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ABC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Lions coach hails 'big game players' as Russell and Curry rise in win over Wallabies
The first rendition of the Lions' simplistic, eponymous yet rousing chant had barely faded away at a packed Lang Park on Saturday night when Tom Curry nailed James Slipper with a massive shot in midfield. The Englishman, just 12 seconds into the contest, was setting out his stall early. Tadhg Beirne, his back-row partner, was over the ball in an instant and, just 20 seconds into the game, Ben O'Keeffe was blowing his whistle and pointing to the sky, a penalty to the Lions. The British and Irish Lions walloped the Wallabies in the first half of the opening Test of the series, racing to a 24-5 lead off the back of that brutal intensity out of the gate. Curry, whose selection had been criticised heading into the Test, was one of those players who grabbed his opportunity and ran with it. He helped keep the dangerous Wallabies centre partnership of Len Ikitau and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii quiet with some monstrous defensive pressure. Beirne too, another member of that hotly contested back row that was given the nod for this first Test, was on the way to vindicating his selection with a player of the match performance. Farrell was not surprised though. Despite the commentary over their selection, the Ireland coach was unequivocal in how he felt Curry responded to his critics. "Immense," he said of the English flanker. "Absolutely immense." The 27-year-old had not been in great form on tour but, selected on account of his experience and temperament, repaid the faith Farrell showed in him with a stunning performance. "I read all that," Farrell said, when asked whether they had vindicated his call. "Yeah, it was interesting, wasn't it? "Big game players, who were probably challenged by a good few and I think he told the story. "I think Tom Curry put in a really nice shot defensively and Taidhg Beirne got the turnover very early doors, set the tone really and I don't think it stopped there. "He carried on for the rest of the game, Jack Conan's carrying was very much on the front foot. "So there was three guys, I'm sure they'd be delighted with how they responded to selection." Big game players on the biggest of stages. The build-up to the first Test in Brisbane had been electric as the wave of Lions fans broke over south-east Queensland, the sea of red as evident in the pubs and clubs of Paddington as it was in the stands of a raucous crowd of 52,229 at Lang Park. And the Lions fans had plenty to roar about early, as the tourists took the game by the scruff of the neck held a 24-5 lead just after half time. "Absolutely delighted," Farrell said of the performance. "Big occasion, big game. "We know what coming to Suncorp means to Australia, so they would have been targeting this, so delighted to come away with the victory." Another of the Lions' "big game" players, Finn Russell, was orchestrating the back line with all the guile and skill of a virtuoso conductor, all quick hands and lightning thought. It was five minutes in when Russell kicked a 50-22. Seven minutes in when he reached around Nick Champion de Crespigny to release Dan Sheehan. Eight minutes in when he lofted a peach of a pass over three stricken Wallabies defenders onto the chest of Sione Tuipulotu to give the Lions a 10-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes. "I can't take any credit for that," Tuipulotu told media after the match. "That's him finding me. "It was kind of weird when he was throwing it, I felt like he was gonna throw it to that space and more I didn't have to do much, I just have to accelerate and catch the ball. "That's what playing with special players is. It's pretty cool." Special players. Russell left the field in the second half. Just cramp, according to Farrell, who said the Scotland 10 "controlled" the game perfectly with Jamison Gibson-Park. "When they were able to show the best of themselves, we know what they've got in the locker as far as the point of difference is concerned. It came out every now and again and and that's the brilliance of the two," Farrell said. The Lions coach is no doubt hopeful Russell will be OK to play at the MCG next week, the very biggest of stages that the Lions will have ever played on. So will his Scotland teammate Tuipulotu. "It felt like we were playing a Scotland game together, you know?" said Tuipulotu, part of the first 10-12-13 axis from the same country to play in a Lions team since 1993. "I think his nature helps everyone, calms everyone. "And then added to the fact he's got probably the best skills out of any 10 in the world." Wallabies number 10 Tom Lynagh said it was "an incredible experience" to play against Russell. "It's a joy to play with, isn't it?" he said, "still shaking with adrenaline" an hour after the full time siren. "You can't get starstruck about who you're playing against," he said, as if reminding himself. "You've just got to play your game." Lynagh in particular was far from starstruck, although the team as a whole was perhaps a little tentative, a young team against a squad of hardened veterans. That being said, the Wallabies recovered from 24-5 down to fall just eight points short at the final. "I thought we let them back into the game, " Farrell said. "It doesn't really matter whether you think the game was won or lost. "I thought we let them back into the game in regards to a lack of discipline in the second half. "I actually believe that's a fantastic place for us to be because there's so much more in us." Maro Itoje said the Lions "weren't accurate with our decision making". "When you're not accurate with your decision making against a good team, you tend to put yourself under pressure." But as much as Farrell said the Lions would take a lot from the victory, he said, "We know what's coming". "We know what happened in the second half … We roll on to the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013. "When an Australian team becomes desperate, it's difficult to handle. "We expect a different game next week. But having said that, we expect more of ourselves as well. "Not only is that Australia's second game and they'll play much better because of that, but because of what it means to them and how proud they are. "We need to make sure that we're ready for them being 100 per cent at their best."
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The British & Irish Lions in numbers: Beirne impresses against the Wallabies
By James Reid The British & Irish Lions earned a hard-fought 27-19 win over Australia in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium. It was the perfect start to the three Tests of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 and sets up an enticing second Test in Melbourne next weekend. Andy Farrell and his squad will take plenty of positives and lots to work as they head south, with a whole heap of numbers to pore over. Here are a few to help break down what we watched in Brisbane. 1 – minute until the first penalty The Lions made the perfect start to the match, with Tadhg Beirne earning a penalty with less than a minute on the clock. It proved a dangerous omen for the Wallabies, with Beirne producing a Player of the Match performance as part of a destructive back row alongside Tom Curry and Jack Conan. The penalty proved the ideal nerve-settler for anyone in red, either on the pitch or in the crowd, though it was unlikely Finn Russell was amongst those whose hearts were racing at kick-off. The Scotsman slotted home the three points to set the Lions on their way, before putting in a huge performance from fly-half. 23 – tackles by Tadhg Beirne A perfect back row is one that has the right balance, and Andy Farrell may well have found his with Beirne, Conan, and Curry. Beirne led the way with the heavy lifting in Brisbane, getting through a huge amount of working in the tackle – his 23 was the most of any player on the pitch. He was matched in work-rate by Conan and Curry, whose work off the ball in particular was exceptional amidst fierce competition for the six, seven, and eight shirts. Beirne also won three turnovers to round off an impressive evening in Queensland. 65 – metres carried by Huw Jones Midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu may have been the one to cross the whitewash, but Huw Jones also impressed at outside centre. The Scot's pace and running caused regular problems for the Wallabies and almost had a try himself in the first half only for referee Ben O'Keefe to call things back. Jones made 65 metres, the most of any player, with team-mate Jack Conan right behind with 64. Dan Sheehan rounded off a Lions top three with 50 metres to his name, something that will surely please Farrell as the Lions put their size and athleticism to good use. 11 – penalties conceded Victory in Brisbane was not without room for improvement, something captain Maro Itoje was keen to stress after the match. The Lions' discipline was an area of particular focus from both Itoje and Beirne afterwards, with their 11 penalties something that could cause problems if not addressed before the second Test in Melbourne. 'Overall, we stacked up, got the job done and roll on next week,' said Beirne. 'Our discipline needs to be a big focus, but I think we controlled the game, especially in the first half.' 6 - wins in a row Victory at Suncorp Stadium extended the Lions' winning run on the Tour to six matches. A match against First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday will look to extend that and will be a chance for others to stake a claim for a place in the matchday 23. Then it will be onto Melbourne and the MCG, where a crowd of up to 100,00 awaits the Lions.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Immense Lion Curry lets world-class performance speak for itself
When Andy Farrell was asked about the performance of his Twin Flankers of the Apocalypse - Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry - the British and Irish Lions coach practically lit up like a Christmas tree."Immense," he smiled in the wake of their outrageous efforts in the 27-19 win over the Wallabies. "Absolutely immense. Big game players who were probably challenged by a good few."Sione Tuipulotu, the first Scot to score a Lions Test try since Alan Tait in 1997, was of the same mind. "In big games they perform when it counts," said the centre. "Tom was amazing, he's a joy to play with. I always look at him and he always looks so sore when he's running around, he always looks in pain but he just keeps going. Testament to him. The same with Tadhg."They're two warriors of the game and they were a big reason why we won. Those two are like ball magnets. Wherever the ball is, they're in and around."There's no doubt about their seismic contribution in Brisbane. Beirne made 23 tackles, won three turnovers - one inside the opening minute - and was world class. Curry was just like a man possessed. Driven, aggressive, almost dangerous in his intensity, in the best possible sense. We went to interview Curry after the match and it was quite something. He didn't say much after his colossal night, but in a sense he'd said enough already. Not words, but actions. Thunderous, relentless and he entered the mixed zone after what will go down as one of his finest 58 minutes of his career - the Lions were leading 24-5 when he went off - Curry was about as effusive as a there's a beef there. Somebody has been in his ear, maybe filling his head with stuff to anger and inspire him. 'They've written you off Tom.' 'They don't think you deserve your place.' 'What message are you gonna send them on Saturday?'Who was doing the writing off? It actually doesn't matter. His brother Ben - currently touring with England - lambasted the cyber warriors, external for giving him stick that was "gobsmacking" and "incredibly disappointing".Maybe Tom, himself, thought it was the journalists who'd been on his case. Certainly, there's been stuff said and written about him not quite being at his brilliant and belligerent best, but that's fair comment. He hasn't been. We're talking a very, very high bar yes, there's been praise for Jac Morgan, who's had a good tour. Some observers would have had Morgan ahead of Curry. Many others would have said Curry's best stuff is other-worldly and he had to was dripped into his ear, it worked. Real or invented - it doesn't matter. Curry was extraordinarily good on the pitch and spectacularly taciturn in the aftermath. Almost heroically stoic.'How do you feel after that, Tom?'"Yeah, good."'Happy with your performance?'"I was happy."'Big hit [on James Slipper] at the start…"Yeah."'Atmosphere was amazing, eh?'"Yep."'Anything else on that, Tom?'"It was good."'How close do you think that was to a world-class performance?'"I don't know what world class is. It's such a cliched thing, isn't it? I don't really care what label you put on it - you just have to win."'How much more do you think you've got in you for next week?'"Loads."'In what areas?'"Every area."'That was your type of game, wasn't it?'"They're all my types of game."'I don't know if you picked up on any criticism that maybe you weren't in peak form coming into this. Did you pick up on any of that?"No, nothing."On it went, an occasional answer longer than a word or two, but not many, all delivered with a smile that hinted at something he wanted to say but wasn't going to. Because, again, he'd said everything he needed to say in his time on the field. Whoever he thought had doubted him, he'd answered them. Curry is a hard man and a phenomenal rugby player. He drove into the guts of the Wallabies from the opening seconds at the Suncorp and delivered that moment that sent the Lions on their burying Slipper in the tackle and setting up Beirne to win a turnover penalty, a tone was set. Farrell referenced that later on. They were monstrously physical and the third member of that back row, Jack Conan, was right up there with went looking for victims, smashing Max Jorgensen, nailing Fraser McReight, taking out Tom Lynagh in the air and giving away a penalty - a touch lucky not to get a yellow card - but Joe Schmidt had no major issue with it scored a try as well, of course. After he left, the bottom started to fall out of the Lions performance. Was it complacency? Farrell said no. Was it a subconscious belief that the game had already been won when the Lions went 24-5 ahead early in the second half? Maro Itoje denied was just a drop-off in discipline, some bad decisions. "That shouldn't happen," said Farrell. "We talk about next-moment-focused at all times and that certainly shouldn't happen. We certainly need to address it. Subconsciously, I guess that tends to happen, not that it should."Not that Itoje agreed with the subconscious point. "I don't think so," he replied when asked about the switch-off at 24-5. "I think we were a bit inaccurate with our decision-making and when you're not accurate with your decision-making against a good team you tend to put yourself under pressure. I think that's what happened in the second half."That and Curry exiting the stage when the Lions were threatening to run amok and trouble the record this supposed criticism of Curry, you wonder if Farrell played on that. You wonder if he brought Curry and Beirne together and played with their minds a little, maybe exaggerated the extent of the barbs, maybe asked a question or two of them."I wouldn't say they took it to heart," said Farrell. "We have conversations on 'why do you think you're selected?' and 'what is it that you're going to bring to the team performance?' and to a man they're unbelievably honest. They're men of their word."Meaning that whatever it was they told their coach they would produce they duly produced. Beirne spoke brilliantly later on. He covered all sorts of areas and delved into different issues with excellent perspectives. Curry went down a different road. It takes all sorts. He was stoic in the mixed zone but fantastically fluent in the language of Test match may his critics - whoever and wherever they are - take potshots at him, because the put-downs make him rise up. Another display like this and he might well cement his place in Lions history in Melbourne next Saturday - and the disapproving voices, if they exist at all, will be silent at last.
RTÉ News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'It's nice to play rugby and get match-fit' - Tadhg Furlong back to his best but warns of second Test swing
While Tadhg Beirne grabbed the headlines in the British and Irish Lions' commanding first Test win in Melbourne, another Tadhg has also found his top form in Australia. Tadhg Furlong only played nine games for club and country in 2024/25 as he dealt with a series of niggling injuries, and arrived into Lions camp in June following a six-week layoff, with his final game in the domestic season coming in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints in early May. His place in the squad was by no means guaranteed, but having worked his way ahead of Will Stuart and Finlay Bealham in Andy Farrell's depth-chart, he justified that faith with a vintage display in Brisbane as he helped the tourists to a 27-19 win. "I haven't been playing a whole lot of rugby," he replied, when it was suggested to him that he looks like someone who is enjoying his game. And while the Lions' hectic travel schedule has led to less time on the training pitch, the 32-year-old (below) believes it's worked in his favour. "I love rugby. I genuinely do. It's never a chore for me to train or to play. "Ironically the lack of training on this tour is great for my body because you come to the game fresh. Previously I would have had a lot of overload injuries. It's nice to play rugby and get match-fit by playing rugby, two games a week." A Lion in 2017 and 2021, Furlong has now started all seven Tests across these three tours, but the Leinster tighthead is still looking to win a series, having drawn against New Zealand before losing to South Africa four years ago. Across those two previous tours, he's seen both series flip in the second Test. Eight years ago, the Lions recovered from a defeat to the All Blacks with an impressive win in Wellington, while roles were reversed in Cape Town in 2021, when the Springboks came from behind to clinch the second and third Tests. And those experiences are a stark reminder that the Lions' work is far from over ahead of their trips to Melbourne and Sydney. "There's a flow to it. The group is edgy, we don't know each other. We don't know Australia, what they're like on the pitch, they don't know us. "You do all your prep, there's a realisation then after that about what it takes in the game, there's an ebb and flow on it. "As stupid as it sounds, it's all about putting the game out there and there'll be tweaks and changes and nuances, a little bit of tit for that. "It's a little bit like the old Heineken Cup used to be with the double header, it changes. "There's two sides to the coin. Obviously, there's us not getting complacent, learning the lessons. We have a midweek game again, it'll be great to see the boys go out and see who puts their hands up. We can do the Tuesday-Saturday [schedule], we know that, so if lads go well there then we know they will be in contention. "The other side of that is that we know what it means to the Aussies, the desperation is all on the line for them next weekend." Four years on from the South African series being played out to the backdrop of silence in empty stadiums in Cape Town, Suncorp Stadium was fully charged with the touring supporters outnumbering their Australian hosts. And Furlong says that support hasn't gone unnoticed. "Class, even the town, you know? On Thursday it filled up, you can feel it, everyone wears red. "I'm sure Canterbury are delighted with the sales of the stuff, everyone seems to be wearing the kit, they wear their club hat or whatever. "It's why the Lions is special, it's not lost on us." Among that support is his mother Margaret, who joined the camp along with the other families of the squad for a special jersey presentation on Thursday evening, a poignant moment for the family after the passing of Tadhg's father James in late 2023. "My mam and aunty are over, she did my jersey presentation on Thursday. "It's nice, to be fair to her it's not easy to be here, any time she'd have travelled previously was with my father but she's great, she's out and about. "She was kayaking on the river this morning, she sent me a picture out on the river, fair play to her."
Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Tom Curry's display shows Andy Farrell was right to trust his instinct
Anyone who has questioned or criticised Andy Farrell and his coaches on this tour should be eating humble pie after the first Test. His team selection was absolutely spot on. There is no doubting the quality of the performances of some of those fringe players such as Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock in the warm-up matches, but the performances of Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne in particular highlighted why Farrell got it so right when so many other people got it so wrong. Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres were excellent too. There was a huge gulf in class between the British & Irish Lions and Australia in Brisbane, even if the winning margin was only eight points. That has been the case in every match since they touched down in Australia. In fact, the most competition they've had has probably been in their own training sessions and that is when most of the selection pointers will have been highlighted. You could have made an argument for any one of three players – Curry, Morgan or Josh Van der Flier – to be picked at No7 but, given the lack of genuine opposition throughout the tour, Farrell went with his instincts and probably even what he saw before the tour. Curry rewarded him with eight carries, 11 tackles, a try and, in a brilliant passage of play shortly after half-time, a clever lineout steal and smart offload to send Dan Sheehan across the line. Beirne, his fellow flanker, was named man of the match. From the games we've seen, you could have picked any XV from this squad and that's largely the problem when it comes to touring Australia with the Lions. Every match in New Zealand and South Africa is very tough, but that simply hasn't been the case this year. The Lions definitely saved their best 40 minutes of the tour so far for the first half of this Test. Admittedly their opponents are a limited Wallabies side who looked every bit the team that was ranked eighth in the world recently – they snuck up to sixth before this Test but were then shorn of key players such as Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Langi Gleeson. They were always going to struggle with the power of the Lions and you had to feel for young Tom Lynagh making his first Test start at fly half, who had no real options for ball-carriers. The Australians looked nervous and naive and for all the pre-match hype about Joe Schmidt being such a wonderful coach and having a few tricks up his sleeve… well, he's not a magician. That said, perhaps many people have forgotten that rugby at Test level – at any level – is about the team that physically dominates their opponent. In the modern game we sometimes forget about the brutality of Test rugby. It is won nine times out of ten by the team who dominate physically and dominate the gain line. In that, the Lions were a class apart. As well as Curry and Beirne, Joe McCarthy was superb and (some people in South Africa might not like me saying this) I thought Sheehan looked like the best hooker in the world right now. When you have that kind of dominance and outstanding half-backs in Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell, that is very difficult to play against. Gibson-Park also looked world class: his decision-making and box-kicking alone would have won him the man-of-the-match award in any other contest. Russell is simply outstanding. The accuracy, decision-making and physical dominance in the first half laid the foundations for a game that was done and dusted by half-time. Defensively the Lions' line speed was of the highest quality and that shows a team that is totally united and has a deep understanding of what they're all about. It should have been a much more emphatic victory. For some strange reason, the momentum was lost as soon as the replacements arrived, but the game was over well before Marcus Smith added the penalty to put the Lions more than two scores in front. Sometimes Test matches are one-sided and it's reflected on the scoreboard and other times it's not but the reality is that if it was a much closer game, those replacements would have come on later. The Lions had the luxury of making changes much earlier. As underwhelmed as we've all felt in tour matches so far, we know the quality that exists within this playing group and there is more to come. That first half demonstrated that when they do get it right, the Lions put themselves in a different category to their opponent. Great sport is based on great rivalries and no one doubts the rivalry between the Lions and Australia, but it's up to Australia to come to the party. They haven't got the necessary tools to make it a contest. Clearly Schmidt will have to go back to his bag of tricks to find something that will extend this series to a third game. Hopefully for them, he may be able to call on some much-needed heavy artillery to give his team more options. There haven't been that many winning Lions tours because it's a hard thing to do, but I fully expect them to win this one. Given they are now halfway there, as fans watching from wherever you are, ask yourself this: Do you truly believe in the British & Irish Lions and its future? If the answer is an emphatic yes like me, then stop moaning about Farrell and selection and start getting behind him and this entire group, because regardless of selection and who they are playing, they deserve our full support. The future of the Lions depends on it.
