Latest news with #MarcusSmith
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Andy Farrell bills second Lions Test in Melbourne as ‘biggest game of our lives'
Andy Farrell has challenged his British & Irish Lions players to rouse themselves for 'the biggest game of our lives' in Saturday's second Test after watching his second-string side edge past the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Farrell's side can clinch a first Lions series win in 12 years with a game to spare on Saturday but are expected to have to try and do so without the second row Joe McCarthy, who has not trained fully this week due to a foot injury. In better news, Marcus Smith passed a head injury assessment ensuring he was not automatically ruled out of the second Test. On Tuesday the Lions – led by captain for the night Owen Farrell – defeated the First Nations & Pasifika XV 24-19, having been level at 14-14 at half-time. Blair Kinghorn played all 80 minutes on his return from injury but endured a mixed bag of a game, while Garry Ringrose came on inside in the opening 20 minutes after an injury to Darcy Graham. Owen Farrell, meanwhile, showed some impressive glimpses and staked a claim for a place on the bench on Saturday. By and large Andy Farrell is expected to stick by the majority of his starters from last weekend's first Test win in Brisbane with Ollie Chessum ready to deputise for McCarthy. The Lions led by 19 points at one stage in Brisbane but allowed the Wallabies to claw back to within eight at the final whistle. Asked if there was room for improvements, Farrell said: 'Plenty, yes. There will have to be plenty to get to the point where a win's on the cards because we know that Australia are going to be … can you put a percentage on it, it's going to be a lot. If you can't get up for what's coming, we're all in the wrong place. To me, this is the biggest game of our lives, every one of us, that's part of our squad so we'll make sure that we address the week like that.' Smith was withdrawn late on against the First Nations & Pasifika XV, raising fears that he may have to drop out of the Test squad and further opening the door for Owen Farrell to feature on Saturday. Andy Farrell confirmed afterwards that Smith was fine and offered an honest appraisal of Owen's performance, highlighting his left-footed chip to set up Jamie Osborne's opening try. 'Some good things obviously, a nice little chip off the left peg. Some nice touches on the ball as well but always work-ons, there are always work-ons.' Farrell Jr completed all 80 minutes – all too often a rarity in an injury-plagued season – and relished the challenge against a fired up First Nations & Pasifika XV for whom Charlie Gamble, Taniela Tupou and Salakaia-Loto all shone. 'I enjoyed it,' said Owen Farrell. 'There's always things you can do better, obviously and we'll have a look back at the game and see what they were. But I loved being out there. 'I loved that it was difficult, that it was hard tonight. We got some joy early on but it was a tough match. I feel like I've been in a tough match now sat here. So I'm grateful for that. 'For the rest of it, we'll see. We've got a job to do regardless for the rest of this tour. Whether you're lucky enough to be involved or preparing the team for what is a massive occasion on Saturday and next week, so it'll be great whatever it is.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Andy Farrell is due to hold a selection meetingon Wednesday before naming his team on Thursday, but with McCarthy unable to train it seems unlikely he will feature. Mack Hansen, who missed the first Test with a foot injury, is in a similar position with Farrell adding: 'Mack's progressing. Whether he's progressing quick enough we'll see towards the end of the week. 'There's all sorts that goes into it, some performances [from tonight], there's no doubt about that. But there's also what's right for this second [Test] and what that presents and the make-up of the squad and how it feels. Are a few changes going to freshen it up or do we go with the same guys? 'All that comes into the pot and it's whatever's best for the team that we think that we need on a game like that at the MCG with over 90,000 people. So yeah, it should be like that shouldn't it, it should be challenging.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Nice little chip off the left peg'
Owen Farrell captained the British and Irish Lions to a 24-19 win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV on was Farrell's first full 80 minutes since the end of April and he put in another solid outing, setting up Jamie Osborne's first try with a deft Andy and Owen Farrell however never get too carried away."How do you think he played?" Andy Farrell asks his son in response to that question."He asked you," Owen replied."Nice little chip off the left peg. Some good things from him. But there are always work ons."Owen added: "I enjoyed it. There is always things you can do better obviously. But I loved being out there. I loved that it was difficult, that it was hard. I feel like I've been in a tough match now. So I'm grateful for that."Owen Farrell missed out on a first Test bench spot against Australia to Marcus he done enough to come in for the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday?
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Andy Farrell provides update on Marcus Smith after Lions injury scare
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has allayed fears over Marcus Smith 's availability for the second Test against Australia after confirming that the playmaker had passed his head injury assessment (HIA). Smith was taken down the tunnel in the 73rd minute just seven minutes after being introduced against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. It was subsequently confirmed that the 26-year-old, who featured off the bench in the first Test win over the Wallabies, had required an HIA after taking a bang to the head. Had he failed the HIA, Smith would have had to undergo a mandatory 12-day stand down period, ruling him out of the second Test. However, Farrell suggested there were no concerns over his availability after coming through the assessment. 'He is fine, he has passed everything,' Farrell said. The First Nations & Pasifika side gave the Lions' heavily-rotated team a stern examination at Marvel Stadium, falling five points short in a 24-19 defeat with few of those involved for the tourists staking a Test claim. A tidy performance from captain Owen Farrell could see him come into consideration for a bench role, while Blair Kinghorn and Garry Ringrose both played significant and valuable minutes on their return from injury. Head coach Farrell is not yet sure, though, if Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen will be in contention to feature at the MCG on Saturday. McCarthy has been dealing with a foot injury after sustaining a problem in the first Test, while Hansen was unavailable for that game - both are yet to train this week, suggesting that their involvement is in serious doubt. Farrell and his coaching staff will assemble for a selection meeting on Wednesday before the Lions train again and name their side publicly on Thursday. The Lions made a strong start to their final midweek game of the tour but squandered a 14-point lead before half time in a clunky performance, even though they eventually prevailed. Of the showing, Farrell said: 'I thought 14 points up and finding space everywhere, we started to play the game a little bit like an exhibition match and it was never going to be like that so, I was pretty pleased with how we addressed that at half time and started showing some proper intent in our game. 'Whether we got the rewards for it is a different story but we fought our way back into the game. I am delighted for a lot of lads who have just played their first game, some have just played their first game on tour, delighted to keep the wins rolling.' Some of those who featured in the win are now likely to go home, with Farrell suggesting that late call-ups Gregor Brown, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman may be among them.
The National
6 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Marcus Smith gets nod ahead of Owen Farrell for Lions' first Australia Test
Marcus Smith completed a remarkable turnaround to earn a spot on the British & Irish Lions bench for Saturday's first Test against Australia in Brisbane, as high-profile names Owen Farrell and Henry Pollock were left out of the matchday squad altogether. Smith's inclusion is all the more striking given the fly-half was seen as an outsider at the start of the tour. His Test hopes appeared even slimmer after Farrell – a late call-up due to Elliot Daly's injury – joined the touring party. But with Farrell omitted from the 23-man squad and Smith now covering both fly-half and full-back, it marks a personal triumph for the Harlequins star. ' Marcus has stayed patient, applied himself brilliantly and now gets a deserved opportunity,' said Lions head coach Andy Farrell. 'He brings that spark and vision we'll need in tight moments.' Ireland dominate the starting XV with eight players, while England have four and Scotland three. For the first time since 1899, no Welsh player has made the Test squad. Jac Morgan, the sole Welshman in the 44-man tour party, loses out to England's Tom Curry for the openside role. Curry joins Ireland's Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan in a back row designed for physical dominance. Farrell called it 'the biggest and most confrontational unit' the Lions could field, hinting at their strategy to meet Australia head-on at the breakdown and in contact. Ben Earl offers back-row cover from the bench, preferred to England's 19-year-old phenom Pollock, whose omission will be keenly debated. In midfield, an all-Scotland axis of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, and Huw Jones are taksed with conjuring creativity, with the dynamic Bundee Aki named among the replacements. Hugo Keenan starts at full-back. The front row is as expected: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong form a fearsome trio. Maro Itoje captains the Lions from lock alongside Joe McCarthy, while wingers James Lowe and Tommy Freeman provide cutting edge out wide. 'This is the business end of the tour,' said Farrell. 'We've spoken about delivering our best performance when it matters most. That time is now.' Australia, meanwhile, have rolled the dice. Coach Joe Schmidt has sprung a surprise by naming Nick Champion de Crespigny for a shock debut on the blindside flank. With Rob Valetini not fully fit, the former Castres man gets the nod ahead of Tom Hooper. 'Nick gives us something different,' Schmidt said. 'He's a roving scavenger, very smart at the breakdown and can add variety to our back-row dynamic.' De Crespigny will combine with captain Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight in a mobile, abrasive loose trio. Injuries have also opened doors elsewhere. Hooker Matt Faessler starts following Dave Porecki's head knock, while veteran props Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper complete the front row. Slipper, a veteran of the 2013 series, becomes just the second Wallaby in the professional era to face the Lions twice. With Will Skelton unavailable, Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost continue at lock. In another bold move, Schmidt has entrusted the No 10 shirt to 21-year-old Tom Lynagh, just four caps into his Test career. Lynagh follows in the footsteps of his father Michael, the Wallabies great who starred against the Lions in 1989. Schmidt said the youngster had impressed in camp and shown he could 'run the game with quiet confidence'. Jake Gordon partners him at half-back, with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii forming a new-look midfield. Max Jorgensen and Harry Potter take the wings, while Tom Wright starts at full-back.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of Lions squad for first Test in Australia
Marcus Smith has defied expectations by winning a place on the bench for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia, but Owen Farrell and Henry Pollock miss out on selection. Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne have been given the nod in the ferociously competitive flanker positions and, alongside number eight Jack Conan, form the biggest and most physical back row available to head coach Andy Farrell. The team's main source of creativity will be provided by an all- Scotland midfield trio of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones with the hard-running Bundee Aki having to settle for a replacement role. Blair Kinghorn's knee injury means Hugo Keenan is picked at full-back, with Smith providing cover at 15 and fly-half. The bench options narrowed when Mack Hansen was ruled out by a foot injury, but Smith's presence still represents a personal triumph given his Test prospects looked bleak at the start of the tour and appeared to recede further when Owen Farrell was called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly. Andy Farrell's son was expected to be given a supporting role at Suncorp Stadium but he misses out on the 23 entirely, as does the rising star of English rugby Pollock, who loses out to Ben Earl as back row cover. Ireland dominate the starting XV with an eight-strong contingent, while England provide four players and Scotland three. For the first time since 1899 there is no Welshman in the matchday squad. Jac Morgan is their only representative in the 44-man touring party, but he has lost out to Curry in the race for the number seven jersey. Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but the Lions coaching team view his physicality, work rate and big game experience as too valuable to leave out. Beirne was locked in a selection duel with Ollie Chessum and he has won on this occasion, with his English rival present as a high-quality reinforcement off the bench. There are no surprises in a front row consisting of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while captain Maro Itoje is joined by Joe McCarthy in the engine room and wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are present as expected. 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,' Andy Farrell said. 'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side. 'It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.' Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
