Jamison Gibson-Park out - as fans complain about outrageous Lions tickets prices
Jamison Gibson-Park is struggling with a 'minor glute strain' and will not be available for Lions selection this Friday night against Argentina.
Jack van Poortvliet has been called into the training panel as cover behind Wales's Tomos Williams - who is expected to start on Friday night - and England's Alex Mitchell.Calling in the Leicester Tigers-based van Poortvliet ahead of Craig Casey would suggest the Munster scrum-half is, at least, fifth in Andy Farrell's thinking when it comes to no9.The loss of Gibson-Park further limits the number of Ireland players in line for a starting role against Argentina.Farrell is reportedly not keen on starting any of the eight Leinster players who began last Saturday's URC Grand Final against Bulls nor of using any of three who missed the match because through injury - the Irish options are dwindling.Ronan Kelleher may get a role as he was on the bench last Saturday while Connacht's Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Munster's Tadhg Beirne are in the frame.Ireland may have five players in the mix from the 16 in the squad but it is a poor return for a game - which does not award Lions caps - and for which the lowest priced tickets for the Aviva are €158.A cost that has drawn criticism from many quarters and compares very unfavourably with the list prices for the rest of the non-Test games on the Tour (see panel).* vs Western Force, Perth, from €58* vs Queensland Reds, Brisbane, €67* vs NSW Waratahs, Canberra, €105* vs Aus & NZ, Adelaide €61* vs Australia, First Test, Brisbane, €231 (cheapest tkt remaining as ground is 96 percent sold out)* vs TBC, Victoria, €75* vs Australia, Second Test, Melbourne, €85* vs Australian, Third Test, €242 (cheapest tkt remaining as ground is 99 percent sold out)(source Viagogo).Meanwhile, given the Lions will not have Conan and van der Flier as they were playing last Saturday and Caelan Doris is not touring because of an injury.England's Ben Earl has been confirmed as down to start but with fans trying to guess which position Lions management see as best for him - it may shed an important light as to how Farrell is shaping the Test team too.Mainly played at no7 at club level, the Saracens-based Earl was used by England at no8 in all four of their November internationals, losses to the All Blacks, Australia, South Africa and a win over Japan.He was also at no8 for the opening Six Nations loss to Ireland before being switched to no7 for the next three games and finishing at no8 against Wales. England won their last four Six Nations matches to finish second in the table."I really don't mind where I'm played, I'm just happy to play, happy to perform as well as I can, it depends now everyone wants to set it up," says Earls simply."We play three low to the ground players whereas the team might do things differently so, there's flexibility in the group which is cool."I think I probably thought that I was just a no7 a couple of years back. As of recently I've tried to free my shackles a little bit more, try not to be necessarily tied down by what's the role, more what does the role require from me. Almost flipping it on its head. "But I trust the coaches whereby if they pick you in a position, they trust you are going to get the job done."Sometimes you are thinking too much about what's required instead of cracking on. Bringing your best stuff might be enough. Yeah, I try not to be bogged down by numbers too much. It certainly felt that way with the England team for a while."Earls will bring recent first-hand experience of playing against Australia to the Lions party and he suggests they have improved in recent times."You look at that team from one to 23. The best team they can put out is a pretty impressive team. Their cohesiveness and their home advantage makes them a really big challenge and one that we're certainly not going to take lightly."It's a Lions tour at the end of the day, we've got some unbelievable opportunities to make history."Correct me if I am wrong but the last time the Lions team won a series was Australia 2013, so we've got a massive opportunity to change the narrative a little bit."Any Lions team you play against is going to be a good fixture so yeah, we are really looking forward to going after this."It would be difficult to imagine Andy Farrell playing any of the current Ireland no7's at no8 but Steve Borthwick has been his own man at England albeit, says Earls, the two coaches are quite similar in many ways."Steve set out a stall sort of at the end of November internationals and beginning of the Six Nations saying he wanted as many England players on the plane, so like we got a fair few and that's great and we might get a few more depending on how things go."Steve has coached with the Lions. He knows what's required and I felt like he carried that through to coaching us at England. A coach that's got that experience it's going to be good for us, yeah it definitely helps"Both coaches that require high performance, that require hard work, require physicality want to win so I guess when you've got those building blocks you are never going to be too far away regardless of personality both do things slightly differently."But I don't think there is any right or wrong way; however, it is you try to get the best out of the group. There's many ways to skin a cat in this regard."I wish the England team all the best this summer, I know Steve will do a great job with that and obviously I'm focusing on here and trusting that Andy and the management will get the job done as well."Moreover, Earls' recent experience of playing the Wallabies has him all too aware that have been improving under Joe Schmidt.
"You look at that team from one to 23. The best team they can put out is a pretty impressive team. Their cohesiveness and their home advantage makes them a really big challenge and one that we're certainly not going to take lightly."It's the Lions tour at the end of the day, we've got some unbelievable opportunities to make history."Correct me if I am wrong but the last time the Lions team won a series was in Australia 2013, so we've got a massive opportunity to change the narrative a little bit."Any Lions team you play against is going to be a good fixture so yeah, we are really looking forward to going after this."
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The Irish Sun
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Andy Farrell ‘takes full responsibility' for Lions loss as Argentina coach reveals impact of unusual Dublin weather
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an hour ago
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