Latest news with #Lions'
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Farrell believes he has struck right Lions back-row balance despite trio missing out
Andy Farrell had words of sympathy for leaving Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier out of his British & Irish Lions back row for the first Test against Australia on Saturday but the head coach is convinced he has struck the right balance with the loose-forward trio he has selected. Farrell selected Tom Curry at openside flanker, to the detriment of fellow number sevens van der Flier and Morgan, in a back row featuring Tadhg Beirne on the blindside and Jack Conan at No.8. The trio all played Test rugby for the Lions four years ago in South Africa, with England's Curry and Ireland's Conan named at seven and No.8 respectively for all three games in the 2-1 series loss to the Springboks while Beirne came off the bench in two of the matches with the world champions. The Lions boss accepted his back-row selection had been 'hotly contested' outside the tourists' camp and that individual player's experience had been a part of the decision-making process. 'Part of the side that's been talked about for quite some time and rightly so because of the quality we've got there,' Farrell said. 'Obviously we feel that's the right balance for the first Test, the combination of Tadhg being the type of player that he is, his quality in the set-piece but his all-round ability either as the jackaler or a ball playing six, compliments Jack. 'In a similar regard, Tom being the engine that we all know that we need in regards to Test match football. 'You 100 per cent throw everything into the mix. It's a big responsibility representing this group, first up. 'This is what we came for, Test match football and it's a big responsibility to show each other how we're going to attack this game. 'You take a lot of things into account, form is one but you also take into account big match temperament, and we've got a good few of those in the starting line-up.' While the selection of a hybrid lock/flanker in Munster and Ireland's Beirne to boost the Lions' lineout jumping options was preferred to a more orthodox back-row flanker, Curry's inclusion appears to be a nod to the Sale Sharks man's power game but Farrell said choosing his openside was a tough decision and that both Morgan and van der Flier could count themselves unlucky. 'As close as you could imagine. Look, you're gutted for players like that and Josh as well, and Henry (Pollock) as well, because they're playing good rugby and could easily be in this side on Saturday, but I suppose that shows the good place that we're at as a group.' Conan and Beirne make up a quarter of Ireland's record representation in a Lions' Test side with Farrell's national team members making up the bulk of the starting pack. Hooker Dan Sheehan, tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong and lock Joe McCarthy are the other forwards while Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrum-half, James Lowe has been selected on the left wing and Hugo Keenan is the chosen full-back. There are three Irish replacements also, with hooker Ronan Kelleher, loosehead prop Andrew Porter and centre Bundee Aki all in to make appearances off the bench at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday. Furlong, 32, will make his seventh consecutive Test start for the Lions having started every match against New Zealand in 2017 and the South Africans four years ago. He forms a front row with England loosehead Ellis Genge and his Leinster and Ireland team-mate Dan Sheehan at hooker while McCarthy forms a second-row partnership with Lions captain Maro Itoje. Gibson-Park will partner Scotland fly-half Finn Russell in the half-backs, there is an all-Scottish centre pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, while the Lowe and Keenan are joined in the back three by England's Tommy Freeman on the right wing. Aki, like van der Flier is unfortunate to miss out to Tuipulotu for the inside centre berth but is named on a bench of five forwards and three backs, with English duo Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith covering the starting half-backs, meaning no place for Owen Farrell, the England Test centurion and now three-time Lions tourists brought in by his father, head coach Andy, to replace the injured Elliot Daly. There is further disappointment for van der Flier, Morgan and Pollock with Ben Earl getting the nod as replacement back-rower. Scottish full-back Blair Kinghorn (knee), Ireland wing Mack Hansen (foot) and Irish centre Garry Ringrose (concussion) all might have pushed for Test starts had injury not denied them a claim.
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Andy Farrell names eight Irish players for Lions first Test as Australia lose key man for Brisbane battle
Andy Farrell has named eight Irish starters for the Lions' first Test against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday (11am Irish time), with three more on the bench.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Dan Sheehan says Lions can fire up travelling support if they ‘give them a win'
The Lions are strong favourites to complete their first triumphant tour since 2013 when they toppled the Wallabies 2-1 and they enter Saturday's opening Test buoyed by a perfect record Down Under of five wins. Fans will start streaming into Brisbane over the coming days and in the face of criticism in the Australian media that Andy Farrell's tourists have shown limited willingness to engage in community events, Sheehan declares winning is the only currency that matters. 'The best way to connect with supporters is to give them a win,' the Ireland hooker said. 'Performance is the way to do that. Yeah we can give them a cheer and a clap after the game but ultimately that's not what they came for – they came for a good game of rugby. If we do that, they'll feel part of it. 'A goal of ours is to make sure that if we have a big crowd on Saturday – which we probably will – we bring them into the game and make it feel almost like a 50/50 game that could be anywhere in the world. 'But I still think it's down to what we put out on the pitch, that's how you get the crowd in behind you. 'It would be a good story and a good legacy to have a winning series. We haven't delved too much into the wider picture. Henry Pollock has ruffled feathers by revealing the Lions' intention to whitewash the Wallabies 3-0 (David Davies/PA). 'We did at the start when we were trying to frame the mindset, but this week has been all about Saturday. 'There's going to be no holding anything back, or waiting for the next two Tests. It's all about Saturday. 'We're in a good spot. The lads are hungry, and we're expecting the Wallabies to be hungry. There will be fireworks on Saturday.' The Lions ruffled feathers in the wake of their 48-0 victory over Saturday's AUNZ Invitational XV when flanker Henry Pollock revealed their intention to whitewash Australia 3-0 and become the best team to have represented the elite of British and Irish rugby. Captain Maro Itoje then doubled down on the desire to put the Wallabies to the sword – and Sheehan believes there is no reason why they should not aim high. Tom Curry (centre), pictured with team-mates Henry Pollock (left) and Josh van der Flier, is expected to get the openside flanker nod of Jac Morgan when the Lions team is named for the first Test in Brisbane (David Davies/PA). 'I don't think that's anything too crazy. It's a massive goal of ours to make sure we reach our potential,' he said. 'If we do reach our potential we have the possibility to be one of the best teams. I think they're fair comments.' Farrell names his team on Thursday with Tom Curry expected to be given the nod in the ferociously competitive openside position ahead of Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier. Tadhg Beirne appears to be winning his battle with Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker, while Sione Tuipulotu has now edged ahead of Bundee Aki in the race to start at inside centre. With Blair Kinghorn losing his battle with a knee injury, Hugo Keenan is favourite to be picked at full-back with Marcus Smith potentially supplying cover from the bench.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has defended the ticket pricing and accessibility for the Lions-Wallabies Test series, after none of the Lions' five tour fixtures sold out and with the 'full house' shingle yet to be hung on Suncorp Stadium for the first Test. After years of anticipation, the countdown is on for the opening game of the three-Test series between the Wallabies and Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, but seats were still available for the game on Wednesday, and for the second Test in Melbourne and the third in Sydney as well. The Lions' five fixtures played in the first 15 days of their tour saw strong crowds, many of which were venue records for rugby, but all venues contained sections of empty seats. Rugby Australia, who set the ticket pricing in a joint venture with the Lions, has drawn criticism for setting prices too high and making the games inaccessible for some fans. Ticket prices for the first Test in Brisbane range from $149 to $649 per seat, with the MCG ($99 to $649) and Accor Stadium ($149-$649) Tests having similar pricing structures. Tour game prices were lower. For context, single tickets for the annual State of Origin series this year cost between $49 and $399, and to get a ticket for the Sydney show of Oasis' reunion tour will set you back between $129 and $849. Given that it is a once-in-12-years event, the demand for Lions tickets has still been strong, and all corporate packages were swiftly sold out, suggesting the market mostly accepted the prices. But fans have also expressed frustration on social media platforms, and late ticket returns from UK tour operators have proven hard to shift. There were less than 1000 tickets left for the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. Waugh is confident the ground will end up full.
The Age
a day ago
- Business
- The Age
For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has defended the ticket pricing and accessibility for the Lions-Wallabies Test series, after none of the Lions' five tour fixtures sold out and with the 'full house' shingle yet to be hung on Suncorp Stadium for the first Test. After years of anticipation, the countdown is on for the opening game of the three-Test series between the Wallabies and Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, but seats were still available for the game on Wednesday, and for the second Test in Melbourne and the third in Sydney as well. The Lions' five fixtures played in the first 15 days of their tour saw strong crowds, many of which were venue records for rugby, but all venues contained sections of empty seats. Rugby Australia, who set the ticket pricing in a joint venture with the Lions, has drawn criticism for setting prices too high and making the games inaccessible for some fans. Ticket prices for the first Test in Brisbane range from $149 to $649 per seat, with the MCG ($99 to $649) and Accor Stadium ($149-$649) Tests having similar pricing structures. Tour game prices were lower. For context, single tickets for the annual State of Origin series this year cost between $49 and $399, and to get a ticket for the Sydney show of Oasis' reunion tour will set you back between $129 and $849. Given that it is a once-in-12-years event, the demand for Lions tickets has still been strong, and all corporate packages were swiftly sold out, suggesting the market mostly accepted the prices. But fans have also expressed frustration on social media platforms, and late ticket returns from UK tour operators have proven hard to shift. There were less than 1000 tickets left for the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. Waugh is confident the ground will end up full.
