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Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn to start final Lions Test in Australia as Farrell makes two changes to team
The Ireland second-row had an influential cameo off the bench in last Saturday's come from behind win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with Kinghorn also performing well in the dramatic end-game. Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen miss out despite returning to training this week, while Josh van der Flier misses out once again despite Farrell's decision to go with a 6/2 bench split of forwards and backs with Ben Earl preferred. Otherwise, it's as you were as Tadhg Furlong makes his ninth successive Lions Test start as part of an unchanged front-row along with Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan. Ryan is partnered by captain Maro Itoje in the second row, with Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan retained in the back-row. Jamison Gibson-Park partners Finn Russell once again at half-back, Bundee Aki and Huw Jones continue in midfield and the hero of Melbourne, Hugo Keenan, joins Tommy Freeman and Kinghorn in the back three. On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart cover the front-row, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan and Earl cover the back five of the scrum and Alex Mitchell and Owen Farrell are the reserve half-backs. Coach Farrell said his side are determined to make history by winning a Test Series 3-0 for the first time in the modern era. 'We have put ourselves in a great position to finish the Tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history,' he said. 'Last weekend's Test in Melbourne was an incredible spectacle and illustrated how special Lions tours are and what they mean to both players and sporters. We are expecting another epic battle.' Australia, meanwhile, have made four changes to their starting XV from last week's heart-breaking defeat. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Racing 92 bound tighthead prop Taniela Tupou returns to the team for his first Wallabies game of the season, replacing the injured Allan Ala'alatoa. Blindside flanker Tom Hooper comes in for Rob Valetini who is also injured. Behind the scrum, 35-year-old Nic White makes his final appearance in the gold jersey as he replaces Jake Gordon, with winger Dylan Pietsch replacing Harry Potter on the left wing. On the bench, there's no place for Carlo Tizzano who was injured in that fateful final clear out by Jac Morgan. Tizzano trained today, but Schmidt took him out of the firing line after he missed training with a neck issue, while he also copped online abuse after the incident. With the Western Force flanker out, Joe Schmidt reverts to a 5/3 bench split with Andrew Kellaway returning as prop Zane Nonggorr replaces Tom Robertson. AUSTRALIA – Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'I, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; James Slipper, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Will Skelton; Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt). Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway. LIONS – Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Blair Kinghorn; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje (capt), James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Bem Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
I struggle to comprehend 'social media poison', Owen Farrell says
Owen Farrell of England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan / PHOTOSPORT Former England captain Owen Farrell says he does not understand the social media "poison" that often surrounds top level sport and that contributed to him walking away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup. The 33-year-old was named by his father, British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell, as captain for Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne, after joining the tour as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly. He has not played a test since stepping back from national duty in November 2023 to prioritise his mental health, before joining French side Racing 92, returning to Saracens in June. "I understand times are different and things catch fire quicker. Things grow legs, take a life of their own, go wherever they go and there's momentum behind them. But no, I don't always understand it," Farrell told reporters on Monday, when asked about the online discourse. "Both are a poison... the good and the bad. Not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us." Racist abuse online forced England women's footballer Jess Carter to step away from social media on Sunday, with the defender saying she had been a target since Euro 2025 began. Farrell previously spoke out against social media abuse when he condemned the online vitriol faced by England flanker Tom Curry during the 2023 World Cup after he accused a South African opponent of abusing him during a match. "I guess the people I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people, your mates. Not that those people will just pat you on the back," Farrell said. "You have people who will tell you where it is at the same time, but they will give you a real answer. If you do that and you are in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it." -Reuters
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
I struggle to comprehend 'social media poison', says Lions captain Owen Farrell
Owen Farrell of England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan / PHOTOSPORT Former England captain Owen Farrell says he does not understand the social media "poison" that often surrounds top level sport and that contributed to him walking away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup. The 33-year-old was named by his father, British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell, as captain for Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne, after joining the tour as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly. He has not played a test since stepping back from national duty in November 2023 to prioritise his mental health, before joining French side Racing 92, returning to Saracens in June. "I understand times are different and things catch fire quicker. Things grow legs, take a life of their own, go wherever they go and there's momentum behind them. But no, I don't always understand it," Farrell told reporters on Monday, when asked about the online discourse. "Both are a poison... the good and the bad. Not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us." Racist abuse online forced England women's footballer Jess Carter to step away from social media on Sunday, with the defender saying she had been a target since Euro 2025 began. Farrell previously spoke out against social media abuse when he condemned the online vitriol faced by England flanker Tom Curry during the 2023 World Cup after he accused a South African opponent of abusing him during a match. "I guess the people I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people, your mates. Not that those people will just pat you on the back," Farrell said. "You have people who will tell you where it is at the same time, but they will give you a real answer. If you do that and you are in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it." -Reuters
CNA
21-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
I struggle to comprehend 'social media poison' says Farrell
Former England captain Owen Farrell says he does not understand the social media "poison" that often surrounds top level sport and that contributed to him walking away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup. The 33-year-old was named by his father, British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell, as captain for Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne, after joining the tour as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly. He has not played a test since stepping back from national duty in November 2023 to prioritise his mental health, before joining French side Racing 92, returning to Saracens in June. "I understand times are different and things catch fire quicker. Things grow legs, take a life of their own, go wherever they go and there's momentum behind them. But no, I don't always understand it," Farrell told reporters on Monday, when asked about the online discourse. "Both are a poison... the good and the bad. Not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us." Racist abuse online forced England women's footballer Jess Carter to step away from social media on Sunday, with the defender saying she had been a target since Euro 2025 began. Farrell previously spoke out against social media abuse when he condemned the online vitriol faced by England flanker Tom Curry during the 2023 World Cup after he accused a South African opponent of abusing him during a match. "I guess the people I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people, your mates. Not that those people will just pat you on the back," Farrell said. "You have people who will tell you where it is at the same time, but they will give you a real answer. If you do that and you are in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Farrell on the bench for Lions against Australia-New Zealand
British and Irish Lions' Owen Farrell looks on after the rugby match between the British and Irish Lions and the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on July 9 (Saeed KHAN) Owen Farrell was named Thursday on the bench for the British and Irish Lions side to face a combined Australia-New Zealand team in Adelaide. The former England captain is set to end a period in the international wilderness as the Lions continue their nine-game tour with their fifth and final warm-up on Saturday. Advertisement Farrell made the dash to Australia last week after his father, Lions coach Andy Farrell, summoned him as cover when utility back Elliot Daly broke his arm. The 33-year-old, on his fourth Lions tour, earned the last of his 112 Test caps at the 2023 World Cup, and is coming off an underwhelming and injury-plagued season with French club Racing 92. The Lions are unbeaten in four matches in Australia after wins over four Super Rugby sides, including 36-24 against ACT Brumbies on Wednesday in Canberra. But they endured a sloppy performance against the Brumbies, with notable issues around the breakdown. Advertisement - Numerous changes - The Lions have made numerous changes with Tadhg Beirne to take the captaincy reins, while young star Henry Pollock returns. Scrum-half Ben White will make his first start for the Lions. The Australia-New Zealand side, the first time the powerhouses have joined forces since 1989, will be led jointly by David Havili and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Coach Les Kiss picked 17 internationals in his matchday 23 for Saturday's final warm-up game for the Lions before they face Australia in the opening Test on July 19 in Brisbane. "We are in a great position just over a week out from the first Test," coach Farrell said. Advertisement "The players now have another chance to put in a strong team performance and put a hand up for selection for the Test matches against the Wallabies. "Les Kiss has assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience and we know that he will have them well organised and they will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.' British Lions XV (15-1):Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van Der Merwe; Fin Smith, Ben White; Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock; Tadhg Beirne (capt), James Ryan; Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell tl/fox
