Latest news with #Lions
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
British and Irish Lions v Western Force live updates
Live updates of the opening British and Irish Lions tour match against the Force in Perth. Lions side to face the Force Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan said Thursday he will be his 'chill' self after being named captain for the British and Irish Lions' opening Australian tour game against Western Force in Perth. The 26-year-old Leinster star was a surprise choice to lead the side on his Lions debut, having skippered his country just once. 'It's obviously a massive privilege and honour,' said Sheehan, who will pack down between countryman Tadhg Furlong and Scotland's Pierre Schoeman in the front row on Saturday. 'I just need to be myself, do what I usually do. I'm quite a chill person. I feel like I've got an understanding on who I am and what sort of excites me. 'With the added role of being captain I don't think it changes that much. I'll just bring the boys with me. I'll just let it happen.' Head coach Andy Farrell retained just two players from the side that started the 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week -- flanker Tadhg Beirne and centre Sione Tuipulotu. Among those rested is tour captain Maro Itoje, who led the side against the Pumas. Farrell has opted to make full use of his squad in the first of nine tour matches, including Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. He was without the bulk of his Leinster players against Argentina and they feature heavily against Simon Cron's Force, with nine in the matchday 23. Five starters will be making their Lions debut, as will four on the bench. 'We have had a good week of training and all of the travel and time-zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go,' said Farrell. On Sheehan, Farrell said being captain 'will make him a better player because that's the type of character he is, and he's a calming-type influence who understands what pressured situations really look like'. The Lions back row consists of Beirne, former World Rugby player-of-the-year Josh van der Flier and young star Henry Pollock. Scotland ace Finn Russell starts at flyhalf, partnering Welshman Tomos Williams. English veteran Elliot Daly takes on the fullback duties with Mack Hansen and James Lowe on the wings, and Garry Ringrose and Tuipulotu in the centre. 'We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best,' added Farrell. On their 2013 Tour, the Lions ran out 69-17 winners against the Force. British and Irish Lions (15-1): Elliot Daly; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Pierre Schoeman
The Age
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Lions Tour LIVE updates: Can the Western Force tame the Lions?
Go to latest Pinned post from 7.02pm Welcome to the jungle rugby fans Iain Payten Good evening sports fans, and welcome to the start of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. After a 12-year wait, the Lions are back on our shores and taking on the Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth to kick off their tour. I'll be your companion through the night on the blog, and the bustling Belfast brawler Jonathan Drennan is our man on the ground in Perth. He'll be sending through his preview, mid-game updates and keep an eye out for his match report and follow-up news later in the night. Strictly speaking, the Lions actually got themselves underway last weekend with a warm-up clash against Argentina but they'll be happy to forget that one after going down 28-24. Will tonight one be a good contest? The Western Force are paying $17 with the bookies to win tonight, so no-one is really expecting an upset. But that is the place the Force would prefer to be, no doubt. How do you see this one going down? Have your say in the poll. 7.02pm The Drennan scene setter By Jonathan Drennan It is a perfect winter's day in Perth, with blue skies and the bars leading up to Optus Stadium swollen with British and Irish fans who cannot believe their luck. There are small pockets of blue Force jerseys in the city, but they are few and far between. The last time the Lions were in this city, they beat the Force by 52 points in Subiaco Oval. That oval was demolished six years ago to make way for a gleaming high school, Bob Hawke College. The Force will hope to write a new chapter in the infinitely more decadent surrounds of Optus Stadium. It has been all business for the Lions so far, training on the immaculate fields of Hale School in Perth, they have kept to themselves and are desperate for a big performance after the shock four point loss to the Pumas in Dublin. The bookmakers are paying 17 bucks on a Force win, we will see pessimism is well-founded very soon. 7.02pm Here are the teams … with one late change The Lions made a stack of changes to their side from the opening loss to Argentina, with eight Leinster players returning to duty, and star no.10 Finn Russell. The side is stacked with Irishmen, and a couple of 'Aussies' are in there too in the shape of centre Sione Tuipulotu and winger Mack Hansen. The Force have eight capped Wallabies in their starting XV, and another uncapped Wallaby squad member in Nick Champion de Crespigny, as well. Kurtley Beale was ruled out during the week through injury but Ben Donaldson flew back from the Wallabies camp in Sydney as a late replacement. Jonny Drennan has dropped this news: 'Some late injury news, one-time England international hooker Nic Dolly is out for the Force and will miss out on the chance of reacquainting with former team mates, he is replaced by Tom Horton who takes his place on the bench.' Here are the teams ... British and Irish Lions (15-1): Elliot Daly; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Pierre Schoeman Western Force (15-1): Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris; Darcy Swain, Sam Carter; Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson Replacements: Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Shaun Edwards says Dan Biggar saved his career as world rugby has few things to say to star
Shaun Edwards says Dan Biggar saved his career as world rugby has few things to say to star World rugby legends paid tribute to Dan Biggar after the Wales star officially retired this week Former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards (Image: ) The great and the good of world rugby have paid tribute to Dan Biggar upon his retirement - with Shaun Edwards saying the Wales legend saved his career. Biggar brought the curtain down on his playing days this week, posting on social media confirming "full time" had been called and his boots hung up for the last time. The 35-year-old announced in April that this would be his final season in rugby, finishing his career with club side Toulon. Biggar won 112 caps for Wales in a 15-year international career, becoming his country's most-capped fly-half, while he also starred in the Lions shirt. He bagged three Six Nations titles and featured in three World Cups for this country. Taking to Instagram, the Gorseinon product shared a photo of himself looking out over the empty field at Toulon's Stade Mayol and wrote: "Full-time. Grateful for every moment and ready for what's next." Now, some of the biggest names in the game have come together to offer up their own video tributes to the former Osprey. Article continues below "The bigger the moment, the better he played," Edwards began in a tribute video. "The bigger the game, the better he played." Arguably the world's best player Antoine Dupont said: "Hello Dan. Just a few words to simply congratulate you on your career you had. "Everything you did for Wales, the Lions and the rest of your career that we know. Congratulations on being the talented player you are with an incredible kicking game but also a very brave player." Content cannot be displayed without consent Fellow fly-half legend Jonny Wilkinson added: "Hey Dan, just a little message to say a massive congratulations for what is, for me, a monumental career." Former Wales and Lions team-mate Sam Warburton said: "Biggs! What a shift mate, two Lions tour, Test match tens, centurion for Wales. Legend mate." Fellow Ospreys hero Justin Tipuric added: "I just want to say massive congratulations on an unbelievable career." Leigh Halfpenny, who played alongside Biggar during the halcyon days for Wales, harked back to their time at Gorseinon RFC together. He said: "I remember the impact you had when you first joined us at Gorseinon, I could see you were going to be a special player from a young age." Neil Jenkins, who Biggar developed a close working relationship with during their Wales days, added: "Just want to congratulate you on a fantastic career mate and you wish you all the best in your retirement and I'm sure I'll catch up with you soon." The most poignant message was left to Edwards to deliver, with the former Wales defence coach going as far as to say Biggar saved his career at Twickenham in 2015, when Wales knocked England out of their own World Cup, thanks to some clutch kicking from the fly-half. Edwards: "He is the person that you would want to kick the goal to save your career, as he did with my career in 2015, England vs Wales, World Cup match. Article continues below "Johnny Sexton of Ireland. Owen Farrell of England. Dan Biggar of Wales."
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions Tour LIVE updates: Can the Western Force tame the Lions?
Go to latest Pinned post from 7.02pm Welcome to the jungle rugby fans Iain Payten Good evening sports fans, and welcome to the start of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. After a 12-year wait, the Lions are back on our shores and taking on the Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth to kick off their tour. I'll be your companion through the night on the blog, and the bustling Belfast brawler Jonathan Drennan is our man on the ground in Perth. He'll be sending through his preview, mid-game updates and keep an eye out for his match report and follow-up news later in the night. Strictly speaking, the Lions actually got themselves underway last weekend with a warm-up clash against Argentina but they'll be happy to forget that one after going down 28-24. Will tonight one be a good contest? The Western Force are paying $17 with the bookies to win tonight, so no-one is really expecting an upset. But that is the place the Force would prefer to be, no doubt. How do you see this one going down? Have your say in the poll. 7.02pm The Drennan scene setter By Jonathan Drennan It is a perfect winter's day in Perth, with blue skies and the bars leading up to Optus Stadium swollen with British and Irish fans who cannot believe their luck. There are small pockets of blue Force jerseys in the city, but they are few and far between. The last time the Lions were in this city, they beat the Force by 52 points in Subiaco Oval. That oval was demolished six years ago to make way for a gleaming high school, Bob Hawke College. The Force will hope to write a new chapter in the infinitely more decadent surrounds of Optus Stadium. It has been all business for the Lions so far, training on the immaculate fields of Hale School in Perth, they have kept to themselves and are desperate for a big performance after the shock four point loss to the Pumas in Dublin. The bookmakers are paying 17 bucks on a Force win, we will see pessimism is well-founded very soon. 7.02pm Here are the teams … with one late change The Lions made a stack of changes to their side from the opening loss to Argentina, with eight Leinster players returning to duty, and star no.10 Finn Russell. The side is stacked with Irishmen, and a couple of 'Aussies' are in there too in the shape of centre Sione Tuipulotu and winger Mack Hansen. The Force have eight capped Wallabies in their starting XV, and another uncapped Wallaby squad member in Nick Champion de Crespigny, as well. Kurtley Beale was ruled out during the week through injury but Ben Donaldson flew back from the Wallabies camp in Sydney as a late replacement. Jonny Drennan has dropped this news: 'Some late injury news, one-time England international hooker Nic Dolly is out for the Force and will miss out on the chance of reacquainting with former team mates, he is replaced by Tom Horton who takes his place on the bench.' Here are the teams ... British and Irish Lions (15-1): Elliot Daly; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Pierre Schoeman Western Force (15-1): Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris; Darcy Swain, Sam Carter; Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson Replacements: Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Western Force v The Lions: Andy Farrell's men get tour under way in Perth
Live | It's time for the first game of what promises to be a pulsating tour as Western Force welcome Andy Farrell's Lions to Perth. Kick-off at the Optus Stadium is 11am Irish time and you can follow all the action as it happens below. one minute ago Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Lions versus Western Force in Perth as the Lions look to get first victory The time for talking is over as the Lions face the Western Force at the Optus Stadium, as Andy Farrell's men are looking for a response to the defeat to Argentina in Dublin. Farrell has called on some big guns for this opener, with Dan Sheehan captaining the side in his debut, with 10 other Irish players joining Sheehan in the squad. The Force struggled in Super Rugby this season, but they will have six members of Joe Schmidt's Wallabies squad in Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, and Ben Donaldson, but Kurtley Beale misses out. Can the Lions put down a marker for the tour or will the Force spring a surprise. Stay tuned for live coverage and read Rúaidhrí O'Connor's analysis and reaction on the Independent website and in print.
