7 h. ago Lions still on red alert despite gaping holes in Australia’s team

Andy Farrell may look at ease but he knows his team need to be in physical and mental control for the first TestSometimes the best place to gauge the mindset of a head coach before a big game is not the training pitch or the press conference room but the pub across the road. Which is where Andy Farrell and his wife Colleen were enjoying a relaxing post-team selection drink by an open window when a few of us happened to wander past en route back from dinner.There may be a huge contest looming but, the closer it draws, the more at ease Farrell is beginning to look. While the competitor in him loves the approaching whiff of cordite he is not a man who believes in sitting and fretting in his room before major contests. He likes to be out and about, getting a sense of the local mood and helping to fill the quiet before the storm. Continue reading...

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7 h. ago Lions still on red alert despite gaping holes in Australia’s team sheet | Robert Kitson

Andy Farrell may look at ease but he knows his team need to be in physical and mental control for the first TestSometimes the best place to gauge the mindset of a head coach before a big game is not the training pitch or the press conference room but the pub across the road. Which is where Andy Farrell and his wife, Colleen, were enjoying a relaxing post-team selection drink by an open window when a few of us happened to wander past en route back from dinner.There may be a huge contest looming but, the closer it draws, the more at ease Farrell is beginning to look. While the competitor in him loves the approaching whiff of cordite he is not a man who believes in sitting and fretting in his room before major contests. He likes to be out and about, getting a sense of the local mood and helping to fill the quiet before the storm. Continue reading...

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8 h. ago ‘Make it happen when it matters’ – Andy Farrell urges Lions to embrace pressure

Powerful Lions side named to face Australia in first TestTom Curry starts in back row, no Welsh player in 23Andy Farrell has urged his British & Irish Lions players to embrace the pressure of their billing as heavy favourites to beat Australia in the series opener on Saturday.The Lions will go into Saturday’s match as odds-on favourites after Farrell named a powerful side featuring Tom Curry at openside flanker and Sione Tuipulotu at inside-centre to face a Wallabies team missing Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou. Continue reading...

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11 h. ago The pivotal British & Irish Lions pick that could undo Australia in first Test

Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry have won a competitive fight for flanker places

Politics

12 h. ago Lions team vs Australia: Tom Curry and Sione Tuipulotu picked to start First Test as Owen Farrell misses out

All-Scottish centre partnership outside Finn Russell as Bundee Aki and Marcus Smith named on bench

Politics

13 h. ago Lions pick four England stars for first Australia showdown as Marcus Smith gets bench role

England will play Australia in the first Test with Tom Curry backed to do a job in the backrow as Andy Farrell relies on eight of his Ireland stars to get the job done

Politics

14 h. ago Tadhg Beirne starts in back row as Owen Farrell misses out on first Lions Test against Australia

No Welshman is selected in a Lions Test squad for the first time since the 1890s

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14 h. ago Marcus Smith defies odds to claim Lions spot for first Wallabies Test

Andy Farrell opts for Smith’s versatility over son Owen Tom Curry to start in back-row with Beirne and ConanMarcus Smith has been named on the bench for the British & Irish Lions’ first Test against Australia with Tom Curry and Sione Tuipulotu selected to start in Brisbane on Saturday.Smith has defied the odds to claim a place in the match-day 23, benefiting from injuries to Blair Kinghorn and Mack Hansen and preferred to Owen Farrell among the replacements. Continue reading...

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16 h. ago Who is Tom Lynagh? Son of Australian great Michael given surprise start for Wallabies against British and Irish Lions

The 22-year-old fly half has been handed the first Test reins by Joe Schmidt in a shock selection call

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36 h. ago Owen Farrell overlooked by dad for Lions showdown as Andy Farrell makes tough call

Owen Farrell has been tipped to feature in the first British and Irish Lions Test but looks to have missed out with Marcus Smith reportedly beating him to a spot on the bench

Politics

3 d. ago Predicting the British and Irish Lions team for the first Test against Australia

With the warm-up fixtures at an end, who has forced their way into Andy Farrell’s plans?

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9 d. ago Owen Farrell closes in on Lions return: ‘He’s not missed a beat’

The 33-year-old is in line to make the first appearance of his fourth Lions tour in Adelaide

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2 w. ago Owen Farrell backed to ‘inject experience’ into Lions squad after replacing injured Daly

Farrell, 33, will arrive in Australia on FridayDaly ruled out of tour with broken forearmAndy Farrell says the arrival of his son Owen will “inject a bit of life and experience” into the British & Irish Lions squad in Australia and is backing him to sharpen the team’s competitive edge. Farrell also said he had had no hesitation in picking the former England captain despite the fact he has not played Test rugby for 20 months and struggled for form and fitness this year.Farrell Jr is due to fly in to join the squad later on Friday as a replacement for the luckless Elliot Daly who broke a forearm in the 52-12 win against the Queensland Reds. It is a big call for a number of reasons but Farrell Sr insists it is the right one for the squad as they build towards their best-of-three Test series against the Wallabies kicking off in just over a fortnight. Continue reading...

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