Lions Tour LIVE updates: Waratahs go head-to-head with Lions in Sydney
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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There has been a late change for the Lions: young backrower Henry Pollock has been withdrawn with a tight calf, meaning skipper Tadgh Beirne moves from lock to no.6, and Scott Cummings comes into the second row.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 $26.What do we reckon is going to happen? Have your say in the poll.
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The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Wallabies player ratings: How the men in gold fared against Fiji
Gave away a scrum penalty after just two minutes for angling in illegally, and the Wallabies will have to work closely with scum coach Mike Cron before they face the Lions in the first Test – especially after teammate Taniela Tupou struggled for the Waratahs against the Lions on Saturday evening and given the focus on scrumming squarely. 4. Nick Frost - 6.5 Led tackle count for Australia (23) and won nine lineouts. Played a strong part in the Wallabies' early success in the rolling mauls. 5. Jeremy Williams - 5 Not a great outing for this talented player. Was pinged for an obvious obstruction with the Wallabies desperately chasing a win late in the game on an attacking lineout metres out from the Fiji line. His lack of discipline could have proved highly costly. An abrasive presence as ever, though. 6. Langi Gleeson - 6.5 Was desperate to impress on his return for the Wallabies and made a strong start with biting carries at the Fiji defence. Led the Wallabies in beating four defenders while carrying 20 metres. 7. Fraser McReight - 7 Scored a fine try and was at the centre of the Wallabies' work at the breakdown, coming up with two crucial steals. 8. Harry Wilson - 6.5 Calmness under pressure was never more evident than when, with his team doing everything possible to lose the game, he spun and somehow touched the ball down over the line to rescue victory with just minutes left. Also impressed getting up to steal a Fiji lineout. 9. Tate McDermott- 6 The halfback was lively with his trademark snipes early in the game, but his influence waned as the Fijians found their rhythm. 10. Noah Lolesio - 4.5 Left the field in a neck brace, but waved to the crowd to signal he was OK. Whether he will be fit to return for the Wallabies Test series with the Lions is another matter. Lolesio's game management was poor and with half-time looming, he put over a risky chip-kick that was plucked by Fiji and finished by Salesi Rayasi for a try. 11. Max Jorgensen - 6 Looked dangerous on his return from injury, but wasn't perfect – with an unforced knock-on after 70 minutes and three missed tackles. 12. Len Ikitau - 6 Had some lovely early touches, with a trademark flick to bamboozle the Fijian defence. Missed three tackles which is frustrating from a man of his defensive quality. Led with 14 carries. 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - 6 Relished the one-on-one battle with Fiji star Josua Tuisova. His reads in defence were largely sound and had some nice touches that exploited space. His understanding with Ikitau is still there from November. 14. Harry Potter - 5.5 Kicked the ball almost every time he received it, almost certainly acting under instructions. It rarely came off in the way he would have liked. Showed up well in aerial battles. 15. Tom Wright - 5 A consistently world-class player who will not remember this game with much fondness. Two Wallabies tries were rubbed out due to his forward passes. Was unable to find the space to run the ball and was shackled. 16. Billy Pollard - 5 Came on far earlier than expected. Was busy in the loose but shaky with his lineout throwing. 17. Angus Bell - 5 Limited to just five carries in his 34 minutes on the field after coming on for James Slipper. Will be a key starter in the Test series. 18. Zane Nonggorr- 5 Went about his business quietly but didn't look out of place. 19. Tom Hooper - 6.5 Reminded Australia of his quality in a 16-minute cameo. Led team in carries per minute. 20. Carlo Tizzano - 5 Will be frustrated he wasn't able to stamp his authority on the breakdown in his 23 minutes. 21. Nic White - 6 Brought calmness and a strong kicking game when the Wallabies needed it. 22. Ben Donaldson- 5
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies player ratings: How the men in gold fared against Fiji
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
British Lions honour original skipper Robert Seddon, who died in 1888 in Maitland
British Lions chairman Ieuan Evans and Australian Rugby Union CEO Phil Waugh joined in Maitland on Sunday to pay tribute to the first Lions captain Robert Seddon. Seddon, 28, tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Hunter River on August 15, 1888, and he was buried in Maitland the next day, with the funeral one of the largest held in the city to that time. The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. "We shine a very powerful beacon wherever we travel, and for this moment, it is on the Maitland Rugby Club and this graveyard where we pay respects to our very first leader. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond, is I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had ever since honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history." British Lions chairman Ieuan Evans and Australian Rugby Union CEO Phil Waugh joined in Maitland on Sunday to pay tribute to the first Lions captain Robert Seddon. Seddon, 28, tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Hunter River on August 15, 1888, and he was buried in Maitland the next day, with the funeral one of the largest held in the city to that time. The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. "We shine a very powerful beacon wherever we travel, and for this moment, it is on the Maitland Rugby Club and this graveyard where we pay respects to our very first leader. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond, is I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had ever since honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history." British Lions chairman Ieuan Evans and Australian Rugby Union CEO Phil Waugh joined in Maitland on Sunday to pay tribute to the first Lions captain Robert Seddon. Seddon, 28, tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Hunter River on August 15, 1888, and he was buried in Maitland the next day, with the funeral one of the largest held in the city to that time. The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. "We shine a very powerful beacon wherever we travel, and for this moment, it is on the Maitland Rugby Club and this graveyard where we pay respects to our very first leader. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond, is I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had ever since honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history." British Lions chairman Ieuan Evans and Australian Rugby Union CEO Phil Waugh joined in Maitland on Sunday to pay tribute to the first Lions captain Robert Seddon. Seddon, 28, tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Hunter River on August 15, 1888, and he was buried in Maitland the next day, with the funeral one of the largest held in the city to that time. The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. "We shine a very powerful beacon wherever we travel, and for this moment, it is on the Maitland Rugby Club and this graveyard where we pay respects to our very first leader. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond, is I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had ever since honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history."
