Owen Farrell's 'aura' and 'serious quality' will help Lions in Australia, teammates say
Lions coach Andy Farrell picked his son to replace the injured Elliot Daly and it's a somewhat controversial selection. Owen Farrell hasn't played test rugby since the 2023 Rugby World Cup — he took a break from internationals to prioritize his mental well-being — and has had an underwhelming, injury-hit club season at Racing 92 in France, including a May 4 concussion since which he hasn't played.
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Red Roses jostle for position as Lionesses hand on baton
Rugby World Cup warm-up: England v Spain Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Date: Saturday, 2 August Kick-off: 15:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and website with live text commentary on the website and app After training this week, the Red Roses have been practising a new three-part drill: a hop, a step and a strike. Chloe Kelly's distinctive penalty technique doesn't work as well for everyone though. "Some are better at it than others," smiles head coach John Mitchell at his players' attempts to copy the Euros-winning England footballer. "The girls love mimicking those sorts of things. We'll probably have to put a stop on it as we don't want to do any hamstrings!" England face Spain on Saturday, just as Kelly and her team-mates did in last weekend's final. The pressure will be some way short of shootout stress though. Spain are ranked 13th in the world. They have lost their past three games - one Test against South Africa and two against Japan. Their last meeting with England was a 10-try 56-5 thrashing in the 2017 Rugby World Cup pool stages. A clutch of Las Leonas - Ealing Trailfinders prop Cristina Blanco, Sale Sharks back row Alba Capell and Harlequins back Claudia Pena - compete in the PWR. Fly-half Amalia Argudo is a key part of the Toulouse side that reached the Elite 1 final in France earlier this year. But collectively, they will lack the quality and depth to offer significant resistance to the queenpins of the women's game. Instead the competition for the Red Roses will mainly be internal. The 2024-25 English domestic season was condensed, with the final taking place three months earlier than usual, to maximise the Red Roses' preparation for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup. As such, this warm-up against Spain marks two months since their first training camp. During that time they have been to the heat of Treviso and plumbed the depths of their stamina to find an extra edge. Over the rest of the world, but also over each other. The meeting with Spain gives players on the fringe of the 32-strong squad a chance to push towards the centre of Mitchell's planning. Maddie Feaunati is in a potential tussle with Alex Matthews for the first-choice number eight shirt, while Marlie Packer and Abi Burton - at opposite ends of their Test careers - will be directly compared to Sadia Kabeya, who is poised on the bench. Zoe Harrison, in competition with Holly Aitchison, has a chance to cement her spot at 10. Lucy Packer, England's starting nine in their World Cup final defeat by New Zealand three years ago, is trying to unseat Natasha Hunt. In the front-row, there is Springbok-style strength in depth, with hooker May Campbell, joint-top try scorer in the PWR last season, Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir as the back-up to Kelsey Clifford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern. There is intrigue on the wing as Jess Breach attempts to edge ahead of Claudia Moloney-McDonald and Helena Rowland, a sublimely skilled footballer still searching for a secure backline spot, and try her hand out wide. Centre Jade Shekells will attempt to barge into the midfield equation as she wins her third cap. Emma Sing has been excellent for Gloucester-Hartpury, but has the hardest task of all, keeping World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne's full-back spot warm. And in the background, for all of them, is the clock. The canapes and tickertape have barely been cleared away from football's celebrations, but a baton has been passed. England will play France next weekend in their final warm-up and then the rehearsals are over. A Rugby World Cup opener against the United States awaits on 22 August. Marlie Packer, who captains the side against Spain, is setting her sights high. She has won the World Cup before. Back in 2014, England's women footballers, preparing for a qualifier against Wales, came off the training pitch and sat down to cheer Packer and her team-mates - all amateurs - to a final win over Canada. This time though a Red Roses victory, on home turf, as professionals, at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, would be many magnitudes bigger. "It is our turn now, let's go and do it," said Packer. "Like how the footballers have inspired us, we want to inspire them and the nation. "We can define the way women's rugby is looked at by the way we play and how we want to be." Spain is where England iron out the small details needed to realise that big ambition.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Kotoni Staggs justifies calls for Aussie jersey after NRL great's Trbojevic prediction
Kotoni Staggs is starting to justify calls for his potential inclusion in the Kangaroos squad at the end of the year to play in the Ashes series after a NRL great predicted the Broncos centre would get selected over incumbent Tom Trbojevic. Staggs ran riot over a depleted Rabbitohs team on Friday night in his side's 60-14 victory as he reminded former coach Kevin Walters what he is capable of at his best. One moment that left the NRL commentators in shock was when Staggs sprinted from one side of the field to the other and tackled Bayleigh Bentley-Hape after an intercept. Staggs' effort was special and the centre has been one of the Broncos' best players in 2025, despite a rollercoaster season. But he was back to his best on Friday night having scored two tries, assisted another and made two linebreaks as his side were unstoppable. And Staggs is putting himself in the selection frame for the Kangaroos tour come the end of the season with former coach Walters handed the reins of the national side. Reports suggest Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is tossing up switching his national rugby league allegiances to Samoa, which would free up a centre position in the green and gold. Other incumbent Trbojevic has been moved to the centres for the Manly Sea Eagles after struggling to find form in the No.1 jersey. And the Manly star had a poor game defensively last week against the Bulldogs, which has thrown his role in the national side into question. Only last week, Corey Parker claimed he would select Staggs as one of his centres for the historic tour of England. And while it may have raised eyebrows at the time, it appears he may be onto something. Corey Parker predicts Kotoni Staggs selection Staggs has been in sensational form across the last eight rounds and his former Broncos coach may have plans for the NSW centre to come into the side come the Wembley clash. Speaking on SEN Radio last week, Parker went for Knights centre Bradman Best and Broncos star Kotoni Staggs as his Kangaroos pairing. The Broncos and Queensland great wasn't convinced just yet we are seeing the Trbojevic of old and also left the incumbent out of his current Kangaroos side to take on England. While Parker also left out Latrell Mitchell from his predicted Kangaroos XIII, it appears the Rabbitohs star is set for an early return. Kotoni Staggs since Round 14152 metres per game36 tackle breaks11 line breaks4 tries3 try assistsBy far the best run of his career and arguably has been Brisbane's best player in those 7 games — Rhys 🇦🇺❗️ (@SulloReport) August 2, 2025 Tom Trbojevic facing tough Kangaroos battle Walters is set for a massive boost for the Ashes series with Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirming Mitchell will return within the next two weeks. Mitchell played well for the NSW Blues in the State of Origin series, but didn't produce too many moments of magic in the decider with Queensland taking Game 3 in Sydney. Unfortunately for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mitchell injured his hamstring in training and was thought to be out for around eight weeks and potentially the season. However, Bennett confirmed after the Broncos thrashing the side should be welcoming back their superstar shortly. This is a boost for South Sydney and Walters who will have the luxury of selecting the NSW centre if he finds form. RELATED: Fans fume over Reece Walsh act as Bennett rocked over 18th man drama Farnworth blow rocks English and Dolphins fans as fresh details emerge Although it does come as a blow to Trbojevic who appears to be fighting for his jersey. Trbojevic has had a disrupted season with injury and being moved from fullback to centre. Bronson Xerri and Connor Tracey both targeted the left side of the field in the Bulldogs win over Manly last weekend and Trbojevic's defence came into question. And Walters will now be tossing up his selections with Trbojevic facing an opportunity to bounce back against the Roosters on Saturday. Both the Roosters and Manly will see the clash at Brookvale Oval as a must-win clash if they want to keep their top eight hopes alive in 2025. And Trbojevic will be looking to showcase some of his barnstorming runs to remind fans of his star power.
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
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How to watch Australia vs British & Irish Lions Test 3: Live stream rugby for FREE
The Wallabies' reputation sits in tatters, but things could yet get worse. Not only have they already lost the series, but to the tourists' delight they're making excuses too. The final Test of the Lions tour offers Joe Schmidt's men one final chance to salvage some pride, though they'll have to do so without the influential Rob Valetini. You can watch Australia vs Lions Test 3 live streams from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE. The Australia vs Lions Test 3 live stream takes place on Saturday, August 2.• Time: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. BST / 8 p.m. AEST• FREE STREAM — 9Now (Australia)• U.S. — CBS via Fubo or Paramount Plus• U.K. — Sky Sports• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free For an idea of Valetini's impact: he only played the first half of last week's game. Australia went into the interval 23-17 up; they went on to lose 26-29, courtesy of a last-gasp Hugo Keenan try that was controversial only to the Wallabies. Carlo Tizzano reacted to a Jac Morgan clearout in contentious fashion, flinging himself to the ground in a desperate flop that might have shamed a soccer player. Schmidt's taken him out of the firing line for Saturday's clash at Stadium Australia, where Nic White will start at scrum-half on his final international outing. Making his first appearance of the series is Taniela Tupou, who at nearly 150kg should at least make up for Valetini in terms of sheer physicality. Somewhat surprisingly, Morgan is once more on the bench for the Lions, who have switched James Lowe and Ollie Chessum out for Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan. With Sione Tuipulotu still injured, Andy Farrell has selected Bundee Aki, who's come under fire from fans for his performances so far. Here's how to watch Australia vs Lions Test 3 live streams from anywhere in the world, and potentially for free. If you're in Australia you're in luck, as you can watch an Australia vs Lions Test 3 live stream for FREE on 9Now. Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch all the action as if you were back home. Of the options, NordVPN is our top pick, and we'll show you how to access it below. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the rugby on your usual subscription? You can still watch Australia vs Lions Test 3 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market: NordVPN deal: 70% off Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN. ✅ Money back guarantee✅ 70% off usual price✅ Amazon gift card worth up to $50 Use Nord to unblock 9Now and watch Australia vs Lions Test 3 live online with our exclusive deal. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from Australia but want to view 9Now as usual, you'd select an Aussie server from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to 9Now and enjoy! Australia vs Lions Test 3 is being shown on both CBS and Paramount Plus in the U.S.. You need the $12.99 per month Showtime plan to tune in on Paramount Plus. Alternatively, Fubo carries CBS and offers new customers a 7-day free trial. Prices start from $84.99 a month. Not currently in the U.S. but want to catch the Australia vs Lions Test? You can use a VPN to watch all the action as if you were back home. NordVPN is our top pick. The Australia vs Lions Test 3 is being shown on Sky Sports. Head to Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices and don't forget you can stream Sky Sports live on Sky Go, which is available on a multitude of devices. Don't want to be locked down to a Sky TV contract? NOW Sports offers a streaming alternative and prices start from £14.99/day or £34.99/month. There will also be highlights later in the day at 8 p.m. BST on the free-to-air Welsh-language S4C channel, which can be streamed on BBC iPlayer. If you're abroad right now, you can still follow your preferred Australia vs Lions Test 3 live stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN. The Australia vs Lions Test 3 live stream is exclusive to DAZN in Canada. Paying for a year upfront will get you the most bang for your buck, at CA$249.99. However, if you commit to a year but pay monthly, you'll get your first two months for CA$4.99 apiece, with the remaining 10 priced at CA$24.99/month. A monthly rolling subscription usually costs CA$34.99, but for a limited time you can get your first month for CA$19.99. Those from Australia visiting Canada can use 9Now to watch the 3rd test using NordVPN. As alluded to previously, Australia vs Lions Test 3 is being broadcast for FREE on Channel 9, with live streaming available via 9Now. The game is also being shown on Stan Sport ad-free and in 4K. Stan Sport costs AU$20/month on top of a Stan plan, which starts at AU$12/month. If you're away from Australia right now and want to watch your usual subscription from back home, use a quality VPN like NordVPN. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
