Latest news with #Keenan
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jack Conan: 'Poignant' Katie Taylor message inspired Lions win
Jack Conan has revealed how a message from Katie Taylor helped inspire the British and Irish Lions as they wrapped up their series with a game to spare against the Wallabies. The Lions staged an epic comeback to defeat Australia on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, coming from 18 points down to win 29-26 after Hugo Keenan's try with the final play of the game. Ahead of the Test, scrum coach John Fogarty spoke about the inspirational presentation from former Lions captain Martin Johnson, who handed out the game jerseys. And Conan says they were also given a motivational message from one of Ireland's greatest ever sportspeople. "We had a video from Katie Taylor earlier in the week and it was unbelievably poignant and powerful," he said. "It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but be ready to win by will. I think that was something that summed up today massively because we were not at our best at all." From one Bray native to another, that message from the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, and current undisputed world lightweight champion struck a chord with Conan in particular. "Someone to come from the town I'm from, I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. "She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. "And to be such a superstar and be just incredibly humble and driven and knock it out of herself is something that we kind of leant on as well, because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it today in spades. "Lads absolutely loved it, and it meant a lot to me being from the same place and seeing her on the world stage, but I think everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy, it resonated with everyone. "It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us, it was brilliant." Conan had the best seat in the house for the winning try from Keenan, outside the full-back's left shoulder when he got the ball from scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park. On Saturday night, Andy Farrell admitted he was calling for Keenan to pass the ball to his team-mate and take advantage of the mismatch, with Conan standing out opposite wing Max Jorgensen. And the number 8, who could have scored the opening try of the game but for a ball-and-all tackle from James Slipper, joked that he was robbed of a career highlight by his Leinster team-mate. "I was delighted for him, now in saying that, I would have liked it more if he gave me the ball on the edge and I scored the try. "No, delighted for Barry [Keenan's nickname]. I probably would have dropped it like the other one... no, it was knocked out of my hands. "He [Keenan] had a bit of a rocky start to the campaign with the sickness that derailed him for a while and it's a testament to his professionalism and staying in it. "I was shouting for it, but Barry goes and scores a try so I've no complaints. If he bottled it there in that moment I would have killed him and kicked the arse off him afterwards, but that was great." Conan, who turns 34 on Tuesday, had an all-action evening at the MCG, with a combined 31 carries and tackles, the most of any Lions player in any Test across the last five tours. The team struggled badly at times in the first half, with Conan attributing some of that to Thursday's training session, where he said the team were "pretty shocking". The inconsistency of both sides made for an epic contest for the neutral, and Conan says clinching the series in such a way makes the victory even sweeter. "As a Leinster man you're normally on the other end of it where you don't win them so it was nice to be on the other side of it for once. "We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well. "I think the celebrations and the craic and changing room, if we went out and we won by 20, it wouldn't be the same. "Everyone's just over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is just incredibly special. I feel incredibly humbled and honoured to be part of it all. "Something that will go down in history, they won't be writing the history books about how s**t we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. "You can't take these things away from people and go down in history. I know people don't have the best things to say about Australia but I thought they were class today, they played above themselves. "We saw Valetini, big Willie Skelton and come back into the side. They were unbelievable, they made a huge difference and we struggled with it at times, a little bit high in the contacts, a little bit soaking, whatever else but it doesn't matter, we got there in the end didn't we?" As for the celebrations, they will roll into the start of the week. The team were given Sunday off as usual, while they have also been allowed some extra time to 'rest and recover' on Monday, before hitting the ground on Tuesday, looking to seal the clean sweep in Sydney. "Yeah it's class, just the feeling afterwards, the celebrations, 'Big Tadge' [Tadhg] Furlong was giving it 90 on the sideline which was class and it was just unreal. "Part of a Lions winning series is just so special, to have played two 80 minutes, I'm not sure if I'll be playing next week after my performance but we'll see what happens. "It's great doing the lap afterwards and seeing so many familiar faces like all the lads' partners, family, everything like that is class. And then seeing my wife and then all my mates, my twin sister's here as well with her husband and they've been digging in with the baby duties as well which has been great. "So you couldn't wish for anything more compared to four years ago when there wasn't a sinner in the stadium, getting a proper rattle out of it now is just unreal."
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland's trio deserve chance for sporting immortality with Lions - and one man deserves place in sun
Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After one of the greatest British and Irish Lions Test matches, it is safe to assume that a few drinks were consumed by the tourists in Melbourne over the weekend. The 29-26 victory in front of 90,000 spectators at the MCG clinched the series against Australia with a game to spare in the most dramatic of circumstances, with Hugo Keenan scoring a try right at the death. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Lions at one point in the first half trailed a rejuvenated Wallabies outfit 23-5. They produced their greatest fightback of all time, which had previously stood at toppling South Africa when 10 points behind in 1938. Keenan's score is now etched into folklore. Scotland's Finn Russell signs a flag after the Lions overcame Australia. | Getty Images The squad and the tens of thousands of Lions fans who flocked to Melbourne surely celebrated long into the night. Winning tours are the exception, not the rule, and regardless of Wallabies' well-documented issues, they put up a serious fight in the second Test. Some will argue that the hosts were hard done by when Italian referee Andrea Piardi stuck to his guns and refused to rescind Keenan's try amid Australian complaints that Jac Morgan had taken out Carlo Tizzano illegally in the build-up. It was a big call for Piardi and his team of officials, but Morgan did not do enough to concede a penalty. No doubt the ref enjoyed his post-match pint after such a stressful moment, even if the Australians were unhappy. The foundations of this Lions team have been been built in Ireland - nine starters on Saturday night came from that nation. But amidst the Guinness, there is whisky. Scotland can rightfully claim a tangible part in this victory, even if only two Scots were in the first XV in Melbourne. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jones has his moment in the sun Finn Russell pulled the strings at stand-off and while his goal-kicking was wayward - he only landed two from five - his general play was strong, especially in the second half. He spotted gaps in behind the Australian defence and held his nerve at the death to make sure the ball eventually found its way to Keenan. Huw Jones would not have kept his place at centre had Garry Ringrose not self-certified his concussion 48 hours before kick-off. Ringrose is undoubtedly a world-class 13, but so is Jones. This match was further evidence of his capabilities. He scored a try yet again, displayed his pace and power while defending diligently. From a Scottish perspective, it was a shame that his usual partner, Sione Tuipulotu, was unavailable due to injury after the first Test. He has been the poster boy of Scottish rugby over the past 12 months, but Jones rightly has his moment in the sun. Blair Kinghorn made his Lions Test debut on 60 minutes when replacing James Lowe and he played an important part in a vital period of the match. His searing running nearly brought a try and it was telling that the Lions wrestled control away from the Wallabies when they called for reinforcements off the bench. Kinghorn - the third Scot in this momentous win - continued his remarkable rise to the very top of world rugby. Since moving to Toulouse in December 2023, he's won the French Top 14 twice, the European Cup once and is now a Lions tour winner. Not bad at all. Blair Kinghorn came off the bench and helped the Lions land victory. | Getty Images There could be more for these Lions. Immortality awaits in Sydney next Saturday. A series whitewash beckons at the Accor Stadium and with Australia clearly shattered by events in Melbourne, history is there for the taking. Even the classes of 1971 and 1974 were unable to produce 100 per cent records, achievements that also eluded the 1997 and 2013 vintages from the professional era. Becoming the greatest Lions team of all time was the aspiration when arriving Down Under and, while the strength of the Wallabies may mitigate against that being a realistic claim, 2025 will at least be in the conversation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Russell, Jones and Kinghorn will want to be part of that. Russell is the Lions' undisputed stand-off and it would be madness to take him out of the firing line next weekend, but Jones' and Kinghorn's positions are less nailed-on. Head coach Andy Farrell may want to turn to Ringrose if he has recovered from his concussion in time, or his son Owen Farrell, who came on in Melbourne. Tuipulotu could also be in contention. Pre-tour, many saw Kinghorn as the first-choice full-back. Has he done enough to push back in front of Lowe? Farrell and Co know the significance of one final win. Ahead of travelling down under, many rugby experts believed the Lions may never have a better chance of going undefeated on tour and while some of the pre-Test matches were tough watches, the team was never in any real danger. You can only defeat what is put in front of you and the Lions, so far, have pounced upon their prey. Do other Scots have a chance? Could any other Scots enter calculations? Prop Pierre Schoeman is down the pecking order and winger Duhan van der Merwe, despite scoring a hat-trick of tries against an Invitational XV, hasn't yet troubled at Test squad. Lock Scott Cummings and scrum-half Ben White have been more impressive when called upon and would be in with a shout should Farrell wish to switch things up. Then again, the coach may stick with the guys that have so far proved their worth. They deserve to finish the job. That includes Jones, one of the stars of this tour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What do Australia have left? Returning forward Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, both back from calf injuries, were magnificent and lifted everyone around them in Melbourne, but their team was clearly undercooked for the first Test. While pride is at stake, the Wallabies have a Rugby Championship starting next month to focus on.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lions and Wallabies give the MCG the epic it deserves as Hugo Keenan becomes an unlikely hero
Think about all of the times you've seen Jerry Guscott's drop-goal to clinch the series against the Springboks in 1997. Hugo Keenan's try to defeat Australia in last night's epic second Test at the MCG has joined a list of iconic moments in the 137-year history of the British and Irish Lions. Owen Farrell's winning penalty in the second Test in Wellington in 2017, George North lifting Israel Folau over his shoulders and carrying him like a toddler in Brisbane in 2013, Brian O'Driscoll's dancing feet at the Gabba in 2001. Jim Telfer's 'This is your Everest' speech. Add Keenan to the montage. Every four years, the sight of the Ireland and Leinster full-back hitting the gas and burning Len Ikitau to the line will be replayed again and again and again, probably with a Scott Quinnell or Ian McGeechan voiceover that would have you ready to run through walls. Sport can create unlikely heroes, and when Keenan was playing off the bench for Blackrock College's U14 C team back in the day, never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined scoring a last-minute winner to win a British and Irish Lions series. Even a few weeks ago it would have seemed like a long shot. Having come into the tour shaking off a calf injury, his Lions debut was delayed by a gastro bug that emptied him out and left him 6kg lighter. One of the more level-headed players – even by modern rugby standards – Keenan couldn't be contained after the final whistle, doing his best to leap into the stands of the MCG every time he spotted some of the friends and family that made their way down to the front row to meet him, including some particularly emotional moments with his parents, Paul and Avril (below). Maybe we're biased, but on a Lions tour that was so dominated by green, it felt appropriate that one of the Irish contingent was the hero of the day. It was also appropriate that the game itself matched the setting and occasion. The Melbourne Cricket Grounds is one of the world's iconic sporting venues, and with 90,308 people crammed into 'The G', we were treated to one of the all-time great Lions Tests. While the Wallabies fell 60 seconds short of bringing it to a decider in Sydney, Joe Schmidt's side put to bed any ideas of this series being a formality. Bullied a week ago in Brisbane, they allowed the Lions win pulling up and only a sleepy final quarter at Suncorp put some respectability on that scoreboard. Last night at the MCG it was a different story. While the Lions never played with the same efficiency that marked the first half of their win a week ago, both teams played their part in a thrilling 80 minutes. All week there were fears that this game would be wasted on the occasion, but what played out was a game of rugby that delivered beyond all expectations. In the first half, Australia played with a determination and flair unrecognisable from a week ago. With Will Skelton and Rob Valetini back in their side, they used their two most powerful forwards effectively. The first two lineouts saw them manufacture touches for each player in space; first Skelton broke down the touchline off a clever short lineout, and on their second they went over the top where Valetini charged to the 22. They carried nine times each, with Valetini departing at half time as his calf injury caught up on him, while Skelton's tank was empty early in the second half. Even with those early departures, captain Harry Wilson was the only forward who carried more. It wasn't just physically where they matched the Lions. Full-back Tom Wright was inspired in the first half, with his glorious 50:22 laying the platform for Jake Gordon's try, before he raced clear to score one of his own almost straight from the restart, after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had left Bundee Aki for dead. "I suppose the drama and how it unfolded is what makes it special," Lions head coach Andy Farrell said. "We came here to win a series. To do it in that type of fashion, you wouldn't have backed us at 23-5, but to find a way adds to the story, doesn't it? It adds to the fairytale. Twelve years ago Farrell was part of Warren Gatland's coaching group who were brought the distance by the Wallabies in the series, before blowing them away in the Sydney decider. "To be a part of it is an honour, it really is. 2013 was special, 1-1, and being able to win it at the death, but we won quite comfortably in the end. "To win it like that is what top level sport is all about." If any context was needed to back-up how thrilling Saturday's game was, the numbers back it up. Keenan's match-winner saw the Lions take the lead for the first time on the night, having trailed for 75 minutes, while no Lions side had ever come from more than 10-points down to win a Test, as highlighted by the great rugby historian Stuart Farmer. Jack Conan's workload summed up the physical toll, with the excellent stats man Russ Petty confirming his combined 31 tackles (24) and carries (7) were the most for Lions player in a single Test across the last five series. Judging by the singing in the Lions' changing room, which could be heard loudly from the press conference room at the MCG, there will be a physical toll to the celebrations too, and the players are set to be given a couple of days off before turning their attention to Saturday's third Test in Sydney. With the series win complete, it's unlikely we'll see the intensity of the MCG repeated at Accor Stadium. But with a first 3-0 sweep against the Wallabies for more than 100 years the prize on offer, there's incentive enough for the Lions to throw everything they have at one final week, and give the final game of this tour, and Australian rugby, the respect it deserves.
4 days ago
- Sport
Last-gasp try gives the British and Irish Lions a 29-26 win over the Wallabies to clinch test series
MELBOURNE, Australia -- A contentious try in the last minute by Hugo Keenan capped an extraordinary comeback win for the British and Irish Lions over the Wallabies in the second test on Saturday, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Lions rallied from 23-5 down in the first half to win the match 29-26 and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series which concludes in Sydney next weekend. In 2001 and 2013 the Lions lost in Melbourne after winning the first match of a three-test series against the Wallabies to force the series to a decider. But Keenan's try in the dying seconds allowed the Lions to avoid that fate for the first time. After winning the first test 29-17, they managed to overcome a vastly improved Australia that at times dominated Saturday's match. 'Lions, Lions, Lions!' Lions captain Majo Itoje chanted at the end of the match, rousing the almost 40,000 Lions fans among the crowd at the giant auditorium. 'This is special. This will live long in the memory.'
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Last-gasp try seals series for Lions over Wallabies
Hugo Keenan scored a last-gasp try as the British & Irish Lions mounted a record comeback from 18 points down to overhaul a gallant Australia 29-26 and win the series with a test to spare. Fullback Keenan's late score capped the biggest fightback in Lions' test history and left the Wallabies heartbroken in front of 90,307 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a record crowd for a Lions test. The result was not without controversy as Australia desperately appealed for a penalty over Jac Morgan's clean-out on Carlo Tizzano in the buildup to Keenan's try. But after an agonising wait as the TV match official assessed a variety of angles, the try stood and the Lions claimed their first series win since beating Robbie Deans's Australia 2-1 in 2013. As ecstatic Lions players sang in their changing room, a gutted Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said the referees got the decision wrong. His Lions counterpart Andy Farrell saw things differently and said his team were deserving winners. 'They have dreamed of being a Lion all their lives and the fairytale is true, getting to this point and winning it at the death like that. What a privilege," said Farrell, who was the Lions defence coach in 2013. Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry, Huw Jones and Tadgh Beirne also scored tries for Farrell's men, the first Lions team to seal a series 2-0 since the 1997 tour of South Africa. While Farrell's team celebrated, it was a bitter night for the hosts, who had taken a 23-5 lead in a belter of an opening half featuring three tries apiece. That lead was trimmed to six points by halftime as the counter-punching Lions produced a two-try burst in the five minutes before the break. "It hurts," said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. "So proud of this team. We've been written off. We came out here, we put our bodies on the line. The game was there to the very end and to lose like that, it hurts." 'FAIRYTALE STUFF' With enforcers Rob Valetini and Will Skelton back from injury, Australia were much improved from the side who were outmuscled in the 27-19 defeat in the Brisbane opener. They hit harder at the breakdown and converted their dominance of possession into early points as the Lions struggled with indiscipline. Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh kicked a pair of penalty goals in the first 11 minutes before the Lions settled through a dominant scrum. Hooker Sheehan took a quick tap near the try-line and flew over a pair of low-tackling Wallabies for the opening try. With only two backs named on the bench, Australia were reduced to one when winger Harry Potter came off with a hamstring injury. Tate McDermott, normally a scrumhalf, was a valiant replacement and the Wallabies shrugged off the blow when James Slipper burrowed over at the left corner in the 23rd minute. Referee Andrea Piardi grew impatient with the Lions' repeated infringements and showed Tommy Freeman a yellow card, and Australia duly capitalised with a couple of quick tries. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon veered out of a ruck to bolt five metres through a gaping hole in the Lions' line for the first. Centre Joseph Suaalii then sent home fans into delirium two minutes later as he burst through midfield and dished off to Tom Wright, who steamed over to put the Wallabies 18 points up. Once restored to 15 men, however, the Lions rallied with two tries of their own. Curry danced around Gordon to touch down in the corner, and centre Jones carried strongly over the line to put his team six points adrift at the break. Both teams struggled to impose themselves after the restart but the Lions' Bundee Aki cracked the game open with a furious line break, the tourists shifting to the left where James Lowe offloaded to a barnstorming Beirne to thunder over on the hour. Flyhalf Finn Russell's conversion made it a two-point game and the Lions ratcheted up the pressure, with their forwards dominating the scrum. After several narrow escapes, the Wallabies finally buckled in the last minute when the quick-footed Keenan stepped through a gap in the left corner for a score which the referees were unwilling to roll back. Farrell's men will look to become the first Lions team to sweep the Wallabies in a three-test series when they head to Sydney next week. "It's fairytale stuff," said Farrell. "You can say whatever you want but to these lads, it means absolutely everything."
