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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Australia 26-29 British & Irish Lions: second Test player ratings
Tom Wright A performance of swaggering confidence featuring a try, dynamic running to set up attacks and a punishing 50:22. Set the tone for his side from the back. 8 Max Jorgensen Always busy on the right wing, harried Lowe all game and his intelligent kicking kept the territorial pressure on. 7 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii A mixed bag. Devastating is full motion in lead up to the Wright try, but often left rudderless in defence and was a little too casual in possession that allowed Curry to smash him in second half. 6 Len Ikitau Put in a huge number of carries once again, and his defensive work was quality, including a try-saving covering tackle on Kinghorn. 8 Harry Potter Contributed little before limping off after 19 minutes. 5 Tom Lynagh A missed important touch-finder late in the game was the only real blemish on another performance of great promise. Good from the tee and out of hand with the boot, ran the attack with relaxed and creative approach. The youngster is here to stay at this level. 7 Jake Gordon If an individual performance could represent the turnaround from the first Test it was this one. Unrecognisable from the lumbering effort of last week; a tryscoring, confident display. 8 James Slipper Rolled back the years in the loose with his defensive effort to prevent a Conan try before scoring one of his own. Less of a good day in the scrum. 6 David Porecki The fulcrum of a transformed Wallabies lineout that went from airborne joke a week ago to consistent quality in Melbourne. Gave his side a brilliant platform that they regularly exploited. 7 Allan Alaalatoa Pretty comprehensively dismantled by Porter at scrum time and was hooked at half-time as a result. 5 Nick Frost Along with Porecki was the central figure in the brilliant Australia lineout. Put himself about at ruck time as well with important clearouts and other dog work. 7 Will Skelton Carried hard and softened the Lions defence from the first exchanges until he left the field breathing from his eyeballs early in the second half. A huge impact and demonstration of what the Aussies missed. 8 Rob Valetini Ran with the ball more times than any other player in the opening 40 before he departed proceedings at half-time. Like Skelton, a real point of difference physically. A shame he wasn't ready to play the full 80. 8 Fraser McReight Visible with a couple of carries in broken play where he looked nimble, but anonymous in his core back-row role at the breakdown. 6 Harry Wilson The captain is an absolute trier, whether that's asking the ref to check a late clearout in the lead-up to a try, or carrying the ball up repeatedly. On the day, he wasn't hugely successful at either. 6 Replacements Billy Pollard (for Porecki, 56) 6, Angus Bell (for Slipper, 40) 6, Tom Robertson (for Alaalatoa 40) 6, Jeremy Williams (for Skelton, 47) 6, Langi Gleeson (for Valetini, 40) 7, Carlo Tizzano (for McReight, 60) 6, Tate McDermott (for Potter, 19) a strong showing in an unfamiliar wing position from early doors 7, Ben Donaldson n/a Hugo Keenan A difficult tour so far was banished from memory as he scored the series-clinching try at the end of a game where his quality re-emerged. His clever slap back into play to deny Lynagh a 50:22 early in the second half was a key momentum breaker. 8 Tommy Freeman More fluffed catches in a fitful game including a yellow card. His great season now appears a month too long. 5 Huw Jones Was in the groove despite the effect the late recall must have had. Gave away the penalty that led to the first Australia try, but made up for it with a strong finish to score one of his own. 7 Bundee Aki A couple of strong carries, one of which led to the Beirne try on the hour. Beyond that a middling outing. Caught out in defence by Suaalii for the Wright try. 6 James Lowe Struggled for an hour under the high ball and in the harrying presence of Jorgensen. Showed some typical aplomb in his offload to Beirne for his score and was replaced immediately after. 6 Finn Russell Showed little of his brilliance from the first Test. Some muffed passes and average return from the tee, but his willingness to spurn the drop goal and keep playing led to the winning score. 6 Jamison Gibson-Park Not a vintage performance, but then the Lions needed a cool head to maximise opportunities he came into his own, most notably with his dictation of play leading to the Curry try that sparked the comeback. 7 Andrew Porter Stymied Alaalatoa in the scrum, but less effective away from the set piece. Caught out on the Gordon try. 6 Dan Sheehan Put in a huge amount of work with the ball in hand, scored his swan-dive try handily. His usual quality self. 7 Tadhg Furlong Solid enough in the scrum and worked incredibly hard around the park with and without the ball. 7 Maro Itoje It's often said that as captain he's more of a leader by example and it showed in this tightest of matches. Worked tirelessly, fought at every breakdown, was never not at it. 8 Ollie Chessum The loss of Joe McCarthy was big and the Leicester lock was never going to be a like for like, but his brand of bog-standard, international second-row play in the tight served his team well. 6 Tadhg Beirne Off the pace and outmuscled for much of the first hour, but had enough nous and energy to score try out wide and frustrate the Wallabies for 80 minutes. 7 Tom Curry Just behind Keenan's try on the list of what won the match is the England flanker's recovery tackle on Suaalii in the second half to dislodge the ball and prevent a gigantic overlap being exploited. Nifty finish for his own try as well. 8 Jack Conan Rocked backwards by part-time winger McDermott at one point, and lost the ball over the line in first half when a try beckoned. Just shy of the pace of the game too often. 6 Replacements Rónan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 64) 6, Ellis Genge (for Porter, 54) 8, Will Stuart (for Furlong, 64) 7, James Ryan (for Chessum, 54) 6, Jac Morgan (for Curry, 54) 6, Alex Mitchell n/a, Owen Farrell (for Jones, 60) 5, Blair Kinghorn (for Lowe, 60) 7
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
In pictures: Moments of the match
, Darcy Graham of the British & Irish Lions after being injured and forced off minutes after scoring the Lions second try.
Irish Times
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Lions player ratings: Versatile Jamie Osborne shines with two-try debut in Melbourne
15 Blair Kinghorn Threw an intercept for Tristan Reilly try but otherwise had a fine game. Super catch/pass for Jamie Osborne's second try, very assured aerially and worked hard to get on the ball regularly. Rating: 8 14 Darcy Graham Packed a lot into his 15 minutes on the pitch before injury. Took a high shot that led to a yellow card for Reilly and finished off a flowing backline move for a try on his debut. A real pity for the livewire Scotland wing who had started brightly. Rating: 7 13 Jamie Osborne A memorable Lions debut capped by a brace of tries, the first demonstrated good composure not to over-chase Owen Farrell's chip, the second a run-in. Great support lines, assured in the tackle, an excellent outing playing centre and then wing. Rating: 8 12 Owen Farrell (capt) Celebrated his 20th Lions appearance by creating a try for Duhan van der Merwe with a lovely show-and-go. Most of his touches, passing and kicking were quality contributions in what was a quietly authoritative display. Rating: 7 READ MORE 11 Duhan van der Merwe A fifth try took him further ahead as the Lions top try-scorer on tour. He was always muscular in possession and if there is a regret is that he doesn't get on the ball often enough. Rating: 7 10 Fin Smith Lovely early break set a tone, great long pass for Graham try but then there were some scruffy moments before he reasserted his quality with several classy interventions that pushed his team forward. Rating: 7 British and Irish Lions scrumhalf Ben White passes from a ruck during the game in Melbourne. Photograph: William West/AFP via Getty Images 9 Ben White Two touches in the build-up to Graham try, threw an intercept that almost cost his team a try late on in the first half. But in the second half he was a key player for his team. Rating: 8 1 Pierre Schoeman Good counter-ruck penalty won, showed up for his carrying and tackling duties but the fact that the Lions scrum coughed up a couple of penalties and a free-kick will disappoint. He found Taniela Tupou a handful in that regard. Rating: 7 2 Jamie George Two lineouts picked off, a crooked throw for another turnover and a forward pass in what should have led to a try for Van der Merwe were the blemishes in what was a hard-working and honest contribution. Rating: 5 3 Finlay Bealham He didn't have the same high-calibre impact that he's enjoyed in some of his previous outings. Conceded a breakdown penalty, got stripped in contact and on occasion a little high in his ball carrying. Rating: 6 4 James Ryan Suffered a yellow card after conceding two penalties in quick succession in the lead-up to Pasifika's second try. He was impressively physical in the collisions and at the breakdown and disrupted the opposition throw several times. Rating: 7 Scott Cummings is tackled by First Nations and Pasifika XV's Darcy Swain. Photograph: David Davies/PA Wire 5 Scott Cummings An industrious and athletic display, as the lineout caller he took responsibility to win most of the ball, and showed up well on both sides of the ball from first to last whistle. Rating: 8 6 Jac Morgan The ebb and flow of the game didn't really give him much opportunity to showcase his skills at the breakdown as often as he has done in previous matches. Diligent on both sides of the ball but quieter outing. Rating: 6 7 Josh van der Flier A lovely early line-break and produced a voracious work-rate. It was that graft that saw him outshine his two team-mates in the backrow. A consistent presence in attack and defence, he had a try called back for a knock-on. Rating: 7 8 Henry Pollock A vital breakdown penalty late on, won several lineouts, and managed to get in the face of the opposition, literally on one occasion. But he was quieter than usual in the unfamiliar role of number eight. Rating: 6 Replacements Garry Ringrose enjoyed a superb game as an early replacement for the luckless Graham, playing at outside centre. Thomas Clarkson acquitted himself well on his Lions debut while Gregor Brown also impressed. Rating: 7 Coach Andy Farrell will be pleased with the result but less so with the overall performance, even allowing for the fact that it was a side stitched together in a short time. Not as much food for thought perhaps in selection terms for the second Test. Rating: 7
RNZ News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Scrappy Springboks overwhelm Georgia in Mbombela
South Africa's hooker Marnus van der Merwe prepares to dive across the line to score a try during the rugby international against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium on July 19, 2025. Photo: WIKUS DE WET Debutant hooker Marnus van der Merwe scored two tries as South Africa eased to a 55-10 victory over Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, but the scoreline masked an error-strewn performance. Prop Boan Venter, centre Canan Moodie, wings Edwill van der Merwe (two) and Kurt-Lee Arendse, fullback Damian Willemse and flyhalf Handre Pollard also crossed for tries. But the Springboks served up double-digit handling errors, were poor at the lineout in the second half and could not get the upper hand at the breakdown. It was minutes in the tank at the start of the international season for several players, including captain Siya Kolisi on his return from injury. "Credit to the Georgians, physically they matched us most of the time. We struggled and at the breakdown, where they were quite dominant," Kolisi said. "We did not do enough positives one after the other. We would do something good and then make a mistake, which slowed us down. Hopefully, we can fix that." The hosts had three debutants in Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche as Erasmus stretched the number of players he has used in three games this year to 46. Georgia made a fast start and scored the opening try from a driving maul following a lineout, with hooker Vano Karkadze powering his way over. The Springboks hit back as Venter dived over a ruck to score, before an attacking lineout lead to a driving maul that sliced through the Georgian defence for Van der Merwe to cross. A sweeping Springboks move from their own half following a break by scrumhalf Grant Williams led to a try for Moodie and hooker Van der Merwe got his second from another driving maul as the hosts led 22-10 at halftime. They added a simple try for Edwill van der Merwe after his forwards created the space and sucked in Georgia defenders, and Willemse went over in the opposite corner. When Edwill van der Merwe crossed for the final score, he took his tally of international tries to five in three games, before Arendse and Pollard dotted down late on. "This was a great match for us to grow," Georgia flanker Luka Ivanishvili said. "It was my first time playing in this kind of atmosphere and these types of game are helping us to grow to the next World Cup (in 2027)." -Reuters
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
In pictures: Tries of the first Test
, Dan Sheehan of British and Irish Lions goes over to score his team's 3rd try despite the efforts of Harry Potter of Australia.
