Lions vs AUNZ Invitational XV LIVE: Latest score and updates from final warm-up match
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
I could see Farrell on bench this Test series
The British and Irish Lions selecting Owen Farrell on the bench for the Test series against Australia, which starts on Saturday in Brisbane, is something former England scrum-half Danny Care could see 33, played the final 30 minutes of the Lions' comfortable 48-0 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV on Saturday to mark his first appearance on in his first game since 4 May, the former England captain showed some nice touches and proved his fitness before the Test series."Quietly I thought Owen Farrell came on and just did Owen Farrell things," Care told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly."He was a calming presence and his passing game is up there with the best in the world."Smart kicks in behind and you could hear his energy with his voice, you could hear it through the TV screen."It would be a big shout to have Farrell in the Test 23."Care still feels Marcus Smith's ability to play fly-half and full-back edges him ahead for a first-Test bench spot over Farrell. "I don't see it happening in the first Test but I can see him getting into the Test squad," Care, a long-time half-back partner of Farrell for England, said."He covers many positions - 10 and 12 - he would be a great person to have on that bench with some back three cover and a scrum-half."I could see it happening." Lions head coach Andy Farrell opted against selecting his son in the initial squad but called him up when utility back Elliot Daly left the tour through not covering Daly's outside back positions Farrell, who plays at fly-half and inside centre, was brought into the squad despite struggling for form and fitness last season at Racing Farrell not having played international rugby in nearly two years, Marcus Smith or Fin Smith could still earn a first-Test bench spot ahead of him, with Finn Russell in pole position to wear the number 10 Lions then play against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on 22 July, before the second Test in Melbourne on 26 England wing Chris Ashton believes that final midweek game could propel Farrell into Test contention."He will start at fly-half or inside centre [against First Nations and Pasifika XV] as the lads would be involved in the first Test," Ashton added."That is the real chance for Owen to show himself properly. That 30 minutes on Saturday against poor opposition wasn't enough."He looked really relieved to be out there and happy as he would have been dying just to be on the pitch and put behind him all press and noise out of the way."He had a couple of nice touches. He'll be happy to keep everything moving along."Listen to the latest episode of Rugby Union Weekly.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Lions have set sights on whitewashing Wallabies
The Lions enter the first Test bolstered by an eight-try demolition of an AUNZ Invitational XV, with Andy Farrell scheduled to name his team for the Brisbane opener on Thursday. Farrell's tourists are strong favourites to win the series and Pollock, who is competing for a place on the bench at Suncorp Stadium, insisted they were aiming for greatness. 'We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We've been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table,' Pollock said. 'Whether you're playing or not playing in the Tests, we're all just trying to strive to be the best team we can and get that 3-0 win. If that's playing or not playing, then I'll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be.' Pollock – at 20-years-old, the youngest player in the squad – has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance of the tour off the bench against AUNZ. The England back row was just eight when Farrell's odyssey with the elite of British and Irish rugby began in Australia 12 years ago and he has been mining the veteran playmaker for advice. 'It was good to get chatting to him, learning from him. He's an amazing player and an amazing person as well,' Pollock said. 'We've had a few conversations. He's got kids, so we talk about his kids, but I'm sitting there going 'I'm still 20'! 'He's been great and I'm learning so much from him. He's so experienced in this game and in this kind of environment. 'It's still quite cool but at the same time, in this environment, we're all striving for the same thing. Pollock has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell (David Davies/PA) 'We want to come here and dominate as a team and he's been amazing since he's come in. He's been on top of everything. 'To be able to bring him off the bench and have his experience and his words has been amazing. You can definitely see what he brings on the pitch.' The Lions have come through a bruising schedule of four matches in 11 days and while they remain unbeaten since arriving in Australia, the injury count is growing with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly forced home, Garry Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of the first Test and Blair Kinghorn a major doubt for the opener. Now the schedule settles down to whole weeks spent in the Test host cities Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, enabling the squad to train properly for the first time in a fortnight. 'You have to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. Your body is the reason you get picked and you have to stay fit,' said Pollock, who withdrew from the side that faced the New South Wales Waratahs because of a calf injury. 'With these short turnarounds, you learn a lot about what you can do and what you can't do in terms of gym, running and extras and making sure that on the pitch you're 100 per cent where you want to be. 'You're just trying to get as fit as you can for these games. With the short turnaround, it's just always trying to be available for the coaches and saying 'I'm fit, I'm fit'. It's something different and I've loved the experience.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Lions have set sights on whitewashing Wallabies
The Lions enter the first Test bolstered by an eight-try demolition of an AUNZ Invitational XV, with Andy Farrell scheduled to name his team for the Brisbane opener on Thursday. Farrell's tourists are strong favourites to win the series and Pollock, who is competing for a place on the bench at Suncorp Stadium, insisted they were aiming for greatness. Building! 📈#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 12, 2025 'We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We've been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table,' Pollock said. 'Whether you're playing or not playing in the Tests, we're all just trying to strive to be the best team we can and get that 3-0 win. If that's playing or not playing, then I'll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be.' Pollock – at 20-years-old, the youngest player in the squad – has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance of the tour off the bench against AUNZ. The England back row was just eight when Farrell's odyssey with the elite of British and Irish rugby began in Australia 12 years ago and he has been mining the veteran playmaker for advice. 'It was good to get chatting to him, learning from him. He's an amazing player and an amazing person as well,' Pollock said. 'We've had a few conversations. He's got kids, so we talk about his kids, but I'm sitting there going 'I'm still 20'! 'He's been great and I'm learning so much from him. He's so experienced in this game and in this kind of environment. 'It's still quite cool but at the same time, in this environment, we're all striving for the same thing. 'We want to come here and dominate as a team and he's been amazing since he's come in. He's been on top of everything. 'To be able to bring him off the bench and have his experience and his words has been amazing. You can definitely see what he brings on the pitch.' The Lions have come through a bruising schedule of four matches in 11 days and while they remain unbeaten since arriving in Australia, the injury count is growing with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly forced home, Garry Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of the first Test and Blair Kinghorn a major doubt for the opener. Now the schedule settles down to whole weeks spent in the Test host cities Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, enabling the squad to train properly for the first time in a fortnight. All eyes on Brisbane! 👀🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 13, 2025 'You have to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. Your body is the reason you get picked and you have to stay fit,' said Pollock, who withdrew from the side that faced the New South Wales Waratahs because of a calf injury. 'With these short turnarounds, you learn a lot about what you can do and what you can't do in terms of gym, running and extras and making sure that on the pitch you're 100 per cent where you want to be. 'You're just trying to get as fit as you can for these games. With the short turnaround, it's just always trying to be available for the coaches and saying 'I'm fit, I'm fit'. It's something different and I've loved the experience.'
