarke, Jemima Adams-Verling and Ellie O'Sullivan-Sexton ultimately put the game out Wales's reach at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly. However, Metcalfe insisted her charges won't dwell too much on the defeat and that they will work hard to improve before they next take to the field. 'We're Welsh, we'll be sure to keep going,' said the 18-year-old. 'I'm really proud of the girls for what they did today. 'We left everything out on the field, and I can't doubt anyone's intent. We are a really young side, so there's a few things we need to freshen up on, but I'm really proud of our efforts.' Both sides matched each other's intensity in the tackle during the opening exchanges, but Ireland were able to withstand Wales' early pressure as the game remained scoreless after 20 minutes. Advertisement Barrett and O'Connor gave Ireland a 10-0 lead midway through the first half, but Wales regrouped well, halving the deficit on the half-hour mark when Chiara Pearce, fresh off the bench, offloaded to the charging Picton-Powell to dot down. Clarke finished a cross-field Irish move seven minutes into the second 40 minutes, but Wales refused to give up the ghost, hitting back five minutes later as Singleton crashed over in the corner following good work to get the ball out wide on the right to reduce the gap back to five points. Metcalfe explained it was passages of play such as the one Singleton scored from that Wales can take as one of the positive from the clash. 'I think the way we move the ball [was pleasing],' she continued. 'Our intent too and the way we were running on the ball, we're working really hard, but it's just about the little bits to finish things off now. We can definitely do it.' Advertisement Amidst the driving rain, Adams-Verling, named Player of the Match, re-established Ireland's two-score buffer on 58 minutes before O'Sullivan-Sexton's late effort rounded off the scoring. Wales will be back in action on 11 July when they take on Scotland in the second match of the competition.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WORLD OF RUGBY: Alarm bells ring for Lions chiefs as Irish contingent fail their audition to leave plans up in the air with two weeks to go until Australia Test, writes CHRIS FOY
So much for best-laid plans. Andy Farrell has spoken throughout the early part of this tour about how all Test selection forecasts can go out the window – and that is certainly happening here. Given events in Sydney on Saturday, as the Lions stumbled to victory over the gallant Waratahs, it is fair to argue that more players have played themselves out of the first-choice XV than into it. It was a failed audition for many of the large Irish contingent, in particular.
