Brian Moore: If Andy Farrell doesn't pick strongest team for last Lions Test, it would disrespect Australia and the fans
The Lions' victory over the Aussies came with a showing of conspicuous resilience and no little nerve. This was the first proper examination of their mettle since landing Down Under, and they managed to find a way to win.
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The Irish Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Lions fans left fuming at stadium DJ as Ireland star James Ryan stretchered off after horror head knock
FUMING British and Irish Lions fans have slammed a DJ at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Passionate supporters took exception after 2 Will Skelton of the Wallabies and Andrew Porter of the British and Irish Lions clash as James Ryan of the receives medical treatment on the ground during the third test of the series 2 Fans were NOT happy as Sweet Caroline instantly blared out after Ryan sustained a seemingly serious head injury The Leinster and Ireland star collided with the knee of Will Skelton while attempting to make a tackle on 42 minutes. But within moments of Supporters were less than happy as 100s took to social media to voice their upset as the tunes blasted out. read more on rugby One said "It's not exactly a new problem, but the stadium blaring Sweet Caroline while James Ryan has been KO'd is very poor form, lads." Another commented: "Really lifted my spirits hearing Sweet Caroline as medics rush to assist James Ryan. Can we just throw every stadium DJ into a skip please?" While a third fumed: "Imagine getting knocked out by a knee to the head and when you wake up, everyone's fighting and Sweet Caroline is playing on loud speaker." And a fourth penned: " Great work by the referee to stop the game there. Absolutely horrific work by the DJ to play Sweet Caroline while Ryan is clearly in a bad way. " Most read in Rugby Union After prolonged treatment, Ryan was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and replaced by Jac Morgan. But the game did not restart as action was suspended for 30 minutes as players were escorted off the field due to a lightning in the Sydney area. Australia and Lions rugby stars are forced off the pitch mid-game due to threat of lightning However, the break in play didn't slow down the Aussies, as they ran away with a The win delighted Aussie boss Joe Schmidt despite the 2-1 Test series defeat, the Wallabies face South Africa in the Rugby Championship opening fixture in a fortnight.
Irish Times
21 minutes ago
- Irish Times
‘We'll be having a reunion here in 12 years time': Tadhg Beirne marks bittersweet end to ‘incredible journey' Down Under
They come up short of the 3-0 series win they had targeted, yet it was clear in how they performed during their 22-14 defeat in the third Test to the Wallabies on a rain drenched night in Sydney and their reaction afterwards that they are largely content with their achievement. 'There is going to be frustration there,' admitted head coach Andy Farrell after the loss, having instead to settle on a 2-1 series victory. 'We said all along we wanted to win every game but the best team won on the night. 'I have just said to the lads on reflection it might take one, it might take two beers, but they will be unbelievably proud of what they achieved throughout this tour.' Who is Ireland's greatest ever Lion? Listen | 26:49 Alongside him sat Tadhg Beirne , declared the official player of the series and who inherited the captaincy from Dan Sheehan after the hooker had taken over from Maro Itoje, forced off due to a HIA. When Farrell said it might take one or two beers, Beirne smiled at the prospect of another night of celebrating their series win. 'We all know how hard it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia, and they are a good side, they proved that over the series, so on reflection when we get a bit of time to ourselves tonight and tomorrow we will be unbelievably proud of what we have achieved.' Asked what their legacy might be, Farrell was more inclined to look inward than outward. The Lions celebrate with the series trophy. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho 'The legacy for us is in that changing room, the togetherness, not just of the players but the whole group has been an absolute delight to work with. We have played some outstanding rugby over the last six to eight weeks and that has accumulated into a performance last week that was an unbelievably special moment for all of us and it will stay with us forever.' Asked if his players were a little weary at the end of the season and the tour, Farrell answered: 'I don't know. Everything is in hindsight, isn't it? 'We built the week up pretty good I thought. There were a few days off there. Training application on Tuesday and Wednesday was pretty good, as was yesterday. It's just the story of the game that got away from us in the end. I wouldn't have thought it was just one game too many. Who am I to know? These lads have been playing for how many months? They were certainly up for the game but the best team won.' [ Wallabies fight back to deny the Lions series whitewash Opens in new window ] [ Lions player ratings: Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry best of the tourists in Sydney washout Opens in new window ] In truth, the rain-sodden night, which including a 37-minute interruption due to lightening nearby, wasn't the easiest of watches, especially when James Ryan was being treated after being caught on the side of the head by Will Skelton's knee. The Leinster player was taken off on a motorised stretcher just as the teams were called from the pitch due to the lightening warning. 'He's up and talking. He was out there for a good few minutes but he's back up and in good spirits. Hopefully he's going to be fine,' Farrell said of the 29-year-old. Australian commentators were also incensed by a clearout by Dan Sheehan on Tom Lynagh which, despite the Wallabies outhalf subsequently landing a conversion, led to him being removed for a HIA and not returning. 'I haven't watched that back,' said Farrell. 'There's all sorts of rugby incidents that we can pull apart. I've seen quite a few more incidents as well. We'll always go through the right channels when that's concerned.' Lions head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the third Test against the Wallabies. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Farrell's selection of Beirne had been questioned, which then served as motivation for the Munster man. But Farrell appreciated what a truly big-game player Beirne is, so despite playing 26 games for Munster and Ireland over the course of another trojan season, and as well as starting three tour matches, the 33-year-old played every minute of the Test series. In the series finale he was again the Lions' best player, be it winning turnovers, making tackles, or using his skills and decision-making on the ball. 'On a personal level it is a massive honour, but that aside it is more about the series win for me, the journey from day one linking up with these boys and getting to enjoy their company for eight weeks,' said Beirne. 'It is a bittersweet moment because it is a class moment we have won the series, but we lost tonight which is a bit crap for us. But as Faz says, we will get over that because we have won the series. 'It is the last time we will be in that changing room as a group and that is a bitter part because we won't get that moment again. It has been such an incredible journey, we have loved every single moment of it. 'We have said we'll be having a reunion here in 12 years time. We are going to start a kitty and make sure we're all back here in 12 years to celebrate this series win, because it's been such an incredible journey and we've loved every minute of it. Tadhg Beirne after the match. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Farrell will be among those setting off home to Dublin within 24 hours of the series conclusion and then will return to the day job of coaching Ireland next season. Although coy, it's clear the possibility of leading the Lions to New Zealand would appeal to him. 'Again, everyone knows what I think about this concept,' he began, before Beirne interjected, 'I'll be there!' 'You'll be there, will you? At 37? You're joking. I'm retiring you next year,' quipped Farrell. He added: 'I suppose that says it all. I love everything that the Lions is about and I've thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks. There's always ups and there's always downs, but the inner circle is a special place to be.' So was that a yes then? 'Well, read into that what you want, but I suppose four years, there's a long time between drinks isn't there?'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Andy Farrell: It might take one or two beers before Lions players understand their achievement
Andy Farrell told his disappointed British & Irish Lions they will soon understand the scale of their achievement in winning the series over Australia, despite missing out on a 3-0 clean sweep on Saturday. The Lions lost the third and final Test to a Wallabies side that led in four of the six halves of this three-game set, going down 22-12 in the midst of a deluge at Accor Stadium and a 37-minute delay for lightning on a stormy night in the Sydney suburbs. Yet the tourists became only the third Lions side to win a series in the professional era, following successful victories over South Africa in 1997 and the 2013 Australians. It had been a below-par performance from a side that had revelled in their dramatic second Test win seven days earlier at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Joe Schmidt's home team salvaged some pride to make it 2-1 thanks to tries from Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen and Tate McDermott. Read More Lions player ratings v Australia: Hugo Keenan and Tom Curry the best from a disappointing third Test They had led throughout with the Lions responding at 15-0 down on 62 minutes through Jac Morgan and at the death when Will Stuart crashed over, their tries coming either side of a 10-minute sin-binning for replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher was yellow carded. 'There is going to frustration there,' Farrell said. 'We said all along we wanted to win every game but the best team won on the night today. 'I have just said to the lads on reflection it might take one, it might take two beers but they will be unbelievably proud of what they achieved throughout this tour. "We all know how hard it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia, and they are a good side, they proved that over the series so on reflection, when we get a bit of time to ourselves, tonight and tomorrow we will be unbelievably proud of what we have achieved.' Farrell added: 'The legacy for us is in that changing room, the togetherness, not just of the players but the whole group has been an absolute delight to work with. "We have played some outstanding rugby over the last six to eight weeks and that has accumulated into a performance last week that was an unbelievably special moment for all of us and it will stay with us forever.' Australia head coach Joe Schmidt, left, and British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell before the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile There was an individual honour for Munster and Ireland lock/flanker Tadhg Beirne, who finished the game as Lions captain and was named the player of the series. Yet he preferred to concentrate on the collective's success. 'On a personal level it is a massive honour but that aside it is more about the series win for me, the journey from day one linking up with these boys and getting to enjoy their company for eight weeks,' Beirne said. 'It is a bittersweet moment because it is a class moment we have won the series but we lost tonight which is a bit crap for us. But as Faz says, we will get over that because we have won the series. 'It is the last time we will be in that changing room as a group and that is a bitter part because we won't get that moment again. It has been such an incredible journey, we have loved every single moment of it. 'We have said we will be having a reunion here in 12 years time. We are going to start a kitty and make sure we are all back here in 12 years to celebrate this series win.' Farrell, who was Lions defence coach under Warren Gatland for the 2013 series win and the drawn series against the All Blacks in 2017, has now emulated both his predecessor and 1997 head coach Ian McGeechan as a series-winning boss of the tourists. Asked ahead of the third Test whether he would like to lead the Lions on their return to New Zealand in four years, he had said he more urgent business to think about but on Saturday gave a more considered answer to the same question, despite some interruptions from Beirne. 'Everyone knows what I think about this concept and…' Farrel began before Beirne chipped in with: 'I'll be there.' Farrell responded: 'You'll be there, will you? At 37? You're joking. I'm retiring you next year. 'I suppose that says it all. I love everything that the Lions is about and I've thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks. 'There's always ups and there's always downs but the inner circle is a special place to be,' adding: 'Read into that what you want but I suppose four years, there's a long time between drinks isn't there?'
