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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
British & Irish Lions 24-28 Argentina: Lions fall short at the Aviva Stadium in Andy Farrell's first game in charge before jetting off to Australia tour
As Argentina's jubilant players celebrated wildly on the Aviva Stadium pitch, many of them close to tears, the Lions gathered in a sombre huddle and Elliot Daly dished out some forceful post-match words. Seconds earlier, at the final whistle, the men in red had stood in shock, hands on heads and hips, trying to take in what had happened. This wasn't in the script. It was supposed to be a launch party for the 2025 tour. It was supposed to be a useful first tune-up for the Lions against weakened Pumas and a chance to make a statement ahead of their arrival in Australia. So much for best-laid plans. Instead, Andy Farrell's British and Irish squad will fly Down Under today in inquest mode and licking their wounds after Argentina became just the fifth country to beat the Lions. The South Americans joined Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji in claiming one of the most prized scalps in rugby. It was a seismic result which deprives the tourists of valuable momentum ahead of their arrival in Perth tomorrow. There were silver linings. The Lions didn't suffer injuries, which is a huge relief for head coach Andy Farrell. They also appeared to avoid any disciplinary issues, which was another potential pre-tour pitfall. And at times they played with positive energy and intent in attack, creating chances from all parts of the field. But it was a performance which might have been expected from a newly-formed team full of untried combinations, trying to knit together in a hurry. There were bright bits and messy bits. The attack was full of ambition but lacked cohesion and precision. The scrum was savagely dominant, which is a big tick in the box for starting props Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham. The lineout was untidy, but the real problem was when the Pumas were in possession. Defensively, the Lions were often ragged. They were carved open time and again by their opponents and appeared to have a major fault line in midfield, where Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was operating out of position at outside centre. On this initial evidence, it would be best to consider him and Bundee Aki as either-or options at 12, rather than as a muscular double-act. Lions head coach Andy Farrell had put pressure on the players involved in this game to make strong early statements in the battle for Test places. Some did, notably Tommy Freeman, Genge and Tom Curry. But it will take time for all the moving parts to work well in unison, and time is something the tourists don't have in abundance. The series opener against the Wallabies takes place in four weeks. There are plenty of rough edges to smooth over. There was a carnival atmosphere in Dublin, where rugby was competing for box-office attention with a series of giant concerts by American musician Zach Bryan over the weekend. The Irish capital was full of red shirts and the pre-match buzz was palpable. While an estimated 40,000 British and Irish supporters are travelling to Australia for the tour itself, this was a chance for those who can't go all that way, at all that considerable expense, to enjoy a glimpse of the four-nation side. Make no mistake, these fixtures are about raising money. They allow the Lions to generate an extra heap of income to fund the long-haul mission and add to a jackpot return for the home unions. A cherished sporting institution has become an almighty financial juggernaut. But the mood among those present illustrated the enduring enthusiasm for this famous touring team, no matter how much of a commercial machine it has become. Especially after the 2021 crusade to South Africa was ruined by Covid, all the devotees have waited eight years for their first in-person fix since 2017. The sense of anticipation was infectious. Back in 2005, the Lions drew 25-25 with Argentina in Cardiff and captain of the Pumas that night was Felipe Contepomi; the head coach of the South American side this time. The former Leinster fly-half had his sights on a famous shock, on his return to the city where he spent stints as a player and then as a coach, for the Irish province. His players duly obliged. The silver lining being the Lions didn't suffer injuries, a huge relief for head coach Andy Farrell Tomas Albornoz's early penalty was cancelled out by Fin Smith, but in the 13th minute Argentina claimed their first try. Albornoz's long pass released Santiago Carreras and he in turn sent Ignacio Mendy away to strike on the left. The Lions were creating plenty but succumbing to frustrating errors. First Luke Cowan-Dickie then Tuipulotu had tries disallowed. Eventually, finally, Aki blasted through three defenders to score the 2025 Lions' first try and Fin Smith converted to give the hosts a 10-8 lead. But the defensive lapses continued. Albornoz was presented with two more penalty chances and he landed both shots to edge his side in front again, before the fly-half rounded off a slick, long-range raid down the right and converted his own try just before the break. The Lions re-emerged like men on a mission and soon regained the initiative. First came a penalty try after a lineout drive, then Genge's barn-storming break paved the way for the next try, finished off by Tadhg Beirne. But Argentina ignored the script and came again, to produce another remarkable try from distance, as Santiago Cordero touched down and Albornoz converted. The home side hurled everything at them, but more untimely errors undermined their comeback attempts. Down Under, Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt – a master strategist – will pick through the footage of this close contest and seize upon evidence to convince his team that these Lions are beatable. Farrell will turn his thoughts to deploying a different line-up and belatedly igniting the campaign with a big win over Western Force. As for Argentina, they will go home and prepare an ambush for England, in La Plata and San Juan, buoyed by this historic feat.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
End-of-season awards: best games, players and more
Best games attended 1) Leinster 34-37 Northampton, 3 May. One of the great ram-raids. 2) England 26-25 France, 8 February. A crazy contest with a dramatic late twist. 3) Bath 26-36 Bristol, 5 October. Bristol's attacking play was sublime. Best matchday experience 1) Bath v Bristol Bears, Premiership semi-final, 6 June. Beautiful setting, lovely evening and a cracking pastel de nata in Widcombe before the game. Advertisement 2) Bordeaux v Northampton, Champions Cup final, 24 May. A great occasion beneath the roof in Cardiff. 3) Richmond v Bishop's Stortford, 1 March. If you fancy a convivial afternoon in London head down to the Athletic Ground. Champagne moments 1) Elliot Daly's perfectly engineered late try for England in the aforementioned France game. 2) Tomos Williams' basketball-style offload to Seb Atkinson in Gloucester's win over Bristol at Kingsholm. 3=) Adam Radwan's flying score for Leicester in their Premiership semi-final against Sale Sharks. 3=) Kalaveti Ravouvou's reverse offload to set up Gabriel Ibitoye against Leicester in April. Men's player of the season Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France). Simply magnifique for club and country. Women's player of the season Ilona Maher (Bristol Bears). In terms of popularising women's rugby she is doing a fabulous job. 'The impact she's had on the game as a whole is pretty phenomenal,' confirmed her club captain Amber Reed. Best comeback Leicester conceding 80 points in Toulouse in January and bouncing back to make the Premiership final in June. Most influential Premiership players 1 =) Finn Russell (Bath), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Ben Spencer (Bath). Coaches of the season 1) Johann van Graan (Bath). Advertisement 2) Michael Cheika (Leicester). 3) Yannick Bru (Bordeaux). Best interviewee An audience with Ellis Genge is never dull. Success stories 1) The rebirth of the Premiership as fast-paced sporting entertainment. Some of the rugby was genuinely spectacular. 2) Maro Itoje's elevation to the England captaincy. 3) Bath's first English league title for 29 years. Worst initiative 1) The 'Run It Straight' challenge. 2) The proposed 'Rugby 360' circus. 3) Away ends at domestic club games. Administrative work-ons 1) Reducing the number of TMO interventions in games. 2) Cracking down on blatant forward passes. 3) Overhauling the disciplinary system. The 'tackle school' loophole is a nonsense. Potential Lion kings 1 =) Dan Sheehan, Sione Tuipulotu, Tommy Freeman. Most inspiring rugby people 1) Ed Slater. One of the good guys whose bravery and honesty since his MND diagnosis continues to be an example to us all. Advertisement 2) Taylor Gough. The former Leicester academy player has overcome a spinal injury to qualify as a personal trainer and has now been selected for the Great Britain para-canoe team in the upcoming European Championships. 3) Ma'a Nonu. Still scoring tries in the Top 14 at the age of 43. Marketing gimmick of the year Shortening all tournament names – the Prem, the Champ – in a bid to appear hip and trendy. Let's all watch the footy this arvo … Double whammy Owen Farrell cutting short his spell at Racing 92 to return to Saracens and Stuart Lancaster taking over as Connacht's new head coach. Overheard 'If he'd have been playing for England I'd have been sad but he wasn't so we waved him away to the bin.' A female Bath fan discussing Dan Cole's yellow card on the train home from the Premiership final. Retired but not forgotten Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Danny Care, Mike Brown, Dan Biggar, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Cian Healy et al. Future stars Guy Pepper (Bath), Emeka Ilione (Leicester), Marko Gazzotti (Bordeaux). Most looking forward to 1) The second British & Irish Lions Test at the MCG on 26 July. A massive game in one of the great sporting cathedrals. Advertisement 2) The Women's World Cup final at Twickenham on 27 September. Potentially England's date with destiny. 3) A better-funded second tier and properly marketed, full-on promotion-relegation playoffs in English club rugby next season. Quotes of the season The day you stop dreaming is the day you die in life' – Johann van Graan. Credit to the lads for putting their heads in where you wouldn't put a shovel' – Leinster's Jack Conan following his team's URC final win over the Bulls. If you have just won a European Cup I'm surprised if the first thing you want to do is start a fight with a 20-year-old' – Northampton's Fin Smith on the post-game spat involving his teammate Henry Pollock following Bordeaux-Begles' victory in Cardiff. You look at the calibre of the England coaching team and you have to question whether that's the best we can put out there' – Will Carling on Radio 4's Today programme during the Six Nations. We won the game and people are still upset about it. It blew my mind, to be honest. Ex-players, recently retired and long retired, and people from years and years ago, I just can't believe how out of touch they are' – Ellis Genge after England's Calcutta Cup win. Hopefully they're filling up the pubs of south-west London, having a good time and jumping up and down on sofas all across England' – Maro Itoje following England's dramatic win over France at Twickenham. We pull up at a roundabout and a car pulls up next to us. Mum and grandma are in the front seat and there's a kid who can't have been more than five. His grandma winds down the back window and the kid just gives us the middle finger. It's things like that – and the rivalry – that make this fixture so special. It does rev you up a little bit' – Ollie Chessum on the traditionally warm reception England always receive in Cardiff. I want Louis Bielle-Biarrey underpants, duvet covers and a red scrum cap for whenever it rains or, for that matter, whenever it doesn't. I want to move next door to LBB in UBB; I want Louis Bielle-Biarrey to marry my daughter' – France's star winger can do no wrong in the eyes of RugbyPass's columnist Graham Simmons. Better than sex. Don't tell my wife that!' – Henry Slade clearly enjoyed Exeter's win over Gloucester in December, the Chiefs' first league win for 232 days. Boys getting run into the ground is no good. Is there a silver bullet that's going to sort it all out? Probably not. I've always said we're a guinea pig era' – Ellis Genge on the reality of modern pro rugby. I just said to them: 'I am absolutely embarrassed, guys. And I hope you all are when you pick up your wages next week. A lot of people have bust their arse over the last four years to keep this club alive so be embarrassed.' And then I walked out. I didn't give them a bollocking' – Exeter's chairman Tony Rowe. The significance of these new and innovative free-to-air partnerships for the Six Nations cannot be overstated' – Tom Harrison, the Six Nations CEO, after striking a new deal that will keep England's championship games on free-to-air TV until 2029. Rugby's lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market' – Mike Tindall believes the proposed new R360 global franchise league is the way ahead for the sport. This is not a proposal for the good of rugby – it is a simple cash grab' – former England international Brian Moore begs to differ. At the moment it's dysfunctional, it doesn't work. The more you develop players the less you see of them' – Northampton's director of rugby Phil Dowson on the tug of war between club and country. It's all I have known in club rugby, the green, red and white, and all I've wanted to know. The idea of playing against this club wasn't ever an option for me. To be able to finish a one-club player will be one of my greatest achievements' – Leicester's retiring scrum-half Ben Youngs. I always say: 'Good players play the game, great players know the game'' – Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam. I'm Peter O'Mahony's mum and I'm retiring from mowing the lawn!' – O'Mahony's mother Caroline holds up her latest sign at the URC game between Munster and Benetton Treviso. Jesus wept' – O'Mahony's response on live TV. Congratulations, mate. Great win' – the Premier Sports post-match interviewer Ryan Wilson to Charlie Ewels following Bath's Champions Cup pool defeat to La Rochelle. Nationality is not a Scottish or Irish scout, waving a cheque in front of a southern player's face and promising an El Dorado to entice him to change countries' – the former Wallaby Anthony Abrahams wades into international rugby's eligibility debate. It's been embarrassing to go into the shop for a paper on a Sunday morning but you've got to be man enough to do that and get on with it' – Steve Diamond on Newcastle's battle to escape the Premiership basement. No one is going to learn to drive a car without stalling it, are they? So why on our rugby journey do we expect everything to be executed perfectly? It seems mental' – Northampton's attack coach Sam Vesty on the importance of encouraging youngsters to play without fear. There is a big energy to return to [the top tier] when we can afford to do so' – Worcester's owner Christopher Holland on the club's approaching new dawn back in England's second tier next season. Endless summer Watching an exultant Finn Russell with his top off and clutching a can of cider on Bath's open-top bus parade following their Premiership triumph, it was hard not to wince at rugby's ludicrously congested fixture schedule. How fair is it on top players to expect them to report back immediately for international duty within hours of featuring in seriously intense major finals for their clubs? At what point will someone, somewhere realise that making diplomatic noises about player welfare is incompatible with scheduling yet more competitive games on supposedly spare weekends at the end of an achingly long season? Both psychologically and physically, rugby needs to recognise that quantity and quality are not the same thing. One to watch The British & Irish Lions v Argentina. While Friday night's game against Argentina in Dublin will raise bucketloads of cash, the fixture is not entirely what it says on the tin: the Pumas will be forced to field an understrength side while the Lions are either still battered and bruised from last weekend's finals or hoping to climb aboard the plane to Australia in one piece. Nor will the Lions be awarding Test caps. The scoreline will be less significant than the (hopefully positive) fitness updates that subsequently emerge. Memory lane To May 2001 and the Army rugby stadium in Aldershot, where head coach Graham Henry is putting his Lions players through their paces before their tour of Australia. Specifically in this case, rucking practice, with Dan Luger and Darren Morris front and centre. The Lions would surge to victory in the first Test but were pegged back and then ultimately denied in the decider by the Wallabies. Still want more? Bath's treble win blends yesteryear charm with the recently unthinkable, writes Michael Aylwin. Advertisement Finn Russell is, understandably, basking in Bath's triumph before his focus turns to the Lions. And Michael Cheika was not happy after Dan Cole's late yellow card in the Premiership final. Subscribe 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.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Saracens miss out on play-offs despite Bath win
Elliot Daly's try helped Saracens to a bonus-point win which was not enough to get them into the top four. [PA Media] Gallagher Premiership Saracens (19) 36 Tries: Segun, George 2, Daly, Dan, Burke Cons: Burke 3 Bath (7) 26 Tries: Green, Offiah, Tuipolutu, Hennessey Cons: Bailey 3 Saracens chalked up the bonus-point win over Bath they needed to retain any hope of making the Premiership play-offs but results elsewhere thwarted their bid. Sarries needed a bonus-point victory and for two of the teams above them to fail to prevail on the final day of the regular season, and were always in charge against an under-strength Bath side. Advertisement Dan George scored two tries, and Rotimi Segun, Elliot Daly, Theo Dan and Fergus Burke all crossed the line but with Saracens' rivals all winning, they could not move out of sixth place. The win gave Alex Goode, playing his 402nd and final game before retirement, an emotional send-off but scorelines in other parts of the country meant the Men in Black failed to finish in the top four for only the third time since 2009. Bath handed debuts to seven players and their youngsters staged a big finish as 18-year-old Tyler Offiah, son of rugby league legend Martin, marked his debut with a second half try, quickly followed by scores for Kepu Tuipolutu and Louie Hennessey. Saracens' chances of making the top four were effectively ended a fortnight ago by a late Northampton Saints try which saw them go down 28-24 but on a tense final day they could still have finished second, behind Bath, with the right set of results. Advertisement A hopeful home crowd was soon silenced as the very young Bath pack, without a single starter above 23 years old, began brightly. They ran the ball directly at the Sarries line for Green to burrow over and put the visitors ahead. That youthful exuberance in attack, however, was soon swamped by the stark reality of trying to defend against an efficient and well-practised set of Sarries forwards who soon put them under intense pressure. Saracens hit back immediately as Fergus Burke's fine kick took them to five metres and a quick switch to the left sent Segun over. The Sarries pack took full control after that, George finishing two maul tries either side of Daly's try, which came from an angled run onto Ivan van Zyl's pass from the base of the scrum. Advertisement With the bonus-point banked, George was taken off ahead of what would probably have been a hat-trick, and his replacement Dan pocketed the third maul try of the day within 90 seconds of going onto the field as the home forwards imposed themselves. Burke, whose kicking was poor on the day, bagged a try by latching onto van Zyl's chip and then himself lobbing the cover before gathering to go over under the posts. Bath, who will face local rivals Bristol next Friday in the first play-off semi-final, had the final say with a flourish which gave their supporters a taste of the future. Offiah had a sparkling cameo on his league debut, producing a finish of which his father would have been proud and then coming up with a break that laid the platform for another prospect, 19-year-old Tuipolutu. Advertisement Bath staged a big finish as Hennessey ran in an interception try which momentarily put the result in doubt until Sarries closed the game out. Saracens: Carre, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Isiekwe, McFarland, Onyeama-Christie, Willis, van Zyl, Burke, Segun, Tompkins, Daly, Elliott, Goode Replacements: Dan, Mawi, Beaton, Tizard, Gonzalez, Earl, Bracken, Cinti Bath: Kirk, Spandler, Griffin, Jeanes, Richards, Staddon, Cowan, Green, Schreuder, Bailey, McConnochie, Parry, Hennessey, Emens, Woods. Replacements: Tuipolutu, Cordwell, Verden, Graham, Timmins, le Roux, Offiah, Stewart. Referee: Karl Dickson
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
James Lowe on waiting for Lions selection: 'It was an emotional rollercoaster'
Leinster and Ireland winger James Lowe has described the wait for his name to be called out for the British and Irish Lions squad as 'absolutely horrible'. Lowe was one of 15 Irish players selected by head coach Andy Farrell for the tour of Australia, in what will be his first tour. Advertisement Despite being expected by many pundits and fans to be selected, and even starting in the summer tests, Lowe admitted the wait was a nervous one, as he watched the squad announced on television. Looking back on the day, Lowe said it was a special moment for him and his family. "A lot of things go on before the team is actually announced, but it is absolutely horrible. "When the team starts getting announced, you are thinking of the other people you are competing against, I heard Elliot Daly's name and I thought oh no, there's a left winger. Advertisement "When I hear the boys in here's names, I am celebrating as well, I was a rollercoaster of emotions sitting there with my wife. "Everyone is telling you your name is coming, but until you hear it on the screen, hear it and being announced, you don't really believe it, it looks kind of surreal. "When Hugo Keenan got announced, I was like L is after K, and then it was Blair Kinghorn, I thought I was next. I thought there is still a chance I was after this. "It was a huge sigh of relief and an amazing feeling." Advertisement The squad announcement was just days after Leinster's shock defeat to Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final, as the English side lost to Bordeaux on Saturday. Attention now turns to the URC quarter-final against the Scarlets on Saturday, as Leinster search for their first trophy since 2021. In the fallout from the Northampton defeat, much was made of how Leinster's game management, as they turned down chances to score penalties and kicked for touch or decided tap and go moves. For Lowe, he said, while he backs Leinster's decisions in big games, he is a fan of taking three points in knockout rugby. Advertisement "I would never question anyone who has that responsibility, but its knockout rugby, and if we can accumulate scoreboard pressure, I am all about that. "If you look at that spreadsheet that was doing the circulation, Jesus Christ they are overpaid and overworked at the moment anyway." "Three, six, nine, do with a bit of scoreboard pressure, keep teams away, keep it a two-score game, especially if you get an early penalty, I don't see why you wouldn't take the three, reset and get a good exit off that. "I'll pass that on to the powers that be above my pay grade, the traffic light system would be a nice wee thing."
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Late try sees Saints hit Saracens' play-off hopes
Gallagher PremiershipNorthampton (7) 28Tries: Kemeny, Haffar 2, Cons: Smith, Hutchinson 2Saracens (19) 24Tries: Willis, Gonzalez, Daly, Segun Cons: Burke 2 Tarek Haffar's last-second try saw Northampton beat Saracens 28-24 and strike a huge blow to Sarries' play-off Kemeny's early try for Saints was cancelled out by a close-range Tom Willis score and a well-worked Juan Martin Gonzalez try before Elliot Daly added a Segun got the bonus-point try early in the second period before Saints replacement Haffar got one back as the hosts spurned a number of good chances to add to their ensured a barnstorming finish as they earned a penalty-try after Andy Onyeama-Christie pulled down a maul - and Haffar went over as the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark to secure a great comeback. The loss means Saracens remain sixth in the Premiership and must beat Bath - who are already assured of first place - next Saturday and hope other results go their way if they are to make the to follow. Northampton: Ramm; Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Hutchinson, Litchfield; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Coles, Kemeny, Wright, Haffar, Millar Mills, Prowse, Scott-Young, Weimann, Garside, SeabrookSaracens: Goode; Elliott, Daly, Tompkins, Segun; Burke, van Zyl; Mawi, George, Riccioni, Itoje (capt), Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Earl, Dan, Brantingham, Clarey, Tizard, McFarland, Onyeama-Christie, Bracken, card: Onyeama-Christie (72)Referee: Luke Pearce
