Latest news with #GeographySix
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Itoje insists there will be no repeat of 'geography six' as Scots trio join up
Maro Itoje has assured that the new additions to the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia will not face the same treatment as the contentious 'Geography Six' in 2017. Scottish trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham are set to join Andy Farrell's squad in the coming week, boosting the team size to 44 following the inclusion of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George and Tom Clarkson. These new recruits have been drafted in to provide cover, ensuring key players won't have to play in the Test series whilst also featuring in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV. Farrell's decision to turn to those from Scotland's tour of nearby New Zealand has evoked memories of eight years ago when Finn Russell, Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davie joined Warren Gatland's Lions. Picked because of their geographical location with their national sides and not on merit, they were shunned by some squad members and Gatland later revealed that internal concern over 'devaluing the jersey' forced him to not deploy them off the bench against the Hurricanes. Itoje's Lions will take a different approach with their captain declaring 'we are all in this together'. 'I have no doubt that they will be welcomed in,' said Itoje ahead of the Saturday's first Test in Brisbane. 'The boss, Andy, has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series. 'All of the players who have been called in are quality players. They are players like everyone else in the team, have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career. 'We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways. 'I have no doubt that everyone who has called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal.' Meanwhile, Itoje has doubled down on Henry Pollock's revelation that the Lions are determined to complete a series whitewash of Australia – an aim that has been noted by the hosts. 'That's definitely the ambition. It goes without saying – no one ever wants to lose a game,' Itoje said. 'It would be a bit weird if one of my team-mates said we want to win two and lose one. 'If you asked any of the Wallabies players, I hope it's also their ambition to win all the games. 'We want to win, but all we're focussed on is this Saturday. The other two games will look after itself.' After playing four matches in four different states in 11 days, the Lions are based in Brisbane where preparations for the first Test have begun, 'We know there's going to be a big step up. As we get closer and closer to the game, we'll sharpen and sharpen,' Itoje said. 'There's a healthy tension in the squad because we know this is what we've been working towards.'
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lions captain Mario Itoje: Scottish call-ups not the same as 'Geography Six'
Maro Itoje insists the new arrivals on the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia will be treated differently to the controversial 'Geography Six' in 2017. Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham will join up with Andy Farrell's men over the coming week, swelling the size of the squad to 44 in the wake of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George and Tom Clarkson also being added. The fresh faces have been brought in to provide cover that will prevent key personnel from playing in the Test series while backing up in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV. Farrell's decision to turn to those from Scotland's tour of nearby New Zealand has evoked memories of eight years ago when Finn Russell, Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davie joined Warren Gatland's Lions. Picked because of their geographical location with their national sides and not on merit, they were shunned by some squad members and Gatland later revealed that internal concern over "devaluing the jersey" forced him to not deploy them off the bench against the Hurricanes. Itoje's Lions will take a different approach with their captain declaring "we are all in this together". "I have no doubt that they will be welcomed in," said Itoje ahead of the Saturday's first Test in Brisbane. "The boss, Andy, has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series. "All of the players who have been called in are quality players. They are players like everyone else in the team, have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career. "We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways. "I have no doubt that everyone who has called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal." Meanwhile, Itoje has doubled down on Henry Pollock's (above) revelation that the Lions are determined to complete a series whitewash of Australia – an aim that has been noted by the hosts. "That's definitely the ambition. It goes without saying – no one ever wants to lose a game," Itoje said. "It would be a bit weird if one of my team-mates said we want to win two and lose one. "If you asked any of the Wallabies players, I hope it's also their ambition to win all the games. "We want to win, but all we're focussed on is this Saturday. The other two games will look after itself." After playing four matches in four different states in 11 days, the Lions are based in Brisbane where preparations for the first Test have begun, "We know there's going to be a big step up. As we get closer and closer to the game, we'll sharpen and sharpen," Itoje said. "There's a healthy tension in the squad because we know this is what we've been working towards."
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
'They're quality players' - Lions defend their latest call-ups
THE 2017 LIONS tour had the 'Geography Six' and this 2025 tour of Australia now has six late arrivals of its own. An original 38-man squad will become 44 by Sunday. The Lions have said that each of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George, Thomas Clarkson, Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland, and Ewan Ashman are coming in as what they term 'cover' for the main squad. Osborne joined the Lions over the weekend, Graham arrives in Brisbane today, George and Clarkson will land on Tuesday, while Sutherland and Ashman will link up with the tourists in Melbourne on Sunday. Versatile outside back Osborne was called up after injuries to fullback Blair Kinghorn and centre Garry Ringrose last Wednesday, while hooker George was summoned when Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered a head injury on Saturday in Adelaide. However, the Lions insist that Clarkson, Graham, Sutherland, and Ashman are not coming in to specifically cover any fresh injuries. The Lions say that blindside/lock Ollie Chessum, who trained separately from the main squad at one stage in Adelaide, is fit. And they have yet to rule Kinghorn out of the first Test against the Wallabies this weekend, saying they're taking that one day by day. Rory Sutherland will arrive on Sunday. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO The fact that Ringrose and Cowan-Dickie both have to complete 12-day returns to play after concussion, meaning no contact initially, has added to the challenge for head coach Andy Farrell and his assistants. There is also the matter of the final midweek game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday week. Farrell doesn't want to risk his Test 23 in that match in Melbourne. The Lions coaching staff don't buy into the suggestion that they are devaluing the tourists' history by adding additional players at this point. 'No, I think naturally at this stage of the tour that the games that are more intense,' said assistant coach John Dalziel in Brisbane today. 'Geographically, we're getting people here if they do need to play. I think it's the right time to do it with the right players. We're not giving away opportunities lightly. Advertisement 'It's quality players like Darcy Graham and Rory Sutherland, an ex-Lions international. These are players who will come in and add value to the group. 'Darcy Graham, in a lot of people's eyes he was very, very close to selection. He's a fantastic player, a lad that would probably be, rightfully, a bit disappointed not making it originally.' The 'Geography Six' episode in 2017 was highly controversial. Joe Marler later revealed that he refused to come off in one of the Lions' games when he was supposed to be replaced by Allan Dell, one of the Geography Six. There were other reports of unhappiness within the original 2017 squad at the time. Allan Dell [right] was one of the Geography Six in 2017. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO But Farrell and his staff aren't worried about anything like that happening. 'I didn't hear those stories, but I'd like to think our lads would be above that,' said Dalziel. He also pointed out that the Lions could have made things easier if they had selected solely on geography. 'Look at Jamie George, he had two 14-hour flights to get here. It's not an easy choice to get him in. 'We looked at it properly, it was a process with Jamie being part of the set-up at the start.' The Lions forwards coach did reveal that some of these late call-ups could leave Lions camp after the First Nations & Pasifika XV clash. That means Sutherland and Ashman could potentially arrive in Melbourne on Sunday, be involved in the game on Tuesday, then leave the Lions camp after that match. 'It'll be on an individual basis, based on what's going to happen through the week and Saturday again as well,' said Dalziel on that front. 'We'll assess after that. But we'll make that decision after that.' Graham arriving today in Brisbane, despite Sutherland and Ashman staying with Scotland in New Zealand for their game against Samoa on Saturday, has raised some eyebrows. Darcy Graham has flown in from New Zealand. Dave Winter / INPHO Dave Winter / INPHO / INPHO Dalziel was asked if there had been an injury to right wing Mack Hansen, who played in Adelaide on Saturday, but he said that wasn't the case. 'He [Hansen] is fine and he's doing the walkthrough today.' Clarkson will become the third Irish tighthead prop on this tour along with Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham, something that has drawn criticism in the other Lions nations. Clarkson is the 18th Irish player called up but again, Dalziel said the Leinster man was picked because the coaches feel he was the best available player. 'We've seen his form at the end of the season so he was hugely on the radar and now in Test weeks, it just takes an injury in training or at the weekend and in specialist positions, you're a bit light. 'Obviously, Zander Fagerson's injury as well. He's a lad who's been playing probably the best rugby he's been playing through the last six months. 'You look at that, with everyone available and him playing well, he was still in the mix. It's the right time. We feel he's the next cab off the rank. He'll come and be able to do a job here and hopefully push.' As with the final midweek game in 2017 against the Hurricanes, which was also in between the first and second Tests, it is clear that the Lions coaches feel they need to have additional players onboard for their clash with the First Nations & Pasifika XV. It was put to Dalziel that this final midweek fixture has become an inconvenience. 'Not really an inconvenience,' said the Scottish coach. 'There's going to be lads that are desperate, who won't make selection on the weekend, who will want to go out, put their best foot forward and push for the second Test. 'Also, it does help the lads in terms of their preparation. It's a good opportunity for the lads to wear a Lions jersey and I'm pleased for them.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Andy Farrell is repeating ‘Geography Six' mistake with latest Lions call-ups
In a loud echo of the 2017 Geography Six controversy, the British and Irish Lions have brought in the Scottish trio of Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman as training cover. What their epithet is has yet to be determined. One wag in Brisbane went for the 'Jock-graphy three' or if you extend it to include Thomas Clarkson, the Ireland prop who was called up on Sunday on a similar pretext, you could go for the 'First Nations Four'. Either way, it is clear they are being called up to protect Andy Farrell's players for the match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV which takes place on July 22 between the first and second Tests. From a utilitarian perspective, this is perfectly understandable that Farrell would not want to risk any Test squad players, especially his front rowers, for a midweek game. John Dalziel, the forwards coach, confirmed that they will head home following the match so that will massively save on the old expenses bill. None of the picks are offensive in themselves – although it would have been so much funnier if Farrell had called up three more Leinster players. Winger Graham might have been the unluckiest player to miss out on the original squad selection, especially considering the presence of Scotland team-mate Duhan van der Merwe. Sutherland, the loosehead prop, is now a two-time Lions tourist. Ewan Ashman becomes the squad's fifth hooker, which is not as overkill as it seems given Luke Cowan-Dickie's concussion return to play protocols and the fact that Jamie George is only halfway through his marathon trip from the Andes to Australia. It is all perfectly understandable, particularly because Scotland are so close by in New Zealand preparing for a match against Samoa. 'I think naturally at this stage of the tour that the games are more intense,' Dalziel said. 'Geographically, we're getting people here if they do need to play. I think it's the right time to do it with the right players. We're not giving away opportunities lightly.' The problem is that the founding principle of the Lions is that only the best of the best get to pull on the famous red shirt. Impinging upon that principle, however logical the decision might appear on paper, is a risky business. Rightly or wrongly, many people already feel disconnected from the Lions because of the presence of eight foreign-born players in the squad. It is easy to see how this round of call-ups will cause other supporters to feel disillusioned as they were for the Geography Six affair, which Gatland said he later regretted. When George was called up to replace Cowan-Dickie, Farrell was adamant that he wanted the 'right man'. If Farrell really wanted the right men, why did he not send for the England props – Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes – who took the Argentina scrum to the cleaners over two weeks? Class now appears to have been overtaken by convenience. None of this is the fault of the players being called up, but they will arrive as second-class citizens. Lions in name but not spirit. When the Geography Six – Tomas Francis, Gareth Davies, Finn Russell, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey and Allan Dell for those with exceptional memories – were called up to cover the midweek game against Hurricanes, props Joe Marler and Dan Cole refused to come off. Captain Maro Itoje was at pains to emphasise that would not be the case this time around. 'I have no doubt that the boss has called them in because we believe they will help our goals of winning the Test series,' Itoje said. 'All the players called in are quality players who have a high level of experience. We are all in this together. It is not us and them. You have seen in the past how late call-ups can have a huge impact on the tour in a positive way.' It also raises the question of why the Lions are playing this match against the First Nations & Pasifika team three days after the first Test against another scratch side. Given the pitiful performance by the AUNZ Invitational side in Adelaide and a lower quality talent pool, it feels that this game has little purpose behind it beyond making money.
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Lions call up Scotland's Graham, Sutherland, and Ashman
ANDY FARRELL HAS called three Scotland internationals into his British and Irish Lions squad in Australia. Wing Darcy Graham, loosehead prop Rory Sutherland, and hooker Ewan Ashman, who were all part of Scotland's squad in New Zealand preparing for this weekend's Test against Samoa, will link up with the Lions in Australia. The Lions say that Graham, Sutherland, and Ashman will 'provide cover for the First Nations & Pasifika XV fixture,' which takes place on Tuesday 22 July, in between the first and second Tests against the Wallabies. Graham, who was unlucky to miss out on the original Lions squad, will join the Lions in Brisbane today ahead of the first Test against Australia, while Sutherland and Ashman will link up with the squad in Melbourne on Sunday. Advertisement It means that by Sunday, the Lions squad will have gone from an initial 38-man group to a 44-player squad, presuming no one is sent home in the meantime. These three Scottish call-ups appear to be similar to Farrell's decision to bring Ireland tighthead Thomas Clarkson into his squad, meaning that he won't have to risk any players from his frontline Test 23 in that final midweek fixture against the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Farrell also brought in England hooker Jamie George and Ireland utility back Jamie Osborne recently, following injuries to Luke Cowan-Dickie and Blair Kinghorn, who also remain on tour. When originally naming a 38-man squad for this tour, Lions head coach Farrell indicated that he had scope to call on additional players at a later stage in Australia should the tourists feel they needed extra cover. The call-ups in recent days will bring up memories of the infamous 'Geography Six' call-ups during the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand when head coach Warren Gatland brought in six additional players as cover ahead of the final midweek game in between the first and second Tests. Gatland picked two Scottish players and four Welsh players who were close to New Zealand at the time on their national squad tours. Farrell was part of Gatland's coaching staff on that 2017 tour and evidently saw the value in having extra players to call on for the final midweek game. This is Sutherland's second Lions tour, having featured under Gatland on the 2021 trip to South Africa, when he featured in two Tests. 28-year-old Graham, who must have been close to initial selection in Farrell's squad, was sent off for two yellow cards during Scotland's defeat to Fiji on Saturday. The Edinburgh wing faced a disciplinary committee yesterday when the red card was deemed sufficient punishment. 25-year-old Edinburgh hooker Ashman was the back-up to Dave Cherry for Scotland during this year's Six Nations but he started last weekend's defeat to Fiji.
