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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Queensland Reds game is make-or-break for Porter and Keenan's Lions chances
It's now just 18 days until the first Test against the Wallabies and time is running out for players to stake their claim to feature in the series opener in Brisbane on July 19. Andy Farrell rung the changes on Monday morning, making 14 changes to the side which made light work of Western Force in the first tour game on Australian soil. Finn Russell is the only player to be retained. It's an instructive selection from the Lions head coach. It probably wasn't in the initial plan for the Scot to start back-to-back games so early on tour, but Jamison Gibson-Park's hamstring injury has changed the picture. Finn Russell is the only player to be retained. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan The Leinster scrum-half admitted himself that the injury, which ruled him out of the URC Grand Final triumph against the Bulls last month, was far from a niggle and it could have put Gibson-Park's entire tour in jeopardy. Now, he is starting alongside Russell against Queensland Reds at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium and that half-back pairing must now be short odds to start en bloc against Australia at the same venue in Brisbane later this month. In truth, both were frontrunners before this tour. Jamison Gibson-Park will start alongside Finn Russell. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland Russell, despite some well-documented disciplinary issues in the past, is a more mature and rounded player, on and off the field, these days. The fact that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend appointed him as a vice captain last year spoke volumes, given how fractured that relationship had been in the past. Russell has only recently guided Bath to a first English Premiership title in 29 years. He's well on the way to becoming a Test centurion for his country. Fin Smith, his nearest rival on tour, is only 23 and has just 11 Test caps to his name. Marcus Smith, meanwhile, looks miles back in this No10 pecking order. Russell looks nailed-on for the Test series and a strong performance on Wednesday morning will only cement that status. Marcus Smith looks miles back in this No10 pecking order. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan This is Gibson-Park's first appearance in a Lions shirt but the 33-year-old already looks assured of a starting berth against the Wallabies. His Test credentials were only strengthened when Tomos Williams was ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury. The Cardiff Blues scrum-half put in an eye-catching, two-try shift in Perth. Alas, his campaign is already done and dusted. Williams was making his Lions bow at age 30 and it's already over. He'll be 34 when the Lions tour New Zealand in 2029. That's a tough break for the Welshman. Gibson-Park would have been feeling a bit of heat from Williams before injury intervened. Alex Mitchell is a class act but the Northampton Saints scrum-half was one of several players who fluffed their lines against the Pumas in Dublin. Mitchell needs a massive game against the Waratahs on Saturday to force the issue but Farrell's mind may already be made up by then. No doubt, he is excited about the prospect of Gibson-Park and Russell working in tandem. Both like to play the game at pace. Both come alive when things get messy and unstructured. They are both instinctive, heads-up players who are thinking a few seconds quicker then everyone else on the pitch. Mitchell needs a massive game against the Waratahs on Saturday to force the issue but Farrell's mind may already be made up by then. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland Gibson-Park and Russell will be great fun to watch. Farrell will want to see plenty of pragmatism, mind you. Yes, this Lions team clearly wants to play with tempo and ambition. But the tourists will need to play the percentages as well. If the Lions half backs can mix the highlights reel stuff with savvy game management, they are locked in to face Joe Schmidt's side in the coming weeks. Jack Conan is another Irish candidate who can cement his Test credentials with a big showing. This is the Leinster No8's first outing on tour. Conan has not been a guaranteed starter in Ireland's ranks in recent seasons. Indeed, it wasn't the case for long stretches of Leinster's campaign either, with Ryan Baird and Max Deegan getting the nod ahead of their esteemed fellow backrower ahead of a lot of big Champions Cup games. Jack Conan is another Irish candidate who can cement his Test credentials with a big showing. Pic: INPHO/Billy Sitckland But Conan has timed his run perfectly. Caelan Doris' injury opened up a slot in the Leinster pack and the Bray native seized his opportunity. The manner with which he guided the province to URC glory in the wake of the Northampton debacle spoke volumes. Conan has a lot of credit in the bank with Farrell and, crucially, he is the only specialist No8 in this squad. He is a leader and, having started all three Tests on the last tour of South Africa in 2021, Conan has been there and done it. This current crop of Lions forwards isn't lacking raw talent but perhaps there is a lack of genuine on-field leaders? Conan fits that bill. A big night in Brisbane and a fourth consecutive Lions Test start is in the offing. This is a big night for Hugo Keenan, too. The Leinster full-back has lost a bit of momentum due to a calf injury. This will be his first competitive appearance since Leinster's URC quarter-final win against Scarlets on May 31. Keenan's fitness is renowned and he will hit the ground running tomorrow. He has long been a favourite of Farrell. Hugo Keenan has long been a favourite of Farrell. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland However, the classy Elliot Daly has not put a foot wrong on tour while Blair Kinghorn arrived into camp last night following his Top 14-title winning exploits with Toulouse. The Scotland full-back has a bit of ground to make up as well, but Kinghorn, with his size, passing skills and aerial ability, brings such an attacking threat. Keenan needs to lay down a maker. Same goes for Andrew Porter. The Leinster loosehead knows he's in a battle with Ellis Genge at the moment. The 29-year-old has such a commanding presence for club and country, regularly getting through 70-minute shifts. Porter is by far and away the best loosehead in Ireland. It's been that case for a long time. Andrew Porter tackles Western Force's Reed Prinsep. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan In Genge, Porter has a real rival in this Lions setup. The fiery Bristol and England prop is a serious operator and, to many observers, is a more effective scrummager than his Irish rival. Porter, for all destructive abilities and remarkable stamina, has fallen foul of referees when it comes to the scrum on a few notable occasions. Considering that the Lions management will feel that the set-piece is the place where they can really squeeze the Wallabies, that's a definite concern. A powerful scrummaging performance against the Reds is paramount for Porter. Because time is running out to impress. Some Irish representatives are in pole position but others are lagging behind.
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Return time uncertain but injury-plagued Roman Salanoa pens one-year Munster extension
Tighthead props Roman Salanoa and Conor Bartley have both signed contract extensions with Munster, the province announced on Wednesday. Hawaiian-born Salanoa, 27, has not played since coming off the bench in the URC Grand Final victory over the Stormers in Cape Town 25 months ago, his 21st appearance of that title-winning campaign and his 30th overall of an injury-hit five years at Munster. The former Leinster academy player has signed a one-year deal to the end of the 2025-26 season as he continues his rehabilitation from a problematic knee injury. It is understood there is still no specific date set for Salanoa's return to action as the Munster medics and fitness staff carefully manage the front-rower back to match readiness and it is unlikely he will be ready for the start of pre-season under incoming head coach Clayton McMillan. Bartley, meanwhile, has extended his stint with Munster with a new short-term deal. Signed from Young Munster last November and with a decade of All Ireland League experience, the 29-year-old is yet to make a senior debut for the province. He will continue to provide back-up to senior tightheads John Ryan and Oli Jager, with Ronan Foxe also in the selection mix to add to his URC experience as an academy player. Munster's record appearance maker and veteran tighthead Stephen Archer retired on May 31 following his 304th performance for the province.
The South African
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Rassie: Barbarians clash a vital step in Springbok season Build-Up
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus believes Saturday's clash against the Barbarians offers a crucial opportunity to assess new talent, reintegrate overseas-based players, and fine-tune the squad's systems ahead of a packed Test season. With four uncapped players named and several Springbok stars returning from injury, Erasmus is using the high-profile fixture to test depth and refine combinations before the start of the incoming mid-year series. Speaking ahead of the encounter at Cape Town Stadium, Erasmus outlined the strategic value of the non-Test fixture in South Africa's broader 2024 plans. 'We've said over the last few weeks that this match will provide the ideal opportunity to get the Japanese-based players and a few other players back into full match-mode for the incoming mid-year series,' said the Springboks boss. 'We also have the opportunity to see first-hand how a few of the newer players in the squad perform at this level, so we are excited to see what this group can do.' Erasmus explained that Springbok squad selection for the Barbarians match took player workload into account, especially following the recent URC and English Premiership finals. 'With a handful of players having participated in the URC Grand Final and Handré in the Premiership Final, they lost out on over a week of training,' he said. 'So it was our plan from the outset to select players who we have been working with for the last few weeks and who are already functioning well within our structures. That said, we are planning to rotate our squad throughout the season to manage the players, and we are pleased with the depth we have within this group.' The match also sees the return of key players from injury, including Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. 'Lood is in great form and hopped straight back into the thick of things with the intensity and work rate that we are used to seeing him deliver,' Erasmus said. 'We are thrilled to see him and players like Faf and Sacha back from injury.' Looking ahead to the Barbarians themselves, Erasmus expects a challenge despite the invitational side's limited preparation time. 'A whole lot of players in this squad have played for the Baabaas, and I've also coached them before, so we have an idea of what to expect,' he said. 'They don't have much time to train together, but if one looks at the calibre of players they've announced and the history between the teams, we know it's going to take a top-class effort to get the desired result.' 'That said, we are pleased with how our preparations are going. The Springboks' focus in this match will be to get our structures and systems in place for the Test matches coming up. So, this is a vital game for us.' WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE MATCH BETWEEN THE BARBARIANS AND SPRINGBOKS? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lion's stalwart Furlong 'fit and ready to go' ahead of Argentina Test
The importance to the British & Irish Lions of Tadhg Furlong's return to full fitness has been underlined by both Andy Farrell and Tadhg Beirne, with the tighthead prop veteran named on the bench to face Argentina on Friday at Aviva Stadium. Following a season blighted with calf issues which has reduced the 32-year-old's 2024-25 campaign to just seven appearances for Leinster and a mere 33 minutes of Test rugby with Ireland, Furlong will get the opportunity in Dublin to prove his worth to the Lions ahead of the tour to Australia having not played since May 3. 'He's fit and ready to go and train well,' Farrell said of the 2017 and 2021 Lions tourist. 'And he's as keen as everyone else to get the show on the road. "He's a Lions stalwart, isn't he? He's been there and done that. He spoke up in his first meeting that he was in with the team and said it doesn't matter what anyone has been through, there's no excuses at the weekend. So that's where he's at." Beirne described his Ireland packmate as a big game player and leader within the squad. 'Look, he's one of the best props to do it, isn't he?' the Munster captain said. 'When he's at his best, I think you probably see that. 'If anyone's asked who's one of the best tightheads in the world, who's played the game, he's certainly in the conversation every single time. 'So from the first time I played with him, Under-20s, he was a standout player. To play with him in Ireland, he's been a standout player. He always raises for the big games as well. 'He's a big game player. What people probably don't see is the leadership he has behind closed doors. He probably doesn't show that as much to the outside world, but he is a leader within the group. 'He's also an incredibly intelligent rugby player. Certainly one of the smartest front rows I've come across. That's probably why he's always been able to perform at the top level.' Farrell also gave positive updates on a trio of injured players, full-back Hugo Keenan, centre Huw Jones and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, who had missed Leinster's URC Grand Final win over the Bulls last Saturday with a glute injury. The Lions boss said all should be fit to face Western Force on Saturday week in their opening tour game in Perth.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Three Irish players to start for Lions against Argentina
Andy Farrell has named six Irish players, including a fit-again Tadhg Furlong, in the British & Irish Lions squad for a historic first match on Irish soil, when they face Argentina at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Friday night. The Ireland boss on Wednesday named his first matchday squad as Lions head coach with tour captain Maro Itoje set to lead his team out at the first opportunity as the tourists meet Los Pumas for the 1888 Cup ahead of their weekend departure for Australia and a three-Test series against the Wallabies, starting next month. There are nine players in the 23, including England lock Itoje, who have toured with the Lions previously, also including Bundee Aki, who forms a potential Test centre partnership with Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu, and Tadhg Beirne who will pack down alongside his skipper in the second row. Furlong has been named on the bench ahead of his third Lions tour, backing up starting tighthead prop and Ireland team-mate Finlay Bealham while Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher is the only player from the group of domestic finalists who joined up with the squad on Monday to be asked to double up six days after appearing in the URC Grand Final win against the Bulls at Croke Park last Saturday. Kelleher backs up England's Luke Cowan-Dickie, with another Englishman, Ellis Genge, starting at loosehead prop, while Connacht wing Mack Hansen is named as the outside backs replacement. The Lions will start with an all-English half-back partnership in Northampton duo Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith and there is further familiarity in the backline with clubmate Tommy Freeman named on the right wing in a back three with international team-mate Marcus Smith at full-back and Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe named on the left wing. A combative back row features Tom Curry and Jac Morgan on the flanks with Ben Earl at No.8. Farrell, who will face the media later on Wednesday at Aviva Stadium, said: 'Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time - it is a truly special moment and one that very few players ever get to experience. 'Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team. 'We know that Argentina will challenge us up front and out wide - so Friday night will be a tough contest, but also a great occasion for all the fans.' BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (v Argentina): M Smith (Harlequins/ England); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), B Aki (Connacht/Ireland), D van der Merwe (Edinburgh/Scotland); F Smith (Northampton Saints/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), L Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England); F Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland); M Itoje (Saracens/England) – captain, T Beirne (Munster/Ireland); T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), B Earl (Saracens/England). Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), P Schoeman (Edinburgh/Scotland), T Furlong (Leinster /Ireland), S Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), H Pollock (Northampton Saints/England), T Williams (Gloucester/Wales), E Daly (Saracens/England), M Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
