Andy Farrell accuses British & Irish Lions opponents of OVER-WATERING the pitch - despite Sydney being hit by a 'weather bomb'
The tourists were expected to run up a bigger scoreline against the Super Rugby team but they were turned-over 20 times by their dogged opponents.
There has been three days of sunshine since Sydney was hit by a 'weather bomb' and Farrell has suspicions about the amount of water on the pitch.
We have been here for two days now and it has been glorious,' said the Lions coach. 'For whatever reason, and I actually don't care, it's great for us, the pitch was very wet. I was asking Mike Catt [the Waratahs coach] after the game and he was laughing. I mean, that's good tactics from them, isn't it? That the ball's slippy, the breakdown's ferocious enough. We've seen that done plenty of times.
'I don't know whether the pitch needed watering. And we kept on trying to overplay at times, certainly around halfway and putting ourselves back under pressure and keeping them in the game really. So I believe that it could be wet on Wednesday anyway, so we'll take that.'
The Lions have a day off on Sunday before they travel to Canberra to face the Brumbies. Farrell confirmed that his son, Owen, will not be ready for the fixture after landing into Australia on Friday night.
He also revealed that young back-row Henry Pollock pulled out of Saturday's match due to a calf strain. 'We had a bit of an awareness on a calf strain that was tight enough this morning,' said Farrell. 'So knowing what we knew, there was no need to risk him.'
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BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Farrell muddies waters & Kinghorn's class
In the face of their disappointment at the Allianz Stadium the British and Irish Lions tried their best to talk up the positives of their unconvincing 21-10 win over the Waratahs, but it was the hardest of hard coach Andy Farrell said that the 50-point victories against the Western Force and the Queensland Reds weren't what real touring was all about. "The 50-pointers aren't reality, really, are they?" said Farrell. He sounded like a man who thought they were real enough when they happened."It was a different type of game [against the Waratahs] but we are we glad that's happened to us," he added, before saying: "It is good, isn't it?"So it's good, apparently, that a scare and a visit to the dark side will hold them in good stead for the Test match series with the Wallabies. It's one way of looking at it, but there are others. Farrell lets himself down with pitch comments The Lions got turned over so many times and became helter-skelter in attack. Farrell owned that to an extent, but his complaints about the pitch being watered were a touch cringe-inducing."The pitch was very wet and I was asking Mike Catt after the game and he was laughing," said Farrell of the former England international who is now on the coaching staff of the Waratahs. "I mean, that's good tactics from them, isn't it? That the ball's slippery."He was asked directly if he believed the Waratahs deliberately watered the pitch before the game to make it harder for the Lions. "I don't know," he replied. "I mean, Catty just laughed. We've seen that done plenty of times. I don't know whether the pitch needed watering."As a piece of excuse-making it was wildly out of place. Maybe that's why Farrell started to row back subsequently. Was he not aware that the pitch at the Allianz is infamously greasy because of terrible drainage? Did he not know that they're intending to dig it up soon? Did he not know that a 'bomb cyclone', external hit Sydney earlier in the week?"We know all that," said Farrell. "But we have been here for two days now and it has been glorious. The pitch was OK and we are not complaining."It very much sounded like he was. Lock forward Scott Cummings, who made an impressive return to form, said later that the pitch was "a bit boggy". It really wasn't. But even if it was, so what? These are the British and Irish Lions we're talking about. The elite. A wet ball? Who cares?Waratahs coach Dan McKellar had a bit of fun at Farrell's expense when talking about the rain that fell on the city. "Andy was probably sunning himself in Brisbane on Tuesday, but it wasn't pleasant in Sydney, that's for sure."Famed for an attention to detail and a no-excuse culture, this was odd stuff from Farrell. Smith struggles and door opens for Owen Farrell The power of Owen Farrell is something to behold. When the cameras panned to him at the Allianz on Saturday the entire crowd reacted, some with pantomime booing, others with cheering. The one thing they weren't doing was being who arrived in Sydney on Friday, took it well, smiling and laughing. The guy is pure box office. We're all still talking about why he's been parachuted into this squad. The coach's son, yes, fine, we get it. But what else is going on here?Some observers say that this was always going to happen and that Farrell will definitely be in the Test 23 for Brisbane. They're convinced of it. The intrigue is father's official explanation in midweek is that he felt his squad was a little short at inside centre with Sione Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki the only options. Terrific ones, in there more to it? Does he have doubts about Fin Smith's readiness to back-up Finn Russell on the bench? Does he have issues around the leadership of the squad - is everyone too nice and/or too quiet?If those are views he shares then Saturday might have only reinforced things. Smith struggled in running the backline and the direction of the team was all over the place for most of the enter Faz Jnr, but when? Not on Wednesday against the Brumbies, says his father. He might still be getting over the jet-lag. Next Saturday in Adelaide against the invitational Australia-New Zealand team? All things being equal, about after that? If you believe that Owen can step into a Lions Test match squad (covering 10 and maybe 12) after not playing in nine weeks, having not played particularly well before that and having not featured in an international game for 20 months, then you're convinced that he can return to his best stuff at the mere sight of the red jersey, as if the last year doesn't he can. And maybe he will be given the chance for a fairy tale tour, but the stakes are monstrously high. Smith's struggles made Owen's elevation a bit more likely. But will he be any good? Kinghorn looks classy and a Test Lion in the making Playing for Toulouse gives you a certain aura, especially when you're holding down a place every week and have just won back-to-back French Kinghorn, who arrived in Australia on Monday, played nicely on the left wing but he will be in the 15 jersey come the Tests, unless things go badly awry. The Scot has authority, athleticism, a big boot and a fantastic running game. Not many improved their chances on Saturday but Kinghorn certainly did. McKellar gives Schmidt plenty to think about The Waratahs had a depleted squad on Saturday but gave the Lions a mighty scare. What was McKellar's gameplan?"We wanted to put them under a lot of pressure with our press defence," he said before the match. "They're an outstanding team but they've got two arms and two legs and if we take away their time and space, and if we back that up with accuracy in our physicality, then we can create turnover opportunities."And, boy, did they create turnover opportunities. Charlie Gamble, who we can be safe to call an unheralded openside, won turnover and after turnover. The Lions were routed on the floor. They coughed up possession 20 times and gave away 13 head coach Joe Schmidt will be square-eyed from watching the footage of the Waratahs causing the Lions so much grief. No need to panic, there's still a fine 23-man Test squad available The Waratahs severely dented the Test match hopes of a number of Lions. Hugo Keenan was praised by Farrell for playing the game - maybe the effects of a bug were still with him to an extent - but he had a really rough Hansen, praised to the hilt by Farrell after his performance in Perth, probably took a step back. Huw Jones and his partnership with Sione Tuipulotu had its moments, but what's with all the touchline-to-touchline rugby from the 28-year-old? He's devastating when going direct. Is this lateral movement part of Farrell's grand plan?"We made line breaks the whole time when we were direct and it didn't matter if we were playing off nine or off 10," said Farrell. "When we were direct we were good." So why not go direct more often?The call between 'Huwipulotu' and 'Ringaki' (humble apologies Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki) is as tight as a drum. Does Farrell go with his trusted Irish pair? Jones bounced right back into contention with his two tries. He looks like he's regaining his edge again after picked a prospective squad in this space last week and there are a few somebody thundered that this writer should be sent home because Jac Morgan was left out of the 23. Time is running out and emotions are running squad: Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu (Aki), Lowe, Russell (F Smith*), Gibson-Park (Mitchell); Genge (Schoeman), Sheehan (Cowan-Dickie), Bealham (Furlong), Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum (Beirne), Van der Flier, Conan (Pollock)*Farrell isn't here to hold tackle bags. If he looks decent next Saturday then he might well be in the 23 and the skies may fall in rugbyland.
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Off-colour Lions made to work for victory over New South Wales Waratahs
A fortnight out from the first Test against the Wallabies and the Lions struggled to put away a side that finished eighth in the Super Rugby table and had lost five of their last six matches. Even the arrival of a heavyweight bench could not provide the lift Andy Farrell's men needed at Allianz Stadium and a dismal second-half made for grim viewing with Alex Mitchell's 55th-minute try at least providing some breathing space. Full time in Sydney 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 5, 2025 Henry Pollock was withdrawn from the back row shortly before kick-off because of a tight calf and it was a good match for the rising star of English rugby to miss with a number of Lions playing their way out of Test match contention. Only Scotland centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones and props Pierre Schoeman and Finlay Bealham distinguished themselves with the impressive Jones finishing with two tries, lifting his total for the tour to three. Owen Farrell arrived into camp on Friday after being called-up as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly and witnessed a display that fell well short of previous outings against Western Force and Queensland Reds. The former England captain smiled as he was booed and cheered when shown on the big screen, with team-mate Will Stuart comically joining the jeering coming from home fans. The Waratahs fought their hearts out even though they were missing several key players such as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Angus Bell to Australia duty against Fiji on Sunday. Taniela Tupou, dubbed the 'Tongan Thor', had at least been released back to the franchise in the hope he would find some form ahead of the Tests but instead he struggled as the Lions mined three scrum penalties in the opening quarter. Huw Jones at the double in the first half 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 5, 2025 The tourists were dominating the set-piece, but it was the understanding of centres Tuipulotu and Jones that led to an opening try that was forged in Scotland. Jones crossed after being sent through a gap with a short pass from his Scotland centre colleague and then powered over for a second having also made the initial carry that drove the hosts backwards. Waratahs openside Charlie Gamble had seen a try chalked off for offside at the line-out but his team eventually succeeded in the 35th minute when Darby Lancaster capitalised on hesitant defending on the Lions' right wing. Hugo Keenan was enduring a nightmare debut after making error after error but he was far from alone as the familiar theme of dropped passes and poor handling continued to haunt Farrell's men. They led just 14-5 at the interval and when Ethan Dobbin finished a maul try one minute into the second half they suddenly found themselves in a tight spot, playing poorly against a side that was scrapping for everything. Mitchell settled the nerves when he took advantage of an overlap to dummy his way over and the Lions were unable to break through again in a desperately scrappy final quarter.
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
Haters must get a grip, Owen Farrell adds to party — and my Test team
Even though he was not even on the bench on Saturday, Owen Farrell brought out one of the loudest crowd reactions when he was picked out on the giant screens, now wearing his new British & Irish Lions kit. Perhaps unusually for him, he reacted with a broad beam until the camera moved on. We can get straight down to it with a verdict on the choice of Farrell as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly, who was arguably the best Lion in the early games. The choice of Owen Farrell made by Andy Farrell — and his colleagues — is one of the bravest selections in the history of the Lions. For some reason, any reference to Farrell Jr is quickly enveloped in a fit of rage across social media and in the clubhouses of the nation. The reaction to him was sent up on Saturday by Will Stuart, who was seated behind him and accompanied the shot of the fly half with some comedy booing. Frankly, the reaction to Farrell Jr, whether he has been completely innocent, whether he has brought off the odd high tackle, and even when he is just going about his business, is a shocking blight on rugby and almost demolishes on its own the sport's reputation as a warm and friendly one. We can come to the reasoning behind his arrival shortly, and it is a cast-iron decision. But before then, the reaction. When Andy Farrell appeared at a briefing to account for his choice, I had a question for him. Bearing in mind the bile-laden reactions to Owen whenever his name seems to be mentioned, did he have any reservations when the decision was made that his son would be the replacement — did he think it might not be worth all the hassle? He did not answer the question directly, but he was far more convincing when explaining. The background is that the Lions win only very occasionally, that they keep on returning home in defeat, wishing they had done something different. Every single measure must be taken, or otherwise tours are usually doomed by a number of factors. My reading of the situation is that Finn Russell has come out clearly as the key Lion. If anything should befall the great Scot then the Lions are in trouble — because Fin Smith has not been quite at his best here, and Marcus Smith, the other nominated fly half, is simply not a contender at Test level. Farrell is a cool, calculating and definitive controller, and is here not as a replacement for Daly, but as a failsafe at the heart of the team. He will not play in Canberra on Wednesday, but may well appear next Saturday. People say that he has not played for ages. So does anyone think that his state of body and mind has not been rigorously checked by the Lions through consultation with Saracens? The truth, however inconvenient it is for the haters, is that Farrell adds to the touring party — just as a similar being, Johnny Sexton, adds his own gravel and bite on the coaching staff. The idea that a Lions tour is an opportunity for Buggins' turn, or to blood young and deserving players, is total garbage. This is the top of the game and demands proven hard men, in body and mind. On Saturday, the identity of the Test team became more clear simply because a good few of Saturday's side have played themselves out, or at least played themselves to the fringes. Hugo Keenan is short of rugby, and short of form; Elliot Daly is back at home. Blair Kinghorn, fresh and firing, is now ahead for me in the Test stakes. There are players in good form here. Tommy Freeman belies his youth with some sharp play, and Duhan van der Merwe has his moments with the ball in hand. But Farrell could well retain his two Irish wings, Mack Hansen and James Lowe — the latter needs to approach his best. Huw Jones entered the race in a big way on Saturday, he is a beautiful player and finished well to score two tries. He seemed to make a natural partnership with Sione Tuipulotu, which probably edges him ahead of the more limited Bundee Aki. Garry Ringrose, however, will fight them all the way. Russell is unchallenged, and if the Lions were playing at one of their other touring venues where mayhem is guaranteed, then someone would seek to put him out of the game. An absolutely key Lion. Ben White is newly arrived, Alex Mitchell has played bravely, but Jamison Gibson-Park is ahead by a considerable margin, his sharp wits alone are worth gold to the touring team. There are three loose-heads in Ellis Genge, Pierre Schoeman and Andrew Porter, who could thrive in a Test match, and it is incredibly close between them. Porter may be possibly favoured, but Genge is right in there. On the other side of the scrum, Will Stuart has not quite launched a crusade, so prayers will be said for the increasing fitness of the great Tadhg Furlong. A guaranteed area, surely. Maro Itoje and the hulking Joe McCarthy are nailed on, and have a shot at developing into one of the great Lions partnerships. All is not well with the outstanding Tadhg Beirne. He was not at his sharpest in any way on Saturday, perhaps showing the effects of an endless season. Ollie Chessum has been impressive and can switch to blind side and give the team a major lineout option. On the open side, Tom Curry has looked just a little short of a gallop, possibly slowed by a succession of injuries. The praise doled out by Andy Farrell to Jac Morgan on this tour suggests that he could be chosen ahead of Josh van der Flier. Not a strong position. It seems that Jack Conan must be the starter, even though he lacks the size, pace and presence of a great Test No8. Suggestions that Henry Pollock could be chosen are surely wider than wide of the mark.
