Latest news with #Breakdown
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Lions clean up the breakdown and what else we learned from first Test win over the Wallabies
Breakdown It had been an issue for the Lions in the matches ahead of the first Test but after an early reminder of Fraser McReight's prowess the tourists were precise and authoritative in their clearing-out, thereby guaranteeing quick ruck ball. The upshot is that they were able to get their big ball carriers over the gain-line with ease and didn't allow Australia to breathe in hustling to try to realign in defence. The ideal is three-second ruck speed but for most of the first half the Lions would have enjoyed even quicker possession. Tadhg Beirne led his team in slowing down or nicking Wallaby possession at the breakdown with three turnovers ably supported by Tom Curry, Jack Conan and Maro Itoje in particular. In the final quarter the tourists were less effective, and the Aussies scored two tries as they started to win the collisions and get that quick ball. Kicking game Jamison Gibson-Park 's box-kicking was stunning, both in accuracy and giving the kick/chase line time to get up and contest the ball in the air. It proved a potent attacking weapon for his side that more often than not allowed his team to regain possession, especially when tapping the ball down. The Lions had identified where the Aussies would try to hide outhalf Tom Lynagh in the backfield and rained kicks down on him. The Lions scrumhalf also got great distance in his clearing kicks and in general terms took all the head off Finn Russell. Finn Russell converts Dan Sheehan's try. Photograph:The Scot did contribute with some well-judged diagonal punts, but he will be disappointed with a cross-kick that should have led to a try for Joe McCarthy . He needed a sand wedge ball flight rather than three-iron as Ronan O'Gara pointed out in commentary. There were a couple of miscues from the back three but none were costly. READ MORE Set piece There could not have been two more diverse outcomes in terms of the end products. Dan Sheehan was flawless in his throwing as the team won all 11 when he was on the pitch and they even managed to bag a couple of the Aussie lineouts with Tadhg Beirne nicking one. While the Aussies did return the favour late-on, the Lions' lineout was a well-oiled machine that provided the consistent source of possession and an opportunity to tie in the Wallabies as was evidenced in the build-up to the Tom Curry try. The Lions' scrum, which has been so dominant in the matches leading up to Brisbane, will require a pointed, post-match review as they coughed up a few penalties and a freekick. Referee Ben O'Keeffe gave each team a freekick for early engagement to try to get some stability but thereafter pinged the Lions for collapsing. It's a work-on going into the second Test. Missed opportunities It didn't matter too much on the day because the Lions claimed the victory, but Andy Farrell might be a little disappointed that the tourists weren't more ruthless in racking up the points when they were dominating proceedings for most of the first half. Huw Jones was penalised for not releasing the ball having been tackled as he then scrambled his way over the line, but the Scot might have been better served just looking inside for Jamison Gibson-Park who had run an intelligent trail-line and was unmarked. Australia's Jeremy Williams and Len Ikitau tackle James Lowe. Photograph: David Gray/AFP via Getty Images It was probably the only time when Finn Russell was less than sublime, but he'd demand more of himself with an overcooked cross-kick for Joe McCarthy. Anything a little more sympathetic and it would have been a try, while James Lowe would like his time again to use the numbers outside him for a run-in try rather than duck inside the Aussie cover and get nailed. Physical dominance The Lions bossed the collisions with Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong , Tom Curry and Joe McCarthy particularly effective at riding the initial contact point with the Aussie tacklers and powering through to the other side, while hooker Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan were more inclined to throw in some good footwork for goo measure. Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones and James Lowe were also highly effective in the physical stakes. The upshot was that the Lions got over the gain-line, the knock-on effect of which was quick ruck ball from which Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell were able to put pace, width and direction on the Lions' patterns. Conversely the last half an hour in particular will be of some concern for the Lions and a source of hope for Joe Schmidt and the Wallabies. Australia got much more impact and energy from their bench and with the likely return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton next week, and a few changes to the run-on team, the home side will hope to be right in the mix from the get-go rather than stuck in a forlorn chase.
News18
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Vidaamuyarchi To Kuberaa, How Tamil Cinema Fared In Early 2025
In the first half of 2025, several much-awaited Tamil films left some fans feeling let down and others thoroughly entertained. Tamil cinema kicked off 2025 with a bang, boasting a star-studded lineup that promised a blockbuster year. While a few films lived up to the hype, others missed the mark, leaving fans divided and critics unimpressed. From Kamal Haasan 's Thug Life to Dhanush's Kuberaa, some of the most anticipated titles of the first half of 2025 didn't quite meet expectations. Let's take a closer look at how the industry has fared so far. Tamil Cinema in the First Half of 2025 The year began with the release of Vidaamuyarchi, starring Ajith Kumar and directed by Magizh Thirumeni. This action thriller follows a troubled couple, played by Ajith and Trisha Krishnan, whose road trip takes a terrifying turn when the wife is kidnapped by a gang. Though the premise, loosely inspired by the Hollywood film Breakdown, had promise, the film underperformed at the box office and failed to impress critics. Ajith, however, bounced back strongly with Good Bad Ugly, a high-energy action comedy helmed by Adhik Ravichandran. Released in April, the film became a surprise hit and reaffirmed his box office pull. Other major releases included Veera Dheera Sooran – Part 2, the sequel to Vikram's 2023 film. Focused on a man protecting his family at all costs, the film showcased Chiyaan Vikram in an emotionally charged role. Meanwhile, Suriya's Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj and co-starring Pooja Hegde, generated buzz ahead of the release but ended up receiving mixed reactions. Two of the most anticipated titles of the year—Kamal Haasan's Thug Life and Dhanush's Kuberaa—also received a lukewarm response. While Thug Life attempted to explore dark, layered themes through Kamal's complex character, and Kuberaa delivered a gritty, intense Dhanush performance, both films fell short of audience expectations, with critics calling them ambitious but inconsistent. As we head into the second half of 2025, all eyes are now on Rajinikanth's Coolie and Sivakarthikeyan's Madharasi. Will these upcoming releases strike the right chord and bring the box office magic that Tamil cinema is known for? The next few months will reveal all. First Published:
Pink Villa
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Out of all big releases in first half of 2025, which Tamil movie did not manage to meet your expectations?
Tamil cinema, this year, started off with a huge lineup, making it seem like a festive occasion for cinephiles. While some emerged successful, others were a big let down, making the audience lose their patience. Out of all the top releases in the first half of 2025, which one did not manage to meet your expectations? Top releases from Tamil cinema in the first half of 2025 The first major release in Tamil cinema in the first half of 2025 was the Ajith Kumar starrer Vidaamuyarchi. The action thriller film directed by Magizh Thirumeni featured the story of a husband and wife heading for divorce. As the couple travels to her parents' home, they are met by a gang of kidnappers who trick and nab the wife. Despite being in a failed marriage, the husband must save her before it's too late. The movie, which was based on the American film Breakdown, had Trisha Krishnan as the co-lead with Arjun Sarja playing the main antagonist. Despite being a long-delayed and hyped venture, the movie did not manage to fare well at the box office. However, in April 2025, Ajith Kumar hit the big screens once again with the Adhik Ravichandran directorial Good Bad Ugly, an action comedy flick which was a massive hit at the big screens. Apart from the Ajith Kumar starrers, the initial months of 2025 saw Chiyaan Vikram hitting the theaters with Veera Dheera Sooran - Part 2. The first installment of the planned franchise featured the actor as an unapologetic husband who would go to any lengths to protect his family. Following the mentioned movies, Tamil cinema saw a major release with Suriya starrer Retro. The romantic actioner by Karthik Subbaraj had Pooja Hegde as the female lead, which left the audience having polarizing opinions. Finally, two of the major films that made their way to the big screens were Kamal Haasan starrer Thug Life and Dhanush's Kuberaa. Which movie left you unsatisfied the most? As Rajinikanth starrer Coolie and Sivakarthikeyan's Madharasi are releasing in the latter half of 2025, we'll have to wait and see if they manage to become successful at the theaters.
Wales Online
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
All Black launches live TV rant at 'disrespectful' France
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info All Blacks legend Justin Marshall has heavily criticised France for sending a vastly underpowered squad to New Zealand this summer. The average age of the French squad is just over 25, with head coach Fabien Galthie deciding to leave out 20 'premium' internationals for the Test series against the All Blacks. That means the likes of Romain Ntamack, Damien Penaud and Gregory Alldritt will be staying at home this summer. Speaking on Sky Sports New Zealand's 'Breakdown' show, Marshall labelled their decision to leave out key players as "complete BS". The French Rugby Federation (FFR) and National Rugby League (LNR), who are in charge of the clubs, agreed in October last year that players who feature in the Top 14 final cannot take part in the mid-year internationals. This was an amendment to Galthie's premium player policy that rested players key to the national set-up, regardless of where they finished. With Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles taking part in the Top 14 final last weekend, that means a large chunk of elite French players could not be selected for the summer's tour. "To be honest, I'm really disappointed, the way the side that the French have brought is clearly underpowered, the average age of 25 ,the average number of caps is 9.3," Marshall told The Breakdown on Sky Sports. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. "This is a side that has a very little amount of experience and then at the end of the day, 49% of the players have got no caps at all. So it's a development team with a few senior players involved. "In my mind, it's complete BS the way that they're treating this tour, the way that the French always seem to have come up with excuses to not bring their top players, I feel they disrespect the international window. "I'm not going to say that it's not going to be a contest out there, but our fans deserve to see their best players playing in our country against our All Blacks because we do that in November to them, we send our very best players for filling their stadiums and giving the fans the best experience they can get by seeing the best players in the world. "They are not doing that and if they keep doing this, which is quite regular for them, just don't invite them. We'll play someone else, it's still going to be a good series, and they'll be competitive, and they've got depth. "But the reality is, they've left 70% of their best players in France, and I just don't feel that that is within the decency and the respect of the game." Watch the clip below. Speaking to L'Equipe, Galthie clarified why France do this. "We follow a hundred players. But above all we have identified a 'premium' group of 20 players," he said. "We want them to have consistent development. We want to work hand-in-hand with the league and the clubs. Our goal is for players to be able to give the best of themselves in the French team, but also in club. We want to go further while taking into account the challenges of the clubs. "Players will benefit from four mandatory weeks off and four weeks without matches." Galthie also argues that northern hemisphere players take part in seven or more games than their southern hemisphere counter-parts, which means Les Bleus feel they must manage the workload to avoid injury. (Image: (Photo by)) Conversely, French players reportedly do not agree with this policy, and view a tour New Zealand as a unique opportunity. "He's run into some real opposition over that from his own players," commentator Tony Johnson told Sport Nation's Afternoons with Staffy. "They want to come on this tour. They still see a series in New Zealand against the All Blacks as one of the ultimate challenges in rugby - perhaps the ultimate challenge outside of the World Cup." When this system was implemented by France in October, New Zealand Rugby even asked World Rugby for clarity around the rules, with regulation nine stating that players must be made available for international windows.
1News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Another blow for All Blacks as Williams is ruled out of French series
All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams is out of the French series due to a knee injury which requires surgery. Described today as one of the best looseheads in the world by head coach Scott Robertson, Williams' withdrawal due to a torn meniscus comes after he started for the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Pacific final victory over the Chiefs. Williams, who suffered the tear in the qualifier win over the Reds, probably surprised Robertson by making himself available for that match in Christchurch recently and afterwards struggled to straighten his leg. Asked today ahead of Saturday's first Test against France about the wisdom of Williams playing, Robertson replied: 'Well, he played and we're here right now, so they're the facts.' The similarities with the case of Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock, who played in the 2023 Super Rugby final despite an Achilles injury and was then unavailable for several Tests afterwards, are obvious. ADVERTISEMENT 'Players want to play and they want to compete,' said Robertson, who was Whitelock's Super Rugby coach at the time. 'That's the scenario at the moment.' Williams will be sidelined for up to eight weeks. George Bower has been called into the squad to replace Williams and is the latest to be included in what was originally a 33-player squad. Loose forward Wallace Sititi was ruled out late last week due to an ankle problem, leading to the inclusion of Dalton Papali'i as cover. No.8 Christian Lio-Willie was already in as cover for Luke Jacobson, who is following concussion protocols and will be unavailable for the first Test in Dunedin. Williams' injury means Ethan de Groot will almost certainly start the Test on home soil, with Ollie Norris likely to make his debut off the reserves bench. All Blacks midfielder Billy Proctor carries the ball against Japan last year. (Source: Photosport) ADVERTISEMENT Elsewhere, the drums are beating for Billy Proctor to start at centre, with incumbent Rieko Ioane starting on the left wing. Sky Sports presenters and former All Blacks Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall and Mils Muliaina claimed on last night's Breakdown show that Proctor would be given the nod to start by Robertson, who will officially announce the team on Thursday. Such a scenario after he named six midfielders and only two dedicated wings in Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece (assuming Will Jordan is regarded as a specialist fullback) in the squad, would not be a huge surprise. Should Proctor start, Jordie Barrett is almost certain to be named alongside him at second-five which would open up an opportunity for Quinn Tupaea to resume his Test career from the bench or possibly Timoci Tavatavanawai to make his international debut from there. For the All Blacks, the Test is an opportunity to put to use some harsh lessons from last year – Robertson's first. They won 10 from 14 Tests last year and had halftime leads in the games they lost – twice to the Boks, once to Argentina in Wellington and France in Paris. Such is the relative inexperience of this France squad that the All Blacks are unlikely to be under as much sustained pressure as they were the last time they played the Tricolors, but Robertson had a word of warning, saying: 'This is probably when they're at their most dangerous – when they're underestimated.' Referring to that 30-29 defeat to the Stade de France, Robertson said: 'A lot of our review in the off season was on that game because we gave ourselves so many opportunities to win it and we didn't. 'We probably had our best two weeks with the Irish [victory in Dublin] and the French but we probably didn't get the result we deserved and sometimes you get that in Tests.'
