Latest news with #FinSmith
1News
7 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Lions hold off First Nations and Pasifika XV in rugged match
The British and Irish Lions held off the First Nations and Pasifika XV 24-19 in a tough, physical contest last night in the last of their midweek games on the Australian tour. The Lions can now focus on trying to clinch the three-Test series against the Wallabies on Saturday in Melbourne after winning the first match 27-19 last weekend in Brisbane. 'We've given ourselves a bit of a fright," Lions head coach Andy Farrell said. 'Congratulations to the First Nations and Pasifika team, [they] made it a hard-fought contest that's for sure.' The Lions are now 7-0 in Australia, including the Test match, victories over Super Rugby franchises Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. Jamie Osborne scored the opening tries of each half at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium and the Lions twice had big leads before being pinned back by the First Nations and Pasifika team, which was drawn from players with Indigenous Australia and Pacific Islands heritage. ADVERTISEMENT Making the most of a penalty advantage, the Lions took a 24-14 lead with 15 minutes to play when Owen Farrell dummied a pass to unsettle the defence and sent an unmarked Duhan van der Merwe over in the left corner. But the invitational team rallied again, cutting the lead to five points in the 71st when Rob Leota scored a try from close range and finishing the match hard on attack just as they did in the first half. Lions player Fin Smith is tackled in Melbourne. (Source: Photosport) Backrower Charlie Gamble was awarded player of the match despite being on the losing side, helping combat the Lions' superior field position and possession with his relentless work at the breakdown. 'It's pretty tough when you see [critics saying] we're going to get smashed by 50,' Gamble said of the lopsided expectations ahead of the game. 'But you know, we showed that we deserved to be out there, and we played very hard for each other.' Tough first half It had been 14-14 at halftime after each team scored two converted tries and spent 10 minutes giving up a numerical advantage because of yellow cards. ADVERTISEMENT The Lions raced to 14-0 after centre Osborne chased through Fin Smith's chip kick and touched down, while winger Darcy Graham crossed out wide. From a lineout win by Henry Pollock, the Lions created an overlap with players looping in midfield and sent a long, floating pass to the unmarked Scottish winger. But Graham had to leave the field soon after with an injury. The last hour was much more of a grinding contest, with the First Nations and Pasifika team at times outmuscling the Lions, forcing mistakes. Triston Reilly, who was yellow-carded early, returned to score the First Nations and Pasifika's opening try after an intercept. Blindside flanker Seru Uru picked up and reached over amid three tacklers in the 23rd minute and Kurtley Beale converted to level the score, ensuring the touring Lions knew they were in a contest. As tempers flared, Pollock and Uru were warned by the referee for a pushing and shoving episode that the young Lions No. 8 would certainly have learned from. The match remained intensely physical but didn't get out of hand. 'If you look at the game, how we started, we started on fire ... but they [First Nations and Pasifika] tightened back up and took the most of their opportunities,' Andy Farrell said. 'It shows how much it means to them.'
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Owen Farrell does not drop his standards
Former British and Irish Lion Alex Cuthbert says he could see England using the 10-12 combination of Fin Smith and Owen Smith was England's starting fly-half by the end of this year's Six Nations after displacing Marcus Smith, with Farrell out of the Test picture at Racing Farrell, who played outside fly-half Fin Smith at inside centre in the Lions' 24-19 win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday, is now back in the Test picture after nearly two years following his return to Saracens."It is Owen Farrell. He has got his standards and he doesn't ever really go below it," Cuthbert told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast."He took some big shots against that Pasifika team, as did Fin Smith. I liked that Fin Smith and Owen Farrell combination. It is an option for Steve Borthwick."The Lions won the first Test against Australia in Brisbane and face the Wallabies in the second Test on Saturday at Melbourne Cricket Blair Kinghorn overcame a knee injury sustained against the Brumbies for his first game on tour since 9 believes Kinghorn's performance on Tuesday has played his way into the Test team over Ireland's Hugo Keenan, who started the first Test."I could see Kinghorn come in at full-back so where do you put Keenan? Andy Farrell has got a lot of scenarios [in terms of who he goes for on the bench]," Cuthbert, a try scorer against Australia in the first Test in 2013, added."I really like Kinghorn in the way he hits the line and he won nearly everything in the air, whereas Keenan, who is a great player, lost a few 50-50s in the first Test."Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Owen Farrell breaks silence on Lions return and the 'poison' that drove him away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup
Owen Farrell insisted he has learned to deal with any 'poison' thrown at him as he prepares to captain the Lions in their final midweek match. The Englishman quit international rugby after the 2023 World Cup, where he was booed in stadiums and targeted with abuse on social media. He spent last season playing in France and after 12 months out of the spotlight, he has found ways to not be overcome by outside noise. 'I understand that times are different and that things catch fire quicker, grow legs and just take a life of their own,' said the 33-year-old. 'Both are a poison… the good and the bad. There's times when people can say this, that and the other and it just goes over your head. And there's times where you're not in the best place of all time and you're almost waiting for something to set you off. 'You have to take it for what it is. Have some perspective. It's making sure I'm looking after myself, making sure I'm giving myself a break at times. I'm not someone who needs revving up too much. it's normally the other way of coming back down and relaxing.' Farrell has been selected at inside centre for the game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV, starting outside England No 10 Fin Smith. It was a tour-ending injury to Elliot Daly opened the door for Farrell to fly out to Australia as injury cover. 'When I got asked to come, the first thing that popped into my head was 'yes',' said Farrell. 'I'd just finished playing golf for Jackson Wray's testimonial. It was his testimony about four years ago, but he still had a golf day that he'd auctioned off! 'I just got asked to come on Tour and I thought I'd love to. Like this obviously massive. I went and did something different for a while and I'm coming back now. I appreciated my time in France. It obviously didn't go well and I was injured for a large period of it but I don't regret it. I'm happy with being back. The opportunity was there. I wanted to take it and I'm glad I'm here.' Having stepped back into the international picture with the Lions, Farrell may soon face a decision on whether to return to England duty. His move back to Saracens makes him eligible for Steve Borthwick's but Farrell is yet to confirm his intentions. 'I don't know at this moment in time,' he said, when asked about playing for his country. 'I'm focused on what is happening now. I said before and when I signed for Saracens, I'm determined to enjoy what I'm doing and love every minute of however long that I've got left in the game that I love. 'My focus is what is in front of me here and when I get back to Saracens making sure that I'm myself. If I do that, I will enjoy it and we'll see what happens. There's loads left in us and I'm just determined to enjoy it. I'm really enjoying this tour.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Twelvetrees says mystique of Lions tours makes them special
Worcester Warriors defence coach Billy Twelvetrees says "no one really knows what it's like" on a British and Irish Lions tour unless they have been involved in one. The 36-year-old, who won 22 England caps, was called up to join the Lions tour to Australia in 2013 as injury cover. He told BBC Hereford &Worcester: "You can watch it on TV and think you know, but all the players are the same, you're put into that room, there are world-class players everywhere and there is imposter syndrome a little bit." Twelvetrees has come out of retirement following a coaching stint at Champ Rugby side Hartpury after agreeing a player-coach role with Worcester, who kick-off their return to professional rugby against Coventry on 4 October. Speaking ahead of the first Lions Test against the Wallabies on Saturday, Twelvetrees said Worcester produced some real talent before going into administration and has high hopes for former fly-half Fin Smith, who has missed out on a start this weekend. "I remember Willie Heinz coming here, and he said 'Bill, have a look at Fin Smith he'll be the next England 10' and that was four or five years ago now. "When you're in the game you know good players straight away, so being in the game, I am a big Fin Smith fan, I like the way he moves the ball and the way he operates" "I think it's so cool for him, and he'll learn so much being around world class players and coaches, and he'll have the social side of it in Australia so what a cool thing to do as a young lad." Smith joined Northampton Saints after leaving Sixways and was a member of their 2024 Premiership title-winning side, and also played in their 28-20 European Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux in May. Get the latest updates from the Lions tour Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Twelvetrees says mystique of Lions tours makes them special
Worcester Warriors defence coach Billy Twelvetrees says "no one really knows what it's like" on a British and Irish Lions tour unless they have been involved in 36-year-old, who won 22 England caps, was called up to join the Lions tour to Australia in 2013 as injury told BBC Hereford &Worcester: "You can watch it on TV and think you know, but all the players are the same, you're put into that room, there are world-class players everywhere and there is imposter syndrome a little bit."Twelvetrees has come out of retirement following a coaching stint at Champ Rugby side Hartpury after agreeing a player-coach role with Worcester, who kick-off their return to professional rugby against Coventry on 4 ahead of the first Lions Test against the Wallabies on Saturday, Twelvetrees said Worcester produced some real talent before going into administration and has high hopes for former fly-half Fin Smith, who has missed out on a start this weekend."I remember Willie Heinz coming here, and he said 'Bill, have a look at Fin Smith he'll be the next England 10' and that was four or five years ago now."When you're in the game you know good players straight away, so being in the game, I am a big Fin Smith fan, I like the way he moves the ball and the way he operates""I think it's so cool for him, and he'll learn so much being around world class players and coaches, and he'll have the social side of it in Australia so what a cool thing to do as a young lad."Smith joined Northampton Saints after leaving Sixways and was a member of their 2024 Premiership title-winning side, and also played in their 28-20 European Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux in May.
