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The 42
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Lions hope to 'create moments' as Irish crew get shot against Force
ANDY FARRELL AND his Lions coaches are urging their team to create memories when they play their first fixture on Australian soil against Western Force on Saturday [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports]. The Lions are eager to kickstart their tour after losing 28-24 to Argentina in their Dublin opener as they build towards the Test series against the Wallabies, which begins in Brisbane on 19 July. Although they may be the worst-performing of Australia's Super Rugby sides this season, the Force have been reinforced by the presence of six Wallabies who have been released for the Optus Stadium showdown. Irish scrum coach John Fogarty has highlighted the importance of the Lions rewarding their supporters – more than 30,000 are expected to head Down Under – after seeing the Aviva Stadium turn red last Friday. 'The lads need to create moments for people to get behind,' said Fogarty, who oversaw a dominant scrum performance against the Pumas. 'Whether it's in a scrum or off a line-out or attacking play or defensive play, we need to make sure we're creating moments that capture the minds of the people that matter most. That's the plan. 'It's an amazing thing, the Lions. You get behind it instantly. It was disappointing against Argentina because you feel like you're letting people down a little bit due to the performance and the result.' The Lions at Optus Stadium on Friday. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Head coach Farrell has made 13 changes to his starting XV for this clash in Perth, with eight Irish players in the starting XV and three more on the bench. Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan will captain the Lions on his debut for the tourists, while Scoland's Finn Russell makes his first appearance of 2025 at out-half. This is a prime chance for the Irish contingent and others to lay down an early claim to be part of Farrell's Test side. Connacht man Mack Hansen starts on the right wing and he knows what's awaiting the Lions tomorrow after being present as a spectator for the Brumbies' famous upset of the tourists on their last visit to Australia in 2013. Canberra-born Hansen will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle. 'I was at that Brumbies game [in 2013] with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,' said Hansen, who sat out Friday's captain's run as his training load was managed. Advertisement 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don't expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it. 'They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there's still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams. 'None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it's not just us that want to win. 'We want to win every game but the Force aren't saying 'all right boys, let's go out and lose by 40'. They'll be coming out thinking 'we can cause an upset'. They've only got one game, then they're on holiday. Mack Hansen in Perth this week. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'There will be this, then they'll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I'm sure they're going to give it their all. 'When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we're here, it will take its toll on us, but that's a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting.' Any doubt the Lions have a target on their backs was immediately dispelled by the defeat to Argentina last weekend. Hansen knows that any more setbacks will be poorly received by the Lions' coaching team. 'We are four of the best teams and have some of the best players in the world. You should be winning every time, so every time it's a loss that just isn't good enough,' he said. 'That's the best thing that this group has on its shoulders at the moment because we know that and as disappointed as we were, we don't want to feel that again. 'If anything, it's good to feel it early and then we know that we'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again, so the plan is to win from here on out. 'A lot of the chat has been about us and what we need to improve. The only thing that can beat us is us really.' WESTERN FORCE: Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (captain); Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ollie Hoskins; Sam Carter, Darcy Swain; Will Harris, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Vaiolini Ekuasi. Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle. BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS: Elliot Daly; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan (captain), Tadhg Furlong; Scott Cummings, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock. Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones, Marcus Smith. Referee: Ben O'Keeffe [New Zealand].
The 42
7 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'Andy put it to bed' - Russell happy to be working with Sexton
FINN RUSSELL SAID that Lions boss Andy Farrell quickly dealt with any potentially troublesome feelings between the Scotland out-half and assistant coach Johnny Sexton this week. Sexton questioned Russell's credentials as the Lions out-half last autumn before he had joined Ireland and then the Lions as an assistant coach to Farrell. But speaking ahead of the Lions' departure for Australia today, Russell said there are no ill feelings and that he has even enjoyed training alongside the former Ireland out-half this week. 'It's just a bit of a craic,' said Russell. 'It was never a thing, almost. 'When we came in, we had a laugh straight away and Andy kind of put it to bed, so that was good. Not that it was ever going to be an issue, I don't believe. 'We're all here with the same goal, which is to win the series. I've only been here a few days but it's been good working with Johnny. I'm happy to bounce questions off him and chat to him about what he's seeing because with the numbers we've had, he's had to jump in sometimes. Advertisement 'So it's been quite funny being on the same training side as him.' Russell was one of the late arrivers in Lions camp this week because he was involved in Bath's Premiership final win over Leicester last weekend. Having also guided Johann van Graan's men to a Challenge Cup title this season, Russell was delighted to have the chance to celebrate back in Bath before joining the Lions on Monday. 'It was good fun,' he said. 'I think we all turned up to Bath on the bus coming back from London and it was pretty quiet. The streets didn't really have anyone on it and we were sort of laughing as if no one's really come. Russell with Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, and Bundee Aki. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'Then two hours later, they were packed. It was really cool actually. I've only won something with Glasgow and it was very different celebrations after that. Coming now from a city that's a rugby city, it was really cool to win a title for them.' This is Russell's third involvement in a Lions tour, albeit he only briefly featured in New Zealand in 2017 after being one of the infamous 'Geography 6′ call-ups. He was part of the 2021 squad in South Africa, but an Achilles injury meant he missed the first two Tests before making a big impact off the bench in the third clash with the Springboks. This summer, he's many people's favourite to be the starting Lions out-half in Australia. Fin Smith got first shot in the number 10 shirt last night against Argentina, but Russell seems likely to start next Saturday against the Western Force in Perth. 'It was still amazing [in 2017] because it was my first time being called up to the Lions,' said Russell. 'We weren't there for the whole tour, obviously, but I think to have gone there and played in the first one was really cool for me. 'And then in 2021, it was special going the whole time even though it was Covid. Obviously we couldn't have family and friends or fans at the game but it was still amazing in probably a different way. 'In terms of the boys, we probably got to know each other a little bit better because it was just us in the hotel and whatnot, but I think both experiences are different in good ways. 'So I'm looking forward to what this one's going to be like.'
Extra.ie
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
All the Lions hype can be a bit nauseating, but the global game needs a competitive series
It's easy to be cynical about the British and Irish Lions. The whole concept gets hyped up more than a Christopher Nolan movie. You'll hear plenty about 'immortality',' legends' and 'legacy' in the coming weeks. All of it playing out against a background of an epic orchestral soundtrack which belongs in something like Gladiator or Oppenheimer. It can all veer into hysteric at times. And some of the grandiose statements about the Lions can jar a bit, too. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland Yes, it's a long tradition but, make no mistake, this is a brand as well. It's a business venture which is worth a lot of coin. Why else did Warren Gatland's squad depart for South Africa without their famed 'Red Army' in the midst of the Covid pandemic in 2021? It's worth stating that summer series is officially known as the Qatar Airways men's Lions tour of Australia. There are twice as many fans heading for Oz this time around compared to the last tour 12 years ago. Yes, the Lions is a time-honoured tradition but it's also a corporate beast. Again, it's easy to scrutinise up the Lions in the professional era and roll the eyes. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan However, this latest campaign feels a bit different already. It's early days, but we've sensed a slight chance in the vibe around the Lions. There is clearly a buzz in the camp and you could sense that all week from the players and coaches – including Johnny Sexton – who were sent out to speak to the sizeable media presence which has descended on the capital. There is the sense that the Andy Farrell is hoping to bring a bit of old-school back to the Lions. There have been some positive developments on that front. Earlier this week, the Lions media team released the 'Ultimate Test' on Youtube, a behind-the-scenes series which will be released weekly throughout the six-week tour of Australia. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire In terms of raw insight and genuine fly-on-the-wall access, it was hugely encouraging. It was miles away from the bland and ill-fated two-season Six Nations offering on Netflix. If this is a sign of things to come, we could be potentially see the best Lions documentary since the iconic 1997 series chronically the series win in South Africa. A bit of drama and jeopardy would be most welcome on that front. The hosts need to hold up their end of their bargain. The Wallabies – and their Super Rugby sides – were being written off as cannon fodder for most of this current Lions cycle, especially when Eddie Jones was sacked after a disastrous 10-month reign. Joe Schmidt arrived at the 11th hour and the former Leinster and Ireland boss has galvanised the entire operation. The likes of Queensland, the Waratahs and ACT Brumbies have upped their game. Australia are not the near the same class as the Springboks or All Blacks at the moment. But they have more then enough talent to make this series interesting. Everyone involved in the professional game in Australia is acutely aware that this Lions tour is a glorious opportunity to recapture past glories. Rugby union has fallen away behind the likes of AFL and rugby league in the public consciousness. The Aussies are a sport-obsessed nation but rugby union has fallen on hard times. If they can mount a competitive case, or win the series outright, it would have a huge effect on the health of the game across the country. There is also the small matter of a home World Cup in 2027. The Wallabies need to strike while the iron is hot this summer. In truth, every single stakeholder in the game needs this Lions tour to be a success. The professional game is a delicate ecosystem at the moment. Rugby is the sporting equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef at the moment. Professional clubs across the globe are going bust. Big unions such as Wales are struggling to make ends meet. For all the chat about rugby expanding to new markets, breakaway competition and World club competitions, it is paramount that the key nations remains strong. Rugby needs a strong Australian team. There are high hopes that Schmidt's troops can match this potent Lions squad across three compelling weekends. In Joseph-Aukuso Suaali, the 21-year-old rugby league convert who has taken the game by storm, the Wallabies have an attacking weapon which can blow this whole series wide open. Schmidt, as his way, will have every base covered. The Kiwi will have a plan. Again, it all bodes well for a gripping spectacle once this tour gets going. For now, it's about getting the show on the road at Aviva Stadium this evening. This is an early opportunity for this matchday squad to lay down some early selection markers. The sizeable Leinster contingent who only arrived into camp on Monday will already be playing catch-up and Farrell welcomed this development earlier this week. The Lions boss wants every single player to feel the pressure. No doubt, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose – amongst other Leinster frontliners – will get their chance to impress against Western Force, Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs in the coming weeks. Right now, this English-heavy selection have a great opportunity to stake a claim for Test spots. Ellis Genge, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith could all be set for bit tours. Porter, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell are all supposedly ahead in the pecking order but things can change quickly on a Lions tour. A compelling performance against a youthful and fired-up Pumas side will generate plenty of momentum ahead of the long-haul flight to Perth this weekend. No doubt, plenty of big names will be awkwardly shuffling in their seats if the Lions put on a bit of a show in Dublin. Then again, a repeat of the shaky showing against the same opposition back in 2005 – when a late Jonny Wilkinson penalty secured a late draw – will send alarm bells throughout the squad. That dour performance in Cardiff 20 years ago was a grim omen of what was to come in New Zealand. No pressure tonight, lads. The hype machine is cranking up and once Sky Sports began to flex their broadcasting muscles, Lions-mania will be in full flow. It can all be a nauseating but it's best not to fight it. The Lions, at its core, is a bit of fun. An old-school summer tour against a formidable fore on foreign land. And series wines are nothing to be sniffed at. It's worth remembering that the tourists have been victorious on just two occasions since the game went pro: 1997 and 2013 are the sole triumphs since the amateur days concluded 30 years ago. This could be the most enjoyable and captivating tour in a long time. What's not to like about that?
The 42
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'If you want to be a Lion, you have to adapt or you'll get left behind'
TADHG BEIRNE IS not one of the 14 potential first-time Lions in line to feature against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night [KO 8pm, TG4/Sky Sports], but the Munster and Ireland lock is fully aware the opportunity that lies ahead of him in the coming weeks will have a very different feel to his previous taste of the Lions experience. The 33-year-old was a member of Warren Gatland's Lions squad that toured South Africa in 2021, but it was a diluted, restricted version of what the Lions is meant to be, with the Covid pandemic still very much shaping everyday life at the time. With that in mind, making the cut again this time around in order to feel the real thing proved a big motivation for Beirne across the season. 'Me and Jack Conan had spoken about it very briefly during the Six Nations, how much we both wanted it, just because of experiencing the Covid Lions tour isn't really what it's meant to be,' said Beirne. Beirne speaking to the media in Dublin today. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'So when we both got the name called out, that's what I was thinking in my head, that we're going to get the actual experience of what the Lions is actually meant to be about, full crowds, having the fans come over, experiencing that wave of red coming into each city for each game and just the buzz around the place, it's going to be a much different experience and I'm really, really excited about it.' Advertisement Four years is a long time in rugby, and Beirne admits he's a slightly different player to the one who toured in 2021 – where he played six games and came off the bench in two of the three Tests. 'I've probably gotten slower, put on a bit of weight,' he smiled. 'No look, I've learned a lot over the last four years. If I think about that year I probably wasn't getting selected for Ireland at the start of the year, it was a strange time obviously with Covid and the opportunity came to me in the Six Nations and all of a sudden I was in the Lions squad. 'I was kind of playing as a six more than a second row back then, I've been between both over the last couple of years, but if anything I've probably become more settled in the second row spot over the last couple of months, particularly with Munster. 'I like to think, or I've convinced myself anyway, that my game has improved a bit over the last four years just in terms of understanding the game and being a smarter rugby player and particularly in the second row because I've been playing there a lot more, what's expected of me in that role, whether it be for Munster or Ireland. I've definitely got a better understanding of it but still a lot of room for improvement for sure.' He's in the starting team for Friday's clash with the Pumas, lining out in the second row alongside squad captain Maro Itoje. Andy Farrell has already called for his players to hit the ground running in their first outing, and Beirne says there would be no excuse for any lack of cohesion on the night, even if the group are still in the early stages of getting to know each other and learning new systems. 'You're talking about world class players here. We're talking about the best of the best. 'The expectation we would have of each other is that you can adapt to any system you're given and that's the challenge laid in front of us. That's the challenge of being a Lion. Every four years there's going to be a new system, the coach is going to want to play a certain way and if you want to be a Lion, you're going to have to adapt or you'll get left behind. 'I would say if you came in here thinking that you could just play your club system or your country system, then you're probably already at a loss. So I think everyone comes into these things with a massive open mind and look forward to getting to play these new systems, getting to try something new and eager to learn. 'If you're not floating ideas at players in your position, you're already at a loss as well. We're in such a privileged position to come into these environments and learn from one another and get better as rugby players. Adaptation is a big part of that. We all want to be on the same page. 'I think that's what we'll be chasing, that cohesion and connection.' 'Getting to play in Ireland is extra special for us Irish players,' he added. 'The last week and a half has been really enjoyable so looking forward to getting stuck in and playing with some of the new lads.'
The 42
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
No scrum, no win: Leinster set to lock horns with the Bulls
ITALIAN REFEREE ANDREA Piardi will have lots of big decisions to make in the URC final on Saturday evening at Croke Park. And it's likely that some of his most demanding calls will come at scrum time. South African sides have long been respected for their aggressive, powerful, technically strong scrummaging. The Bulls are of that ilk. And over the last two seasons in particular, Leinster have also emerged as a pack who want to scrummage for penalties. In the past, some Irish sides have primarily seen the scrum as a platform to play off, but that mindset has shifted in Leinster. Piardi saw more evidence of that last weekend as he refereed their semi-final win over Glasgow, awarding several scrum penalties in Leinster's favour. 'It's something that had frustrated us over the last couple of weeks,' says Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan. 'Playing against Scarlets [in the quarter-final] in particular, we were told when the ball was at the back just to play it, [even] when we were going forward and it was collapsing. 'I think it has definitely been part of our DNA over the last year or two that we want to be scrumming for penalties, getting access [into the opposition 22] that way and playing off the back of a going-forward scrum. 'Obviously, the Bulls have their own threat. They have the best scrum in the league stats-wise, which is what I was told next door… by a South African. 'But that's their rugby. I'm sure they will have a plan to disrupt our scrum and try and get over the top of us and we'll do similar and bring energy to the scrum. I look forward to the battle on Saturday.' Advertisement Leinster's scrum has been more aggressive in the last two years. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Whichever South African told Sheehan about the scrum stats was right. Data from Oval Insights shows that the Bulls and Leinster are the two best teams in the URC at winning scrum penalties. The Bulls have won 62 scrum penalties this season and Leinster have won 54. But the South African side have conceded significantly fewer scrum penalties – 20 to Leinster's 35. That rate of scrum penalty concessions won't surprise Leinster fans who have watched their pack rather relentlessly go after success in that area. The flip side of being so aggressive is that refereeing decisions can go against you. But play it safe and there is never any reward. Leinster had a good day at the scrum last weekend against Glasgow as tighthead Thomas Clarkson found favour with referee Piardi, so they'll be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Tadhg Furlong remains on the comeback trail, so Clarkson and Rabah Slimani look set to go again as Leinster's tighthead duo, while Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher will be the hookers. It remains to be seen how Leinster configure their starting pack, with Slimani and Kelleher's scrummaging qualities surely tempting. Key man Andrew Porter will start again at loosehead unless Leinster decide to go with the tactic of bringing him off the bench during the first half. Jack Boyle backed Porter up last weekend and could do so again, even if Cian Healy is bidding farewell to Leinster after this game. Leinster scrum specialist Robin McBryde will hope his charges can earn set-piece momentum for their team in this URC decider. Bulls scrum coach Werner Kruger – who previously played for the Bulls, Scarlets, and South Africa – has some serious firepower to work with. Leinster have felt the force of the Bulls on several occasions in recent years, while the Sharks were on the receiving end in last weekend's semi-final. Heavyweight Springboks tighthead Wilco Louw is backed up by the assertive Mornay Smith, that duo providing plenty of power on the right-hand side of the Bulls front row. Loosehead prop Jan-Hendrick Wessels has been one of the most impressive Bulls this season. He made his Boks debut last year and still covers hooker, making two starts there in this URC campaign. The Bulls can call on the dynamism of Alulutho Tshakweni or Simphiwe Matanzima off the bench. Italian referee Andrea Piardi will be in charge for the final. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Johan Grobbelaar is a consistent operator at hooker, where he competes with the more experienced Akker van der Merwe, who has been capped by the Boks. All in all, it's a serious front row unit and the Bulls have a huge scrummaging culture that every forward buys into. Bulls flankers don't tend to hang off scrums; their shoulders are to the wheel. The physical challenge will be similar at the lineout, maul, ruck, and in every carry and tackle. More than anything, Leinster believe that his final is about fronting up. 'I think everything comes off the back of physicality,' says Sheehan. 'You can have the best game plan in the world and it won't go well if your physicality is not right. 'Whereas if you have a poor game plan and get your physicality right, a lot of the time it works.' And Leinster know the Bulls will be honing in on this element of the URC decider. 'You have to brave and put yourself in front of these big fellas,' says Sheehan. 'They'll try to test you. They'll push buttons. It's chat after the ball goes out, it's rubbing your head in the dirt. But you know, you get that on both sides of the ball and I think people enjoy it. I think fans enjoy it. 'I think when you get it right, it's incredibly rewarding to get a win over a South African team. We've experienced that over the years, so I think it's a good battle and it's a good spectacle and I hope there's good excitement building through the week and we get a good crowd there. I think it will be a good game on Saturday.'
