Porter and his cauliflower ears could be quote of the Lions tour so far
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Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Townsend praises defensive effort as Scotland hang on to beat Maori All Blacks 29-26 in tour opener
Maori All Blacks 26 Scotland 29 GREGOR TOWNSEND praised a huge defensive effort from his players as Scotland held firm to beat the Maori All Blacks in a thrilling contest in Whangarei. Scotland led 29-12 at one point during the second half and looked good value to go on and secure a commanding victory. But, with both teams throwing the ball around and playing some excellent attacking rugby, the Maori All Blacks fought back to tee-up a nail-biting finale. They went through 27 phases right at the death as the clock went deep into overtime, pummelling away at Scotland's defensive line. But the visitors held firm to secure a first-ever win over the Māoris, ensuring that their summer tour started in a positive fashion. 'It would have been devastating to lose at the end having led for so long, so we're glad we saw it through. The defence was excellent,' said Scotland head coach Townsend. 'The Maori put us under a lot of pressure at the end and really came back at us, but we found a way to win. 'Jamie Dobie and Fergus Burke were massive for us at the end and really helped us win the turnover to shift the momentum. 'I was so proud of the effort, especially at the end of the game. The players showed what playing for Scotland means to them. 'We knew it would be tough. The Maori All Blacks have a good record against international teams, especially at home. 'The players don't officially win a cap, but that was a Test match in terms of the quality and physicality we faced. 'The Maori are a quality side and we decided to put a team out that wasn't as experienced, knowing it'll be a great development and learning experience for them.' Scotland will now head off to face Fiji in Suva next weekend, before returning to New Zealand to face Samoa in Auckland. 'We know next week will be an even tougher test,' added Townsend. 'We are playing a Fiji team who have some outstanding individuals and are ranked in the top 10 in the world. 'We will make some changes to the team next week, but this was a good win that sets us up nicely for the next two games.' Stafford McDowall captained Scotland against the Māoris and had a fine game in the centre alongside Rory Hutchinson. Indeed, all of Scotland's backline played well, with Ollie Smith also impressing at full-back on his first Scotland appearance since the 2023 World Cup. McDowall believes this was a game that Scotland could well have lost in the past, but praised the resilience and mental fortitude of the team to dig in and get the win. 'That was two teams just chucking everything at each other for 80 minutes,' he said. 'I'm so proud of the boys for the defensive shift towards the end against a really good team. 'We spoke at half-time about putting ourselves in a good position, but we knew the Māoris were going to come back at us. 'We probably lost control a little bit for 15 or 20 minutes and they managed to score a couple of tries. 'In the past, we might have lost that game. But I'm proud of how we were able to dig in and get the win. 'This was an opportunity to launch the tour with a good start and thankfully we were able to do that.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
All Blacks hold off depleted France in thriller and Wales slump again in Japan
Will Jordan scored a try in each half and Beauden Barrett kicked to perfection as New Zealand overcame three cancelled tries to claim a nervous 31-27 win over France in the series-opener in Dunedin. Fielding only three players from the Six Nations title-deciding win over Scotland, the depleted France side gave Scott Robertson's team a huge scare in an entertaining match at a sold-out Forsyth-Barr stadium. However, a late Barrett penalty proved enough for the All Blacks to hold on, ending a three-match losing streak against Les Bleus. 'Just a typical Test match against the French for us,' said Jordan, who was denied a hat-trick try by the television match official. 'A couple of errors cost us … But we showed good composure to finish it off in the end there.' The All Blacks lost Sevu Reece to a head-knock less than a minute in when the wing clattered into a French hip, forcing Robertson into a backline rejig and Damian McKenzie to play at full-back off the bench. The French had a better start, with the debutant fly-half, Joris Segonds, booting a penalty in the seventh minute after Gabin Villière won a turnover penalty. France charged out to a 10-0 lead as Théo Attissogbe made a break down the left wing, Gaël Fickou drove the ball to the line and Mickaël Guillard crossed by the right post. Chastened, the All Blacks hit back hard. A Jordie Barrett try was denied by a knock-on in the buildup, but minutes later his brothers combined for their first legal try. Scott Barrett charged down a French clearing kick behind the 22m line before Beauden put Jordan over at the right corner with a superb, loop pass. McKenzie kept the momentum for the hosts, shrugging off four would-be tacklers with a jinking run to the posts before Tupou Vaa'i barged over to put the All Blacks four points up. The Barrett brothers struck again just before half-time, this time with Jordie touching down at the right corner after quick hands from Beauden and Jordan. The All Blacks' 21-13 lead all but disappeared within minutes of the restart, though, as Rieko Ioane spilled the kick-off ball forward to gift France a scrum deep in attack. Battering away for 16 phases, Segonds spread the ball wide to Villière who jogged through a gaping hole in the All Blacks' line on the right. The try-fest continued as Jordan burst through two defenders to cross for his second, with Beauden Barrett again setting up the chance. Fresh off the bench, Cameron Woki then crossed under the posts to peg back the All Blacks again. The pendulum swung back to the hosts with Villière shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. A minute later, Billy Proctor stretched an arm over the line – only for the try to be cancelled as replays showed an illegal grounding of the ball. The undermanned French soon buckled again, with Jordan seemingly crossing for his hat-trick try in the 63rd minute. But it was erased by the TMO, who spotted Pasilio Tosi obstructing a French defender in the buildup. Wales's interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, said his players were hurt by an 18th successive Test defeat as Japan recovered from a 12-point deficit to inflict further misery on the beleaguered tourists. Sherratt's side led 19-7 at the interval in Kitakyushu through tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty try, and were in sight of claiming Wales' first win for 21 months. But Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms stormed back in sweltering conditions, with the temperatures reaching 34C alongside a very high humidity reading, to win 24-19 and register only their second ever victory over Wales. 'I think you could see the feelings pitchside, not just the squad but the whole staff,' said Sherratt of the scenes at the final whistle. 'To have a 19-7 lead in the first half and to lose the game at the end is obviously very disappointing. It hurts. Already we've got to quickly use that hurt to fuel next week. The great thing about this tour is we get a chance next week to put it right.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Gregor Townsend was pleased to see Scotland's summer tour 'start on a positive' after his side held on to claim a 29-26 win against the Māori All Blacks in Whangarei. Having got off to a shaky start when Sam Nock crossed for the hosts, Scotland were able to clinch victory in the non-cap international with tries from Harry Paterson, Arron Reed and two either side of the break from George Horne. In a late scare the Māori reduce Scotland's lead to three points with 10 minutes to play, but Townsend was pleased to see his less experienced side prevail in Whangarei. The head coach said: 'The Māori are a quality side and I suppose we decided to put a team out tonight that wasn't as experienced knowing that it'll be a great development and learning experience for them. But we also wanted to win this game and we're so pleased that we did win the game and how we set that win up in the first half – how clinical we were. And then the pressure around set pieces and our defensive effort at the end saw us through. So, we're really pleased that the tour starts on a positive.' Hong Kong beat South Korea 70-22 in Incheon to win the Asia Rugby Championship and qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Hong Kong sides have got to the final stage of qualifying for the last two World Cups only to fall short but will now take their place at the expanded 24-team showpiece tournament in Australia in 2027. The United Arab Emirates beat Sri Lanka 29-21 in Colombo on Friday to finish second in the championship and will play off against an African nation in July for a spot at the final World Cup qualification tournament. Hong Kong are only the second team from Asia to get to the World Cup after Japan, who have already qualified after finishing third in their pool at the 2023 tournament in France. This story will be updated with later matches
Times
an hour ago
- Times
England vs India live: score, updates from day four at Edgbaston
While we are waiting for the start of play, shall we take a chance to laugh at the Australian top order? We've just been having a discussion in the press box, and we think this is their worst top order since around 1984/85 — John Dyson anyone? Graeme Wood? Steve Rixon? Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja are both out in Australia's second innings. Cameron Green can't buy a run. One theory is that they'll bring Nathan McSweeney back in to the fold for the Ashes. Players have been through their warm-ups. It's grey but dry. Decent view from the press box though — there's our esteemed correspondent wandering all over the square. Give us a wave, Athers! Harry Brook had quite the day yesterday, posting 158 in a remarkable partnership worth 303 with Jamie Smith, but England still ended their innings 180 runs behind India, who now lead by 244 with nine wickets in hand. See his full press conference below. Mohammed Siraj proved yesterday that India are not a one-man show led by Jasprit Bumrah. But after such a dominant bowling display, and capable Indian batting to boot, you feel you still can't write England off. Jarrod Kimber and Jon Norman from talkSPORT chat through why the hosts will still feel like they're in with a chance. Friday was a quite extraordinary day's play at Edgbaston, as England posted one of the most peculiar scorecards probably ever seen in Test cricket. Six ducks, two scores above 150 (we all love a daddy hundred), a 303 partnership and England still ended their innings 180 runs behind. Neil Manthorp and the former England bowler Steve Harmison discuss the day. Mike Atherton, at Edgbaston It is almost a year to the day that Jamie Smith made his Test debut. At the time some wondered why, when there were so many established options to choose from like the combative Jonny Bairstow and the smooth-as-silk Ben Foakes. England were certain of their man, though, throwing him into the cauldron at Lord's against West Indies, and since then he has showed exactly why they were keen to do so. What England's selectors saw was a competent wicketkeeper — even though he took the gloves rarely for his county in first-class cricket — but also a batsman who could change a game in an instant, Adam Gilchrist-style, in a counterattacking way. That is exactly how he played here, flirting with the record for England's fastest hundred, and taking the highest score by an England wicketkeeper from Alec Stewart, his boss in county cricket, who was at Edgbaston to see the baton passed on. Read the full report here. A very good morning to you from not so sunny Birmingham. The good news is that the threatened rain doesn't seem to have materialised, at least not yet, it is quite grey and murky overhead but it's perfectly pleasant temperature of 19C, and England won't mind the cloudy conditions. Hopefully the ball will swing a bit, because the pitch still isn't offering much, and doesn't appear to be breaking up. India will be planning on batting for most of the day if possible they won't wanna give England any sniff of a chase given what happened at Headingley but equally will want to give themselves enough time to have the chance to take ten wickets. Strapping, we could be in for another fascinating day in what is an absolutely absorbing series.
