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Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Our experts pick their Lions Test squad: Who makes the team after Argentina defeat?
Andy Farrell demanded an improvement from his British and Irish Lions when they arrive in Australia after they slipped to a 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin. The Lions lost their opening tour match for the first time since 1971 after their second-half fightback was overturned when Santiago Cordero finished the match-winning try in the 59th minute. Now the Lions head Down Under before facing the Western Force next Saturday and Farrell is seeking an immediate response to the error-strewn display seen at a sold-out Aviva Stadium. Based on what we saw on Friday night, we have asked our team of rugby experts who they would pick in their Lions starting XVs, and who they would have on the bench... Ellis Genge appears to have squeezed ahead of Andrew Porter in the battle to be the starting loosehead, courtesy of his destructive display against Argentina's scrum. Fin Smith was too sporadic as an influence to displace Finn Russell as the go-to 10, while his namesake Marcus was too exposed at full-back to usurp Blair Kinghorn, surely the Test 15 once he returns from his Top 14 duties with Toulouse. The early replacement of Jac Morgan did little to resolve the ferocious back-row competition, but Josh van der Flier is well placed to be unleashed against the Wallabies as arguably the Lions' most effective out-and-out openside. Ellis Genge powers through as the Lions take the lead ‼️🦁 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 20, 2025 I am placing my faith in the dextrous hands of the Scottish playmakers. If Finn Russell is your starting fly half – and he is mine – then it makes sense to surround him with as many familiar weapons as possible from the perfectly balanced midfield partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones to the extra playmaking ability of Blair Kinghorn. At this point it feels the back row is the area where most spots are up for grabs but Ollie Chessum's lineout ability certainly feels like a big calling card. Ellis Genge was the other big winner from the Argentina game and for the time being has leapt ahead of Andrew Porter. One game down and already some players will be wondering if they have harmed their chances of making the Test side after the defeat by Argentina. It is early days and the Leinster and Bath contingent will come into the side to face Western Force, but what Friday night seemed to confirm is that the Lions need another ball-player in the backline, and Garry Ringrose will have a key role in bolstering the defence in the 13 channel and beyond. Ellis Genge was the big winner in Dublin, and on current form edges the loosehead berth. The 10 jersey is going to be a tussle between Fin and Finn (Smith and Russell), but I sense that Smith will emerge as Andy Farrell's play-maker. 'Tentative' was the word Andy Farrell used after the Argentina loss and he was right. So this selection brings a bit more oomph to the Lions; a proper strike-running back division with astute half-backs. Up front, the two English props are the front-runners but behind them, bar captain Maro Itoje, spots are up for grabs. The Lions lacked a bit of ballast and brutishness against Los Pumas and Joe McCarthy and Ollie Chessum bring that in spades. Tom Curry was busy in Dublin but Jack Conan is at No 8 to bring yet more robustness in the ball carry. It is difficult to consider the Test matches without having seen the whole squad in action, but I like the balance of this 23. Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne are interchangeable, really. The former might just be handy if the Wallabies unleash Will Skelton. Ollie Chessum slipping to the back row should reinforce the line-out and I would need to rely on Garry Ringrose covering wing – and maybe Tommy Freeman being able to move to full-back – in case of an injury in the back three. With that in mind, Marcus Smith's versatility could see him edge ahead of Fin Smith.
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Five things we learned from the Lions' loss to Argentina
Finlay Bealham and Ellis Genge are mighty good together in the scrum Finlay Bealham may have been a late call-up to the Lions team following Zander Fagerson's unfortunate injury but the Connacht and Ireland tighthead prop - in tandem with Ellis Genge, the Lions' best player on the night, and the rest of the pack - gave the Argentina scrum a torrid time for most of the game before a raft of changes rendered that aspect of the game messier, especially as referee James Doleman became less inclined to intervene, preferring to let the game flow. The scrum provided a perfect launch pad for the Bundee Aki try. What will rankle a little is that the Lions didn't maximise their dominance in terms of putting points on the scoreboard, letting Argentina off the hook after going to the corner several times. On balance though, and when considering that the Lions will bring in additional size and ballast, it was a standout success on the night. The lineout needs to be addressed A penalty try was awarded after Argentina illegally stopped a lineout maul but, generally, there were too many turnovers on the Lions' throw. What will irk Lions forward coach John Dalziel most is that a couple of them seemed to be the result of system malfunctions rather than throwing errors. No one expects perfection but the pride will be wounded. Credit must go to Argentina for the manner in which they got jumpers in the air to challenge and also the way they defended the maul, particularly one near their own line late on when the Lions called in the auxiliaries from the backline. The Lions' capacity to add size in the secondrow and backrow could have a positive knock-on effect for the lineout. READ MORE Argentina's Juan Martín González and Ignacio Mendy compete in the air with Fin Smith during the Lions' defeat in Dublin on Friday. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Argentina exposed Lions' weakness in the air Australia head coach Joe Schmidt will have taken note of Argentina's clever aerial work in isolating Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in one-on-one duels. Argentinian outhalf and man of the match Tomás Albornoz managed to pick out Smith when the Lions outhalf was defending on the wing initially. Andy Farrell then switched Smith from fullback to the wing, but he fared no better in that capacity. When the Lions get to the Test series in Australia, they are likely to have a different shape, with Ireland's James Lowe and Hugo Keenan especially strong contenders in the air. Mack Hansen added energy and impetus when he arrived off the bench. It was a little surprising that Tommy Freeman, who made some fine catches, didn't slip into the backfield to add a more robust aerial presence. Lions will fail if they don't learn to pass better There was plenty to admire in the Lions' attacking shape and the tempo of their play in the opening 20-minutes, which would have yielded a couple of tries but for a couple of knocks-ons. Despite that early promise, an over-reliance on throwing offloads would prove very debilitating, with several attacks undermined by poor decisions or passes. The ball hit the ground far too often. Making those passes stick is something that will come with familiarity. Or at least it should. Statistically, the Lions racked up the better numbers across various categories. They had 15 22-metres entries to the Pumas six, made 401 post-contact metres to their opponents 107, conceded five penalties to their opponents 12, had superior ruck speed, 29 per cent to their opponents 19 per cent in the premium 0-3 second category, had 53 per cent possession and 61 per cent territory and had superior gain-line success. Lions were too cumbersome on turnovers The video review will be a disappointing watch for the Lions, because it will show how they conceded tries from turnovers. Argentina were outstanding in exploiting those mistakes, especially in the manner in which they kept the ball alive, the timing of the passes and the sharp interplay and support to punish the Lions from long range. But it was just a tad easy at times as the Lions didn't scramble effectively to contain the initial breach. The Pumas were much more adept in that capacity, particularly when asked to hang on to their lead in a nervy end game. They shut down the Lions through the middle, encouraged them to go wide and then forced them back inside into cluttered culs-de-sac. Argentina's resilience proved decisive. Time will iron out many of the issues, but it won't assuage the short-term disappointment and the feeling that the Lions let slip a chance to win.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
British and Irish Lions winners and losers after Andy Farrell's side fall to 28-24 defeat by Argentina - including one forward who had an outstanding display
After months of anticipation, the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour got off to a false start as Andy Farrell's side were beaten 28-24 by Argentina in Dublin. MailSport's Alex Bywater was at the Aviva Stadium to look at the players who stood out for head coach Farrell and who struggled to get going… Ellis Genge (prop) Genge really put down a marker. He anchored a Lions scrum that had dominance over the Argentinians – no mean feat given the Pumas pride themselves on their work in that area – and was also a marauding threat in the loose. Genge had a great carry in the build-up to Tadhg Beirne's second-half try. He looks like a man set for a big tour. Fin Smith (fly-half) Emulated his grandfather Tom Elliot by becoming a Lion and manipulated the Argentina defence well, creating one-on-one opportunities for his dangerous outside backs. A first look at the 2025 Lions suggested they will play with an Ireland-style pod system in attack. Smith had plenty of forward options to use on short lines, but also out wide. It was noticeable how the Lions backs were always attached to each pod. While Farrell's men were understandably far from perfect, Smith can be pleased with his outing. Tommy Freeman (wing) Scored in every round of the Six Nations for England and was a lively operator here, always looking for work. Farrell wants his wingers heavily involved all over the field and that suits Freeman down to the ground. Quick and powerful in the carry. Will be a key man Down Under. Sione Tuipulotu (centre) Hasn't played much this season and unfortunately, there was a degree of rust to his performance. Dropped one ball from Freeman. It would be harsh to blame a team's defensive struggles on one player alone, but the Lions were breached too often in his 13 channel. Probably better off at inside centre. Will definitely improve on this the more he plays. Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker) Not a great birthday for the Sale hooker. Had an early try ruled out and struggled at line-out time. Too many of the Lions' throws went awry, with a couple overthrown. Cowan-Dickie did play a part in the strong Lions scrum but he was replaced early in the second half. Line-out didn't improve with Ronan Kelleher on in his place. British & Irish Lions: M Smith 5; Freeman 7.5, Tuipulotu 4, Aki 6 (Daly 60), Van der Merwe 6 (Hansen 60); F Smith 7, Mitchell 5.5 (Williams 50,7); Genge 8 (Schoeman 60), Cowan-Dickie 4 (Kelleher 50), Bealham 7.5 (Furlong 60) (Bealham 80+1,7.5), Itoje (capt) 6.5 (Cummings 72,5), Beirne 7, Curry 6.5, Morgan 6 (Pollock 50), Earl 4
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions handed wake-up call as Argentina hang on to edge thrilling win in Dublin
The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour is up and running but here was a reminder that not everything can be minutely choreographed. This was anything but a comfortable evening for the coaches and players who were given a serious work-out prior to climbing on board the plane to Perth this weekend and embarking on their eagerly awaited Australian tour. Should they win the Test series 3-0, of course, this pre-departure wake-up call will rate as only a minor footnote in the great scheme of things. The Wallabies, nevertheless, will have taken due note of the positive manner with which Argentina approached the contest. The Pumas, despite the absence of some first-choice players, led by 11 points at half-time and battled heroically right to the end. Advertisement Related: British & Irish Lions v Argentina: rugby union – live Maybe, one day, the Lions will find it in their hearts – and wallets – to agree to a full tour of South America which, on this evidence, would be a guaranteed crowd pleaser. As for the Lions, playing in Ireland for the first time, it is too early to draw hard and fast individual conclusions but Tadhg Beirne and Sione Tuipulotu both had influential games and the two starting props Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham initially gave their opposite numbers a notably tough time in the set scrums. It was also a more than decent occasion which further underlined the power of one of rugby's most evocative brands. Even Munster fans would have been impressed by the sea of red jerseys all around the Aviva Stadium and, despite some punchy ticket prices, the attendance was a 51,700 sellout. Everyone had been keenly aware all week that pre-departure games can be a mixed blessing. Four years ago, Alun Wyn Jones was ruled out of the early stages of the tour after damaging a shoulder against Japan at Murrayfield and the unsettling possibility of being sidelined before the plane south has left the runway inevitably hung in the humid evening air. Advertisement Admittedly it was nowhere near as sultry as it was in Hong Kong in 2013 when Warren Gatland's Lions were greeted by almost unplayable conditions, with temperatures of 31C and humidity nudging 90%. The other big difference was the calibre of the opposition. The Pumas were not absolutely at full strength but whenever Pablo Matera, Juan Martín González and Julián Montoya take the field they are never less than fully committed. It required the Lions to be 'on it' from the outset because the pace of the game was nothing like a gentle friendly. Luke Cowan-Dickie came close to an opening try only to lose control of the ball in the act of scoring and, after Tomas Albornoz and Fin Smith had swapped penalties apiece, it was the Pumas who seized the initiative thanks to a nicely taken 11th-minute try by their speedy left wing Ignacio Mendy. The Lions also had a second potential score by Tuipulotu correctly ruled out for a prior knock-on by Alex Mitchell but their cohesion was steadily improving, helped by the established England half-back pairing of Mitchell and Fin Smith. Both were involved along with Marcus Smith in keeping a promising move alive before the physical Bundee Aki took the most direct available route to the try-line. Also noticeable was the collective sense of purpose; no Lions team can afford to be a team full of look-at-me individuals. These are clearly early days but Tuipulotu looks to be the kind of player any centre would love to play alongside and the calmly assured Fin Smith also looked at ease in the same red jersey worn by his grandfather, Tom Elliot, on the 1955 tour to South Africa. Advertisement The scrum was also a positive area, in contrast to an initially misfiring lineout. There was also no doubting the heft of some of the Lions' defensive tackling, an area in which this squad have the potential to excel, but the odd little error was undermining their prospects. On the stroke of half-time Duhan van der Merwe, desperate to impress, lost the ball 15 metres from the line and the Pumas took gleeful advantage, Santiago Carreras releasing Albornoz for a swallow dive score at the other end. The 21-10 interval scoreline demanded a swift response, which duly materialised within five minutes of the restart. The Lions opted to trust their driving maul with the line in sight and a concerted surge gave the opposing pack little option but to drag it down, costing them a penalty try and 10 minutes in the sin bin for Mayco Vivas. The raft of Lions subs also brought fresh energy and, soon enough, they were back ahead. Genge came charging through the middle in proper rhino fashion and, eventually, Beirne added the finishing gloss. The Pumas, though, also found a second wind and another daring counterattack from deep in their own half yielded their third try of the night courtesy of the pacy Santiago Cordero. If the Australian leg of the tour is equally full of thrills and spills, the next few weeks will be excellent viewing.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
I took on the fitness test England rugby players fear the most
It all began on February 18 this year, in the Six Nations fallow week after England had triumphed against France at the Allianz Stadium. I recall the day clearly because I doubt I'll feel terror like it again this calendar year. It was the day on which the England Rugby YouTube channel released the latest instalment of their Inside Line: This Rose series, a weekly video which takes a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the men's camp. In this particular episode, there is a short feature on Wattbikes and, specifically, an intense, lung-busting challenge introduced by the strength-and-conditioning team, which all players regularly take on. It looked awful. During this particular segment of video, it was the forwards' turn. Fin Baxter's glare of dread, before the starting gun is fired, is a picture; Harry Randall takes great delight in gloating to his clubmate, Ellis Genge, that he did not have to take part; Ben Earl says: 'Thanks so much @Wattbike for your creation – they suck.' Ollie Chessum warns the videographer to stay out of the way for fear of fetching up his breakfast. As the challenge begins (see video below at 8min 32sec), disfigured faces are pulled, there's lots of sweating and panting, and it ends with Genge breathlessly sucking on his inhaler like a newborn would a teat. It looked like the sort of thing you would not want to do even if you were paid to. You can probably guess where this is going. Contrary to what some of you might believe, I am actually paid to do this job; concurrently, one of Telegraph Sport 's editors had watched this specific episode of England's documentary and proceeded to call me (with glee) to ask if I could go and do the challenge – and that it would be videoed, for everyone to have a right old laugh at my expense. Many expletives followed. I then pointed out that there was little chance of England actually agreeing to this since we would need to infiltrate their training base at Pennyhill Park and pinch one of their S&C coaches for an afternoon. They were all very busy, I said, adding that they give us quite a lot of access as it is. The one time when I wanted England's media manager to say no, he said yes. And, so, after failing in my negotiations for an immediate pay rise with the editors, I trotted over to England's base at Pennyhill Park to take on their daunting Wattbike challenge. The format is straightforward: six sprints of 30 seconds, at full throttle, with 30 seconds of rest between each one, with the machine on full resistance. Five-and-a-half minutes of excruciating pain and extreme breathlessness – not to mention painstaking embarrassment – and I would be free to try and use the pedals of a car and drive home. Even for someone whose fitness levels are best described as average to poor – I say the former, those who know me would say the latter – how tough could five-and-a-half minutes be? It sounds a doddle, doesn't it? It wasn't. This is an exercise specifically designed to replicate the stop-start intensity of Test rugby. Of getting up and going at absolute, 100 per cent effort, and then having a very swift breather. It is worth adding at this juncture, too, that England's players do this as part of a day of training; they will have lifted weights beforehand and then they will do a rugby training session afterwards, to test the skills under extreme fatigue. Guiding me was Dan Tobin, recruited from Gloucester at the beginning of the season to head up England's strength and conditioning. He timed me, motivated me and, occasionally, berated me for not pedalling hard enough, which was fair. The scientific measure of effort would be average watts over each 30-second period. Afterwards, I'd get that figure for each of the six sprints but also the crucial 'drop-off' figure would be noted, too. In other words, how far the average wattage dropped from set one to set six. England's best players get up to around the 600 mark but – and here is the rub – for them there is very little drop-off across the six sets. To make sure that the experience was authentic, it was vital that, no matter how poor I thought my paunch and I would be, I gave it everything, to replicate the strain that England's players would be under. So, I did – and it nearly killed me. At the first sprint, I was Eddy Merckx, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Tadej Pogacar, heading up the Col du Tourmalet. I pedalled as ferociously as I had ever done before and, not meaning to blow my own trumpet, I did well. Tobin was surprised. I registered a score he had never seen before – over 700. I was on cloud nine. Then, reality hit. The 30 seconds of rest passed in the blink of an eye and for sets two to six I barely had enough gas left in the tank to move the pedals – let alone quickly. Many expletives followed. The quadricep pain was agonising, and my drop-off was almost vertiginous. My legs stopped working and my lungs were empty. Oddly, though, owing to the short, sharp nature of the exercise, I was not sweating too much; a bizarre sensation. By the end, I felt as though I was cycling through treacle. The effect that the exercise had on my quadriceps was mind-blowing. I dismounted the bike and it just felt as though they were not even there. There was no pain, just numbness. To quote the late Matthew Perry (in character as Chandler Bing) when describing the dancing of Michael Flatley in Lord of the Dance: 'His legs move around as if independent from his body!' This was me, but for wholly different – and less athletic – reasons. I sat down on a bench to rest – after chucking myself into a padded mat – and I could not stand up without doing a full tricep dip, using the momentum from the arms to propel me upright. In the legs, there was nothing. Then came the scores. 700, if I do say so myself, was a phenomenal start, but the drop-off was severe, at 347 watts. My average wattage across the six sets was 436, just 64 shy of what the players aim for as standard: 500. So, I was almost at the mid-range for them – which I will absolutely take. The difference with me, of course, was that if someone had said I had to follow the challenge with a rugby session, I physically wouldn't have been able to do it. Between numbness and cramp, the drive home was tough enough as it was. The following day, I could barely walk. The conclusion? The challenge is clearly beneficial for elite, high-performing athletes; but, concurrently, Ben Earl was absolutely right.
