Waratahs' McCaffrey prepares for reunions
NSW Waratahs defence coach Lachlan McCaffrey is readying himself for reunions when the British and Irish Lions roll into Sydney this weekend.McCaffrey, who scored a try for Western Force against the Lions in 2013, moved to Leicester Tigers two years later and shared a house with an up-and-coming Ellis Genge."He's told me going to give me his jersey if he plays," McCaffrey told the NSW Waratahs website., externalMcCaffrey might have to find a bit more space in his wardrobe though because he also knows Lions wing Mack Hansen well."I used to sit next to him in the team at the Brumbies. We shared a lot of good times together," McCaffrey added."I'm excited to see Mack and 'Gengey' and hopefully we don't give them too much time with the ball and too much space."The Waratahs will have Taniela Tupou's ballast after the prop was released from the Wallabies camp for the fixture.Tupou and Genge have their own history. When England toured Australia in 2022, Tupou said that he would be trying to "smash" Genge, admittedly adding that he was sure the intent was mutual."Good for him. Get in line," said Genge in response.England won that series 2-1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Famous AFL term becomes one of 11 Aussie words to make it into the world's best-known dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary has announced that it is adding 11 very Australian terms to its pages including one new AFL phrase. The new additions will join an ever-growing list of Aussie phrases that have been added to the iconic ledger over time. Some of those already include 'dim sim', 'fair dinkum' and 'no wuckas'. And now the footy term 'best and fairest' is being added to the to the 2025 dictionary. The phrase is used to praise the top performing player across a season, with that person being dubbed both exceptional on the pitch while also showing outstanding sportsmanship. Players winning awards, such as the league's coveted Brownlow Medal, are dubbed the 'best and fairest' across the season. Carlton star Patrick Cripps was dubbed the AFL's 'best and fairest' for 2024 after the midfielder enjoyed another standout season, claiming his second Brownlow Medal. 'Best and fairest' now joins the footy phrase, 'speccy', which had previously been added to the dictionary and is used to define when a player takes a spectacular mark. Meanwhile, the phrase 'don't argue' has also this added this week to the dictionary. It describes how a player might deliver a hand-off to the face of a tackler outstretched arm. Among the latest additions also came the word 'carn', meaning 'come on!' and 'gunzel' - an adjective used to describe someone who loves trams or trains. The word Balanda was also added to the dictionary which dates back to the 1800s. It is understood to originate from Australian Aboriginal English and refers to a white person or white people. On its website, the Oxford English Dictionary details how they pick which Aussie words get added to the archive. 'The OED works in partnership with external experts from or in Australia to ensure that our entries for Australian English words draw from local knowledge and expertise and reflect the everyday reality and distinctive identity of the Australian English-speaking community,' the website says.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Can Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell deliver Andy Farrell's game plan?
Jamison Gibson-Park gave a knowing look when he was told the story of how Finn Russell had struck up a relationship with Ben Spencer by grabbing the Bath scrum half in a headlock during a team social and demanding, 'Just give me the ball'. Russell's story, which he told before Bath's victory in the Gallagher Premiership final, was funny because it played to the maverick reputation he had when he joined the club from Racing 92. In reality, Russell and Spencer have spent two years working out the perfect balance in their half-back partnership, allowing each of them to play to their strengths for the benefit of the team. Russell and Gibson-Park do not have two years. They have two days and no full training sessions to form some kind of syncopation before the British & Irish Lions play Queensland Reds on Wednesday. And they have just over two weeks until the Lions play Australia in the first Test of the series, back here in Brisbane. No time to waste then, hence Russell being pressed into a second start in five days to play alongside Gibson-Park for the first time on tour and form what is expected to be Andy Farrell's Test half-back combination, especially with Tomos Williams forced to head home because of injury. At most they will have two starts together — against the Reds and ACT Brumbies in Canberra next Wednesday — plus potentially some bench appearances to build their partnership before the first Test. The Lions schedule and Gibson-Park's fitness status has meant that he and Russell have not trained together at anything more than walking pace. And so to fast-track things, did Russell make the same first move on Gibson-Park as he did on Spencer? 'I have had something similar,' the Ireland scrum half said with a smile. Farrell has entrusted Gibson-Park, 33, and Russell, 32, with the game plan for Wednesday and backed two of the best in the world in their positions to deliver because they see the game in the same way; just as Russell and Spencer do at club level. 'We want all-singing, all-dancing rugby and everything going to plan,' Farrell, the head coach, said. 'That won't be the case. It will be the first time they have played together. Allowing them two days to grab hold of the game plan is going to put them in good stead for Wednesday. 'I don't say this lightly, but Jamison is 100 per cent a world-class player and he will make any team better. His point of difference is his speed of play, which is like it is because his speed of thought is ahead of the game the whole time, so he sees things nice and early. 'Also, he is a calming influence and a different type of leader. He is quiet but when he speaks, it is worth listening because he has done his homework and he understands how it is that we want to play. I'm delighted to have him back.' Farrell has been impressed with how Russell has evolved his game at Bath, although do not mistake his more rounded view for a dulling of his attacking instincts. Western Force did that and he punished them with a quick tap-and-go for Elliot Daly's try. 'Finn's game understanding, his game control, is top draw,' Farrell said. 'Finn has an ability to see space that allows him to think quicker than most. His transfer of passes is obviously a huge weapon to be able to get to that space nice and early. But there's just space either side of him, there's space in front of him. The whole time he sees the whole picture. 'They [Russell and Gibson-Park] understand one another's another's traits even before they got on the plane because that is what players do. They look out for how the best do things. They are two characters and want to see the game from similar eyes as far as where space is. They have attacking mindsets but they both know how important game control is.' The Lions believe their eight-try win against Western Force was a demonstration that their attacking identity is starting to to take shape. They are trying to play fluid rugby, with ball movement and effective support lines. 'It is hugely exciting isn't it?' Gibson-Park said. 'I have watched on a little bit envious over the last couple of weeks with some of the footy the boys have been playing. Obviously there are bits to work on but there is some nice stuff out there I would love to be involved with, so I am looking forward to it.' Gibson-Park and Russell will operate behind a powerful forward pack. Maro Itoje returns to the team as captain, an indicator that Farrell is slowly moving towards the Wednesday side being his strongest outfit. They play ACT Brumbies next week, who were Australia's best Super Rugby side. Back-row Test selections are wide open and will come down to whether Farrell wants to attack the Wallabies hard on the floor, where they are excellent, or field a lineout jumper at six. He has the weapons to do both. Ollie Chessum makes his first start for the Lions alongside Itoje in the second row, rather than at blind-side. Jack Conan, the Lions No8 in 2021, will play in between Tom Curry and Jac Morgan, who start together in the back row for a second time. Bundee Aki and Huw Jones are paired in midfield, with Farrell determined to break down any national identities. That desire for squad unity could be trumped by cohesion and familiarity (Aki and Garry Ringrose or Tuipolotu and Jones) when it comes to the midfield Test selections, however. The same applies in the back there, where Hugo Keenan gets his first start of the tour at full back. Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe return on the wings after playing against Argentina, challenged with raising the bar again after impressive performances in Perth from Mack Hansen and James Lowe. The Reds are hotly anticipating this game. The word on Monday was that more than 47,000 tickets had already been sold and it was on course to being a sell-out at Suncorp Stadium. In the Queensland Rugby Union offices is the stuffed Lion from 1971, a tour that ended in Test series glory against New Zealand but began with a defeat at Ballymore. The tradition in those days was that the stuffed lion would be handed over to the first team who defeated the Lions on the tour. The toy did have the flags of the nations sticking out from it but the Welsh one was lost on a night out. The Reds, who finished fifth in Super Rugby Pacific before losing in the play-offs to the eventual winners Crusaders, will not be at full strength on Wednesday night. Tom Lynagh, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson are among those retained by the Wallabies, but Hunter Paisami and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto have plenty of Test experience. They are coached by Les Kiss, formerly of Ireland and most recently of London Irish, and soon to succeed Joe Schmidt with Australia. 'Here we go now,' Farrell said. 'This is proper touring. Games are coming thick and fast. Three games in eight days, and it keeps on rolling after that. This is the exciting part of the tour for us.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Hull KR's Martin and Tigers' Horne facing long bans
Hull KR forward Rhyse Martin and Castleford Tigers hooker Liam Horne are both facing lengthy suspensions after being charged with Grade E offences in the past round of Super League players have been charged with unnecessary contact with a player who is injured or maybe injured, while Martin has also been charged with head contact in his side's win over Wakefield Trinity on 32-year-old was making his first appearance for the Robins since 27 February.A tribunal will now decide if the charges are proven. If they are, the pair could face bans of six games or more.
