Latest news with #UltimateTest
Extra.ie
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
All the Lions hype can be a bit nauseating, but the global game needs a competitive series
It's easy to be cynical about the British and Irish Lions. The whole concept gets hyped up more than a Christopher Nolan movie. You'll hear plenty about 'immortality',' legends' and 'legacy' in the coming weeks. All of it playing out against a background of an epic orchestral soundtrack which belongs in something like Gladiator or Oppenheimer. It can all veer into hysteric at times. And some of the grandiose statements about the Lions can jar a bit, too. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland Yes, it's a long tradition but, make no mistake, this is a brand as well. It's a business venture which is worth a lot of coin. Why else did Warren Gatland's squad depart for South Africa without their famed 'Red Army' in the midst of the Covid pandemic in 2021? It's worth stating that summer series is officially known as the Qatar Airways men's Lions tour of Australia. There are twice as many fans heading for Oz this time around compared to the last tour 12 years ago. Yes, the Lions is a time-honoured tradition but it's also a corporate beast. Again, it's easy to scrutinise up the Lions in the professional era and roll the eyes. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan However, this latest campaign feels a bit different already. It's early days, but we've sensed a slight chance in the vibe around the Lions. There is clearly a buzz in the camp and you could sense that all week from the players and coaches – including Johnny Sexton – who were sent out to speak to the sizeable media presence which has descended on the capital. There is the sense that the Andy Farrell is hoping to bring a bit of old-school back to the Lions. There have been some positive developments on that front. Earlier this week, the Lions media team released the 'Ultimate Test' on Youtube, a behind-the-scenes series which will be released weekly throughout the six-week tour of Australia. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire In terms of raw insight and genuine fly-on-the-wall access, it was hugely encouraging. It was miles away from the bland and ill-fated two-season Six Nations offering on Netflix. If this is a sign of things to come, we could be potentially see the best Lions documentary since the iconic 1997 series chronically the series win in South Africa. A bit of drama and jeopardy would be most welcome on that front. The hosts need to hold up their end of their bargain. The Wallabies – and their Super Rugby sides – were being written off as cannon fodder for most of this current Lions cycle, especially when Eddie Jones was sacked after a disastrous 10-month reign. Joe Schmidt arrived at the 11th hour and the former Leinster and Ireland boss has galvanised the entire operation. The likes of Queensland, the Waratahs and ACT Brumbies have upped their game. Australia are not the near the same class as the Springboks or All Blacks at the moment. But they have more then enough talent to make this series interesting. Everyone involved in the professional game in Australia is acutely aware that this Lions tour is a glorious opportunity to recapture past glories. Rugby union has fallen away behind the likes of AFL and rugby league in the public consciousness. The Aussies are a sport-obsessed nation but rugby union has fallen on hard times. If they can mount a competitive case, or win the series outright, it would have a huge effect on the health of the game across the country. There is also the small matter of a home World Cup in 2027. The Wallabies need to strike while the iron is hot this summer. In truth, every single stakeholder in the game needs this Lions tour to be a success. The professional game is a delicate ecosystem at the moment. Rugby is the sporting equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef at the moment. Professional clubs across the globe are going bust. Big unions such as Wales are struggling to make ends meet. For all the chat about rugby expanding to new markets, breakaway competition and World club competitions, it is paramount that the key nations remains strong. Rugby needs a strong Australian team. There are high hopes that Schmidt's troops can match this potent Lions squad across three compelling weekends. In Joseph-Aukuso Suaali, the 21-year-old rugby league convert who has taken the game by storm, the Wallabies have an attacking weapon which can blow this whole series wide open. Schmidt, as his way, will have every base covered. The Kiwi will have a plan. Again, it all bodes well for a gripping spectacle once this tour gets going. For now, it's about getting the show on the road at Aviva Stadium this evening. This is an early opportunity for this matchday squad to lay down some early selection markers. The sizeable Leinster contingent who only arrived into camp on Monday will already be playing catch-up and Farrell welcomed this development earlier this week. The Lions boss wants every single player to feel the pressure. No doubt, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose – amongst other Leinster frontliners – will get their chance to impress against Western Force, Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs in the coming weeks. Right now, this English-heavy selection have a great opportunity to stake a claim for Test spots. Ellis Genge, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith could all be set for bit tours. Porter, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell are all supposedly ahead in the pecking order but things can change quickly on a Lions tour. A compelling performance against a youthful and fired-up Pumas side will generate plenty of momentum ahead of the long-haul flight to Perth this weekend. No doubt, plenty of big names will be awkwardly shuffling in their seats if the Lions put on a bit of a show in Dublin. Then again, a repeat of the shaky showing against the same opposition back in 2005 – when a late Jonny Wilkinson penalty secured a late draw – will send alarm bells throughout the squad. That dour performance in Cardiff 20 years ago was a grim omen of what was to come in New Zealand. No pressure tonight, lads. The hype machine is cranking up and once Sky Sports began to flex their broadcasting muscles, Lions-mania will be in full flow. It can all be a nauseating but it's best not to fight it. The Lions, at its core, is a bit of fun. An old-school summer tour against a formidable fore on foreign land. And series wines are nothing to be sniffed at. It's worth remembering that the tourists have been victorious on just two occasions since the game went pro: 1997 and 2013 are the sole triumphs since the amateur days concluded 30 years ago. This could be the most enjoyable and captivating tour in a long time. What's not to like about that?
Int'l Cricket Council
a day ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
New inclusions as Smith injured, Labuschagne dropped for Australia
Australia will feature a new-look batting line-up for the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados next week, with Steve Smith forced out of the side through injury, and an out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne dropped. Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas will come in for the pair for the Test that begins on June 25, the first match for both sides in the World Test Championship 2027 cycle. Steve Smith with a resilient half-century | WTC25 Final Australia talisman Steve Smith helps his side bounce back from early wickets with a fine half-century in the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Smith's finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship Final keeps him out of the team, though there are hopes of a return for the second Test in Grenada from July 3. After a barren two-year run in Test cricket, Labuschagne was moved to up to open in the Lord's Final, though made just 17 and 22 in the defeat to South Africa. Chair of Selectors George Bailey confirmed the news of the changes on Friday morning. 'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that," Bailey began. 'We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus. We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers." South Africa beat Australia to seize the Ultimate Test | Full Match Highlights | WTC25 Final Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's. The incoming pair have impressed in their early outings, with Konstas turning heads in taking on World No.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah and compiling a half-century on Boxing Day in Melbourne, and Inglis scoring a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. With the pair given the chance to feature, Bailey also backed Labuschagne who remains a presence in the squad despite making way. 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects. 'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.' Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster West Indies Test squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales World Test ChampionshipNews
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lions star hails Marcus Smith after admitting "maybe he's a bit of a "*****"
The British and Irish Lions have just enjoyed their first week together and Mack Hansen has hailed the personal qualities of Marcus Smith whilst acknowledging what the outside perception might be Marcus Smith has been hailed as "an absolute gent" by British and Irish Lions team-mate Mack Hansen after their first week in camp together - after admitting some onlookers may see him as "a little bit of a *****" A bulk of the squad have just been prepping in Portugal before heading to Dublin ahead of Friday's opening game. Smith and Hansen will have crossed paths on the pitch when England play Ireland, but otherwise will have had minimal interaction. The squad was players from four nations come together and head coach Andy Farrell urged his players to offer feedback on their team-mates. He called on Hansen, the Ireland and Connacht winger, to give his thoughts on an individual before he highlighted the qualities of the England and Harlequins fly-half. Smith has long been lauded for his highlight reel-worthy performances. Smith is also open to the off pitch success the sport brings and his flashy image, as well as his link-up with talent company Roc Nation, has fed a narrative that Hansen insists is not true. He said on the Ultimate Test YouTube video: "Mine's a little different, I've always thought Marcus is an incredible player and then since coming in here the last couple of days that we've spent together I've got to know him as a person and everything and I think he's an absolute gent. "Like I said I always knew he was a great player and when you look at him you could think that maybe he's a little bit of a *****, but he's actually a great bloke. So I've gained a lot of respect for him from that, I think he's a really genuine person." England and now Lions captain Maro Itoje was also called upon to give his thoughts and he singled out Tommy Freeman for particular praise. The Northampton winger has continued to blossom with Itoje citing his stellar performance in the recent European Cup final. Another Englishman in Jack van Poortvliet has been called up to train with the Lions after Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park suffered a minor glute strain, which is not thought to be serious, but will hamper him in the lead up to the Argentina game on Friday night. Van Poortvliet flew to Dublin on Tuesday morning to help the team prepare. He joins Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour who weren't named in the initial squad but have made up the numbers recently.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Here's why ICC president Jay Shah is getting trolled after WTC final
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between South Africa and Australia, which ran from June 11 to June 14, saw history being created as the Proteas finally shed their chokers tag to win their first ICC trophy in 27 years, beating Australia by five wickets to lift the mace. The Ultimate Test was packed with iconic moments — from Rabada's and Pat Cummins's fifers to Aiden Markram's record-breaking century and Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma's fighting fifty despite an injured hamstring. The final also featured big names in attendance, including the latest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame and ICC president Jay Shah himself. Now, days after the WTC final concluded, the ICC released the highlight video of the all-round action from the match. But to their disappointment, instead of getting praised, fans have started trolling the ICC and its president Jay Shah over the content of the video. The 45-second video heavily featured ICC president Shah, with less focus on anything else. Fans and journalists called the video PR, stating they didn't know the final was between Jay Shah and Jay Shah. Check the full video below: A fantastic #WTC25 Final at Lord's with the @proteasmencsa lifting the mace on day four after defeating the defending champions @CricketAus — ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2025 Fans' reaction to the video Several users criticised the promotional video for giving excessive screen time to BCCI secretary Jay Shah, overshadowing the actual cricketing action. A user called it a 'Jay Shah PR video with a cricket match in the background,' while others pointed out that players like Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram appeared far less frequently. The Facebook page 'What Cricket' sarcastically awarded Shah the 'Player of the Match.' Other users also questioned the ICC's intent, calling it a highlight reel for Shah rather than the World Test Championship. One user went as far as demanding Jay Shah's resignation, calling the video unprofessional. South Africa finally crosses the final hurdle In a historic triumph at Lord's, South Africa clinched their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title by defeating defending champions Australia by five wickets, ending a decades-long wait for a major ICC trophy since their 1998 Champions Trophy win. The contest, full of twists, seemed to favour Australia at the halfway mark, as they bowled out South Africa for just 138 in the first innings, gaining a 74-run lead. However, the Australians faltered in their second outing with the bat, managing only 207 and leaving South Africa a challenging target of 282. Rising to the occasion, South Africa's batters put on a spirited show. Aiden Markram anchored the chase with a sublime 136, while captain Temba Bavuma provided stability with a composed half-century. Their partnership laid the foundation for a memorable run chase that sealed a famous win and carved a new chapter in South African cricket history.
Int'l Cricket Council
4 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Mulder wants to make No.3 spot his own for South Africa
Mulder contributed scores of six and 27 during the Ultimate Test at Lord's, with the 27-year-old's partnership of 61 with centurion Aiden Markram on the third day of the contest a pivotal moment in the Proteas' five-wicket victory over Australia. It was just the fourth time that Mulder had batted at No.3 for South Africa at Test level, and the talented all-rounder is keen to cement that spot in the Proteas' line-up. "To be honest, I loved it (batting at three) in this Test. I'm a bad watcher, especially knowing I'm going in next to bat, I get so nervous, and I think everyone really does,' Mulder told ICC Digital . Proteas return to Lord's for more celebrations | WTC25 The Proteas return to Lord's for more celebrations following their ICC World Test Championship triumph. "If they say they don't, I think they're lying, to be honest. There are a lot of things that go through your head when you're watching when you're batting at three, you have to be switched on pretty much from the first ball. 'I didn't mind that and I really enjoyed it. And I really hope that Shuks (South Africa coach Shukri Conrad) sees me there going forward in that position as I think I can have a big impact." The No.3 position in the Proteas' batting group is one spot that hasn't been locked in during recent times, with Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan Stubbs among the players to have been utilised in the crucial batting slot across South Africa's run to the Lord's finale. But if Mulder does bat at No.3 going forward, then it allows the Proteas the luxury of being able to select three first-choice seamers and experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj in the same side. "I think it balances our team well," Mulder noted. "If you look at the combinations we can play, we can play Kesh up anywhere we go if I bat at three, because I can be the fourth seamer and Kesh will be your spinner pretty much anywhere in the world. "And I think that makes us quite versatile in so many different conditions and if I can get some runs there it would mean a lot. "To be able to get a bit more responsibility with the bat just suits my character a bit more and that opportunity to bat at three just gives me that opportunity to always have an impact on the game somewhere along the line." Mulder won't have to wait long to get his next chance at No.3, with the Proteas scheduled to play two Tests against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in the coming weeks where a trio of first-choice batters in Markram, Rickelton and Stubbs have all been rested. It means Mulder will almost certainly get the opportunity to make that spot his own and he can't wait to get back out in the middle. "I haven't batted a lot at three, so it's another opportunity to learn and try and get some runs and have an impact on the game," Mulder added. "It's going to be a little bit different mentally to this (WTC Final) Test and the preparation to this Test, because we were playing against the Aussies in probably the biggest Test I'll ever play in. "So to get up for it is going to be a different challenge, but I love the game, so I just want to play and when I spoke to Shooks about it, I said, 'please don't even consider not playing me'." ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025NewsMen's News
