British & Irish Lions

  1. Farrell is an 'insurance policy' for Russell - Barclay

    Finn Russell and Owen FarrellGetty Images

    Finn Russell and Owen Farrell are on their third British and Irish Lions tour together

    Owen Farrell's selection for the British and Irish Lions is as an "insurance policy" in case Finn Russell gets injured, says former Scotland captain John Barclay.

    In-form Russell looks set to start the first Test at fly-half against Australia next Saturday in Brisbane.

    The back-up to Russell is less clear, with Fin Smith and Marcus Smith battling for a spot on the bench.

    Farrell, who can play fly-half or inside centre, is likely to enter the selection mix on Saturday after being named as a replacement against the AUNZ Invitational side.

    The 33-year-old, who has not played since 4 May, is on his fourth Lions tour after being called up to replace injured utility back Elliot Daly.

    "Owen Farrell has shown that he is that man for the big occasion," Barclay told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

    "Marcus Smith has not had much game time at 10, so they might not consider him to play a Test at fly-half.

    "Fin Smith has been good but has only 11 England caps. If Russell goes down and is out of the series before a ball has been kicked, are you putting Fin Smith in to start?

    "That's how I read Farrell being over there. He is there as an insurance policy."

  2. Lions series 'bigger than the World Cup' - O'Connor

    Lauren Jenkins
    BBC Sport in Australia

    James O'Connor and Owen Farrell in November 2021Getty Images

    The return of the experienced fly-half is fast becoming a theme on this Lions tour. Just over a week since Owen Farrell's call-up, veteran fly-half James O'Connor's was included in Joe Schmidt's Wallabies squad for the first time in three years.

    ''I guess we were both over here in 2013,'' said O'Connor referring to Farrell and the last Lions tour to Australia. ''But he has done far more in the game than I have so I wouldn't make too many comparisons.''

    O'Connor hasn't done too badly. Returning to Australia as a Super Rugby Pacific winner with the Crusaders, he could now become one of only four players to face the Lions twice for his country. He played fly-half in all three Tests of the 2013 series and admits he has plenty of experience to add.

    ''I know how big of an occasion it is, it's massive." he said. "It's bigger than a World Cup. I was not aware of it back then and it's not something these guys have been a part of. You get one shot at it usually.''

    The door opened for O'Connor following first choice fly-half Noah Lolesio's injury against Fiji.

    Head coach Joe Schmidt is clear in what he's asking of the 35-year-old.

    ''A calm voice. A voice of experience," he said. "The volume of noise, the microscope you're under, everything is ramped up in a Lions tour, the pressure you feel.

    "So to be able relieve that pressure valve will be useful for us or, if it's needed, to ramp the boys up a little bit.''

  3. Rugby Union Weekly: Farrell on bench and Osborne in

    Owen Farrell lines up a kickGetty Images

    What can we expect from Owen Farrell this Saturday against the AUNZ Invitational side?

    Will he play at fly-half or inside centre when he comes off the bench?

    Ugo Monye, a British and Irish Lions tourist in 2009, and former Scotland captain John Barclay discuss Andy Farrell's final team selection before the first Test in Brisbane next Saturday.

    They also discuss Ireland's Jamie Osborne, who will be joining the squad as "training cover" for Blair Kinghorn.

    Listen to the latest episode of Rugby Union Weekly.

  4. James O'Connor

  5. Ben White and Finn Russell of Scotland

  6. Jamie Osborne

  7. Andy Farrell and Matt Sherratt

  8. Owen Farrell

  9. 'The Wallabies are on everyone's minds' - Sheehan

    Dan Sheehan running with the ballGetty Images

    Sheehan made 44 metres from eight carries against the Brumbies

    British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has admitted that "the Wallabies are on everyone's minds" but made clear the next tour game on Saturday needs to be the main focus.

    The Lions defeated ACT Brumbies 36-24 in Canberra to record their fourth straight win on Australian soil.

    However, they conceded four tries and now face a combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide in their final warm-up game on Saturday.

    "We showed when our attack clicks properly then we have the ability to really hurt teams," Sheehan told BBC Sport.

    "I think we need another game to improve, everyone is looking forward to it. The Wallabies are on everyone's minds, but we need to keep our mind on Saturday.

    "Everyone has got a good run and good minutes, it has been a fair rotation so far, everyone has to be ready, there is great buy-in and no-one has a fixed idea of where they are."

    Sheehan started alongside England's Ellis Genge and Leinster team-mate Tadhg Furlong, which looks likely to be the starting front row against Australia in the first Test on 19 July in Brisbane.

    The trio also all came on together in Saturday's 21-10 win over New South Wales Waratahs.

    "It [that combination] has been good," the Leinster hooker added.

    "We came off the bench last week, it was my first time playing with Genge. The energy he brings is brilliant and it marries up well."

  10. Rugby Union Weekly: Lions beat Brumbies but was it convincing?

    Maro Itoje and Finn Russell chat after the end of the matchGetty Images

    Another win for the British and Irish Lions in Australia – a fourth straight victory - but how good was the performance with the first Test just 10 days away?

    Correspondent Chris Jones, former England wing Chris Ashton and 1997 Lion Paul Grayson break down where things looked good for the Lions and where improvements could be made.

    Ashton is not seeing progression as quickly as he would like and asks if some players are feeling the pressure.

    The guys also try and answer some all important questions – from do teams need an identity, is the number seven position still wide open and who's nailed on for the Test team?

    You can listen to the podcast here.

  11. Tom Curry

  12. Farrell plays down fears over Kinghorn knee injury

    Blair Kinghorn looking in painGetty Images

    Kinghorn was making his first Lions start at full-back after making his debut on the left wing against NSW Waratahs on Saturday

    British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said Blair Kinghorn was "in good spirits" despite suffering a left knee injury in the Lions' win over the Brumbies.

    Farrell said the full-back, who was replaced by Marcus Smith after 25 minutes in Canberra, was singing on the bed where the medical staff were assessing him.

    The Scotland star initially tried to run off the injury, which happened when a Brumbies player landed on him.

    The Toulouse back later appeared by the side of the pitch, and asked after the match if he feared the worst for Kinghorn, Farrell said: "No.

    "Blair is in good spirits. He got a bang on the knee, he carried on for quite a bit but there was no need to keep him going.

    "There is a bit of music there and he's singing away as he's being assessed, so we'll see how he comes through that.

    "It's late, we have got an early flight in the morning and I don't know what the medical plan is, but we will get on top of that."

    Ireland's Hugo Keenan and Marcus Smith are Farrell's other full-back options for the first Test against Australia on 19 July in Brisbane.

    Keenan, 29, has only played once on tour after recovering from a calf injury and illness, while Smith - one of five try-scorers in the win over the Brumbies - prefers to play at fly-half.

    Elliot Daly started the first two games in Australia at full-back before departing the squad because of a fractured arm.

    Andy Farrell and Blair KinghornGetty Images

  13. Ollie Chessum

  14. In pictures: British and Irish Lions' testing win against Brumbies

    The British and Irish Lions maintained their winning run in Australia, beating the Brumbies 36-24 in Canberra to make it four wins from four.

    Here's the story of a match which featured nine tries.

    Ollie Chessum with a diving try PA Media

    Ollie Chessum made a big impact for the Lions and scored their first try shortly after Brumbies number eight Tuaina Taii Tualima had given the home side a shock early lead

    James Lowe scoring a try Getty Images

    James Lowe was denied a score by a superb tackle earlier on but went over for the Lions' second try following a slick passing move involving his Ireland team-mates Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan

    Blair Kinghorn with his hand on his headGetty Images

    Full-back Blair Kinghorn had to go off after an opposition player landed on his knee. Head coach Andy Farrell said the Scot was being assessed by the Lions medics but was in good spirits

    Marcus Smith and Tommy Freeman celebrating Getty Images

    Marcus Smith replaced Kinghorn at full-back and scored a try just before half-time to extend the Lions' lead to 19-10. The try cam after Finn Russell put Tom Curry through a gap and the flanker offloaded the ball for Smith to finish

    Garry Ringrose jumps on Tom Curry as he celebrates his tryGetty Images

    Garry Ringrose was next to score, extending the Lions' advantage to 16 points. The Ireland centre showed a dummy and went through a gap before finding Smith, who kicked the ball through for Ringrose to gather the bouncing ball and touch down

    Jamison Gibson-Park running with the ball in his handGetty Images

    Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park was named man of the match after a typically busy display

  15. Match stats

    Jamison Gibson-Park is tackled Getty Images

    Lions scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park was named man of the match

    Despite the British and Irish Lions dominating territory, they managed to score only one more try than the Brumbies.

    Andy Farrell's side also gained over 200 metres more than the hosts.

    Conceding four tries is a big concern.

    FT: Brumbies 24-36 Lions

    Tries: 4-5

    Possession: 43%-57%

    Territory: 39%-61%

    Metres made: 198-428

    Clean breaks: 4-6

    Defenders beaten: 12-27

    Tackles made: 148-122

    Turnovers conceded: 11-15

    Penalties conceded: 11-11

  16. Garry Ringrose scores

  17. Hansen does the rounds in Canberra

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

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    Ireland and Lions wing Mack Hansen, who was born and bred in Canberra before moving to Connacht in 2021, has been meeting up friends and family on his first time back in the city for a couple of years.

    As well as a visit home, he also returned to boyhood club Gungahlin Eagles.

    It is interesting to look back on the Eagles' report of Hansen's departure four years ago.

    "I'll always remember the Eagles as the club I played with my closest mates from school, made many new friendships at the Nest, played in big games like heritage round and a grand final, and going to outstanding 'Silly Sundays' down at Page Tavern," said Hansen back then.

    "I'm going to miss the Eagles but am very grateful for all the memories I have with this club, and I can't wait to make my way back one day".

    As he admitted earlier this week, he could never have dreamed that return would be in the red of the British and Irish Lions.

  18. Andy Irvine playing for the British and Irish Lions with an Ask Me Anything border around him

  19. Owen Farrell in Lions training kit

  20. Owen Farrell 'up to speed already'

    Mantej Mann
    BBC Sport Journalist

    Owen FarrellGetty Images

    Owen Farrell has six Test caps for the British and Irish Lions

    Owen Farrell's call-up by the British and Irish Lions was met with some criticism because of his lack of game time in recent months but coach Johnny Sexton says the utility back is "already up to speed" in Australia.

    Farrell is on his fourth tour after replacing the injured Elliot Daly despite a difficult season with Racing 92 and not having played Test rugby for England since the 2023 World Cup.

    Sexton, who played with Farrell on the last Lions tour to Australia in 2013, says the 33-year-old has trained at inside centre and has been "fantastic" since arriving in camp.

    "He's already up to speed with how he has trained," said Sexton.

    "He came off the plane and knew the plays and everything that was going on. He has trained really well today [Tuesday]. You can see the touches he had and how he was helping the number 10s, because he was at 12 in the bibs team, as we call them – the second team.

    "He carved us open a couple of times.

    "We can see the value that he's going to bring for the rest of the tour. How could you not bring him? He's a world-class player. I know he's had a little bit of injury, but so has Sione [Tuipulotu] and so has Huw Jones – they hadn't played much in the four or five months before this, just a couple of games.

    "When the squad was picked, there were other players who were picked without a lot of rugby. I remember Sean O'Brien getting picked in 2017 with no rugby behind him and he was played into form on tour. You could say something similar about me in 2017 as well.

    "Experience is experience. Look at what he's won. He's not just a guy who has hung on to the coat-tails of other people, he's the one who has been driving those teams.

    "He's been fantastic to have in camp and I'm sure he's going to add loads for the rest of the tour."

  21. Finn Russell and Bundee Aki

  22. Maro Itoje

  23. Listen RUW: Top 10 Lions Test tries...

    RUW graphic

    George North in 2013 or Sean O'Brien in 2017..?

    Rugby Union Weekly is back with episode three of the Top 10 series as Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts compile their list of the best tries in a Lions Test series.

    Where will Dawson's dummy in 1997 rank? Does Jamie's try in the third Test in 2013 make the cut?

    Have the former Lions got it right or have they missed out on an obvious Top 10 contender?

    Listen to the latest episode here.

    Sean O'BrienGetty Images

    Sean O'Brien scores against New Zealand in 2017

    George NorthGetty Images

    George North scored against the Wallabies in 2013

  24. Behind the scenes with the Lions arrivals and departures

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

    Elliot DalyRex Features

    Daly suffered the injury when his forearm connected with the hip of Queensland Reds' Jock Campbell

    The latest episode of The Ultimate Test – the Lions' in-house film of the tour – has dropped with more delicious tidbits of insight.

    The arm fracture that sent home Elliot Daly is covered in detail.

    "I think I have broken my arm to be honest, I am no doctor, but I think that is what it is," says the England back in the bowels of the Suncorp Stadium after the win over the Queensland Reds.

    The film then cuts to him in a Brisbane hospital, still decked out in full Lions kit, spelling his name out for the receptionist.

    His departure, of course, brought Owen Farrell out on tour.

    "It's all been pretty quick in it happening, it is good to be over here now," Farrell says, before reflecting that the flight to Australia is "a long way on your own" without the company of team-mates.

    Elsewhere Henry Pollock is bad at hurling, Finn Russell's kids are cute and Jac Morgan goes in for that cupping therapy to recover from the bumps and bruises of life on tour.

    Owen FarrellGetty Images