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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson set to experience the joy of becoming a Lion
The British & Irish Lions go into their final midweek match of this 2025 tour against the First Nations & Pasifika XV with two different narratives around team selection. First, the joy of becoming a Lion for the likes of Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson, two young Irishmen among a group of five debutants handed the opportunity of a rugby-playing lifetime to join a select group of players representing the best of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh rugby, if only for one game. Secondly, an opportunity of a different kind, for Josh van der Flier and Jac Morgan, Blair Kinghorn and Garry Ringrose and others besides to stake their claim for Test selection against Australia this Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. They will offer contrasting motivations at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday but head coach Andy Farrell will demand that this team of Test hopefuls and first timers will be synchronised enough to keep the Lions' momentum rolling from last Saturday's Brisbane victory over the Wallabies into this weekend's potential Test decider for the tourists. Naturally enough, the battle for insertion into a winning Test 23 will occupy coaches' minds most ahead of their final selection meeting on Wednesday night here in Melbourne but that did not stop assistant coach Simon Easterby waxing lyrical about the opportunity this midweek game presents to Clarkson, 25, and Osborne, 24. 'It goes without saying, the quality of those two individuals,' Easterby said. Jamie Osborne during a training session. Pic: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland. 'Tom's fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he's put in some brilliant performances. 'He really has stood up and bringing them on the 'Emerging Ireland' tour. He was certainly someone that we felt could step up over the next couple of years, but he's been excellent. 'He's fought for everything and in a pretty tough position where being a tighthead probably takes a good few years to learn your trade, he's certainly in a really good place. 'Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer, his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13, wing, 15, it was pretty impressive, the positions he can cover and the quality that he brings to the group as well. 'I'm really pleased with the two of them. They fully deserve being here and no doubt they'll perform really well tomorrow.' Ten days on from a blowout win against a scratch AUSNZ Invitational XV that failed to live up collectively that their teamsheet suggested of the individuals concerned, this First Nations & Pasifika XV will at least have a purpose and identity as the first side of its kind selected from Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Māori and Indigenous Australian cultures. Their head coach Toutai Kefu, won 60 caps for the Wallabies and has named a matchday squad of 17 players with Pasifika heritage and six indigenous First Nations players included. Even so, they will find it tough going against a hardened Lions side bristling with intent and ambition for Test recognition this Saturday but Easterby gave Kefu's side the respect they deserve. 'You look at the teamsheet and they have some incredible individuals. They'll try to make a mark. 'Some of them have played against the Lions on this trip already, some of them won't, and that is probably is something those players will feel they want to lay down a bit of a marker and bring their own skillset and individuality to their game. It's certainly an impressive outfit when you look at it on paper. 'I guess our challenge, as it always is, is to be as connected as we can be in terms of the way we play, in terms of the guys who aren't involved to prepare the team that plays tomorrow. Everyone's been chipping in and been part of that. 'It's an exciting team, but certainly an exciting challenge and opportunity for our guys to go out and stake a claim for the next couple of weeks.' FIRST NATIONS & PASIFIKA XV (Cultural heritage in brackets): Andy Muirhead (First Nations); Triston Reilly (First Nations), Lalakai Foketi (Māori & Tonga), David Feliuai (Samoa), Filipo Daugunu (Fiji); Kurtley Beale (First Nations) – captain; Kalani Thomas (Māori); Lington Ieli (Fiji), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Samoa & Māori), Taniela Tupou (Tonga); Darcy Swain (Samoa), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Samoa); Sere Uru (Fiji), Charlie Gamble (Tonga), Tuaina Taii Tualima (Samoa). Replacements: Richie Asiata (Samoa), Marley Pearce (Māori & First Nations), Mesake Doge (Fiji), Mesake Vocevoce (Fiji), Rob Leota (Samoa), Harrison Goddard (First Nations), Jack Debreczeni (Cook Island), Jarrah McLeod (First Nations). BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: B Kinghorn (Scotland); D Graham (Scotland), J Osborne (Ireland), O Farrell (England) – captain, D van der Merwe (Scotland); F Smith (England), B White (Scotland); P Schoeman (Scotland), J George (England), F Bealham (Ireland); J Ryan (Ireland), S Cummings (Scotland); J Morgan (Wales), J van der Flier (Ireland), H Pollock (England). Replacements: E Ashman (Scotland), R Sutherland (Scotland), T Clarkson (Ireland), G Brown (Scotland), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), G Ringrose (Ireland). Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).
Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Spectator
The slow death of Welsh rugby
Heard the joke about the Englishmen, Irishmen and Scotsmen? They have all been selected for the British and Irish Lions squad to face Australia in Brisbane today. At the expense of the Welshman. The fact that no Welshman has been included among the 23 players chosen for the first of three Test matches is further confirmation of the diminishing stock of Welsh rugby. The last time a Lions matchday squad had no Welsh representation was in 1896. When in May, Lions' coach Andy Farrell named his 38 players for the tour of Australia there were fifteen Irishmen, thirteen Englishmen, eight Scots and two Welshmen – their lowest representation since 1903. One of that pair, scrum-half Tomas Williams, tore his hamstring in the first match in Australia and returned home, leaving flanker Jac Morgan as the only Welshman Down Under. Morgan didn't make the squad for Saturday's first Test and will watch the match from the stand, along with thousands of Welsh rugby fans who are in Australia for the series. It wasn't so long ago that Welsh Lions fans had much to celebrate; the last time the Lions played a series in Australia – in 2013 – eight of the starting XV for the first Test were Welsh. In the twelve years since, however, Welsh rugby has become a shambles on and off the pitch. So far have they fallen that there was jubilation in the valleys when they beat Japan. That win last week ended an 18-match losing streak, a run that started in the autumn of 2023. They went through the 2024 and 2025 Six Nations without a win, and in this year's championship they were thrashed 43-0 by France and humiliated 68-14 in Cardiff against England. It was Wales' heaviest home defeat and their biggest loss in Six Nations history. There was a time when Englishmen quaked in their boots at the thought of a trip to Cardiff. In the 1977 Five Nations, Wales captain Phil Bennett fired up his team in the dressing room by telling them: 'Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel…We've been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English – and that's who you are playing this afternoon.' That was the period when Welsh rugby was at its most dominant. Between 1964 and 1979, they lost only once to England. They produced some of the greatest players in the history of rugby – Bennett, Gareth Edwards, Barry John and Mervyn Davies – and won three Five Nations' Grand Slams in the 1970s. Welsh rugby in this period was unique among its British and Irish rivals in that it was the sport of the working-class. It was played by miners, steel workers and dockers, forging an identity and a pride to towns such as Neath, Bridgend, Maesteg and Pontypool. 'There used to be a time when the Welsh selectors could whistle down any mine shaft in the country and up would come a new pack,' reflected a Wales newspaper in 2005. These packs of forwards were hard men, harder than anything the English could produce, whose players were mostly products of public schools. But those days are long gone, along with the mines. The last Welsh rugby international who worked down the mines was Garin Jenkins, a regular in the team during the 1990s. That was the decade when rugby union turned professional. In the amateur era, Wales punched above its weight, but professionalism motivated France and England to maximise their far greater resources. They still struggle to make the most of their potential, unlike Ireland, who have gone from the Five Nations' whipping boys of the 1980s and 1990s to Europe's pre-eminent side in recent years. Wales have gone in the other direction. If the deindustrialisation of Wales had a devastating effect on grassroots rugby, so has the chronic mismanagement of the professional game by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). So widespread was the chaos in 2023 that it even made the New York Times, in an article headlined 'A Year in Crisis Takes Its Toll on Welsh Rugby'. All the charges against the WRU were aired: from accusations of a toxic work environment to financial ineptness. But perhaps the greatest fault of the WRU is the one that many hold responsible for the nation's demise as a rugby powerhouse. In 2004, the WRU restructured schools and youth rugby in Wales, unnecessarily tinkering with a system that for decades had produced a conveyer belt of talent for senior rugby. Welsh rugby writer Huw S Thomas says that, as a result, 'the Welsh schools became toothless and the Saturday leagues petered out, with 100 youth teams believed to have disappeared in the past 20 years'. How many youngsters have slipped through the rugby net in these years, turning instead to football – which has enjoyed a surge in popularity recently, thanks to the success of the Wales team – or loafing on their sofa playing video games? Welsh rugby players once blamed the English 'bastards' for the ills of their country, but the damage done to their sport this century is home-grown. Welsh rugby needs a root-and-branch reform. If things don't change, when the Lions next tour, to New Zealand in 2029, the Welsh representation may have decreased from one to zero.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Lions coach Andy Farrell isn't buying into the hype of a series sweep against Australia
Associated Press BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The growing hype about a British and Irish Lions series sweep over Australia isn't something Andy Farrell is buying into. The Lions head coach only had to walk the streets of Brisbane and have a chance encounter with Australia and Queensland Origin rugby league legend Gorden Tallis in the days leading up to Saturday's first test to be reminded of what to expect. Tallis 'said everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs. He said 'We never, ever saw it that way.' Australia will be exactly the same,' said Farrell, who was captain of the British rugby league team before switching to rugby union. The Lions tour every four years to the southern hemisphere but the Wallabies only face them every 12, usually a once-in-a-career opportunity. 'If you're in a position where it comes down to this every 12 years and you get to pull the shirt on for the Wallabies and the privilege that goes with that — they'll be fighting tooth and nail," Farrell said. "I'm sure they'll want to prove a point." He wanted to embrace being heavy favorites for the series, but said there's 'no overconfidence, at all.' "It's having an inner confidence within our group that we are going to execute the plan when it matters.' Farrell was a defense coach at Ireland before taking over from Joe Schmidt as head coach there in 2020. Schmidt, a New Zealander, is now head coach of an Australia squad that is rebuilding after its worst-ever Rugby World Cup performance in 2023. They're well acquainted. 'You don't go into a series trying not to win it 3-nil — it's a natural target for them,' Schmidt said of those predictions of a Lions sweep. 'But I know Andy Farrell well enough to know he won't be talking about 3-nil. They'll be focused on this test alone, not Melbourne or Sydney I don't think.' While the Lions are unbeaten in five tour games so far in Australia, the Wallabies are coming off a scratchy 21-18 comeback win over Fiji as their only match preparation. They've also got a new halves combination and will be missing some size and power in the forward pack. 'Obviously the skill execution wasn't great against Fiji. We have to be a lot more cohesive and accurate,' Schmidt said. 'We've had one test match. We've got 15 this year.' 'We thought we'd ease our way into the year!' he added, joking about the monumental task ahead for his Wallabies. 'That's the magnitude of it, really.' Key confrontations The halves combinations will be critical to the outcome. The Lions have the advantage in the experienced and assured Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell directing play and working with Jamison Gibson-Park, one of eight Irishmen in the XV. Schmidt has entrusted the playmaking duties to 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh. The quietly confident Lynagh is starting a test for the first time and working with Jake Gordon. The Lions will be expecting scrum dominance, and for a hard edge will be relying on a front row featuring Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong and hooker Dan Sheehan and England prop Ellis Genge. For the Wallabies, 144-test veteran James Slipper is starting in his second series against the Lions and looking for revenge. He'll be packing down with Allan Ala'alatoa, who has 81 caps, and young hooker Matt Faessler. For the first time since more than a century, there are no Welshmen in the Lions test squad. Recent series Brisbane is a city where the Lions have had success. In 1989, when Michael Lynagh was Australia's playmaker, the Wallabies won the opening match in Sydney 30-12 before the Lions rallied to take a brutal second test 19-12 in Brisbane, dubbed the 'Battle of Ballymore.' The Lions won the decider, back in Sydney, which was famous for an errant pass by Australian winger David Campese that gifted a simple try and lead to the visitors. The 2001 series opener in Brisbane felt more like a home game for the Lions, with the Gabba stadium filled with fans wearing red. That helped propel the Lions to a win over the 1999 World Cup champions. But the Australians rallied to win in Melbourne and Sydney to clinch a historic series win. Twelve years ago, on the last tour to Australia, the Lions again won in Brisbane — 23-21 — when Wallabies' goalkicker Kurtley Beale slipped and missed a last-minute penalty attempt. The Wallabies won the second test in Melbourne, when Leigh Halfpenny missed a late shot at goal that would have clinched the series for the Lions. The Lions dominated in Sydney to clinch the series. Tour so far The Lions are perfect in Australia since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin. They had wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies — before last Saturday's 48-0 demolition of an AUNZ invitational XV. ___ AP rugby:
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Lions coach Andy Farrell isn't buying into the hype of a series sweep against Australia
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The growing hype about a British and Irish Lions series sweep over Australia isn't something Andy Farrell is buying into. The Lions head coach only had to walk the streets of Brisbane and have a chance encounter with Australia and Queensland Origin rugby league legend Gorden Tallis in the days leading up to Saturday's first test to be reminded of what to expect. Tallis 'said everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs. He said 'We never, ever saw it that way.' Australia will be exactly the same,' said Farrell, who was captain of the British rugby league team before switching to rugby union. The Lions tour every four years to the southern hemisphere but the Wallabies only face them every 12, usually a once-in-a-career opportunity. 'If you're in a position where it comes down to this every 12 years and you get to pull the shirt on for the Wallabies and the privilege that goes with that — they'll be fighting tooth and nail,' Farrell said. 'I'm sure they'll want to prove a point.' He wanted to embrace being heavy favorites for the series, but said there's 'no overconfidence, at all.' 'It's having an inner confidence within our group that we are going to execute the plan when it matters.' Farrell was a defense coach at Ireland before taking over from Joe Schmidt as head coach there in 2020. Schmidt, a New Zealander, is now head coach of an Australia squad that is rebuilding after its worst-ever Rugby World Cup performance in 2023. They're well acquainted. 'You don't go into a series trying not to win it 3-nil — it's a natural target for them,' Schmidt said of those predictions of a Lions sweep. 'But I know Andy Farrell well enough to know he won't be talking about 3-nil. They'll be focused on this test alone, not Melbourne or Sydney I don't think.' While the Lions are unbeaten in five tour games so far in Australia, the Wallabies are coming off a scratchy 21-18 comeback win over Fiji as their only match preparation. They've also got a new halves combination and will be missing some size and power in the forward pack. 'Obviously the skill execution wasn't great against Fiji. We have to be a lot more cohesive and accurate,' Schmidt said. 'We've had one test match. We've got 15 this year.' 'We thought we'd ease our way into the year!' he added, joking about the monumental task ahead for his Wallabies. 'That's the magnitude of it, really.' Key confrontations The halves combinations will be critical to the outcome. The Lions have the advantage in the experienced and assured Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell directing play and working with Jamison Gibson-Park, one of eight Irishmen in the XV. Schmidt has entrusted the playmaking duties to 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh. The quietly confident Lynagh is starting a test for the first time and working with Jake Gordon. The Lions will be expecting scrum dominance, and for a hard edge will be relying on a front row featuring Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong and hooker Dan Sheehan and England prop Ellis Genge. For the Wallabies, 144-test veteran James Slipper is starting in his second series against the Lions and looking for revenge. He'll be packing down with Allan Ala'alatoa, who has 81 caps, and young hooker Matt Faessler. For the first time since more than a century, there are no Welshmen in the Lions test squad. Recent series Brisbane is a city where the Lions have had success. In 1989, when Michael Lynagh was Australia's playmaker, the Wallabies won the opening match in Sydney 30-12 before the Lions rallied to take a brutal second test 19-12 in Brisbane, dubbed the 'Battle of Ballymore.' The Lions won the decider, back in Sydney, which was famous for an errant pass by Australian winger David Campese that gifted a simple try and lead to the visitors. The 2001 series opener in Brisbane felt more like a home game for the Lions, with the Gabba stadium filled with fans wearing red. That helped propel the Lions to a win over the 1999 World Cup champions. But the Australians rallied to win in Melbourne and Sydney to clinch a historic series win. Twelve years ago, on the last tour to Australia, the Lions again won in Brisbane — 23-21 — when Wallabies' goalkicker Kurtley Beale slipped and missed a last-minute penalty attempt. The Wallabies won the second test in Melbourne, when Leigh Halfpenny missed a late shot at goal that would have clinched the series for the Lions. The Lions dominated in Sydney to clinch the series. Tour so far The Lions are perfect in Australia since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin. They had wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies — before last Saturday's 48-0 demolition of an AUNZ invitational XV. ___ AP rugby:
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory's snowman has Open hopefuls running scared at Portrush
Tom McKibbin claims that Rory McIlroy's snowman in Portrush has anxiety levels soaring for Open hopefuls on the first tee. When the championship was last held on the Dunluce links in 2019 there were 21 double bogeys or worse on the first hole. But it was McIlroy's quadruple bogey that still sends shivers down the spines of the pros, admitted McKibbin after he bogeyed the first on his way to an opening round one over par 72. "I think Rory's made that tee shot a lot scarier," he smiled. "That's all I could probably think about for the last three days! "I wouldn't say I was too nervous. I just didn't really want to hit that bad of a shot. Yeah, I was very happy to get it sort of under way, I was a little bit nervous and a little bit scared of hitting that shot." McKibbin, who went out in the first group with Padraig Harrington and Nicolai Hojgaard, found himself two-over par after just three holes. But the 22-year-old LIV golfer battled back superbly to join the early leaders on two under-par thanks to a run of two birdies and an eagle between the fifth hole and the turn, only to be undone when he found heavy rough off the tee on 11 and took a double bogey as punishment. Tom McKibbin plays out of the rough on the 2nd (Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady) "It was tricky," said McKibbin, who is actually a member of Portrush GC. "Some of the pin positions are really good, they're just over just slopes. "I played here so many times, and you would never even think of seeing pins where they are." As one of only five Irishmen in the field and a local favourite - he hails from just outside Belfast in Newtownabbey, and followed in McIlroy's footsteps at Holywood GC - McKibbin was cheered from the start to the end of his round. "It's amazing getting sort of clapped on every tee and green," he said. "It was pretty cool today, sort of the first experience of that kind. "They're out there wanting you to do the best that you can, and it's great to have that support." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
