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Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Un-Australian, tepid and toothless. Wallabies slammed over first Test performance
The sound in Brisbane was not of rage or rancour, merely one of bleak, sullen resignation. On a galling evening for the Wallabies, this stadium, traditionally such a cauldron for the hosts, felt more like a mausoleum, with home fans' despair at their team's inadequacies so all-engulfing that the hype man had to plead with them to 'make some noise'. After a 12-year wait for their players to collide with the British and Irish Lions once more, they had dared to expect some snarl and defiance befitting the occasion. But instead they witnessed a glaring mismatch, with the lack of cohesion on the pitch so painful that rare incursions into the tourists' 22 were greeted with bitterly ironic cheers. All told, the shift in atmosphere had taken just 42 minutes, with Dan Sheehan punishing an errant Australian line-out to put the Lions out of sight. At kick-off the scene on Caxton Street, on the approach to Suncorp Stadium, had been magnificent, with the seething convergence of red shirts an encapsulation of everything a Lions Test should be. The series opener would soon curdle, though, into a grisly reckoning for Australia, whose status as the sixth-best team in the world looked flattering in the face of the Lions' bombardment and eventual 27-19 win. While their deficiencies had been well-documented, surely they would channel some snarl, some quintessential Queensland defiance, in a city that demanded it? In all honesty, the fight materialised far too late. Australia were tepid, toothless, their only highlight coming courtesy of an inspired individual flourish from Max Jorgensen, stripping the ball from Hugo Keenan for a try against the run of play. Even Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, whose prodigious athleticism had been heralded as a game-changing factor, was anonymous for long periods. Save for an improbable late riposte, they were inferior in all departments, so traumatised by early brilliance from the Lions' all-Scottish midfield of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipolutu and Huw Jones that they could not conjure any decisive response. Their salvaging of some respectability in the scoreline, with a late try limiting the Lions' margin of victory to eight points, painted a misleading picture of this Test, in which there was not so much a gulf in class as a chasm. For all that captain Harry Wilson had been galvanised by a pep talk from one of his predecessors, the World Cup-winning John Eales, Australia were a pale imitation of the great Wallabies sides. Where Eales is celebrated as the mastermind of that memorable series triumph in 2001, Joe Schmidt's side will require a miracle to achieve anything comparable. For large swathes of this game their performance was, quite simply, un-Australian, bereft of ferocity or any apparent belief they could win. It was not just their lack of ingenuity or tendency to kick far too often in an abject first half, but their actions at the end, when they booted the ball out of play as if congratulating themselves on a bonus-point loss. How odd, too, to see them mingling happily with the Lions at the final whistle, simply relieved that they had not suffered a humiliation. So much for the notion of a defeat, any defeat, eating away at the true Australian's soul.
The Age
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Un-Australian, tepid and toothless. Wallabies slammed over first Test performance
The sound in Brisbane was not of rage or rancour, merely one of bleak, sullen resignation. On a galling evening for the Wallabies, this stadium, traditionally such a cauldron for the hosts, felt more like a mausoleum, with home fans' despair at their team's inadequacies so all-engulfing that the hype man had to plead with them to 'make some noise'. After a 12-year wait for their players to collide with the British and Irish Lions once more, they had dared to expect some snarl and defiance befitting the occasion. But instead they witnessed a glaring mismatch, with the lack of cohesion on the pitch so painful that rare incursions into the tourists' 22 were greeted with bitterly ironic cheers. All told, the shift in atmosphere had taken just 42 minutes, with Dan Sheehan punishing an errant Australian line-out to put the Lions out of sight. At kick-off the scene on Caxton Street, on the approach to Suncorp Stadium, had been magnificent, with the seething convergence of red shirts an encapsulation of everything a Lions Test should be. The series opener would soon curdle, though, into a grisly reckoning for Australia, whose status as the sixth-best team in the world looked flattering in the face of the Lions' bombardment and eventual 27-19 win. While their deficiencies had been well-documented, surely they would channel some snarl, some quintessential Queensland defiance, in a city that demanded it? In all honesty, the fight materialised far too late. Australia were tepid, toothless, their only highlight coming courtesy of an inspired individual flourish from Max Jorgensen, stripping the ball from Hugo Keenan for a try against the run of play. Even Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, whose prodigious athleticism had been heralded as a game-changing factor, was anonymous for long periods. Save for an improbable late riposte, they were inferior in all departments, so traumatised by early brilliance from the Lions' all-Scottish midfield of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipolutu and Huw Jones that they could not conjure any decisive response. Their salvaging of some respectability in the scoreline, with a late try limiting the Lions' margin of victory to eight points, painted a misleading picture of this Test, in which there was not so much a gulf in class as a chasm. For all that captain Harry Wilson had been galvanised by a pep talk from one of his predecessors, the World Cup-winning John Eales, Australia were a pale imitation of the great Wallabies sides. Where Eales is celebrated as the mastermind of that memorable series triumph in 2001, Joe Schmidt's side will require a miracle to achieve anything comparable. For large swathes of this game their performance was, quite simply, un-Australian, bereft of ferocity or any apparent belief they could win. It was not just their lack of ingenuity or tendency to kick far too often in an abject first half, but their actions at the end, when they booted the ball out of play as if congratulating themselves on a bonus-point loss. How odd, too, to see them mingling happily with the Lions at the final whistle, simply relieved that they had not suffered a humiliation. So much for the notion of a defeat, any defeat, eating away at the true Australian's soul.
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland's 28-year Lions wait is over as talisman provides Hollywood moment in Lions win
Sione Tuipulotu of the British and Irish Lions celebrates his try against Australia in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. | Getty Images Tourists one win away from first series win since 2013 Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... When Sione Tuipulotu sat down with a handful of journalists after Glasgow Warriors' first home game of the season last September he made clear his ambitions for the campaign ahead. Being selected for the Lions' tour of Australia would, in his words, 'be the biggest thing ever'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I would love to have an opportunity to go over there and play them with a bit of unfinished business,' said the centre from Victoria who turned out for the Junior Wallabies but had to leave his homeland to fulfil his full international ambitions. Sione Tuipulotu of the British and Irish Lions celebrates his try against Australia in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. | Getty Images On Saturday in Brisbane, Tuipulotu realised his goal and became the first Scotland player to score a try for the Lions in a Test match in 28 years. In doing so, he set the tourists on the path to a 27-19 victory over Australia at Suncorp Stadium, a result that makes them overwhelming favourites to win a series for the first time in 12 years. The Glasgow Warriors player emulates Alan Tait, the last Scot to score a Test try for the Lions on June 21, 1997, the year Tuipulotu was born. It has been a long wait but the mantle has passed from one world class centre to another. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tait had Gregor Townsend inside him during the series triumph in South Africa; for Tuipulotu, it was Finn Russell pulling the strings, and he did it superbly. Having got the Lions up and running with a nerve-settling penalty in the second minute, the Scotland stand-off then brought the game to life. He firstly put Dan Sheehan into space with a delightful flick of the wrists. From the next phase, he took control, crabbing his way into space before delivering a Hollywood pass to Tuipulotu which missed out at least three Lions team-mates. Tuipulotu gathered gratefully, scored and celebrated in the same way he did after his try against the Wallabies at Murrayfield in November, arms stretched out ahead of him. Point proven. Opening try-scorer Sione Tuipulotu of the British and Irish Lions celebrates with team-mate Finn Russell. | Getty Images Huw Jones, the third member of the Lions' all-Scottish midfield axis, might have been feeling left out but he made his presence felt in the 19th minute. Unfortunately, for Jones his 'try' was disallowed. The outside centre had been tackled by Max Jorgensen a yard short but managed to recover and get over the line. He had not released the ball, though, and although the try was awarded initially, it was chalked off after a TMO check. Lead didn't reflect Lions' dominance Jorgensen, one of the few bright sparks for a hugely disappointing Australian team, dragged the home side back into the game with a try from nowhere when he beat Hugo Keenan in the air and surged for the line. That cut the Lions' lead to 10-6 but Tom Curry increased their advantage before half-time with a score from close range after a period of sustained pressure. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Russell, who converted Tuipulotu's try, was on target again and the Lions went into the changing rooms 17-5 ahead. It was a lead that didn't truly reflect the tourists' first-half dominance. Australia were hanging in there but they were clearly second best, and their rookie fly-half Tom Lynagh was struggling. At one point, he tried to tackle Tuipulotu and just bounced off him. Huw Jones of the British and Irish Lions dives over to score, only for the try to be disallowed on review. | Getty Images By contrast, Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park were running the show for the Lions. Their kicking game was excellent, pinning the Wallabies back in their own half. Special mention too for the back row of Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan who more than justified their selection. Russell nailed it from the touchline The Lions scored their third - and final - try a minute into the second half and effectively killed the game. Russell and Jones were both involved as Curry stole an Aussie lineout which went over the back. Jones made good yardage and when the ball was recycled he passed it on to Curry who played in Dan Sheehan to score in the corner. Russell nailed the conversion from out on the touchline to push the visitors 24-5 ahead and leave Australia with a mountain to climb. To their credit, they found fresh impetus from the bench and came good in the last quarter, scoring tries through Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott. By that point both Tuipulotu and Russell had departed, replaced by Bundee Aki and Marcus Smith, respectively. The Lions lost some of their cohesion and were grateful for the breathing space Smith's penalty gave them in between the two Aussie tries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The winning margin in the end was only eight points but the Lions will head to Melbourne next weekend with the wind in their sails as they look to clinch the series. Teams and scorers Scorers: Australia: Tries: Jorgensen, Tizzano, McDermott. Con: Donaldson 2. Lions: Tries: Tuipulotu, Curry, Sheehan. Cons: Russell 3. Pens: Russell, M Smith. Australia: T Wright; M Jorgensen, J-A Suaalii, L Ikitau (A Kellaway 68), H Potter; T Lynagh (B Donaldson 61), J Gordon (T McDermott 59); J Slipper (A Bell 49), M Faessler (B Pollard 49), A Alaalatoa (T Robertson 64), N Frost, J Williams (T Hooper, 59), N Champion de Crespigny (C Tizzano 66), F McReight, H Wilson (capt). Lions: H Keenan; T Freeman, H Jones, S Tuipulotu (B Aki 58), J Lowe; F Russell (M Smith 66), J Gibson-Park ( A Mitchell 74); E Genge (A Porter 48), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 62), T Furlong (W Stuart 58), M Itoje (capt), J McCarthy (O Chessum 43), T Beirne, T Curry (B Earl 58), J Conan.
NZ Herald
19 hours ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Lions tour 2025: British and Irish Lions v Wallabies live updates, first test
'Obviously we feel that that's the right balance for the first Test,' said head coach Andy Farrell, adding that Curry was 'the engine that we all know that you need in regards to Test match football'. Dan Sheehan got the nod as hooker over Ronan Kelleher and will pack down alongside Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong in the front row. England captain Maro Itoje leads the side and is partnered in the second row by Ireland's Joe McCarthy. But rising star Pollock misses out after a standout season in the back row for Northampton and some dynamic performances in Australia. Former England captain Farrell was also overlooked after being called up when utility back Elliot Daly broke his arm. The veteran was never going to make the starting side, but could have been included on the bench as backs cover, but that role went to Marcus Smith. 'Building for this' 'It's been a very vigorous, thorough debate in how we got to this point,' said Farrell. 'And that's exactly what you would hope for as far as selection for a first Test in a Lions series.' Farrell said that his son Owen was likely to play in the final Lions tour match in Melbourne on Tuesday ahead of the second and third Tests. Garry Ringrose was ruled out with concussion, leaving Farrell to opt for the tried and tested all-Scottish pairing of Huw Jones and Tuipulotu in the centres Farrell noted they 'know each other, but also know the way that we as a team want to play'. Their selection leaves Ringrose's Irish teammate Bundee Aki on the bench, while Blair Kinghorn's failure to recover from a knee injury means Ireland's Hugo Keenan starts at fullback. Scotland's Finn Russell and Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park form the half-back combination, with England's Tommy Freeman and Ireland's James Lowe on the wings. 'They've been building for this over the last three or four weeks. So they'll be ready to go. There's no doubt about that,' Farrell added of the threat posed by Australia. 'Just knowing what it means to them, more than anything. We know the quality as far as their attacking threats, the athletic ability, the way that they want to play the game, from turnover, ball, counter attack.' 'When it comes around every 12 years and you're privileged to be able to represent Australia, they'll be obviously making sure that they use (the chance) appropriately and rightly so.' Despite this, the Lions are overwhelming favourites. After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, they have won all five games since arriving in Australia. In contrast, the Wallabies have only had one warm-up Test, a lacklustre 21-18 win against Fiji. British and Irish Lions (15-1): Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje (capt); Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki Australia (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Nick Champion de Grespigny; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost; Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Daessler, James Slipper Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew K
Evening Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
How to watch Lions vs Australia: TV channel and live stream for first Test today
This year, Farrell has made some surprising calls in his first Test XV selection, including the likes of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in midfield, with Finn Russell ahead of them at stand-off to complete an all-Scottish midfield trio for the first time ever.
