Aki keen for Lions to learn lessons for Australia tour
Ireland centre Bundee Aki insists the British and Irish Lions must recover rapidly after seeing their goal of completing an unbeaten tour of Australia thwarted even before arriving Down Under.
The Lions slipped to a 28-24 defeat against Argentina in Dublin on Friday as they lost their tour opener for the first time since 1971, albeit against dangerous opponents whose surgical finishing demonstrated why they are ranked fifth in the world.
Andy Farrell's men flew off to Perth on Saturday and have four weeks to find the improvements needed to turn their ambitious but error-strewn performance into a formula capable of toppling the Wallabies.
"Faz set out the aim for us to win every single game. To not be able to come out with the result that we wanted in the first game...this has got to be one of those things that we learn from quickly," Auckland-born Aki said.
"We're adults, we're old enough to be able to take it on the chin and move on quickly. Faz gives it to us straight, there's no mucking around or no hiding here, he just tells you how it is.
"There's no point in trying to sulk about it. If we bounce back quickly and try to get better every single day, this will only make us stronger and tighter."
Aki's heavyweight centre partnership with Scotland's Australia-born Sione Tuipulotu generated the most excitement in selection ahead of the sold-out clash at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, but the combination failed to add up to the sum of its parts.
Australia, here we come. pic.twitter.com/jwBYmF5Njk
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 21, 2025
While the Ireland powerhouse showed his strength as a carrier to surge over in the first half and Melburnian Tuipulotu had his moments with the ball in hand, together they were unable to link in the way the Lions were seeking and are unlikely to be used in tandem in the Test series.
"We all know how Sione is as a player, he's class. The frustrating thing for me was I wasn't able to connect well with him," Aki said.
"He's an unbelievable player and there's no excuses, we've got to get better as a partnership going forward.
"Sione has been my roomy lately. He snores a fair bit at the moment, so he keeps me up at night! But he's a great man.
"He speaks out loud, which is good because we need him to be himself. I just feed off him and he feeds off me. So it's brilliant, but we've just got to be better and keep learning together."
Boss Farrell is demanding an improvement from his squad when they start preparing for their opening match against Western Force next Saturday at Perth's Optus Stadium.
"We won't sugar-coat this. We need to be honest because if we're not honest, how do we gain trust with each other?" Farrell said.
"Losing hurts, especially in this jersey. We need to find the solutions pretty quickly and be honest with ourselves because some good has to come from this."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Panthers make mockery of calls to suspend 'unfair' NRL comp as Cleary's heir shines
Ivan Cleary was left stunned and proud of his Penrith Panthers outfit after defeating the Warriors, despite missing his State of Origin stars, as fans urge the NRL to stop the competition during the rep schedule. There have been growing calls for the NRL to come up with a solution during the Origin period with a number of teams ravaged by injuries and selection issues. In the first bye round, the Panthers were decimated with five representatives ruled out. The Newcastle Knights hammered Penrith in their clash, which led to frustration over the quality and depth of teams forced to play during the Origin period. Coach Cleary was also left fuming prior to the clash against the Warriors knowing Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Liam Martin would not fly from Perth to New Zealand and play against the Warriors. The coach was obviously fearing a similar result to the one against the Knights a few weeks ago considering he was fielding a similar said. Speaking last weekend, Cleary labelled the situation "unfair". He said: "The Origin players won't be playing because they can't. I don't think it's fair that we can't play... we should be able to make that decision. Through flights, we just can't get them there." The Warriors were flying-high and many predicted the home side to put another cricket score on the Panthers missing all their representatives. However, the Panthers showed pride in the jersey and their performance having defeated the Warriors 28-18. "Obviously the context is important, but just the way the boys went about it. Every time there wasn't something great, they got on with it and made up for it," Cleary said when asked about the win missing his Origin stars. "Just very happy for the boys and hopefully something we can build on. "I should mention the leadership, Scott you lose the calibre of the guys we had you need that leadership to step up. And it just helps the younger guys. Our leaders tonight were outstanding." When asked about the loss to the Knights a few weeks back, Cleary admitted it was on their mind. "I definitely think that was probably the starting point - they just wanted to prove to themselves and everyone that we're certainly better than what we showed that night," he added. "We've tried to build a culture here where it doesn't matter who's playing and you deliver a certain standard and whether you win or not." Fans were stunned at the Panthers win after so much was made of their missing stars. The depth of the Panthers made a mockery of the competition, but it was also a worrying loss for the Warriors who have been carrying so much momentum in recent weeks. Brave win by the Panthers tonight without their Origin stars. The Warriors had some big moments but they were matched by even bigger plays by the Panthers. There's a further blow for the Wahs with DWZ (ankle), Niukore (HIA) failing to finish while Metcalf (quad) limped off. — The League Scene (@LeagueScenePod) June 21, 2025 Origin depleted Panthers on the road against a near full strength(?) Wahs team in front of a packed out home may still fall short at the end of Round 27 but this will be no doubt one of the best, if not the best win of the season. #NRLWarriorsPanthers #pantherpride — Parra Panthers (@letsgopenrith) June 21, 2025 No origin players.. Okaaayyy Panthers 👏🏽 I just know they're gonna make the 8 😑😂 — . (@__seraphinatee) June 21, 2025 The Warriors seemed to go in overly confident tonight being at home and Panthers having their origin stars out— but man the panthers should be proud of themselves. 👏🏻 Their senior players really stepped up aswell. — Chloe Jones (@FinalGirlChloe) June 21, 2025 Sorensen was player-of-the-match with two tries for his side. But it was also the performance of young recruit Blaize Talagi that had fans excited. Without the influence of Nathan Cleary in the halves, Blaize Talagi enjoyed one of his best games in the jersey. The 20-year-old didn't start the beginning of the season with coach Cleary looking at Jack Cole to partner his son Nathan. Talagi was expected to slot right in after his move from the Parramatta Eels, but bided his time. But the Panthers five-eighth was instrumental for his side with his chief playmaker missing. Talagi scored a stunning solo try, but also assisted another when he took advantage of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak limping in the defensive line. And fans are feeling the Panthers team are starting to hum in time to make a late run to finals footy. Although Cleary made no excuse and claimed the team will finish where they deserve. "We'll finish where we deserve ... we're playing a bit of our brand of footy so at least we give ourselves a chance." Blaize Talagi is starting to show why Penrith brought him to the club. He's developing slowly but nicely. Great try here plus a nice pass to put Sorensen through for one of his tries as well.#PantherPride — Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) June 21, 2025 Warriors coach Andrew Webster was left shellshocked at his team's performance having entered the clash as heavy favourites. "I don't look at the personnel of the opposition, I look at the way we play, our style," Webster said. "If we played our best game tonight, and they played their best game, and we got beaten by that scoreline, then I'd be upset but we didn't play well. I think we beat ourselves tonight, and they were very good, the Panthers, but we just didn't get our game on at all."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina: Kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds today
Captain: Maro Itoje will lead the British and Irish Lions for the first time against Argentina tonight (Getty Images) The British and Irish Lions host Argentina in Dublin tonight ahead of the much-anticipated tour to Australia. The traditional curtain-raiser will see the 1888 Cup on the line for only the second time, with the Lions having won it four years ago by beating Japan at Murrayfield ahead of the trip to South Africa in a game that saw captain Alun Wyn Jones suffer a dislocated shoulder that ruled him out for the summer. Advertisement CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE LIONS VS ARGENTINA LIVE! Andy Farrell will be desperate to avoid any such setbacks in a historic date with the Pumas, with England's Maro Itoje set to lead the Lions for the first time after being announced as captain prior to the squad announcement last month. After a training camp in Portugal, the Lions will be keen to warm up for their tour Down Under with a statement victory over tough opponents, with their first game in Australia coming up against the Western Force of Super Rugby in Perth next weekend. They have six warm-up matches on a busy six-week schedule in total against a mix of Super Rugby and invitational opposition, with three Tests then coming up against Joe Schmidt's improved Wallabies. Advertisement Argentina will be hoping to spoil the farewell party, having pushed Farrell's Ireland hard during last year's autumn international series and put 50 points on Italy as well as beating France in the summer during a 2024 in which they finished third above Australia in the Rugby Championship. This game serves as part of their warm-up for the 2025 edition of the premier southern hemisphere competition, with an England team weakened by Lions call-ups also heading their way for a two-Test tour in July. British and Irish Lions vs Argentina date, kick-off time and venue The British and Irish Lions take on Argentina tonight, Friday June 20, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST. Advertisement The match will take place at the Aviva Stadium, the first time the Lions have ever played a fixture in Dublin. It's not yet sold out, with high ticket prices a major talking point in the build-up. How to watch British and Irish Lions vs Argentina TV channel: In the UK, the game is being broadcast live via Sky Sports. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action at 7pm BST. Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch live online via the Sky Go app. Live blog: Follow the action as it happens with Standard Sport's live match blog. British and Irish Lions vs Argentina team news The Lions were dealt an injury blow last week when Scotland prop Zander Fagerson was ruled out of the entire tour with a calf injury as Ireland's Finlay Bealham was drafted in as his replacement. Advertisement It added to growing issues for Farrell at tighthead, with questions continuing to surround Lions veteran Tadhg Furlong's fitness after an injury-plagued season, though he is on the bench tonight as Bealham starts. Bath duo Will Stuart and Finn Russell are not involved as two of the 15 players who joined up with the squad after last weekend's respective Premiership and URC finals, along with Leicester's Ollie Chessum and 13 from Leinster. Farrell goes almost exclusively with those who have been in camp for the entire time so far save for Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher, who is named among the replacements. Fin Smith gets the nod at fly-half in the absence of Russell, with England namesake Marcus keen to impress at full-back with Hugo Keenan carrying a calf issue. Call-up: Finlay Bealham has been drafted into the Lions squad as a replacement for Zander Fagerson (Getty Images) Alex Mitchell will hope to make a similar impression at scrum-half with presumed locked-in Test starter Jamison Gibson-Park having missed Leinster's win over the Bulls as a late withdrawal with a glute injury. Advertisement Farrell has paired No12s Sione Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki together in a powerful centre partnership, flanked by England's Tommy Freeman and Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe. England duo Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie complete the front row, with captain Itoje joined at lock by the versatile Tadhg Beirne. Wales captain Jac Morgan is in the back row along with Tom Curry and Ben Earl, who take the number of English starters in the first Lions XV of the summer up to nine. Budding superstar Henry Pollock is on the bench along with Elliot Daly, plus Irish trio Kelleher, Furlong and Mack Hansen, Scotland forwards Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings, and Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams. Advertisement England prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour had been training with the Lions as cover earlier in the week, along with hooker Jamie George and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet. There is no Blair Kinghorn, the only France-based player in the Lions squad who will join up late with Toulouse aiming for Top 14 glory this month. Argentina have named a strong lineup that is captained by departing Leicester hooker Julian Montoya and also features Gloucester's Bath-bound star Santiago Carreras, plus Saracens pair Juan Martin Gonzalez and Lucio Cinti. Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi is without players based in France, with Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger and Simon Benitez Cruz all poised to earn their debuts off the bench. British and Irish Lions vs Argentina lineups Lions XV: M Smith; T Freeman, Tuipulotu, Aki, Van der Merwe; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham; Itoje (c), Beirne; Curry, Morgan, Earl Advertisement Replacements: Kelleher, Schoeman, Furlong, Cummings, Pollock, Williams, Daly, Hansen Argentina XV: Carreras; Isgro, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy; Albornoz, Garcia; Vivas, Montoya (c), Sclavi; Molina, Rubiolo; Matera, Gonzalez, Oviedo Replacements: Bernasconi, Wenger, Coria Marchetti, Grondona, Moro, Benitez Cruz, Moroni, Cordero British and Irish Lions vs Argentina head to head (h2h) history and results The Lions twice visited Argentina all the way back in 1927 and 1936, with all six matches won by the tourists. The sides last met in 2005, when Jonny Wilkinson's late penalty rescued a 25-25 draw for Clive Woodward's disappointing Lions against a depleted Pumas team in Cardiff ahead of a miserable tour to New Zealand in which they lost every Test. Advertisement Lions wins: 6 Argentina wins: 0 Draws: 1 British and Irish Lions vs Argentina prediction The Lions are hardly likely to be firing on all cylinders for their first game of the summer, with so many moving parts still and a number of key players to be properly integrated into the fold after last weekend's domestic club finals. However, they will still be looking to send a clear early message to the Wallabies with a confident win in Dublin and have more than enough firepower to get the job done. Playing it cool: Andy Farrell will be desperate to avoid any injuries ahead of the trip to Australia (Getty Images) But underestimate Argentina at your peril - the Pumas are always a granite-tough match-up regardless of the circumstance and will be itching to make it a damp squib of a send-off as they warm up for England. Advertisement The biggest hope for Farrell will be no major injuries after Alun Wyn Jones' tour-ending setback in the previous 1888 Cup fixture against Japan ahead of the trip to South Africa in 2021. Lions to win, by at least 10 points. British and Irish Lions vs Argentina match odds Lions to win: 1/16 Argentina to win: 9/1 Draw: 35/1 Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Washington Post
5 hours ago
- Washington Post
Former Scotland and Lions prop Ian McLauchlan, known in rugby world as 'Mighty Mouse,' dies at 83
EDINBURGH, Scotland — Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop Ian McLauchlan, known throughout the rugby world as 'Mighty Mouse,' has died. He was 83. Scottish Rugby said it was 'immensely saddened to learn' of McLauchlan's death on Friday. Ayrshire-born McLauchlan won 43 caps for Scotland between 1969 and 1979, captaining the side 19 times.
