Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit.
'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow.
History made 🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/sZvIb7jyTn
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025
'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all.
'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well.
'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades.
'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.'
It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match.
Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane.
'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said.
Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/0WYH2c146D
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025
'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable.
'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable.
'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters.
'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
3 minutes ago
- Scotsman
6 pundits react to Tony Bloom's Hearts statement of intent as Old Firm accusation made
Here's how some of Scottish football's pundits reacted to the bold claims by the Hearts investor. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... He's made his feelings on Hearts known - and Tony Bloom's comments have caused quite the Scottish football stir. The Brighton and Hove Albion owner was in situ at Tynecastle on Monday night as Derek McInnes' side beat Aberdeen 2-0 in the Premiership opener. While action on the park eventually took precedence, much of the debate came from Bloom's bold comments pre match. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After agreeing to invest £9.86m in the Edinburgh club and gaining a 29% stake, Bloom wants to replicate success he's had at Royal Union Saint Gilloise by ending Rangers and Celtic dominance in Scotland. With his help, the Belgians have risen rapidly and won the top flight in Belgium, with Hearts title glory wanted within the next decade. He said: 'It's very difficult to be confident of winning a title or cup in any one season. I'm supremely confident that, over the next five years, Hearts will have an extremely good squad competing near the top of the league. Whether we are actually good enough to win the title, there are obviously no guarantees on that. But I will be very disappointed if, in the next 10 years, we don't win at least one league title. What excites me is bringing in really good players, watching Hearts win games, I'm addicted to winning, success, and winning titles and that's what I want to see happen here at Tynecastle.' It's caused debate over whether this is actually possible, and whether this ambition should be applauded. Here's how some Scottish football pundits have reacted. Kris Boyd (Sky Sports) 'It works everywhere else. It's snobbery from Scottish football to think it won't work because we have two huge clubs here. For him to come out and says he can turn this around very quickly, suggests to me he doesn't really see Rangers or Celtic, especially Rangers as he's totally dismissed them, as any threat to them. He will feel with the analytics he can thrown down a challenge. It's ignorance from Scottish football to think it can't be done. It's worked everywhere else.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chris Sutton (Sky Sports) 'Really, really bullish. Really bold. He has a track record of improving clubs and he feels because of the analytics, he can get on the right side of them and win, pushing the likes of Celtic. There will be a lot of scepticism.' Craig Levein (Sportsound) 'It would need certain conditions I think for Hearts to get there. I mean, it would need an almost perfect season on Hearts' part and one of the Old Firm to underperform. I think that the the fact is that the money that the two Old Firm teams have, even though Tony Bloom's putting money in here at Hearts, I still think they'll be quite a way ahead in the financial front so it's going to be tough. But I mean, if anybody can do it, I think Hearts under Derek McInnes can. I think they've got a chance. James McFadden (Sky Sports) 'If they are going to challenge for the title and realise what Tony Bloom is saying, the analytics are solely going to be the reason they close that gap. Financially I don't think they will ever be able to compete with Rangers or Celtic. I don't think they want to as they have been in trouble at different times and don't want to be again. When it was first floated, people scoffed at it. If it was an unknown coming in you'd more say let's see how this works, probably more on the side of cynicism. It's proven to work. It's not going to be an instant success but there's no doubt it works. I expect it to work here at Hearts.' Willie Miller (Sportsound) 'We can only wish him well to be perfectly honest. I think it's going to be a huge task and I think particularly when you're talking about titles. I think cup competitions are completely different absolutely as I think the cup competitions are there to be won won of games etc and anything can be done. Nobody gave Aberdeen any chance whatsoever in the Scottish Cup and they managed to turn it around on the day and lift the trophy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The only problem, well it's not the only problem, but I think when you're trying to dislodge Rangers and Celtic, I think I think Hearts in particular and Hibs and Aberdeen, these are the teams that should be trying to disrupt the Old Firm. These are the teams with the biggest funds behind them. The biggest pool of players as well, strongest pool of players too. So there is a responsibility for them to make it difficult for Rangers and Celtic. I love people with ambition of knocking the top teams and and giving them a bit of a black eye but it's going to be difficult.' Alan Rough (PLZ) 'It's a good thought to spice it up a bit but I don't think his £10m will make an effect on Rangers and Celtic even in 10 years time. I hope he is right to a certain extent as we do like a bit of challenge in the league. He will have to put in more money year on year. I'd love to know Derek McInnes' reply to that, it has put a bit of pressure on him.'
Scottish Sun
33 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Formula 1 team BOYCOTTS Sky Sports as Ralf Schumacher makes statement live on TV
It comes after recent criticism at the British grand prix SCHU MUCH Formula 1 team BOYCOTTS Sky Sports as Ralf Schumacher makes statement live on TV Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ASTON MARTIN have boycotted Sky Sports Germany following recent criticism. The Formula 1 team had a good result at the Hungarian grand prix over the weekend with Fernando Alonso finishing fifth and Lance Stroll two places behind his team-mate. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Aston Martin boycotted speaking to Sky Sports duo Peter Hardenacke and Ralf Schumacher Credit: Sky Sports 2 Schumacher criticised Stroll's behaviour at the British grand prix Credit: The Mega Agency But before the race Sky Sports were denied access to the team. Ralf Schumacher attempted to speak to someone at Aston Martin but was rebuffed. He said: 'I know they're not giving us any more interviews because they don't like us that much at the moment.' His colleague Peter Hardenacke added: 'We were a bit too critical of the people at Aston Martin.' READ MORE IN F1 'BEAUTIFUL' Lando Norris' girlfriend Margarida Corceiro shows off sideboob in risque outfit Schumacher has been critical of the car this season and he called for Stroll to apologise for his antics at the British grand prix. After struggling at Silverstone Stroll said over his radio: "This is the worst piece of s*** I've ever driven." According to German outlet Bild, Aston Martin also declined the interview as they believe Sky shows little interest in the team at other media events, such as press conferences. They are now understood to be setting an example of Sky as interest grows in the team, due to more positive results from both Stroll and Fernando Alonso in recent weeks. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Aston Martin had a slow start to the season but have picked up points in recent weeks. Alonso and Stroll have 26 points each and place 11th and 12th respectively in the standings, with Aston Martin sixth in the Constructors standings.
Scottish Sun
33 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers urged to sign forgotten ex-England star as pundit insists he'd be ‘no risk' option for Light Blues
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN revealed after his side's Premiership opener with Motherwell that he expects more new arrivals at Ibrox this summer. And Rangers have been urged by pundits to snap up a former England international as a 'no risk' option. 3 Russell Martin says he expects more new arrivals at Rangers this summer Credit: PA 3 Pundits on talkSPORT have discussed a surprise transfer option for Gers 3 Dele Alli has been told to find a new club by Italian outfit Como Credit: Getty Dele Alli was once at the upper heights of English football, winning back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards and representing England at the Euros and World Cup. The former Tottenham Hotspur star's career took a downward turn amid personal issues though, and after unsuccessful spells with Everton and Besiktas, he's been told to find a new club by Cesc Fabregas at Como. And Rangers have been urged to have a look at the attacking midfielder by pundits on talkSPORT. Speaking on the station's 'Transfer Tinder' section, host Shebahn Aherne said: "How do we feel about Dele to Rangers? "29-year-old Dele sadly isn't wanted by Como anymore, so perhaps swap Lake Como for Loch Lomond? "He was linked to Rangers a wee while ago, Ally McCoist said he would absolutely snap him up, how do we feel about that now?" Co-host Jeff Stelling responded: "Depends what the contract is like. "If it was sort of appearance-related, something like that, yeah, nothing to lose. "But unfortunately, and I feel for him, his track record in recent times is diabolical. "So you're not going to fork out good money with no guarantee that you're going to get games from Dele at all. Players are running the Rangers dressing room - Martin knows EXACTLY what he's doing "But if it's a contract that stipulates pay-as-you-play, then that's a completely different matter, we all remember just what a fantastic player he was." Pundit and former Newcastle and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew added: "His fall from grace has been unusual - a player of that quality, playing for England, Champions League final etc., and now can't seem to get a contract at Como. "I hope he does [revive his career], he's a player that you don't want to lose. "Let's hope that there's life for him at Rangers." Stelling continued though: "It's very hard to see at 29 that there is going to be a revival, no matter how much we might want him to succeed." Pardew agreed: "If you look at the history of players that have fallen from grace, it's very rare that they come back and resurface." But Aherne responded: "It's sad because his situation is so personal, what he's going through. "But you'd think a club like Rangers, the fans would love him, and maybe that could revive the talent that's there." Stelling said: "Let's hope that that's the case - if it's on the basis of pay-as-you-play, it's a no-risk, no-lose situation for Rangers." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
