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Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Stadium announcer calls Lions players ‘Aussie', ‘Kiwi' and ‘South African'
Australia continued their attack on the British and Irish Lions' overseas-born contingent via the team announcement over the tannoy ahead of the match against the Western Force. At the Optus Stadium in Perth, a number of players were described as 'Aussie', 'Kiwi' or 'South African' as the Lions team was announced to the crowd of 40,000. The descriptions included: 'The Aussie at No 14, Mack Hansen.' 'Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu.' 'The Kiwi now Irishman, James Lowe.' 'At prop, the former SA schoolboy now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman.' The eight-strong foreign-born contingent in the Lions squad has been a major talking point in the build-up to the tour. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt labelled the Lions' midfield pairing of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as a 'southern-hemisphere centre partnership' ahead of the tour opener against Argentina while David Campese called them the 'British and Irish and Pacific Island Lions' ahead of the Western Force game. The selection of foreign-born players in Farrell's original squad sparked criticism from within Britain and Ireland, too. Lions great Willie John McBride said their selection 'bothered' him, and after the additional call-up of tighthead prop Finlay Bealham – who was born in Australia – former England scrum-half Danny Care said their presence did not sit well with him. Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman, Aki, Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park all qualify to represent Scotland and Ireland respectively via the residency law. At the time they qualified, that rule stipulated a stay of three years in the country they were switching allegiance to but has subsequently been extended to five years. Hansen, Tuipulotu and Bealham all qualify to represent their respective nations and Lions on ancestral grounds. The Lions lost their first match of the tour to Argentina in Dublin with their match against the Western Force the first on Australian soil. They will play nine matches in Australia with three against the Wallabies to decide the Test series.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
British and Irish Lions vs Western Force live: Latest score and updates as tourists play first match in Australia
The British and Irish Lions face the Western Force in their first match on Australian soil in Perth as the tourists bid to bounce back from defeat to Argentina. Andy Farrell was left furious with his side's showing Dublin as they fell to a narrow loss against the Pumas, though there were signs of encouragement for the head coach as his squad continue to get up to speed. Farrell has rung the changes for this initial outing Down Under having been able to more fully integrate the Leinster contingent, and those involved in the Premiership final, after their delayed arrival into camp. It is the Western Force selection, however, that has generated more of the talking points this week, with the Lions accusing Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt of breaching the terms of the tour agreement but failing to release some of his Australia stars. There are, however, a few familiar faces on show for the Super Rugby Pacific side: scrum half Nic White is one of the game's great pests and controllers, while playmaker Ben Donaldson, a late call-up after injury struck Kurtley Beale, had a strong Super Rugby Pacific season. Lions vs Western Force live British and Irish Lions vs Western Force live The British and Irish Lions have landed in Australia and begin life Down Under with an intriguing meeting with the Western Force. It was a disappointing start for the tourists as the curtain came up on their summer with defeat to Argentina in Dublin, leaving Andy Farrell ticking - though there was plenty to encourage the Lions head coach, too. To Perth, then, for the first match of the tour proper. Kick off at Optus Stadium is at 11am BST. Harry Latham-Coyle27 June 2025 11:13
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
From all-out brawls to eye-gouging and worse: a brief history of Lions Tour violence
Expect some conflict. Sit back and watch the claret flow. Take in some dust-ups and assaults, and hope the Lions get their retaliation in first. Bin the political correctness. The game against Argentina last Saturday at the Aviva Stadium was not like what may be coming down the line at the Lions, with a reasonable chance of some traditional brutality on the field. Why? Because that's the way Lions' tours always have been, a journey of character tests, challenges and physical melees, this first tranche of five episodes beginning on Saturday against Western Force in Perth before Queensland Reds, Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and an Australian and New Zealand invitational mix. The run-in games are, as history has shown, a softening-up process, a mincing machine where club players on the fringes of the national side, as well as those in Joe Schmidt's Wallabies squad, are playing to hold their place or earn their place. READ MORE The reputations of the touring players are there to be shredded, with folklore telling us nefarious methods come with the playbook. It has always been that way, and not just in the last century. From Duncan McRae raining down punches on Ronan O'Gara in 2001, to the tour-ending spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll by New Zealand's Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu in 2005 and the gouging of Luke Fitzgerald at Loftus Versfeld in 2009, foul play has featured prominently on Lions tours. 'This is your f**king Everest, boys,' Jim Telfer told a room of bowed heads in the 1997 Living with the Lions documentary. [ Lions v Western Force: Kick-off time, team news, where to watch and more ] That's the way they have always set up, primed to play on the edge and it's the way the opposition have also been hardwired over the last 50 years or more. The most famous bout of thuggery was in South Africa 1974, although the plan for Lions players to punch their nearest rival had a gestation period of six years following the 1968 tour and a match against Eastern Transvaal. Derek Quinnell of the Lions is tackled during the brutal 1974 tour match against South Africa. Photograph: Allsport There Wales prop John O'Shea was the first Lion ever to be sent off for foul play. Pelted with oranges on his way to the locker room, he was blamed for the punch-up. His defence was that he had retaliated after an opponent attacked scrumhalf Roger Young. Leaving the pitch O'Shea was then hit by a spectator, triggering a tunnel brawl that involved reserves, officials and police as play continued. Then 1968 tumbled forwards to 1971 when the New Zealand touring squad travelled to Canterbury. The Lions won the match, but maybe lost in the battle when Irish prop Ray McLoughlin chipped a bone at the base of his left thumb and Sandy Carmichael was hospitalised with multiple fractures of his cheekbone. Carmichael, the first player to win 50 caps for Scotland, was doing what props do and bored into the opposition at scrums. For that, Alister Hopkinson, the opposing prop, landed a few punches on the Scot with the damaging shot that fractured his cheek bone in five places coming later via a backhanded fist that caught him in a lineout. McLoughlin's thumb injury occurred when a fight erupted with players from both sides pummelling each other near the touchline. Not the most accurate of blows, McLoughlin landed his shot on the head of Grizz Wyllie, breaking his left thumb. Grizz also punched Fergus Slattery as the Blackrock player unwisely held on to his jersey. The 1974 tour to South Africa was broiling before it even took off and its essence was the personality of captain Willie John McBride and his '99 one-in, all-in' spirit. Speaking to The Telegraph four years ago, former England forward Roger Uttley recalled the mood set by McBride when the squad had gathered in London. 'Before we had even left the country, we were gathered in the Churchill Hotel just near Marble Arch and outside we could hear the anti-apartheid demonstrations in full flow,' Uttley said. 'Willie spoke and you could hear a pin drop. 'Gentlemen. If you have any doubts about going on this tour, I want you to be big enough to stand up now and leave the room. I have been to South Africa before and there is going to be a lot of intimidation, a lot of cheating. So if you're not up for a fight, there's the door'. 'No one moved. I can still remember the silence and the hairs on the back of the neck rising.' The third Test in Port Elizabeth was the defining match of the series for its choreographed violence. Known as the Battle of the Boet Erasmus Stadium, Scotland's Gordon Brown punched his opposite number, Johan de Bruyn, so hard the Orange Free State man's glass eye flew out and landed in the mud. 'So, there we are, 30 players, plus the ref, on our hands and knees scrabbling about in the mire looking for this glass eye,' recalled Brown, who died from cancer in 2001. 'Eventually, someone yells 'Eureka!' whereupon De Bruyn grabs it and plonks it straight back in the gaping hole in his face.' After Brown's death, De Bruyn presented his widow with the glass eye in a specially made trophy. When another fight broke out, the Wales full-back JPR Williams sprinted over half the length of the pitch to deliver a right hook to second row 'Moaner' van Heerden. 'That's not something I'm proud of,' orthopaedic surgeon Williams said later. It wasn't always South Africa who transgressed, although the Springboks, of all the nations toured by the Lions, prided themselves on physicality. In 1989 the second Test against the Wallabies became the Battle of Ballymore when the Lions scrumhalf Rob Jones kicked off with Nick Farr-Jones at a scrum put-in. From there it was bedlam, with the commentary left to call it as it happened. 'They are all joining in now. There're punches galore. It's an all-in brawl,' the exasperated commentator said. 'It was [initially] between the half backs, but everyone joined in.' The wasn't much French referee Rene Hourquet could do about it, and when Dai Young later aimed a boot at Steve Cutler in a ruck another free-for-all kicked off. With the century turning, three tours in a row in 2001, 2005 and 2009 would see three Irish players targeted in different violent ways. In 2001 Ronan O'Gara's came up against New South Wales Waratahs midway through the second half. The images are of a kneeling McRae raining down the punches. Replays show that between the glancing blows and the fully landed punches as he held O'Gara with his left arm, the Munster outhalf took 11 shots resulting in eight stitches around his left eye. O'Gara's running commentary to the doctor as he was getting stitched in the changing room said it all. Duncan McRae, left, and Ronan O'Gara during that 2001 Lions game in Sydney. Photograph: Adam Pretty/Allsport 'F**king cheap shots,' he said breathing heavily as the doctors carefully pulled his face together. 'Caught me with the first one. Couldn't f**king defend myself. F**king trying to look after the ball.' The spear tackle on O'Driscoll four years later might come across as the most calculated act. It took just over 40 seconds in the 2005 first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch to end his participation in the match and the tour and to sideline him for seven months. Calculated how? Well, the ball was with New Zealand lock Ali Williams 30 feet away when Umaga and Mealamu almost cartoonishly turned the Lions' centre upside down and rammed him into the ground dislocating his shoulder. 'It happened in slow motion and I knew I had to get my head out of the way,' O'Driscoll said on Irish television after the tour. 'My shoulder took the brunt of the fall.' In Umaga's book Up Close, published in 2007, in a classless comment he called O'Driscoll a 'sook' or crybaby. In the 2009 tour to South Africa, the Lions lost their first Test match, making the second vital to save the series. On the day the Loftus Versfeld Stadium bristled with hostility. 'The South African fans appeared to be waving as our bus approached, but as we got closer we realised they were all doing the 'w****r' sign,' Welsh prop Adam Jones write in Bomb, his 2015 autobiography. Again, the match was brutal, physical and unforgiving and as Fitzgerald found out it quickly became insidious. Less than a minute in Springbok flanker Schalk Burger gouged the Irish winger. 'Luke said he had to pull Burger's hand off his eyes. That's not sport, that's not the way we play. It is not the gentlemanly thing to do – it's disgusting,' Wales and Lions' scrumhalf Mike Phillips said afterwards. And Burger's punishment? A slap on the wrist. He sat it out for 10 minutes. With the Lions, that's the way they roll.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
British and Irish Lions send 'very clear' Australia warning over releasing Test stars for tour matches
Caution: Australia head coach Joe Schmidt does not want his top stars risking potential injury before Lions Test series (AP) The British and Irish Lions have warned Australia they will be in breach of contract if they fail to release their Test stars for all tour games involving Super Rugby teams. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Western Force players Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White to take part in Saturday's first match Down Under in Perth. Advertisement However, all those from the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies, including big names such as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini, will not face the Lions until the Test series. Given Australia's lack of depth, Schmidt is keen to avoid picking up any injuries while their warm-up fixture against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, which takes place the day after the tourists meet the Waratahs, is another obstacle. However, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley has reminded the hosts of the terms of the tour contract, knowing Andy Farrell's men want to play the toughest possible opposition to provide adequate preparation for the opening Test on July 19. "We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series," Calveley said. Advertisement "The agreement is very clear - it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. Warning: Lions CEO Ben Calveley wants to ensure that all their tour matches are competitive (AFP via Getty Images) "We'll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with (Rugby Australia chief executive) Phil Waugh and will take it step by step. "It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just from a performance standpoint but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well." Calveley declined to reveal what action the Lions could take if Schmidt will not be budged from his current policy, but it is clear the tourists hold all the aces given the vast revenue they generate for hosting countries. Advertisement A sold-out Aviva Stadium turned red for Friday night's send-off in a display of commercial power from the elite of British and Irish rugby, who continue to be a huge draw. Argentina won an entertaining but scrappy game 28-24 and given they are positioned three places higher than the Wallabies in the global ranking in fifth, they could be viewed as a more credible tour destination than Australia. There are also calls for France to be added to the current rotation that is completed by South Africa and New Zealand. For now, however, fixtures against other nations will be bolt-ons to existing destinations rather than stand-alone tours. "There are different teams around the world that we might be interested in playing against in future. Traditionally that's been consigned to a pre-tour element - Dublin, Murrayfield - so we'll probably focus on that," Calveley said. Advertisement "We're also interested when we go away on tour to see if we can bring in other countries like Japan and Fiji to feature in those games as we build up to the Test element. "We're open and we're flexible, but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure." Calveley was speaking at a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, a 20-minute First Nations cultural experience held in in Perth's Kings Park.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions: TV channel and live stream today
Keys to the attack: Finn Russell will start at fly-half for the Lions against Western Force (Getty Images) The British and Irish Lions officially begin their Australia tour today, meeting Super Rugby's Western Force in Perth. The summer got off to a disappointing start last week as Andy Farrell's side were beaten 28-24 by Argentina in a warm-up clash in Dublin, losing their claim to the 1888 Cup. Advertisement They came back into contention after trailing 21-10 at the break thanks to a well-timed booking for Mayco Vivas, but could not get the comeback over the line. The Lions have not had long to get themselves shipshape, with a run of nine games over six weeks looming large. The tour Down Under will culminate in a Test triple-header against the Wallabies. After finishing ninth of 11 in their 2025 Super Rugby campaign, the Western Force could present a good opportunity for the Lions to get back to winning ways. They have named a strong side for the tie, though, after Lions CEO Ben Calveley warned Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt about releasing Australia players for tour matches. Advertisement After meeting the Western Force, the Lions will face the Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and both an Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV and First Nations and Pasifika XV, in addition to their Test matches. How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions TV channel: Today's match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action. Coverage begins from 10am BST ahead of an 11am kick-off at Optus Stadium in Perth. Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can catch the action online via the Sky Go app. The match will also be available via NOW TV. Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport's live blog.
