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The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Hansen 'on track' for second Test as Lions wait on McCarthy
MACK HANSEN DIDN'T train with the Lions today in Melbourne, but the Irish wing is 'on track' to be available for selection in the second Test against the Wallabies on Saturday. Ireland wing Hansen missed the first Test due to a foot injury and wasn't named in the matchday 23 for tomorrow's final midweek game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. However, Connacht man Hansen could still come into contention for a place in the Lions' matchday 23 for the second Test against the Wallabies on Saturday at the MCG. 'Mack, it's just probably just a bit too soon in terms of playing tomorrow, but he's in good shape,' said Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby today after their training session in Xavier College. 'He's certainly on track [for the second Test]. It's probably one of those where we just have to get through the next 24 to 48 hours and then make a decision based on how he's recovering based on the stuff he's been doing over the last few days. 'Mack wasn't involved today. He's definitely on the right road to recovery, but tomorrow's game was probably slightly too soon for him.' Second row Joe McCarthy also sat out today's training session due to the foot injury that saw him replaced early in the second half of last weekend's win over the Wallabies. He remains a doubt for the second Test. 'Joe is just recovering from that foot issue he had on the weekend, and that's just a wait-and-see type of injury,' said Easterby. Advertisement 'He's been pretty good, and he knew what it was initially. He tried to play through it and it's one of those where it was better off that he came off. Joe McCarthy was injured in the first Test. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'If he's felt something like that before, he might have realised what it was, and then it becomes something that he can probably manage. He knew that he wasn't fully functional, even if he wasn't too bad. 'He didn't train today, but there's no reason why later in the week… like anything, with those types of injuries, there's a little bit of grey around how long they take, and it's really the individual recovery that will allow us to decide whether it's right to pick him or not.' Easterby said the Lions coaches will wait until after tomorrow's clash with the First Nations & Pasifika XV to finalise their selection for the second Wallabies Test. Head coach Andy Farrell named a completely changed starting XV for tomorrow's game, with many players eager to impress and force their way into the second Test plans. Fullback Blair Kinghorn returns from a knee injury in the number 15 shirt, while Garry Rigrose is back from a head injury on the Lions bench. 'It is great to have those two back,' said Easterby. 'Both were unfortunate with their injuries, both on good form coming into the tour, and both probably feel like they want to lay down a bit of a marker for the second and third Test.' Owen Farrell captains tomorrow's team from inside centre, experienced hooker Jamie George starts, while the back row of Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier, and Henry Pollock will also be hoping to make statements. 'There's an opportunity for guys to play in a Lions jersey tomorrow, and opportunities for those performances to get a return on being involved next Saturday and the week after,' said Easterby. 'There's still so much to play for, for us as a team, but for guys individually as well.' Thomas Clarkson will make his Lions debut tomorrow. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Easterby also confirmed that hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is progressing through his return-to-play protocols after head injury and is on track to be back in the selection mix ahead of the second Test. Among tomorrow night's Lions debutants are Irish outside centre Jamie Osborne and replacement tighthead prop Thomas Clarkson, who were both late call-ups to the Lions squad in Australia. Easterby works with both men in Ireland and is pleased for them. 'It goes without saying, the quality of those two individuals,' said Easterby. 'Tom's fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he's put in some brilliant performances. 'He really has stood up and brought that on the Emerging Ireland tour. He was certainly someone that we felt could step up over the next couple of years, but he's been excellent. 'He's fought for everything and in a pretty tough position where being a tighthead probably takes a good few years to learn your trade, he's certainly in a really good place. 'Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer, his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13, wing, 15, it was pretty impressive, the positions he can cover and the quality that he brings to the group as well. 'I'm really pleased with the two of them. They fully deserve being here and no doubt they'll perform really well tomorrow.'
The 42
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ringrose sits out Lions training as Schmidt calls on JOC
IRELAND CENTRE GARRY Ringrose sat out Lions training in Adelaide today along with England blindside/second row Ollie Chessum. Ringrose and Chessum both played in Wednesday's win over the Brumbies and they're not involved in tomorrow's clash with the AUNZ Invitational XV at the Adelaide Bowl. However, the rest of the wider Lions squad were at training this afternoon. 'Ollie would have picked up a couple of bumps, I think, and probably Ringer as well,' said Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby. 'When we've got probably 35 out on the pitch, it's important that if guys have got a few niggles or bumps, then we'll just probably leave them off. 'We don't need a full 35 out on the pitch sometimes, or 38 at this point. It's just a case of managing a few players with the short turnaround that we've had from this game to this training session.' Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn wasn't part of the session either, having suffered a knee sprain on Wednesday against the Brumbies. The Lions were relieved that a scan on the knee 'showed up way more positive than we'd hoped originally,' with Kinghorn aiming to get back training next week. However, Easterby admitted that Kinghorn was a doubt for the first Test against the Wallabies. Ireland's Jamie Osborne will arrive in Australia tomorrow to join the squad as cover for Kinghorn, with Easterby and co. hoping to see the 24-year-old impress and put his hand up for a Lions debut. Advertisement 'Jamie played really well for Ireland against Georgia [last weekend],' said Easterby. 'He's a versatile player as well. He can play in the midfield, he can play anywhere in the back three as well. So he has that versatility, which is crucial on a Lions tour. 'Certainly, he'll be coming in to take part in training and when he does that, and then if something happens further down the line in the next couple of weeks, we know we've got a really good player on our hands and he has the opportunity then to impress and potentially get an opportunity.' Easterby said the Lions coaches discussed other players for a possible call-up, including Scotland's Tom Jordan, and rejected the suggestion that Osborne being so familiar with the large Leinster and Ireland contingent in the squad was in his favour. Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'It's certainly not something that we have thought about,' said Easterby. 'But those partnerships, they help obviously. But you can see some really good partnerships being built from players from different clubs and different players from different countries. 'Obviously, certain things in a short space of time will help. But I don't think anyone has ever considered bringing in Jamie because he is a Leinster player or an Ireland player. He is just the right player.' Meanwhile, Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt said he expects the Lions to be a 'different beast' when the first Test rolls around in Brisbane. Andy Farrell's tourists have yet to deliver a complete performance on Australian soil, but Schmidt isn't reading too much into that. 'During the tour, if you go to the emotional and physical well every four or five days throughout the tour, I do think you risk diluting your ability to hit the top level,' said Schmidt in Brisbane today after naming his 36-man squad to face the Lions. 'I've coached with Andy for enough years, he'll have them simmering at the moment. But I have no doubt that come Saturday week, they'll be at the boil.' Schmidt has handed 35-year-old out-half James O'Connor a recall to the Wallabies squad following an injury to first-choice playmaker Noah Lolesio last weekend against Fiji. Lolesio will miss the Lions series, with Schmidt calling on O'Connor after he helped the Crusaders to win the Super Rugby title, playing a bench role for Rob Penney's side. O'Connor, who started at number 10 for the Wallabies the last time the Lions visited in 2013, hasn't played for Australia for three years but Schmidt expects him to get up to speed quickly as he offers another option along with Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh. Schmidt with the Wallabies in Brisbane today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'I've been talking to James for a long time, right through the Super Rugby season, so it's not that far away from where we started,' said Schmidt. 'Obviously, we started with Noah and with his injury, we needed to replace him. Our 10s are young in experience anyway. 'I talked to Tom Lynagh a little bit around the influence he had on him and his development, and that was really positive. I talked to David Havili, who is obviously in with the AUNZ team at the moment. 'I've coached Davey and have a lot of time for his opinion, and he said that James was a real help with the two young 10 at the Crusaders, so they were positives. 'And, at the same time, James in his own right had played pretty solidly coming on in the back end of games.'
RTÉ News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lions still hopeful of Blair Kinghorn involvement v Wallabies
Blair Kinghorn faces a race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia because of the sprained knee sustained on Wednesday. Fears that the Lions would see another full-back ruled out of the tour following Elliot Daly's return home with a fractured forearm were eased following a positive scan on the injury incurred against the ACT Brumbies. Ireland's Jamie Osborne has been called up as cover given that Kinghorn is not due to resume training until next week. Lions defence coach Simon Easterby insists the Scotland star, regarded as first choice to fill the number 15 jersey against the Wallabies on 19 July, will be given every chance to show he is ready. "Blair didn't look great against the Brumbies and it was the right thing to do to pull him off. But the scan has showed up way more positive than we'd hoped originally," Easterby said. "We're hopeful that he'll take some part in training next week and then it will be a little bit of a waiting game in terms of whether he's available for the first Test. "It will be one of those things that we'll just have to take day by day. Like a lot of these injuries throughout a tour, we'll give guys an opportunity to try and prove their fitness. "And who knows? If it works out, great. If not, we've got good guys who are able to step up." Chief among those "good guys" is Ireland's Hugo Keenan (above), who has Saturday's clash with an AUNZ Invitational XV to impress head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the series opener. A calf injury prevented Keenan from making his debut for the tourists until their fourth match on tour, against the New South Wales Waratahs, and to add misery to misfortune he picked up a bug that Farrell said explained his underwhelming performance in Sydney. "Hugo has had a bit of illness and has not been able to take part fully in preparation for each game so this is a perfect opportunity for him after having a good few days without any sickness," Easterby said. "He is feeling a lot better and stronger and it's a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for next week. "Whatever system he's in he's a bit of a goalkeeper at the back, he talks brilliantly, his comms are good and his actions are better. All the things you want a 15 to be in defence, he's all of that. He's got everything."
Powys County Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Lions hoping Blair Kinghorn can resume training next week ahead of first Test
Blair Kinghorn faces a race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia because of the sprained knee sustained on Wednesday. Fears that the Lions would see another full-back ruled out of the tour following Elliot Daly's return home with a fractured forearm were eased following a positive scan on the injury incurred against the ACT Brumbies. Ireland's Jamie Osborne has been called up as cover given that Kinghorn is not due to resume training until next week. Lions defence coach Simon Easterby insists the Scotland star, regarded as first choice to fill the number 15 jersey against the Wallabies on July 19, will be given every chance to show he is ready. 'Blair didn't look great against the Brumbies and it was the right thing to do to pull him off. But the scan has showed up way more positive than we'd hoped originally,' Easterby said. 'We're hopeful that he'll take some part in training next week and then it will be a little bit of a waiting game in terms of whether he's available for the first Test. 'It will be one of those things that we'll just have to take day by day. Like a lot of these injuries throughout a tour, we'll give guys an opportunity to try and prove their fitness. 'And who knows? If it works out, great. If not, we've got good guys who are able to step up.' Chief among those 'good guys' is Ireland's Hugo Keenan, who has Saturday's clash with an AUNZ Invitational XV to impress head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the series opener. A calf injury prevented Keenan from making his debut for the tourists until their fourth match on tour, against the New South Wales Waratahs, and to add misery to misfortune he picked up a bug that Farrell said explained his underwhelming performance in Sydney. 'Hugo has had a bit of illness and has not been able to take part fully in preparation for each game so this is a perfect opportunity for him after having a good few days without any sickness,' Easterby said. 'He is feeling a lot better and stronger and it's a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for next week. 'Whatever system he's in he's a bit of a goalkeeper at the back, he talks brilliantly, his comms are good and his actions are better. All the things you want a 15 to be in defence, he's all of that. He's got everything.'
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Easterby reveals positive scan for Kinghorn eight days out from Lions Test
The British & Irish Lions insist Blair Kinghorn has a chance of passing fit for the first Test against Australia in eight days but there is confidence from within the coaching group that rival full-back Hugo Keenan has all the attributes to stake his claim to the 15 jersey. Keenan starts at full-back at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday against a strong AUSNZ Invitational XV, the Lions' final tour match before the Test series with the Wallabies gets underway in Brisbane seven days later. After a difficult start to his tour when the Irishman's Lions debut was delayed until game three against the Waratahs in Sydney last Saturday, Keenan has been presented with a shot at Test selection if he lives up to expectation and finds form in Adelaide. Kinghorn sustained a knee injury in last Wednesday's win over the Brumbies, considered serious enough to call up Jamie Osborne from Ireland's tour in Portugal. Lions defence coach Simon Easterby on Friday explained the versatile Leinster back would have only a training role on his arrival in Brisbane this Sunday and suggested Scotland and Toulouse's Kinghorn could be back on the practice field himself ahead of the first Test. 'At the moment, sprained knee is what we're hearing,' Easterby said following training at the Adelaide Oval. 'Obviously he didn't look great against the Brumbies and it was the right thing to do to pull him off. But actually, the scan has showed up way more positive than we'd hoped originally. 'We're hopeful that he'll take some part in next week and then it'll be a little bit of a waiting game in terms of whether he's available for the first Test. 'Not being a medical person, I'm not sure exactly the timeframes. But yes, it'll be one of those things that we'll just have to take day by day. Like a lot of these injuries throughout a tour, we'll give guys an opportunity to try and prove their fitness. And who knows? If it works out, great. If not, we've got good guys who are able to step up.' Easterby said Keenan would be 'keen but not desperate' to make up for lost time in his second start for the Lions. 'He is pretty level-headed, he is pretty calm and he is just frustrated I guess that he hasn't had the opportunity, or as much opportunity, to put on the jersey and perform. He will be keen but not desperate to impress tomorrow, I think everyone will. 'It is a really strong team we are putting out and going against a really strong outfit so it is a great challenge. 'You know the strengths of Blair but we have also got a couple of other very good options at 15. Hugo has obviously had a bit of illness and has not been able to take part fully in preparation for each game so tomorrow presents a really big opportunity for him to go well and have a really strong performance.' Easterby works regularly with Keenan in his role as Ireland defence coach and interim head coach for the last Six Nations and he knows the full-back's value to a team. 'Whatever system he is in, he is a bit of a goalkeeper at the back, he talks brilliantly, his comms are good, his actions are better and his connections with the front line, all the things you want a 15 to be in defence he is all of that. 'And then, his ability on the ball and in the air, which is where the game is being challenged at the moment in terms of that aerial contest, so he has got everything Hugo has, and it is a perfect opportunity for him after having a good few days without any sickness. He is feeling a lot better and stronger and it is a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for next week.' The addition of Osborne to the touring party next week will bring the Irish playing contingent to 17, 13 of them from Leinster, a number from one club pointed out to Easterby by an English journalist that was equal to England's representation. 'It is the first time we have thought about that but it's certainly not something that we have thought about,' Easterby. 'But those partnerships they help obviously, but you can see some really good partnerships being built from players from different clubs and different players from different countries. 'Obviously certain things in a short space of time will help. But I don't think anyone has ever considered bringing in Jamie because he is a Leinster player or an Ireland player; he is just the right player. 'You saw in the Georgia game, he performed well and he performed well at the end of the season. He was always in the conversation like a lot of players were but because he has had great experiences with Leinster and with Ireland as well working with some great people. 'He's stepped up for Ireland in Georgia and getting the feedback from Paul (O'Connell) over there and how he has gone on that tour is something that has impressed everyone. Him coming out here is brilliant. He will want to come out and get stuck in and if he gets an opportunity I am sure he will take it.'
