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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
If Lions complete Australia rout, clamour for tour of France will grow
It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne's Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where union makes barely a ripple, you begin to wonder. The sea of red will roll in at the weekend but, for now, Melbourne is pretty much oblivious. 'Some kind of carnival on I think,' was one taxi driver's assessment. None of this is to criticise Australia. It is a wonderful country, sports mad and as the loosehead prop James Slipper says of the locals: 'They're still Australian, so they'll be there. I know they'll be there. It's one thing about this country, regardless of the sport, they'll get behind the national colours.' If you assess the key criteria of a Lions tour, however, it is hard to argue that they are all being met at the moment. The beauty of Lions tours is the notion of four disparate unions coming together, travelling to take on southern hemisphere powerhouses against the odds. With the Lions clear favourites for the first Test, this tour has already deviated from that premise and so there is an understandable argument to seek out other powerhouses. That, in turn, brings us to France's interest in joining the party. The number one reason to entertain a Lions tour of France is, to be frank, the bottom line. The 2023 World Cup proved costly for France – an expected net loss of €13m (£11.3m), according to a damning report over mismanagement released in April by the French court of audit – but for World Rugby it generated record-breaking revenues of €500m (£433m). Evidently the ground is fertile. READ MORE Second is the prospect of a competitive series. The current one may well turn out to be a one-sided affair and the impetus for change will be greater. To paraphrase George Berkeley, if a Lion mauls a Wallaby in the forest, does it make a sound? There is a stark contrast with the idea of warm-up matches against, say, Toulouse, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Racing 92, one of Bayonne, Biarritz and Perpignan in the Basque region, and maybe even Vannes, whose club song is to the same tune as the Welsh national anthem. It is a mouthwatering prospect, the potential for competitive matches from the word go, as was the case in New Zealand eight years ago. The French clubs would be without some of their overseas internationals should they be selected for their countries' summer tours but it is hard to envisage blowouts. France have the depth to ensure they do not need to worry about resting all of their stars. They may have lost their series 3-0 in New Zealand but their C team gave the All Blacks an almighty scare in the opener in Dunedin. 'Fabien Galthié looks for 42 key players and works with them together,' Abdel Benazzi, the French federation vice-president, told the Guardian. 'If [Antoine] Dupont is not fit, we have another player and we use the players as we've seen in New Zealand.' James Lowe with his son Nico after the test against Australia. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho None of that is to say Australia should be stripped of future Lions tours, rather that their existing formats could do with updating. That Australia are not as competitive as hoped is down to the relative strength of the four home nations and the Wallabies' long-term decline. But to take a tour away from them would be financially ruinous – Rugby Australia made a $37m (£17.9m) loss last year but the Lions are expected to wipe the debt. It feels as if this has been a Test series against Australia rather than a tour, however. The warm-up matches and the constant travel provide headaches but such is the professionalism in dealing with logistics among the backroom staff that they no longer pose the challenges they once did. Lions tours are said to be a glorious anachronism but Tuesday's match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV offers evidence to the contrary. It should be that the Lions squad must negotiate that fixture with players who at least have half a chance of making the Test side. Instead, a handful of players have been seconded for this fixture only – such is their temporary status that they may even head home before the tour has ended. Australia are not entirely innocent here either. Just as his former right-hand man Andy Farrell has done, Joe Schmidt has prioritised the series at the expense of the wider tour, letting an opportunity to spread the union gospel around the country pass by in refusing to release his senior players to play in the warm-up matches. You could argue they would not have made enough of a difference to stop the Lions juggernaut from arriving in Brisbane for the first Test with five wins from five in Australia, but there is something special about watching rivalries blossom in the warm-up matches before they are renewed in the Test arena. While a tour of France may be a shot in the eye for nostalgia, for romance, we are already experiencing plenty. Remaining in Europe opens the door to so many supporters priced out of the southern hemisphere trips. 'In rugby we need something new,' adds Benazzi. 'Thinking about what the youngsters want, what a new public want. We have our legacy with the Six Nations and the World Cup but we have to be thinking about what we can do within our hands. The Lions and France have the same destiny, we cannot live apart, we have to build something new.' A Lions supporter watches on during the first test in Brisbane. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho The cons of a tour of France include the fact that player release may be a problem given how late the Top 14 season runs, but Benazzi anticipates buy-in from the clubs and the French players and public alike. The Top 14 has shown itself to be more malleable than it often appears by agreeing to bring forward the end of the domestic season in 2028 when the Club World Cup launches. The second and perhaps more significant problem is that a tour of France would leave the Lions facing accusations of parochialism. It is effectively five of the Six Nations countries competing in a different guise and it does little to broaden rugby's horizons beyond the elite, even if a Test match in Barcelona would be an enticing prospect. The alternatives? A series against Argentina ticks the box of taking the Lions to the southern hemisphere, a new territory that could put on a stunning show. But, on the evidence of England's summer tour, the Pumas are too capricious to guarantee a heavyweight contest. The US remains the holy grail for executives but the Eagles are far too lightweight to warrant anything beyond a warm-up fixture. Chile could be early opposition too but a South American tour would not leave the Lions competing against the odds. How about the Pacific Islands? Certainly it seems a mistake that the Lions have not played Fiji, Tonga or Samoa at any point in this series and that should be remedied on future tours of Australia or New Zealand. Fiji offered to step in to face the Lions when the Melbourne Rebels went bust but it was decided that there needed to be 'an Australian opportunity'. That is not to disparage the First Nations and Pasifika XV, more to question why the Lions and Rugby Australia did not seek to include the Pacific Islands in the first place. 'I think realistically everyone knows it's a do-or-die,' said Slipper. He was referring to the Wallabies' series hopes but if the Lions complete the whitewash they are so ruthlessly targeting, the clamour for change will grow ever louder. — Guardian
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
If Lions complete Australia rout, clamour for tour of France will grow
It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne's Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where union makes barely a ripple, you begin to wonder. The sea of red will roll in at the weekend but, for now, Melbourne is pretty much oblivious. 'Some kind of carnival on I think,' was one taxi driver's assessment. None of this is to criticise Australia. It is a wonderful country, sports mad and as the loosehead prop James Slipper says of the locals: 'They're still Australian, so they'll be there. I know they'll be there. It's one thing about this country, regardless of the sport, they'll get behind the national colours.' If you assess the key criteria of a Lions tour, however, it is hard to argue that they are all being met at the moment. The beauty of Lions tours is the notion of four disparate unions coming together, travelling to take on southern hemisphere powerhouses against the odds. With the Lions clear favourites for the first Test, this tour has already deviated from that premise and so there is an understandable argument to seek out other powerhouses. That, in turn, brings us to France's interest in joining the party. The number one reason to entertain a Lions tour of France is, to be frank, the bottom line. The 2023 World Cup proved costly for France – an expected net loss of €13m (£11.3m), according to a damning report over mismanagement released in April by the French court of audit – but for World Rugby it generated record-breaking revenues of €500m (£433m). Evidently the ground is fertile. Second is the prospect of a competitive series. The current one may well turn out to be a one-sided affair and the impetus for change will be greater. To paraphrase George Berkeley, if a Lion mauls a Wallaby in the forest, does it make a sound? There is a stark contrast with the idea of warm-up matches against, say, Toulouse, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Racing 92, one of Bayonne, Biarritz and Perpignan in the Basque region, and maybe even Vannes, whose club song is to the same tune as the Welsh national anthem. It is a mouthwatering prospect, the potential for competitive matches from the word go, as was the case in New Zealand eight years ago. The French clubs would be without some of their overseas internationals should they be selected for their countries' summer tours but it is hard to envisage blowouts. France have the depth to ensure they do not need to worry about resting all of their stars. They may have lost their series 3-0 in New Zealand but their C team gave the All Blacks an almighty scare in the opener in Dunedin. 'Fabien Galthié looks for 42 key players and works with them together,' Abdel Benazzi, the French federation vice-president, told the Guardian. 'If [Antoine] Dupont is not fit, we have another player and we use the players as we've seen in New Zealand.' None of that is to say Australia should be stripped of future Lions tours, rather that their existing formats could do with updating. That Australia are not as competitive as hoped is down to the relative strength of the four home nations and the Wallabies' long-term decline. But to take a tour away from them would be financially ruinous – Rugby Australia made a $37m (£17.9m) loss last year but the Lions are expected to wipe the debt. It feels as if this has been a Test series against Australia rather than a tour, however. The warm-up matches and the constant travel provide headaches but such is the professionalism in dealing with logistics among the backroom staff that they no longer pose the challenges they once did. Lions tours are said to be a glorious anachronism but Tuesday's match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV offers evidence to the contrary. It should be that the Lions squad must negotiate that fixture with players who at least have half a chance of making the Test side. Instead, a handful of players have been seconded for this fixture only – such is their temporary status that they may even head home before the tour has ended. Australia are not entirely innocent here either. Just as his former right-hand man Andy Farrell has done, Joe Schmidt has prioritised the series at the expense of the wider tour, letting an opportunity to spread the union gospel around the country pass by in refusing to release his senior players to play in the warm-up matches. You could argue they would not have made enough of a difference to stop the Lions juggernaut from arriving in Brisbane for the first Test with five wins from five in Australia, but there is something special about watching rivalries blossom in the warm-up matches before they are renewed in the Test arena. While a tour of France may be a shot in the eye for nostalgia, for romance, we are already experiencing plenty. Remaining in Europe opens the door to so many supporters priced out of the southern hemisphere trips. 'In rugby we need something new,' adds Benazzi. 'Thinking about what the youngsters want, what a new public want. We have our legacy with the Six Nations and the World Cup but we have to be thinking about what we can do within our hands. The Lions and France have the same destiny, we cannot live apart, we have to build something new.' The cons of a tour of France include the fact that player release may be a problem given how late the Top 14 season runs, but Benazzi anticipates buy-in from the clubs and the French players and public alike. The Top 14 has shown itself to be more malleable than it often appears by agreeing to bring forward the end of the domestic season in 2028 when the Club World Cup launches. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion The second and perhaps more significant problem is that a tour of France would leave the Lions facing accusations of parochialism. It is effectively five of the Six Nations countries competing in a different guise and it does little to broaden rugby's horizons beyond the elite, even if a Test match in Barcelona would be an enticing prospect. The alternatives? A series against Argentina ticks the box of taking the Lions to the southern hemisphere, a new territory that could put on a stunning show. But, on the evidence of England's summer tour, the Pumas are too capricious to guarantee a heavyweight contest. The US remains the holy grail for executives but the Eagles are far too lightweight to warrant anything beyond a warm-up fixture. Chile could be early opposition too but a South American tour would not leave the Lions competing against the odds. How about the Pacific Islands? Certainly it seems a mistake that the Lions have not played Fiji, Tonga or Samoa at any point in this series and that should be remedied on future tours of Australia or New Zealand. Fiji offered to step in to face the Lions when the Melbourne Rebels went bust but it was decided that there needed to be 'an Australian opportunity'. That is not to disparage the First Nations and Pasifika XV, more to question why the Lions and Rugby Australia did not seek to include the Pacific Islands in the first place. 'I think realistically everyone knows it's a do-or-die,' said Slipper. He was referring to the Wallabies' series hopes but if the Lions complete the whitewash they are so ruthlessly targeting, the clamour for change will grow ever louder. This is an extract taken from our weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To sign up, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Georgia Love's new life at Melbourne's most opulent rental address - as the former Bachelorette shares VERY pointed message after split from husband Lee Elliott
Georgia Love is embracing her new chapter in serious style - officially revealing she's now living at one of Melbourne 's most opulent rental addresses, Madison Grand. The former Bachelorette, 35, confirmed the move via Instagram, sharing a mirror selfie from inside the designer lobby of the luxe Southbank building with the caption: 'Back in my beautiful home away from home @madisongrand_southbank.' Standing in front of a marble console adorned with gold décor and fresh orchids, the TV personality looked effortlessly chic in black trousers and a striped knit as she posed for the snap near the elevators. The moody, high-end interiors match the aesthetic of Madison Grand – a GQ-endorsed development billed as 'Melbourne's most prestigious rental address.' Georgia's post follows another cryptic upload from the same location just weeks earlier, where she clutched a bouquet of flowers and added Miley Cyrus ' breakup anthem Flowers over the footage. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The lyrics – 'I can buy myself flowers. Write my name in the sand. Talk to myself for hours…' – were widely interpreted as a pointed message to her ex-husband Lee Elliott, 43, following their shock split earlier this year. Georgia and Lee, who met on The Bachelorette Australia in 2016, were married for four years before announcing the end of their nine-year relationship. The former couple recently sold their chic four-bedroom townhouse in Hampton East, Victoria, just months after going public with the breakup. The modern home, located 17km from Melbourne's CBD, was listed with a price guide of $1.5 million to $1.58 million. It passed in at auction on a $1.53 million bid but eventually sold through post-auction negotiations. Georgia and Lee purchased the property in 2021 for an estimated $1.35 million – meaning they likely pocketed a tidy six-figure profit. Despite their split, the exes appeared on good terms at the auction, smiling and chatting before heading to a nearby café together to celebrate the sale. The two-storey townhouse featured a private balcony, alfresco BBQ area, Caesarstone benchtops, Tasmanian oak floors, and hydronic heating – but it's a far cry from the five-star amenities Georgia now enjoys at Madison Grand. The Southbank tower boasts a rooftop pool with panoramic views, a resident gym, pet spa, concierge, private dining rooms, cocktail bar and café, entertainment lounge, and exclusive lounges designed for VIP entertaining. Current listings in the building show studios starting from $595 per week, while two-bedroom apartments can fetch up to $975 per week. Georgia had long fuelled speculation about the end of her marriage to Lee, with fans noting the pair hadn't been seen together for months and were no longer wearing their wedding bands. They also spent Christmas apart, with Georgia later travelling solo to New York – all while Lee remained in Melbourne. The pair broke the news of their split in February. The couple, who first met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, announced their separation with identical posts to Instagram. 'After nine wonderful years together, including four as husband and wife, [we] have made the incredibly difficult decision to lovingly part ways,' they wrote. 'Our relationship has been so special and we will always cherish the memories, love, and laughter we've shared. 'There is no drama, no bad blood. Just two people who have grown in different directions while still holding deep respect and care for each other. 'We remain friends and we'd really appreciate our privacy as we navigate this next stage. Thank you.'
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Popular restaurant shuts all locations after 20 years on the high street
Popular dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has permanently closed its remaining restaurants, bringing an end to 20 years in operation. Ping Pong was launched in 2005 and once boasted 12 locations across London, including popular areas like Southbank, Soho, St. Christopher's Place and St. Paul's. But Ping Pong has now announced its remaining restaurants have permanently ceased trading, with its founder saying it was 'difficult to survive' under current economic conditions. An automated message on the company's website reads: 'After 20 amazing years, Ping Pong is closing its doors. 'Thank you for all the memories, the laughs, and the love. 'It's been a truly delicious journey'. The restaurant's founder Kurt Zdesar, who left the group in 2007 and went on to launch the Chotto Matte chain, told Time Out: 'The UK has become increasingly difficult to survive this current economical environment. Very sad news.' Companies House records show holding company Ping Pong Ltd had administrators appointed in November 2022, just two months after the group had reported a £344,000 pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 27 March of that year. Ping Pong was sold to AJT Dimsum as part of the 'pre-pack' administration process, with its six restaurants and staff to transferred to the new owner. At the time, Ping Pong said it the pandemic had left it with crippling debts owed to landlords it would not be able to pay despite returning to a profit. The administration has seen two 12-month extensions to be completed and administrators at Begbies Traynor said in June a further extension 'may be required'.
Herald Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Allan government scraps small business support as Pure South, Pinchy's close
Victorian small business owners fighting for survival have been stripped of a key counselling service after it was axed by the cash-strapped Allan government. It comes as new data shows insolvencies and late payments are continuing to rise, with growing pressures forcing some restaurant and retail businesses to close their doors for good. Despite the huge strain, a specialist program which previously helped 5000 small business owners manage debt, finances and draw up business plans has been scrapped. Under pressure to wrangle debt, the state government failed to extend the Partners in Wellbeing small business program in May's budget. Small business owners have lashed the state government for failing to back them, warning Melbourne's 'crook' business conditions could result in an exodus of much-loved restaurants. Among them was heartbroken owner of well-known lobster and champagne restaurant Pinchy's, which will shut its doors this month. Jeremy Schinck said rising rent, energy bills, wages and penalty rates and unpredictable disruptions like protests had meant the once booming Bourke St restaurant was 'no longer sustainable'. 'We've tried everything — from reinventing our menus to adjusting how we trade — but the current climate just isn't viable,' he said. 'The margins in hospitality are already razor-thin, and any disruption can be devastating.' He told the Herald Sun small business owners like himself had been abandoned by the state government. 'Small businesses are the heartbeat of the hospitality industry, yet support continues to be withdrawn,' he said. 'I understand the economics of running a business — but right now, it simply doesn't add up.' Southbank institution Pure South Dining has also been forced to close their doors after 21 years on the Yarra. Owner Philip Kennedy pointed to ongoing tenancy issues and 'generally crook' business conditions in Melbourne. 'Economic conditions are not great, Victoria is worse and Southgate worse again,' he said. 'The landlord is not aspirational for the precinct at all.' It comes as new data from credit reporting agency Equifax shows there were 348 insolvencies reported in Victoria in April – up from 266 in the same month last year. Among them was beloved Lonsdale St eatery, Tsindos Greek Restaurant, which entered voluntary liquidation. The figures also show an increase in late payments among small and medium businesses, suggesting that pressures are taking their toll, as well as reduced credit demand. Executive general manager Moses Samaha said the data showed that Victorian consumers were saving rather than spending, despite interest rate cuts. 'This could delay any rebound in the small business sector,' he said. Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne said it made 'no sense' for the government to axe the Partners in Wellbeing program in the current climate. 'To prevent more Victorian businesses going to the wall, the government must fund an ongoing dedicated small business financial counselling service, combined with a small business community legal centre, plus mental wellbeing supports,' she said. Not-for-profit retirement village operator Ross Turner turned to the program for help after floodwater inundated the accommodation in 2022. After battling his insurance company over the huge bill, he was connected to a financial counsellor who provided pro bono legal advice on the insurance claim and on updating the retirement village's policies, procedures, and contracts. 'I'd exhausted all other options and we couldn't afford legal fees as a self-funded not-for-profit,' he said. 'Without a small business financial counsellor, I would have gone over the edge.' Financial Counselling Victoria CEO Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope said the program's axing meant the 600,000 small businesses in Victoria had been left without access to dedicated face-to-face support. 'Financial counsellors can help to mitigate the risk of business failures, reduce the burden on the legal system, and support the sustainability of local economies – the social return on investment stacks up,' he said. A government spokesman said the small business support service was prompted by the pandemic and continued through the floods, but that it was no longer needed. 'The Partners in Wellbeing continues to offer phone-based wellbeing support and help Victorians navigate the mental health system, acting as the primary entry point to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs,' he said. Andrew Roberts to pay staff, creditors after $20m bailout plan
