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The Independent
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
When he talks, everyone listens – Garry Ringrose hails Owen Farrell's leadership
Garry Ringrose has praised the leadership of Owen Farrell as the British and Irish maintained their winning momentum heading into Saturday's crucial second Test against Australia. The Lions emerged from Tuesday's bruising collision with the First Nations and Pasifika XV with their 100 per cent record Down Under intact, but only after being forced to dig deep in a 24-19 victory. Farrell captained the Lions for the first time in the maiden start of his fourth tour and acquitted himself well, proving he is ready for the attempt to close out the series against the Wallabies at Melbourne Cricket Ground if needed. For 64 minutes he was part of a centre combination with Ringrose, who made a successful comeback from concussion to also put his hand up for the second Test. 'It was actually pretty cool to get a chance to play with Owen, who is someone I have admired for my whole career, especially in that kind of dogfight-type game,' Ringrose said. 'It was a challenging turnaround from the first Test with the travelling and then the captain's run. He didn't miss a beat in terms of leadership and bringing players with him. 'When he talks, everyone listens. What he's saying is the right pitch and hits the spot every time. I could feel it out there as well. 'That's not even talking about the rugby side of things – he has that ability at the line and physicality at the line when it's needed.' Ringrose suffered his head injury against the ACT Brumbies on July 9, but it was only in the hours after the game that he realised all was not as it should be. 'Something wasn't sitting right. I spoke with the doctor and he was really helpful and supportive over the next day,' Ringrose said. 'I didn't quite feel right so we made a call to enter the protocol and do what the medics and Andy Farrell wanted. 'It's a tough decision to make, but they only want what's best for the player, so it is nice having that support.'
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Lions player ratings v First Nations & Pasifika XV: Blair Kinghorn and Henry Pollock struggle
The British and Irish Lions just about maintained their 100 per cent record in Australia as they hung on to beat the First Nations and Pasifika XV 24-19 at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday. Andy Farrell's team were unimpressive in the final midweek fixture of the tour as they prepare for the second Test on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Here is Telegraph Sport 's analysis of who put their hand up for a Test start and who took a step back. Give your opinion with our thumbs up/thumbs down voting tool.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'2013 was the greatest experience of my career'
We spent a very enjoyable hour this morning with Australia great Will Genia, who started all three Tests against the Lions in reflects on that series and looks ahead to what is coming up in the next few weeks. He reckons whoever wins the first Test will win the series, and says an Australia victory will turbo-charge the atmosphere in the country ahead of the second Test at the 100,000 seater Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 110-cap Wallaby has some sage advice for rookie 10 Tom Lynagh and explains what Australia need to do to upset the odds on Saturday. You can hear from Genia on the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which will be out from around 9am on Thursday.
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
When Bavuma played at Langa township, the ground had sections named after Karachi, MCG and Lord's
Temba Bavuma had his own-personal curated Lord's moment, well before his biggest day as Test captain turns up on June 11 when South Africa face Australia in final of WTC. At his township where he grew up in Langa, Bavuma named the most pristine part of the ground 'Lord's' – a hallowed area he loved to bits. Speaking to Guardian ahead of Wednesday's WTC, Bavuma said, 'There was always some sort of allegiance with Lord's when we were growing up in Langa,' of an area outside Cape Town. While the Proteas didn't exactly get the nest preparation at Arundel with rains interrupting, Bavuma recalled his early years in the dusty township. 'In Langa we had a four-way street,' he told Guardian. Out there on that remote ground, Bavuma and his friends carved out Test cricket's famous names. 'On the right-hand side of the street the tar wasn't done so nicely and we used to call it Karachi because the ball would bounce funny. The other side was the MCG [Melbourne Cricket Ground] but my favourite section of the street was clean, and done up nicely, and we called it Lord's because it just looked better. So, as a kid of 10, I already had that dream of playing at Lord's,' he told Guardian. It was the 'MCG' however where he learnt batting courage and resilience – it's the sidestreet where he faced older players. 'I'd be playing against 15-year-olds who preferred it because it had a downhill, which helped them when bowling fast. That's where my competitiveness comes from. Even at 12, you have to front up to the older guys. They're not going to bowl any slower, or give you half-volleys, just because you're younger,' he recalled. Township life back then witnessed violence and murders. 'During the day it was OK. It was more at night where all the action happened – if we can call it that. But Langa is rich in its sporting culture and it gave us that space where we found respect and support from the community,' Guardian quoted him. Picked for his talent, and offered a scholarship at SACS, one of South Africa's most privileged white schools, he would move to start another journey. 'It was tough integrating within the system, learning and understanding the (white) culture,' Bavuma said. 'But it helped that I came in as a cricketer. In terms of making friends, it was a bit easier. But I had to learn about discipline and etiquette, which are such big things in that culture,' he told Guardian. 'I also had to learn confidence. Can you imagine taking a child from the township into a system where, basically, everything is there. There were always doubts. Am I good enough to be here? Do I deserve this opportunity? I always felt the need to prove myself.' As one of only three black boys at primary school, he commuted from Langa to plush Cape Town, writes Guardian. 'As a kid you are quite ignorant. You see things but it's very hard for you to comprehend – even if the disparity is quite obvious. It would really hit me when SACS played against Langa. At that time Langa was strong in cricket and I would be playing against my friends that I grew up with in the township.' In a poignant recollection, Bavuma would tell Guardian about how after transferring to another prestigious school, St David's at Johannesburg (recently named its cricket ground after him), he was fluent and confident I English and studies. 'I would be a SACS boy who'd been there two years. By then you know how to conduct yourself at lunch. You're not going to dish up a big plate whereas my friends from Langa would have huge plates. We'd laugh about it but, when you think about it, the Langa boy would be wondering when is he going to get another opportunity to eat food like that?' Guardian quoted him as saying.
