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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Freeman and Van der Merwe miss chance to make impression in tough Lions opener
Swag is a word more common in the US than in this corner of the world. It's a made-to-measure term for athletes with attitude as well as talent; a bit of showmanship to go with the substance. It helps sell the product. When we think of the Lions we like the idea of a bit of swag to go with the occasional success. Scott Gibbs for example, on the 1997 winning tour to South Africa, the trip that rescued the idea of four countries merging into one and still having a relevance in the newly professionalised game. Or Brian O'Driscoll's stunning impact on his first tour, in Australia in 2001. George North did the same thing in the same country in 2013. So this opener was the first audition of who might put their hand up in Australia 2025. On the basis of his exploits on this pitch with Northampton Saints against Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final last month you had to consider Tommy Freeman before the stalls even opened. This game was only 10 minutes old when his mate Fin Smith cross-kicked perfectly to him, 10 metres from the Argentina line, only for Ignacio Mendy to intercept the ball brilliantly in mid- air. Otherwise Freeman could have lodged a claim that the north-east corner of Lansdowne Road should have a plaque with his name on it. Two of his three touchdowns against Leinster came on that little patch of land. The gate to that corner was closed to him thereafter. One of the issues with modern Lions tours is that every minute of game time is one where you have to live your most productive life, for everything up to the first Test is about making the cut for that Test. Sometimes players force stuff. England's wing might want to relive at least one of his offloads, and reshape it more conservatively. He will have lost a night's sleep too over spilling a ball he should have held as the Lions came around the final bend still a few points off the pace, but he finished the night well ahead. Freeman's England teammates, the Smiths, were not quite on the same track. The idea of Marcus as full-back is weighed down with risk, either defending in the air or against bigger men on the ground. It negates all the good stuff he brings in attack. Fin is a different story, though. There was a moment in the first half where he was asked to cover the ground quickly to collect a Puma punt that was certain to involve full-on frontal contact: the sort that might end your participation. He didn't blink. When all the other bits of your game are very good, and you layer on that level of bravery, it's a step towards being part of the bigger picture. In the battle for the keys to No 10 it was a very good night for him. Not so Duhan van der Merwe. When the wing was replaced by Mack Hansen for the final quarter the timing looked unfortunate. Surely it was planned, but hardly intended to follow a brilliant try for Santiago Cordero that started with Van der Merwe losing an aerial challenge. As the home crowd roared their approval at the arrival of Hansen, one of Andy Farrell's favourite players, it must have felt like a long walk for Van der Merwe. All night he looked like a man waiting for the right cards to be dealt only to constantly end up with bum hands. Lions tours demand the ability to make the most of what comes your way, and Scotland's wing was well short. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion He is unlikely to feature on our swag list either way, but Tadhg Furlong is still very much a contender. All season Ireland's tighthead has been getting on the wrong bus, and getting off at the next stop. To have arrived at this point in one piece is an achievement. So a 20-minute spin was about right, but he made it the busiest 20 minutes he has put together in quite a while. He went off for a head injury assessment with the game slipping into its 81st minute, but had sufficient clarity of thought to stop replacement Finlay Bealham – another man who will be happy with his game – to impart some information that was relevant to how the Lions might claw the game back. Whatever it was, it probably needed more time. A bit like the Lions. The award for swagman is up for grabs.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Freeman and Van der Merwe miss chance to make impression in tough Lions opener
Swag is a word more common in the US than in this corner of the world. It's a made-to-measure term for athletes with attitude as well as talent; a bit of showmanship to go with the substance. It helps sell the product. When we think of the Lions we like the idea of a bit of swag to go with the occasional success. Scott Gibbs for example, on the 1997 winning tour to South Africa, the trip that rescued the idea of four countries merging into one and still having a relevance in the newly professionalised game. Or Brian O'Driscoll's stunning impact on his first tour, in Australia in 2001. George North did the same thing in the same country in 2013. Advertisement Related: Lions handed wake-up call as Argentina hang on to edge thrilling win in Dublin So this of who might put their hand up in Australia 2025. On the basis of his exploits on this pitch with Saints against Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final last month you had to consider Tommy Freeman before the stalls even opened. This game was only 10 minutes old when his mate Fin Smith cross-kicked perfectly to him, 10 metres from the Argentina line, only for Ignacio Mendy to intercept the ball brilliantly in mid air. Otherwise Freeman could have lodged a claim that the north-east corner of Lansdowne Road should have a plaque with his name on it. Two of his three touchdowns against Leinster came on that little patch of land. The gate to that corner was closed to him thereafter. One of the issues with modern Lions tours is that every minute of game time is one where you have to live your most productive life, for everything up to the first Test is about making the cut for that Test. Sometimes players force stuff. England's wing might want to relive at least one of his offloads, and reshape it more conservatively. He will have lost a night's sleep too over spilling a ball he should have held as the Lions came around the final bend still a few points off the pace, but he finished the night well ahead. Freeman's England teammates, the Smiths, were not quite on the same track. The idea of Marcus as full-back is weighed down with risk, either defending in the air or against bigger men on the ground. It negates all the good stuff he brings in attack. Advertisement Fin is a different story, though. There was a moment in the first half where he was asked to cover the ground quickly to collect a Puma punt that was certain to involve full-on frontal contact: the sort that might end your participation. He didn't blink. When all the other bits of your game are very good, and you layer on that level of bravery, it's a step towards being part of the bigger picture. In the battle for the keys to No 10 it was a very good night for him. Not so Duhan van der Merwe. When the wing was replaced by Mack Hansen for the final quarter the timing looked unfortunate. Surely it was planned, but hardly intended to follow a brilliant try for Santiago Cordero that started with Van der Merwe losing an aerial challenge. As the home crowd roared their approval at the arrival of Hansen, one of Andy Farrell's favourite players, it must have felt like a long walk for Van der Merwe. All night he looked like a man waiting for the right cards to be dealt only to constantly end up with bum hands. Lions tours demand the ability to make the most of what comes your way, and Scotland's wing was well short. He is unlikely to feature on our swag list either way, but Tadhg Furlong is still very much a contender. All season Ireland's tighthead has been getting on the wrong bus, and getting off at the next stop. To have arrived at this point in one piece is an achievement. So a 20-minute spin was about right, but he made it the busiest 20 minutes he has put together in quite a while. He went off for a HIA with the game slipping into its 81st minute, but had sufficient clarity of thought to stop replacement Finlay Bealham – another man who will be happy with his game – to impart some information that was relevant to how the Lions might claw the game back. Whatever it was, it probably needed more time. A bit like the Lions. The award for swagman is up for grabs.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
The best place to reconnect with my old rugby pals is on our beautiful golf courses
Growing up, life in our corner of Ireland was a glorious mix of muddy fields on the farm and manicured greens at the local golf club. It was my middle brother, Mark, who was the golf enthusiast. He'd disappear off there for the day while Simon, my older brother (and former Ireland international) and I were more likely to be found helping Dad farming. But golf was never far away for me. I played a bit at university and during my rugby career I'd squeeze in a round here and there when time allowed. Then, as retirement loomed, the sport took on a whole new significance for me. Being a sportsperson, I needed something to keep me competitive, but also somewhere I could relax and be with friends. And when you have the array of golf courses we have here on the island of Ireland, it proved to be the perfect pastime for me. I still get that buzz from a close match, but I also appreciate the chance to be outdoors, enjoying good company and just the sheer thrill of hitting a really good shot. That never goes away. During my playing days, we'd often get away on our time off from training to play a round at Royal Belfast, which was such a treat. Paul O'Connell was always one of the best players in our Ireland squad at the time. Brian O'Driscoll was very good too – but such a bandit! He was the captain, though, so he made the rules when it came to handicaps – you couldn't complain! The first two holes at Royal Belfast I remember being so tough, but if you emerged unscathed from those you could go on to score well there. But you do need a draw to play that course – I recommend you pack one in your bag! When you retire from rugby it's very easy to lose touch with your old team-mates – people you've worked and played with so closely for years. It's strange. So I've started little golf trips with some old colleagues, which has been amazing. I took a group to Rosapenna in County Donegal last year, which is one of the finest places to play on the island of Ireland. We did a three-day blast, playing the three courses they have there: Sandy Hills, Old Tom Morris and St Patrick's. The greens at St Patrick's were just something else – massive slopes, it felt like almost a 20-foot drop from top to bottom on some of them, and so hard to read too. But it was all about the craic, the competition, and that special camaraderie you only get with old mates. We'd do a draw at lunchtime to work out who plays who, and the losers would buy dinner and drinks for the winners that night. We're already planning another trip for next year. From a family point of view, Donegal holds a particularly special place in my heart. We had a place up at Portnoo, and family holidays always meant rounds at Donegal Golf Club in Murvagh. It's been a while since I played there, but I have such fond memories: the panoramic views of Donegal Bay and the Bluestack Mountains while taking on those challenging holes and being blown about by the Atlantic winds. Wonderful. I'll always remember our journeys to Donegal. Before my sister was born, it was me and my two brothers sitting in the back of the car with all the nonsense you'd get with three boys like that. But the journey was always a sure sign we were on our way to a proper break. And Donegal has this unique vibe. The winding country roads, sheep everywhere you look, the little towns with their wool shops and Donegal tweed. It's a place with a real sense of heritage, the peat fires, the smell of the sea, it all adds up to something quite special. And, of course, it's also where you can explore the stunning Malin Head – which I recommend to anyone making their way to this part of the world. Another place I'd recommend to visitors is Westport, nestled in County Mayo on the Wild Atlantic Way. It is a charming town with a really vibrant atmosphere, Georgian architecture and stunning natural surroundings. It's overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and bordered by the tranquil Clew Bay. You can cycle the scenic Great Western Greenway, explore historic Westport House, or just enjoy lively traditional music in welcoming pubs. I've also enjoyed visits to Bushmills Distillery, which is one of the key stops on the Northern Ireland Whiskey Trail, and will happily take guests there as part of a day out. It's the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, dating back to 1608. It provides guided tours showcasing traditional whiskey-making processes and the tour finishes with a tasting session, which is always popular. I did a promo day there back in the day with Denis Leamy, the former Munster number 8. He was my room-mate when we were on Ireland duty together. It was quite unusual to have players from different teams rooming together, but we got on famously and he was a groomsman at my wedding. The distillery called us the Bushmills Brothers when we were doing the work for them, which we both quite enjoyed. And Bushmills isn't so far from Royal Portrush of course (in truth, you're never far away from some of the world's best golf courses wherever you are on the island of Ireland). Viewers from around the world will get some understanding of its greatness when they watch this year's Open – but you really have to play it to understand it. I find it is somewhere you can get completely immersed in the game. Each hole feels like its own little world, totally different from the last, offering unique challenges and those breathtaking views we're so lucky to have. The fifth is probably the most beautiful of all – and I know I'm guilty of bombarding people with photos from it. It's such a wonderful hole to play. It seems like it should be good to score on because it's quite short – but you've got to place your drive perfectly to give yourself the best approach to the green with the White Rocks in the background. Go too far with that and you're out of bounds over the back. Too short, and the slope of the green takes you all the way back to where you were coming from. Nearer home for me, Royal County Down is my absolute favourite. Joining the club about five years ago was a dream realised, because the place has deep family connections for me and there's something magical about it. I love just ringing up on a Saturday morning, grabbing a bite and joining a random draw. You meet all sorts of people and you always get a great game. The first tee is simply magnificent. Standing up there with the wind coming on from the left and you can see the whole layout of the course unfold – it's hard to beat. The island of Ireland is more than just where I live. It's in my blood. It's the sound of the wind off the sea, the smell of peat smoke, the laughter of friends on the golf course, and the simple joy of being outdoors. It's home, pure and simple. And you need to visit. Golf offers and packages
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Trash-talk and rough sleeping: following the 2001 Lions' tour of Australia
June 2001. I'm on an overnight Greyhound bus from Cairns to Townsville. A typical post-university year travelling in Australia and New Zealand has taken an unwelcome turn after an equally typical relationship breakup. Initially there had been no plans to follow that year's British & Irish Lions tour, even though I had been enthralled by the classic encounter against the Springboks four years earlier. With my newfound freedom it seemed logical to head south, a couple of hundred miles down the coast, to see the legendary tourists in action. Unbeknown to me I was on the way to witness the birth of a new star in rugby union's galaxy. The next day Jason Robinson, freshly converted from rugby league, scored five tries in an 83-6 victory against the Queensland Presidents' XV. Robinson had been an unknown quantity in his new code, but no longer. 'The only real question now,' wrote Robert Kitson, 'is just how the Wallabies will deal with him when the Test series starts.' As the Australian media increasingly placed itself on a war footing it was Robinson – along with a budding Brian O'Driscoll – they were most concerned about. READ MORE After a taste of the unique Lions atmosphere, I was hooked. Itineraries were changed, flights booked, tickets rustled up. Sourcing a first-Test ticket proved impossible, so I settled for watching in a packed bar on Magnetic Island. Cue Robinson burning past Chris Latham, the Wallabies full-back, for that exhilarating first try at the Gabba. Cue utter pandemonium. A little later, the celebrations that met O'Driscoll's second-half breakaway try, one of the great Lions moments, remain imprinted in my memory. So does the local fan who told me after the match: 'Mate, it's the All Blacks we really want to beat. The Lions doesn't matter.' Jason Robinson celebrates a try for the Lions during the third test in 2001. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Not on the evidence of the coming weeks. 'Threat of a rout hangs in the air,' read one rueful headline as Australia came to terms with the Lions' first-Test supremacy. Martin Johnson's side had been dominant and Rod Macqueen, Australia's coach, had some thinking to do. On and off the pitch the Lions had been in the ascendancy. An inquest was held as to how so many foreign fans secured tickets for the Gabba. Australian gold T-shirts and flags were produced and distributed to home supporters in a desperate attempt to redress the balance. I was taken aback by the Australian media's tactics as defeat loomed into view. As far as they were concerned this was all-out war. Journalists saw themselves as the Wallabies' 16th man, and every opportunity to take a potshot at the tourists was enthusiastically seized. To Melbourne for round two, where Nathan Grey put the fearsome England blindside flanker, Richard Hill, out of the series. Graham Henry's side had looked on course for a series-sealing victory – they led 11-6 at half-time after Neil Back's try. A couple of big chances were missed – a break by Dafydd James, the Wales wing, lingers in the mind. Hill's enforced departure, and a momentum-turning Joe Roff intercept from a looping Jonny Wilkinson pass culminated in a 35-14 home win. Matthew Burke kicked six penalties and a conversion, Roff crossed twice. Game on. Richard Hill and Keith Wood of the Lions burst through the Queensland defence in 2001 - Hill's injury in the second test would be a major controversy. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho 'The management insist it was an unpunished act of thuggery,' Kitson wrote of Grey v Hill. 'It is fair to say we are very disappointed,' said Donal Lenihan, the tourists' manager, after the Wallabies centre – who subsequently said the incident was accidental – escaped punishment. The Lions won three halves of rugby with Hill, and lost the next three without him. But perhaps some of the Lions' problems were self-inflicted. There were rumblings of discontent within camp about how hard the players were being worked. (Peaking in Brisbane before fading in Melbourne and Sydney would ultimately point to fatigue being a factor.) Austin Healey, meanwhile, caused a furore before the final Test when he labelled the Australia lock Justin Harrison an 'ape' and a 'plank'. The Australian media needed no further invitation to give Healey and the Lions both barrels. Tickets for that Sydney decider were like gold dust. Securing one involved a night in a sleeping bag on the pavement outside a branch of Ticketek. My girlfriend – we were back together by then – bravely joined me on the concrete. My personal life may have been mended temporarily, but a sporting calamity beckoned. Rob Henderson and Jonny Wilkinson in action for the Lions during the first test against Australia. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Wilkinson, a major injury doubt for the third Test, recovered and performed with customary grit. Home fans around us at Stadium Australia endlessly insisted he was about to 'choke', but a personal haul of 18 points would suggest otherwise. Still the Lions trailed in the dying minutes. They won a lineout in the corner. With Wilkinson kicking metronomically, even a pushover score out wide would surely be converted? But Harrison didn't need to think too hard about who the tourists would look for in the all-important lineout. He snaffled a throw intended for Johnson, and with it the series. Order restored, as the Aussies saw it, the Lions' threat safely seen off. But the conflict continued. Wearing a Lions shirt around Sydney attracted some trash-talk in the following days, often from children: the life of a sporting tourist in Australia. Those formative memories of 2001 – almost a generation ago, or what can feel like the blink of an eye – will last for ever, but some things never change. Maro Itoje and co be warned: the Aussies still hate losing, and are sure to indulge in a spot of Lions-baiting, too. — Guardian
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
A flashback to following the 2001 Lions' tour in Australia
June 2001. I'm on an overnight Greyhound bus from Cairns to Townsville. A typical post-university year travelling in Australia and New Zealand has taken an unwelcome turn after an equally typical relationship breakup. Initially there had been no plans to follow that year's British & Irish Lions tour, even though I had been enthralled by the classic encounter against the Springboks four years before. With my newfound freedom it seemed logical to head south, a couple of hundred miles down the coast, to see the legendary tourists in action. Unbeknownst to me I was on the way to witness the birth of a new star in rugby union's galaxy. The next day Jason Robinson, freshly converted from rugby league, scored five tries in an 83-6 victory against the Queensland Presidents' XV. Robinson had been an unknown quantity in his new code, but no longer. 'The only real question now,' wrote Robert Kitson, 'is just how the Wallabies will deal with him when the Test series starts.' As the Australian media increasingly placed itself on a war footing it was Robinson – along with a budding Brian O'Driscoll – they were most concerned about. After a taste of the unique Lions atmosphere, I was hooked. Itineraries were changed, flights booked, tickets rustled up. Sourcing a first-Test ticket proved impossible, so I settled for watching in a packed bar on Magnetic Island. Cue Robinson burning past Chris Latham, the Wallabies full-back, for that exhilarating first try at the Gabba. Cue utter pandemonium. A little later, the celebrations that met O'Driscoll's second-half breakaway try, one of the great Lions moments, remain imprinted in my memory. So does the local fan who told me after the match: 'Mate, it's the All Blacks we really want to beat. The Lions doesn't matter.' Not on the evidence of the coming weeks. 'Threat of a rout hangs in the air,' read one rueful headline as Australia came to terms with the Lions' first-Test supremacy. Martin Johnson's side had been dominant and Rod Macqueen, Australia's coach, had some thinking to do. On and off the pitch the Lions had been in the ascendancy. An inquest was held as to how so many foreign fans secured tickets for the Gabba. Australian gold T-shirts and flags were produced and distributed to home supporters in a desperate attempt to redress the balance. As an English cricket fan, I was accustomed to Australia's Ashes tourists being received by largely upbeat media coverage, a smattering of polite applause, perhaps even a word or two of encouragement. I was taken aback by the Australian media's tactics as defeat loomed into view. As far as they were concerned this was all-out war. Journalists saw themselves as the Wallabies' 16th man, and every opportunity to take a potshot at the tourists was enthusiastically seized. To Melbourne for round two, where Nathan Grey put the fearsome England blindside flanker, Richard Hill, out of the series. Graham Henry's side had looked on course for a series-sealing victory – they led 11-6 at half time after Neil Back's try. A couple of big chances were missed – a break by Dafydd James, the Wales wing, lingers in the mind. Hill's enforced departure, and a momentum-turning Joe Roff intercept from a looping Jonny Wilkinson pass culminated in a 35-14 home win. Matthew Burke kicked six penalties and a conversion, Roff crossed twice. Game on. 'The management insist it was an unpunished act of thuggery,' Kitson wrote of Grey v Hill. 'It is fair to say we are very disappointed,' said Donal Lenihan, the tourists' manager, after the Wallabies centre – who subsequently said the incident was accidental – escaped punishment. The Lions won three halves of rugby with Hill, and lost the next three without him. But perhaps some of the Lions' problems were self-inflicted. There were rumblings of discontent within camp about how hard the players were being worked. (Peaking in Brisbane before fading in Melbourne and Sydney would ultimately point to fatigue being a factor.) Austin Healey's Observer column, meanwhile, caused a furore before the final Test when he labelled the Australia lock Justin Harrison an 'ape' and a 'plank'. The Australian media needed no further invitation to give Healey and the Lions both barrels. Tickets for that Sydney decider were like gold dust. Securing one involved a night in a sleeping bag on the pavement outside a branch of Ticketek. My girlfriend – we were back together by then – bravely joined me on the concrete. My personal life may have been mended temporarily, but a sporting calamity beckoned. Wilkinson, a major injury doubt for the third Test, recovered and performed with customary grit. Home fans around us at Stadium Australia endlessly insisted he was about to 'choke', but a personal haul of 18 points would suggest otherwise. Still the Lions trailed in the dying minutes. They won a lineout in the corner. With Wilkinson kicking metronomically, even a pushover score out wide would surely be converted? But Harrison didn't need to think too hard about who the tourists would look for in the all-important lineout. He snaffled a throw intended for Johnson, and with it the series. Order restored, as the Aussies saw it, the Lions' threat safely seen off. But the conflict continued. Wearing a Lions shirt around Sydney attracted some trash-talk in the following days, often from children: the life of a sporting tourist in Australia. Those formative memories of 2001 – almost a generation ago, or what can feel like the blink of an eye – will last for ever, but some things never change. Maro Itoje and co. be warned: the Aussies still hate losing, and are sure to indulge in a spot of Lions-baiting, too. There were a number of award winners last week at the Rugby Union Writers' Club lunch at the Oval, none more deserving than Sedgley Park's Matt Riley, recently retired from playing after 457 appearances for the National League 1 club. The 38-year-old former Sale centre represented the Lancashire side for 19 years, captaining them for the last decade, and holds the professional-era record for appearances at a single club across England and France. Riley plans to stay involved in a support role – training, video analysis and working alongside his successor as captain. 'There were a lot of sacrifices. I don't know how but I managed to balance work, family and rugby,' Riley said, having bowed out with a 63-24 home victory against Darlington Mowden Park last month. 'I honestly don't know how when I look back, but I got the best out of everything.' Perhaps some of the well-paid suits also present might have paused to reflect on what a career of selfless service to rugby looks like. Paul Turner, who left Ampthill on Sunday after 14 years as head coach having taken them from Midlands Three to a seemingly perennial Championship side, starred for Bedford during their victory against Rotherham in October 1996. Robert Kitson explains why rugby really doesn't need a Club World Cup. Michael Aylwin was at the Champions Cup final to witness colour and passion win out over exhausted Northampton. And Rob was also in Cardiff the previous evening to see Spencer's sparkle help Bath to glory over Lyon. To subscribe to the Breakdown, just visit this page and follow the instructions. And sign up for The Recap, the best of our sports writing from the past seven days.
