Three Britons can win but Piastri has his own script
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions Tour LIVE updates: Waratahs go head-to-head with Lions in Sydney
Latest posts Latest posts 7.30pm Kiwis sneak home against France 'B' team Iain Payten Interesting result across the ditch, with the All Blacks only just getting home 31-27 against a severely depleted French side. Controversially, France sent a squad with 17 uncapped players due to the powerful clubs refusing to release a host of stars. Kiwi commentators have been irate, but the France reggies almost pulled off a massive upset in Dunedin. The game on a knife edge for the last quarter, with New Zealand leading 28-27. But All Blacks star Beauden Barrett slotted a late penalty to seal a too-close-for-comfort victory. 7.30pm Late change for Lions - Pollock out By Iain Payten Here are the teams for the Tahs and Lions. As you can see, the Lions look exceptionally strong, with a couple of familiar names in the starting team: Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Sione Tuipulotu were all raised in Australia before finding their way to Ireland and Scotland to play Test rugby. There has been a late change for the Lions: young backrower Henry Pollock has been withdrawn with a tight calf, meaning skipper Tadgh Beirne moves from lock to no.6, and Scott Cummings comes into the second row. Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan are both playing their first matches on tour, as well, and are both sharp with the ball in hand. As with other Aussie sides, the Waratahs are down on Wallaby troops but there are a couple of key men in key spots. Taniela Tupou is starting at tighthead and you'd have to think his Test chances ride heavily on a strong showing here. Andrew Kellaway has also come back from the Wallabies and will be a key man to bring calm and composure. So too will backrower Rob Leota, and new Tahs recruit Matt Philip, who'll bring presence from the bench. Interestingly, Wallabies squad member Tane Edmed is not starting at no.10, however. Jack Bowen will start and Edmed - who is heading to the Brumbies next year - will come from the pine. WARATAHS (15-1): Lawson Creighton; Andrew Kellaway, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Darby Lancaster; Jack Bowen, Teddy Wilson; Hugh Sinclair (capt), Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota; Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner; Taniela Tupou, Ethan Dobbins, Tom Lambert Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O'Donnell LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne (c), James Ryan, Scott Cummings, Finlay Bealham, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Duhan van der Merwe, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) 7.29pm Welcome to the jungle By Iain Payten Good evening fans and welcome to a massive night of rugby. The British and Irish Lions tour of Australia has arrived at its third stop - Sydney - and a clash with the Waratahs. My name is Iain Payten and I will be your blogging buddy, and the expert comments and match report will come from our reverse-Lion - the Herald's own project player from norn Iron, Jonathan Drennan. This NSW-Lions game has been, historically, very spicy. Who can forget the infamous 2001 fixture when Duncan McRae was red-carded for punching the tripe out of Lions five-eighth Ronan O'Gara? Yes, we went straight there. O'Gara has kept a low profile on this tour but here's a yarn with him ahead of the 2013 tour. The 2001 game was a generally ill-tempered affair, and though they ended up losing 41-24, the then-Waratahs captain Phil Waugh proudly mentioned in a post-match function that they'd taken lumps out of the Lions. Waugh is, of course, now chief executive of Rugby Australia. It's unclear if he put his hand up to play tonight but there's about a 50% chance he did. NSW have not beaten the Lions since the 12-year cycle began in 1989, but in 20 clashes overall since 1888, NSW have four wins: 1908, 1930, 1950 and 1959. The Waratahs tonight are not favoured to bring a fifth win. That much is clear from the bookies, who have them at $ do we reckon is going to happen? Have your say in the poll.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Lions Tour LIVE updates: Waratahs go head-to-head with Lions in Sydney
Latest posts Latest posts 7.30pm Kiwis sneak home against France 'B' team Iain Payten Interesting result across the ditch, with the All Blacks only just getting home 31-27 against a severely depleted French side. Controversially, France sent a squad with 17 uncapped players due to the powerful clubs refusing to release a host of stars. Kiwi commentators have been irate, but the France reggies almost pulled off a massive upset in Dunedin. The game on a knife edge for the last quarter, with New Zealand leading 28-27. But All Blacks star Beauden Barrett slotted a late penalty to seal a too-close-for-comfort victory. 7.30pm Late change for Lions - Pollock out By Iain Payten Here are the teams for the Tahs and Lions. As you can see, the Lions look exceptionally strong, with a couple of familiar names in the starting team: Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Sione Tuipulotu were all raised in Australia before finding their way to Ireland and Scotland to play Test rugby. There has been a late change for the Lions: young backrower Henry Pollock has been withdrawn with a tight calf, meaning skipper Tadgh Beirne moves from lock to no.6, and Scott Cummings comes into the second row. Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan are both playing their first matches on tour, as well, and are both sharp with the ball in hand. As with other Aussie sides, the Waratahs are down on Wallaby troops but there are a couple of key men in key spots. Taniela Tupou is starting at tighthead and you'd have to think his Test chances ride heavily on a strong showing here. Andrew Kellaway has also come back from the Wallabies and will be a key man to bring calm and composure. So too will backrower Rob Leota, and new Tahs recruit Matt Philip, who'll bring presence from the bench. Interestingly, Wallabies squad member Tane Edmed is not starting at no.10, however. Jack Bowen will start and Edmed - who is heading to the Brumbies next year - will come from the pine. WARATAHS (15-1): Lawson Creighton; Andrew Kellaway, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Darby Lancaster; Jack Bowen, Teddy Wilson; Hugh Sinclair (capt), Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota; Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner; Taniela Tupou, Ethan Dobbins, Tom Lambert Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O'Donnell LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne (c), James Ryan, Scott Cummings, Finlay Bealham, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Duhan van der Merwe, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) 7.29pm Welcome to the jungle By Iain Payten Good evening fans and welcome to a massive night of rugby. The British and Irish Lions tour of Australia has arrived at its third stop - Sydney - and a clash with the Waratahs. My name is Iain Payten and I will be your blogging buddy, and the expert comments and match report will come from our reverse-Lion - the Herald's own project player from norn Iron, Jonathan Drennan. This NSW-Lions game has been, historically, very spicy. Who can forget the infamous 2001 fixture when Duncan McRae was red-carded for punching the tripe out of Lions five-eighth Ronan O'Gara? Yes, we went straight there. O'Gara has kept a low profile on this tour but here's a yarn with him ahead of the 2013 tour. The 2001 game was a generally ill-tempered affair, and though they ended up losing 41-24, the then-Waratahs captain Phil Waugh proudly mentioned in a post-match function that they'd taken lumps out of the Lions. Waugh is, of course, now chief executive of Rugby Australia. It's unclear if he put his hand up to play tonight but there's about a 50% chance he did. NSW have not beaten the Lions since the 12-year cycle began in 1989, but in 20 clashes overall since 1888, NSW have four wins: 1908, 1930, 1950 and 1959. The Waratahs tonight are not favoured to bring a fifth win. That much is clear from the bookies, who have them at $ do we reckon is going to happen? Have your say in the poll.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Wallabies warned Test against Fiji is a danger game
Fiji have warned the Wallabies of the danger of treating their Test match as a warm-up for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series as the Pacific islanders look to make history in Newcastle. After wrecking Australia's World Cup campaign two years ago in France with their first win over the Wallabies in 69 years, Fiji have set their sights on going back-to-back for the first time. The teams will compete for the Vuvale Bowl, with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka, a former Test front-rower, to present the trophy. Skipper Tevita Ikanivere says his side is up for the challenge and will take advantage if the Wallabies have an eye on the Lions, whom they face in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "No Fiji team has gone two in a row to beat the Wallabies yet and we're looking to be the first," said Ikanivere, who is the Drua hooker in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. "If they don't have their eyes both on us tomorrow, then I think they're in danger. "I know everybody there is hungry to try and beat us, to get us back, and we are too so it's going to be a great battle." Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson wasn't part of that World Cup debacle but said they had watched plenty of vision of the last meeting between the countries to know the threat Fiji posed. He said his team wouldn't be holding anything back for the Lions. "We're going out there to win," the No.8 said. "The last time we versed Fiji two years ago we had a tough loss there and it's such a massive battle. "Obviously we've been keeping our eyes on the Lions, watching the Super clubs verse them, but for us a Test match against Fiji, it doesn't get much bigger than that so we'll be throwing everything at them to make sure we go out there and get the result." The Queensland forward, who will lead the team out for the eighth time, said a win was more important than a perfect performance as they looked to build some momentum. A loss would severely rock their confidence ahead of the massive challenge of taking on the Lions in three Tests. "It's massively important so we're going out there we want to win," the 25-year-old said. "It's going to be such a tough Test match and we come out of a win it would be a really good start to our season. "Winning becomes a habit and I felt last year we had a lot of growth as a team and we put ourselves in a pretty good position by the end of the year and for us, we really want to expand from there and just keep putting out performances we're proud of." The Wallabies will be without two key forwards with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini both battling calf injuries. Flanker Valetini will rejoin the camp in Brisbane next Friday when the Wallabies squad for the Lions is unveiled while France-based lock Skelton has remained with the team. Skelton was Wallabies captain at the World Cup but missed the Fiji match, coincidentally with a calf injury. Wilson said he had been a great mentor for the players during their two-week build-up. "Will's been awesome and he's such an integral part of our group, and he's obviously a bit older now and he really mentors a lot of the young players in the team and is just a calming influence. "Obviously it's heartbreaking for him to miss this match, but no doubt he'll be ready to go in a few weeks." Fiji have warned the Wallabies of the danger of treating their Test match as a warm-up for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series as the Pacific islanders look to make history in Newcastle. After wrecking Australia's World Cup campaign two years ago in France with their first win over the Wallabies in 69 years, Fiji have set their sights on going back-to-back for the first time. The teams will compete for the Vuvale Bowl, with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka, a former Test front-rower, to present the trophy. Skipper Tevita Ikanivere says his side is up for the challenge and will take advantage if the Wallabies have an eye on the Lions, whom they face in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "No Fiji team has gone two in a row to beat the Wallabies yet and we're looking to be the first," said Ikanivere, who is the Drua hooker in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. "If they don't have their eyes both on us tomorrow, then I think they're in danger. "I know everybody there is hungry to try and beat us, to get us back, and we are too so it's going to be a great battle." Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson wasn't part of that World Cup debacle but said they had watched plenty of vision of the last meeting between the countries to know the threat Fiji posed. He said his team wouldn't be holding anything back for the Lions. "We're going out there to win," the No.8 said. "The last time we versed Fiji two years ago we had a tough loss there and it's such a massive battle. "Obviously we've been keeping our eyes on the Lions, watching the Super clubs verse them, but for us a Test match against Fiji, it doesn't get much bigger than that so we'll be throwing everything at them to make sure we go out there and get the result." The Queensland forward, who will lead the team out for the eighth time, said a win was more important than a perfect performance as they looked to build some momentum. A loss would severely rock their confidence ahead of the massive challenge of taking on the Lions in three Tests. "It's massively important so we're going out there we want to win," the 25-year-old said. "It's going to be such a tough Test match and we come out of a win it would be a really good start to our season. "Winning becomes a habit and I felt last year we had a lot of growth as a team and we put ourselves in a pretty good position by the end of the year and for us, we really want to expand from there and just keep putting out performances we're proud of." The Wallabies will be without two key forwards with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini both battling calf injuries. Flanker Valetini will rejoin the camp in Brisbane next Friday when the Wallabies squad for the Lions is unveiled while France-based lock Skelton has remained with the team. Skelton was Wallabies captain at the World Cup but missed the Fiji match, coincidentally with a calf injury. Wilson said he had been a great mentor for the players during their two-week build-up. "Will's been awesome and he's such an integral part of our group, and he's obviously a bit older now and he really mentors a lot of the young players in the team and is just a calming influence. "Obviously it's heartbreaking for him to miss this match, but no doubt he'll be ready to go in a few weeks." Fiji have warned the Wallabies of the danger of treating their Test match as a warm-up for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series as the Pacific islanders look to make history in Newcastle. After wrecking Australia's World Cup campaign two years ago in France with their first win over the Wallabies in 69 years, Fiji have set their sights on going back-to-back for the first time. The teams will compete for the Vuvale Bowl, with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka, a former Test front-rower, to present the trophy. Skipper Tevita Ikanivere says his side is up for the challenge and will take advantage if the Wallabies have an eye on the Lions, whom they face in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "No Fiji team has gone two in a row to beat the Wallabies yet and we're looking to be the first," said Ikanivere, who is the Drua hooker in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. "If they don't have their eyes both on us tomorrow, then I think they're in danger. "I know everybody there is hungry to try and beat us, to get us back, and we are too so it's going to be a great battle." Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson wasn't part of that World Cup debacle but said they had watched plenty of vision of the last meeting between the countries to know the threat Fiji posed. He said his team wouldn't be holding anything back for the Lions. "We're going out there to win," the No.8 said. "The last time we versed Fiji two years ago we had a tough loss there and it's such a massive battle. "Obviously we've been keeping our eyes on the Lions, watching the Super clubs verse them, but for us a Test match against Fiji, it doesn't get much bigger than that so we'll be throwing everything at them to make sure we go out there and get the result." The Queensland forward, who will lead the team out for the eighth time, said a win was more important than a perfect performance as they looked to build some momentum. A loss would severely rock their confidence ahead of the massive challenge of taking on the Lions in three Tests. "It's massively important so we're going out there we want to win," the 25-year-old said. "It's going to be such a tough Test match and we come out of a win it would be a really good start to our season. "Winning becomes a habit and I felt last year we had a lot of growth as a team and we put ourselves in a pretty good position by the end of the year and for us, we really want to expand from there and just keep putting out performances we're proud of." The Wallabies will be without two key forwards with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini both battling calf injuries. Flanker Valetini will rejoin the camp in Brisbane next Friday when the Wallabies squad for the Lions is unveiled while France-based lock Skelton has remained with the team. Skelton was Wallabies captain at the World Cup but missed the Fiji match, coincidentally with a calf injury. Wilson said he had been a great mentor for the players during their two-week build-up. "Will's been awesome and he's such an integral part of our group, and he's obviously a bit older now and he really mentors a lot of the young players in the team and is just a calming influence. "Obviously it's heartbreaking for him to miss this match, but no doubt he'll be ready to go in a few weeks."
