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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dan Sheehan intends to get used to 'infectious' winning feeling
A horrible sense of déjà vu engulfed Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong as the British & Irish Lions trailed Australia with the clock ticking ominously down at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As starting front-rowers, the pair were used to watching the end games of big matches with both Leinster and Ireland but equally, they had grown weary of having their hopes of glory dashed. It is a long list of disappointment in the last two years, taking in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand, two Champions Cup finals, a URC semi-final and just two months ago an agonising European last-four loss at home to Northampton Saints. So while their teammates were still in the fray as they patiently waited for their moment with the game in the balance at 26-24 to the Wallabies, Sheehan recalled very different emotions watching on helplessly from the sidelines. 'I was sitting there beside Tadhg and he looked at me and I looked at him,' the hooker said. 'He was like: 'How many times have we been sitting on this bench in this situation and we've never won a game?' And it was tough. It's almost harder watching it sometimes. 'When you're on the pitch you're so focused and you don't let your mind wander but when you're sitting on the bench it's out of your control. Obviously, the bench were doing a great job, which was nice to see but it was something that felt like a fan in some ways. You're so engulfed in what you're seeing. 'But it's probably almost more enjoyable watching it happen and being able to celebrate.' There were a lot of fellow travellers still on the pitch to see the Lions home, not least Hugo Keenan, the hero of the hour as the Wallabies finally cracked for the full-back to finish in style and deliver not just a Test-match win but a first series victory in a dozen years. And with a win in the back, and the celebrations begun, Sheehan finally laid some ghosts to rest. 'I always look at the games and they could have gone either way in all of those games that I've played over the years, but it does bind a team and it sort of gets that monkey off the back. 'I think for this group, it's huge going into next week, and it would have been a big lift to the Aussies now if they got that Test over the line, and it would have been all on the line this week. 'Hopefully, we do get that sort of winning feeling and we get addicted to it and we can keep finding it. So yeah, it's quite an infectious feeling. I think you can feel it amongst the group, the lift it gives people, and hopefully we can do it for one more week.' Two days of celebrations in Melbourne and then Sydney on Saturday night and into Sunday capped a remarkable weekend for Sheehan, with his father Barry having presented the hooker with his Lions Test jersey last Thursday evening. The dressing-room sing-song had threatened to drown out both Andy Farrell and Maro Itoje's post-match media conference and then Australia head coach Joe Schmidt's turn in front of the cameras. And the tourists would later carry their chairs out of the sheds and onto the hallowed MCG turf for a more private get-together to savour the moment. 'We probably stuck around the MCG for far too long, but it was definitely memories that will last a lifetime.' Sheehan recalled it was: 'Just us and it's a moment to reflect on the journey. It's been long enough, since we've been out here, when you look back at Perth and that first meet up. So, yeah, it was nice to celebrate it.' Those celebrations reached their natural conclusion on Monday as the page was turned to the next objective, winning this Saturday's third Test at Sydney's Accor Stadium out in Homebush to complete an unbeaten record on Australian soil in 2025 with nine wins from nine and record a 3-0 Test series victory over the Wallabies. Training resumed on Tuesday at North Sydney's Shore School, after which Sheehan met the media. 'Straight into it today. We've already trained, which has been good to sort of get across the plan now for next week and we had some good meetings as well, being open and honest about what we're trying to achieve here as a group, and what we said at the start, which was to win 3-0. 'So, I think it would be disappointing if we didn't show up on Saturday... we've always been pretty clear on our goals. At the start of the campaign was to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So, we just need to stick to what we said. 'There's a lot of people who've put a lot of effort into travelling out for this game and obviously a lot of our families will be here, so I think there's plenty of motivation on the line and I can only imagine what the Australians are feeling now as well. 'So, we need to make sure that we show up and are aiming to win a third Test.' Sheehan does not want to stop there. The Ireland star has caught the Lions big and already has his sights on a place in the 2029 squad that will head to New Zealand. 'Australia has been unbelievable to us. And you're sitting around here looking at this (view across to the Sydney Harbour Bridge), and all these cities have been unbelievable. And the support along the road has been crazy. 'And yeah, I've just been listening to the lads that have done it before, like Tadhg (Furlong), Jack (Conan), and they just say, this is going to be something else. And it's going to be whatever you think it is. It's going to be on steroids. 'And I think it has definitely lived up to that. And it's been absolutely mental. And I've enjoyed absolutely every second of it. 'It's flown by, like it's flown by. And then you think back to Perth and you're like, jeez, that was weeks ago. But yeah, it'd be hard not to make a squad in the years to come, like when you know how special these sort of moments can be. "So I think, put the head down now for another four years, please. I'm going to try and get back on the plane.'
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Lions lure future Springbok superstar Bathobele Hlekani from Sharks
The Lions have pulled off a major recruitment coup ahead of the next United Rugby Championship (URC) season, with Junior Springbok star Bathobele Hlekani set to make the move from Durban to Johannesburg. The 20-year-old utility forward, who was born in Zwide in the Eastern Cape and educated at Graeme College, starred for South Africa at the recent World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, will join the Lions squad following the conclusion of the 2025 Currie Cup. Hlekani played a key role in helping the Junior Boks lift the U20 title for the first time since 2012, showcasing his versatility, physicality, and tactical awareness. His performances earned him a call-up to the Springboks' two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg, alongside fellow Junior Springboks Haashim Pead and Cheswill Jooste. ALSO READ | Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys' High: Every Springbok produced Although currently part of the Sharks' Currie Cup squad, Hlekani did not feature in their opening match against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, as he was rested following a demanding international schedule. Hlekani made his senior debut for the Sharks in the 2024 Currie Cup and came off the bench in their European Challenge Cup Round-of-16 clash against French giants Lyon in April. Hlekani's upcoming switch bucks the recent trend of young talent heading from Johannesburg to Durban, and strengthens a Lions side already busy in the transfer market. The union recently secured scrumhalf Haashim Pead through to 2028 and snapped up a trio of schoolboy stars from Grey College – Ethan Adams, Sherwin Buys, and David Hayidakis – widely regarded as some of the most exciting young prospects in South African rugby. The move signals the Lions' intent to rebuild and compete aggressively in both the URC and domestic competitions, with a clear focus on emerging talent and long-term squad development. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Currie Cup wrap: Big wins for Bulls, Lions and Boland
All teams are backing a number of young promising players with the seasoned campaigners resting after the URC season. Lions centre Rynhardt Jonker dives over the tryline for a try against the Sharks. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images The Lions might not have achieved their goals in the United Rugby Championship, but they have got off to a flying start in the Currie Cup competition, which got under way this weekend. Ivan van Rooyen's URC team failed to make the top eight for the fourth straight season, but Mziwakhe Nkosi's Currie Cup side, packed with young, promising players with a few seasoned men around them, opened up their 2025 Currie Cup challenge with a 46-5 demolition of the Sharks, who're also backing young up-and-comers in the competition. The Joburg-based side scored six tries to the one by the visitors to Ellis Park in what was a repeat of last season's final, which the Sharks won with the last kick of the match. 'We know where we stand now' Nkosi said he was pleased with the result considering his side hadn't played any warm-up matches. 'We were somewhat apprehensive after not playing a warm-up game, but as the game went on we found ourselves,' said Nkosi. 'We were still a bit rusty, but that's to be expected after not playing a warm-up. But the more we train and play in the coming weeks the better it will be, when it comes to making contact. You can only simulate so much in training. 'The decision-making will also get sharper. We've played a game now, and know where we stand, what we need to improve. 'Overall, it was a good start, I am happy with the level of performance, so I'll take it.' The Lions next face Western Province, also in Joburg, this coming weekend. Wins for the Bulls, Pumas and Boland The Bulls, losing URC finalists for a third time in four seasons just a few weeks ago, also got their Currie Cup campaign off to a rollicking start, winning 48-23 in Cape Town against Western Province. Again, both unions fielded younger, less experienced players, as they're likely to do throughout the competition, but they both produced some sparkling rugby at times. The Bulls scored eight tries, while flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain was excellent off the kicking tee. The Bulls next host the Sharks. In the competition opener on Friday, the Pumas were too good for Griquas, winning 49-28 in Mbombela. The Pumas will have aspirations of going all the way again, like they did in 2022. They're next away to the Cheetahs. The Boland Cavaliers, in their return to top-flight rugby, shocked the Cheetahs in a thrilling 10-try game in Wellington late Sunday. The home side scored their winning try eight minutes into 'over-time'. They are away to Griquas next. Results Pumas 49 Griquas 28 Lions 46 Sharks 5 WP 23 Bulls 48 Boland 37 Cheetahs 35
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Lions' tricky balancing act — they want to win Currie Cup, but need to build for URC
The Lions are eager for another run at the Currie Cup title, but their main goal is preparing their squad for the coming URC season. Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi and outside back Rabz Maxwane during a training session on Thursday ahead of their opening Currie Cup match against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images The Lions have to try and pull off a tricky juggling act of going for glory in the Currie Cup, while also preparing their squad for the coming United Rugby Championship (URC) season over the coming two months. Last year's runners-up will be kicking off their campaign with a replay of last year's final, as they host the defending champion Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm). In a heartbreaking 2024 finale the Lions thought they had done enough to win the game as the clock went into the red, only for the Sharks to turn over the ball, earn a penalty and slot it to triumph in a thriller, and the Highveld side will have hopes of going one better this year. But head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi admitted that they have a number of goals that they want to achieve, and preparing their larger squad for the URC is the biggest of the lot. High expectations 'We have high expectations (for the Currie Cup) like every franchise. But we also have to tick the boxes that we are setting out to tick and reach the KPIs that we have set for ourselves,' explained Nkosi at a Lions training session on Thursday. 'So we have to try and go as deep as possible (in the competition), and we have to expose a whole lot of youngsters to first class rugby. 'We also have to try and sharpen up the guys that haven't had much game time so that by the time the URC starts we have built some depth, and we are not afraid to say that URC for us is the premier competition and we have to serve that.' Nkosi explained that they have a number of different groups of players all coming together for the competition, and that it had been a challenge to get them all aligned. 'We have quite a mixed group. We have guys who didn't get much game time in the URC. So we have to expose them again and give them some game time. We have a big group of young guys, I think around 10 U21s,' said Nkosi. 'We have a few Junior Springboks who have come in from the Junior World Championship, and then we have one or two additions who haven't played rugby (for the Lions), like Angelo Davids, who we will see a couple of times in this Currie Cup. 'So it has been a challenge to try and get all of them together, but we are ready and going to give it our best shot.' New format This year's Currie Cup will also be played under a new format, which each team playing one round of pool fixtures before going straight into the knockouts. This doesn't leave any room for mistakes and a fast start is needed, unlike in previous editions where the double round allowed for a slow start. 'The new format is challenging, it's not like in previous years. It's similar to a World Cup in the number of games that you play. So getting on the green as quickly as you possibly can is important,' said Nkosi. 'We want to have a good start. We have two home games (first up) so we must cash in and put money in the bank so to speak, around points and wins, before we travel for three away games. It is a short term competition, and we have to make sure that we are at the races early days.' Nkosi is also well aware of the challenge that the Sharks will bring, and believes that his side will be well prepared for it. 'The Sharks are a good team. They are bringing some experienced guys into the match, so it is going to be tough. They have (coach) JP Petersen and his staff, who we meet on the circuit quite often, so we know what they are going to bring and hopefully we are ready for it.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Australia vs British and Irish Lions referee: Who is second Test official Andrea Piardi?
Andrea Piardi takes charge of the second Test between Australia rugby and the British and Irish Lions. Piardi became the first Italian to take charge of a fixture in the men's Six Nations when he oversaw his first game last year. The 32-year-old has been a familiar face on the touchlines as an assistant over the last few years, travelling to the World Cup in France in the autumn of 2023 as the sole Italian representative in the officiating group. Born in Brescia, Piardi made his debut in what is now the United Rugby Championship in 2019, and he stepped up to international level that March, looking after Germany vs Spain in Cologne. His quick rise continued with an appointment to the URC final between the Stormers and Munster in 2023, with Piardi now hoping to build further success with the whistle as he becomes a regular in the world's top competitions. A mechanical engineering graduate from his hometown university, Piardi became a professional referee relatively recently but is highly regarded. He will be assisted by Ben O'Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli, the referees for the first and third Tests respectively. Match officials for second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita) Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
