Latest news with #Twickenham
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Matt Williams: Lions can't afford to be infected by Irish rugby's sense of entitlement against resurgent Australia
Last weekend proved that 80 minutes of rugby can be a very long time in the professional game. After Leinster's stunning performance at Croke Park , they have gladly passed the chokers' T-shirt to the Bulls, who have now lost three United Rugby Championship finals in four years. At Twickenham, the Premiership final was as enjoyable as getting a tooth pulled, with the highlight being a legendary Michael Cheika sideline blow-up. In Super Rugby, the Brumbies were pumped out of the playoffs by the Chiefs, making it four seasons in a row that the Australian side have departed the Super Rugby competition at the semi-final stage. Leinster would have been glad to get the monkey off their back when it comes to finals. Inside the fortress of the GAA , normal service was finally restored. At long, long last, Leo Cullen's team won the trophy that had evaded them over so many close defeats. READ MORE All of which proves two things. Every team on the planet is only as good as their last game. And winners are grinners while losers can please themselves. In the binary, black-and-white world of knockout rugby, you are either a winner or a loser. Cheika worked wonders in getting Leicester to the English final in his first season. Over the past four years, the Brumbies have consistently performed at an outstanding level despite operating in a dysfunctional Australian rugby environment. In reaching three URC deciders in four years, the Bulls' performance must be described as exceptional. However, the reality is that on their biggest day of the rugby season, the Bulls, the Brumbies and Leicester have all come up short. That does not make them failures . More than any other club on the planet, Leinster understand that sentiment. Have Leinster answered their critics with this URC title win? Listen | 38:05 Across the last five years, Leinster's consistency across both the URC and the Champions Cup has been historic. Despite this, heart-breaking defeats in semi-finals and finals saw many calling for Cullen to be sacked. Sadly, many in the Leinster and wider Irish rugby community possess a deep sense of entitlement. They believed their team deserved to win because they had dominated the competition. This type of thinking denies the basic truth that victory in every match must be earned because, as we have already established, you are only as good as your last match. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen with Jordie Barrett after last Saturday's URC final victory against Bulls. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho The wisdom of the leadership that sits above the coach within Leinster could see that with their incredible consistency, season after season, they did not have a coaching problem. They understood that the club had a problem with players coping under the highest pressure imaginable. As the Lions are jetting off to Australia, Andy Farrell will face a similar problem to Cullen. Everyone in the northern hemisphere believes the Lions are entitled to dominate the series against the Wallabies. Wrongly, they remain fixated with the mess that was the Wallabies' 2023 World Cup campaign. This is understandable, as it remains a compelling case in how not to approach a World Cup. It contained a long, horrendous list of errors in selection and coaching appointments and culminated with the great Wallaby openside flanker, leader and talisman, Michael Hooper, not being selected in the World Cup squad. It remains the greatest selection blunder by the Wallabies in the professional era. [ Australia squad thin on playmakers may come back to bite Joe Schmidt Opens in new window ] It was the final act of two decades of mismanagement by Rugby Australia. The list of stupid decisions the Australian rugby community had to deal with across a 20-year period is hard to comprehend. But those in the north need to understand that there have been sweeping changes since. With former players Daniel Herbert as chairman and Phil Waugh as CEO, Australia have competent leaders with a high rugby intellect. For the first time in two decades, Australian rugby has changed for the better. While there remains a long and rocky path ahead, the game in Oz is moving forward. Resilience is a word that gets tossed about far too easily, but across the last 18 months, I have been astounded at the resilience within Australian professional rugby ranks. Joseph Sua'ali'i will be key to Australia's hopes against the Lions. Photograph:for Rugby Australia While it will take a decade for the full effect of the long-term planning to take effect, the elite end of the game is recovering far quicker than I considered possible. It is recovering to the extent that the Wallabies are capable of calling on a very strong 23 players. With Joe Schmidt in charge for the rest of the year and his successor, Les Kiss, already appointed – backed up with the technical excellence of Laurie Fisher – the Wallaby staff possess vast experience of rugby at a very high level. With the expected return of a number of Australian players from France and Japan, who were unavailable in recent seasons, and the stardust that Joseph Sua'ali'i will provide, the Wallabies will have vastly different personnel than the World Cup of two years ago. More importantly, the Lions will face a contest far more ferocious than many in the northern hemisphere are predicting. Any sense of entitlement from the Lions will be punished in a very public manner.
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Steve Borthwick wants as many England players as possible involved with Lions
England head coach Steve Borthwick wants 'as many England players as possible' involved with the Lions as he prepares an unfamiliar lineup to face France at Twickenham on Saturday. There are five uncapped names in an experimental England squad that was announced on Thursday, three of whom are set to start the match, with 14 players currently in Dublin with Andy Farrell's side for Friday's game against Argentina following Jack van Poortvliet's call-up this week. Amongst those playing from the start in west London will be Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson, selected after an impressive year in what was only a second professional season at Kingsholm for the 23-year-old, during which he ranked top in carries, tackles, and passes amongst centres in the Premiership. With this summer's tour of Argentina and the United States overlapping with the Lions' time in Australia, Borthwick is looking forward to experimenting with his side beyond Saturday's non-cap international. 'We've spoken very publicly, we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible,' he said. 'JVP is over there at the minute with them. There might be situations where other England players join that squad and we'll be delighted for our players to do that. 'It creates opportunities for others in the England squad. What I'm seeing so far this week is players grabbing that opportunity. 'Seb Atkinson, starting at 12 this week, the way he has embraced training, the way he's jumped into it. He's smashed every record we have on GPS in terms of his running. 'We have a group of players – Sladey (Henry Slade), Tommy Freeman, Freddie Steward – Seb has come in and put himself right in that mix or even just above that. When that happens, you're raising the standard of everybody.' Also set to start on Saturday is Bath flanker Guy Pepper fresh from a starring role in Saturday's Premiership final win over Leicester. The 22-year-old, who was awarded man of the match as Bath ended a 29-year wait for the title, was called up to train with the team during the 2024 Six Nations having made an impression on Borthwick during his time at Newcastle. 'You've seen enormous growth in Guy,' he said. 'The first time I met Guy was about 18 months ago at a hotel in Newcastle airport. I had a coffee with Guy and watched his game the next day. 'He hurt his hip and had to leave the field after about 30 minutes but in that 30 minutes he played so well. I thought then this is a player that's got a future in the England team. 'Since then his game has grown and grown. You saw his performance Saturday in the Premiership final, he's been tremendous. I'm looking forward to seeing him at this level.' Borthwick pointed to the emergence of Tom Curry for England in 2017 when the Lions were touring as reason why Saturday's non-cap match should be respected. 'The way change happens is, when opportunity comes along, somebody grabs it,' said Borthwick. 'The players understand that. 'The number of players in 2017 who emerged on that tour that summer who played such significant roles in a team that went to the World Cup final a few years later in 2019, the likes of Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson emerged on that tour. 'That's the opportunity that presents itself this summer.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns as George Ford and Jamie George lead England XV against France
Return: England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will be hoping to prove that he is still worthy of a potential Lions spot this summer (Getty Images) George Ford and Jamie George will lead an England XV against France this weekend as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns from injury. The experienced duo have been named by head coach Steve Borthwick as co-captains for the game at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. Advertisement Ford is currently on 99 international appearances for England but won't reach his century against Les Bleus as it is classed as a non-cap match, which serves as a warm-up for the two-Test tour to Argentina in July and a one-off clash against the USA in Washington. Borthwick - who will name his touring squad on Monday (June 23) - is unable to call upon some 13 players who have been selected for British and Irish Lions duty this summer, including influential captain Maro Itoje. Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith and Elliot Daly were also called up for the Lions, while Jack van Poortvliet has been training with Andy Farrell's side in the build-up to their 1888 Cup tie with Argentina in Dublin on Friday night as specialist scrum-half cover following an injury to Jamison Gibson-Park. Hooker George and tighthead prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour were also drafted in for Lions training last week, with the former returning to face France. Advertisement Ben Curry, George Furbank, Fraser Dingwall and Harry Randall are all continuing their respective injury rehabilitations with England, with the likes of Ollie Lawrence and George Martin still sidelined. The most standout England selection to face France 'A' is that of Feyi-Waboso, who will be hoping to prove that he can still be an option for the Lions this summer after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of initial contention and has prevented him from playing since December, requiring surgery. Exeter team-mate Henry Slade marshals the backline from outside centre, partnered in midfield by Gloucester's Seb Atkinson, who is one of three uncapped players in the starting XV, along with Sale full-back Joe Carpenter and Bath's influential Premiership-winning flanker Guy Pepper. Tom Roebuck lines up on the opposite flank to Feyi-Waboso, while Ford is partnered at half-back by Bath's Ben Spencer. Advertisement Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes are the props, with Alex Coles and Nick Isiekwe in the second row. Pepper is joined in the back row by Bath team-mate Ted Hill and Tom Willis. There are two more uncapped players on the bench in flanker Jack Kenningham and versatile back Oscar Beard, who are joined by fellow Harlequins stars Chandler Cunningham-South and Alex Dombrant, plus Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison and Raffi Quirke. 'We're excited to be playing at Allianz Stadium and to test ourselves against a strong French side,' said Borthwick. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing this young team get out there and show what they're capable of. 'It's a great opportunity to take another step forward ahead of the summer Tour to Argentina and the US.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
George Ford and Jamie George add experience to youthful England facing France XV
George Ford and Jamie George will co-captain a youthful England XV taking on an even more inexperienced France XV in the non-cap international at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham this weekend. Fly half Ford, who is one away from bringing up the 100-cap milestone, will have to wait until Test matches against Argentina and USA this summer to reach the magic number but is tasked with providing veteran nous to a line-up that is otherwise giving an opportunity for plenty of inexperienced heads to make a statement to head coach Steve Borthwick. Advertisement With 13 England players heading Down Under for the British and Irish Lions tour, Borthwick is shorn of many of his biggest names this summer, although given the non-cap nature of Saturday afternoon's warm-up clash, the matchday 23 he has named is surprisingly strong. Even so, Ford, his 101-cap co-skipper George and outside centre Henry Slade (72 caps) are the only players in the starting XV with more than 15 international appearances. However, regular squad players such as winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is returning from injury, and props Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes will also play from the start. Full back Joe Carpenter of Sale Sharks, inside centre Seb Atkinson of Gloucester and flanker Guy Pepper, who was named man of the match in Bath's Premiership final victory over Leicester last weekend, are the three uncapped players starting, while Harlequins duo Jack Kenningham and Oscar Beard are in a similar situation on the bench. Another Premiership champion with Bath, scrum half Ben Spencer, will hope to change a dismal record that has seen him lose seven and draw one of his eight games for England, while Ted Hill and Tom Willis join Pepper in an exciting-looking back row. Ben Spencer is yet to win a match in his eight caps for England (Getty Images) Borthwick will select his squad to travel to Argentina and the US on Monday, meaning this fixture is the perfect opportunity for many fringe players to impress the head coach. Advertisement 'We're excited to be playing at Allianz Stadium and to test ourselves against a strong French side,' said Borthwick. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing this young team get out there and show what they're capable of. 'It's a great opportunity to take another step forward ahead of the summer Tour to Argentina and the US.' The RFU have made tickets available from £25 pounds – less than a third of normal Six Nations prices – in the hope of attracting thousands of first-time supporters, particularly youngsters. England XV to play France: 15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), 14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), 10. George Ford (Sale Sharks) - co-captain, 9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby); 1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins), 2. Jamie George (Saracens) - co-captain, 3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), 4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), 5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), 6. Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), 7. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), 8. Tom Willis (Saracens) Replacements: 16. Theo Dan (Saracens), 17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), 18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), 19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), 20. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), 21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), 22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), 23. Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Ford captains England XV against France but has to wait for 100th cap
LONDON, June 19 - Flyhalf George Ford will co-captain an England XV against a France XV at Twickenham on Saturday but will have to wait to gain his 100th cap as the match is a non-cap international. Coach Steve Borthwick named a team on Thursday that included uncapped backs Joe Carpenter of Sale and Seb Atkinson of Gloucester and uncapped flanker Guy Pepper, a week after he was named man of the match in Bath's Premiership final victory over Leicester. Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso also starts after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury, as does Bath scrumhalf Ben Spencer, who will be desperate to change his international luck after losing seven and drawing one of his eight England appearances. Borthwick is without his British and Irish Lions players and is using Saturday's match as a warm-up for England's summer tour when they will play two tests in Argentina and one in the United States. Ford, unlucky not to make the Lions squad after a superb season for Sale, is likely to make the 100-club on that tour, joining 101-capped hooker Jamie George, with whom he shares the captaincy duties on Saturday. The RFU have made tickets available from 25 pounds ($33.60) - less than a third of normal Six Nations prices - and hopes to attract thousands of first-time supporters, particularly youngsters. England XV to play France XV on Saturday (14.15 GMT) 15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped) 14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 4 caps) 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 72 caps) 12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped) 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps) 10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 99 caps) – co-captain 9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 8 caps) 1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 11 caps) 2. Jamie George (Saracens, 101 caps) – co-captain 3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps) 4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps) 5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 15 caps) 6. Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 4 caps) 7. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, uncapped) 8. Tom Willis (Saracens, 6 caps) Replacements: 16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 17 caps) 17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps) 18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 2 caps) 19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 15 caps) 20. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, uncapped) 21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps) 22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps) 23. Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped) ($1 = 0.7440 pounds)
