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Travel travails, best Test centre combo and a Lions tour of France?published at 17:00 26 June
17:00 26 June
Chris Jones Rugby Union Correspondent
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Image caption,
Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu will form a centre partnership with Ireland's Garry Ringrose on Saturday
The latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast is now live, as Gareth Rhys Owen and I check in on the intrepid Tom English in Perth for the Nations Pod.
Tom outlines his travel travails – from Edinburgh to Istanbul, Dubai and beyond – before we get stuck into the Lions team to play Western Force.
Could this midfield be a Test team combination? Why have some players yet to start a game? And what do you do as a player if you get stuck in the midweek team – through no fault of your own?
Gareth makes his case for a Lions tour of France, and we debate whether Australia as a rugby nation is under pressure to prove it should host again in 12 years' time.
In Pictures: British and Irish Lions tee up tour with golf trippublished at 16:54 26 June
16:54 26 June
Image source, Inpho
Image caption,
Bunde Aki contemplates his next shot during the British and Irish Lions golf day
BBC Sport and Inpho present a selection of some of the best images from the British and Irish Lions golf outing at the Joondalup Resort in Perth, Australia
Image source, Inpho
Image caption,
James Lowe (R) calculates the yardage for points out Luke Cowan-Dickie
Furlong ready to roar for Lions on third tourpublished at 14:08 26 June
14:08 26 June
Nigel Ringland BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Perth
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Image caption,
Tadhg Furlong has played in all six Tests on his two previous Lions tours
Tadhg Furlong pronounced himself ready for the challenges of a third Lions tour before Saturday’s first game on Australian soil against Western Force in Perth.
The 32 year-old is a veteran of the past two tours to New Zealand in 2017, which ended in a draw, and South Africa four years ago, when the Lions lost.
The Leinster prop, however, was a stalwart of both series playing in all six Tests and he’d like to extend that run Down Under.
"Would it be cool to say that I played in all three again?
"Yeah, it would. Is it something that motivates me at the minute? No.
"I think obviously after the result last weekend, we're looking straight ahead for this Saturday, so it's just about trying to get my best out on to the pitch and trying to get results with the lads,” explained Furlong.
Not so long ago there were doubts Furlong would make the squad. A calf strain was the latest in a long line of injuries that kept him sidelined for most of last season, missing Leinster’s URC win a couple of weeks ago.
"They're all short-term injuries, and you're always trying to get back for this game or that game.
"It's more a feeling of 'would you get picked, have you done enough'?"
Furlong will pack down in the front row against Western Force alongside his Leinster team-mate and Saturday's Lions captain Dan Sheehan.
"Knowing Dan, he doesn't overthink it a whole lot, and he always plays well, and I think he has the respect of the group.
"I'm delighted for him as a friend and a team-mate.
"He was a big old hooker and I remember him coming into a few scrum sessions.
"It's hard to find your slot, what's comfortable, what works for you.
"Then it just exploded for him. I'm not sure at what point, but when he came onto the scene, he came onto the scene quick."
The Force Sea of Blue meets the Lions Sea of Red in Perth this weekend - but there will be more than a hint of green in the mix too.
There are nine Leinster players in the Lions matchday 23 for this game - which will be a record for the amount of players from a single club.
Rugby statistician Russ Petty also highlights that the eight Irish starters equals their most in a Lions starting line-up in the professional era - also against the Force in 2013.
If cohesion and connection are the big challenges for a Lions tour, then Andy Farrell surely has an advantage on Saturday against a Western Force side who are without their top try-scorer in Wallaby Carlo Tizzano.
Ireland's James Ryan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan, plus Scotland's Blair Kinghorn - whose domestic season in France has yet to finish - are the four Lions players not to have featured in a match squad yet this tour.
Champion de Crespigny: Sounds like an aristocrat, plays like a gladiatorpublished at 07:15 26 June
07:15 26 June
Lauren Jenkins BBC Sport in Australia
Image source, Getty Images
It's hard to skim past uncapped flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny's name on the Western Force team sheet.
One of six of Joe Schmidt's Wallabies to be released for Saturday's fixture against the British and Irish Lions, he is known for his abrasive approach. 'A gun' is the frequently heard Australian term used to describe him.
Watching on will be his grandfather - Professor Rafe de Crespigny, who at 86 remains an internationally recognised historian on ancient Chinese history.
However, Normandy in France is where the name originates and it was the country of his ancestors which shaped Champion de Crespigny - playing in front of nearly 80,000 in the Top14 final against eventual champions Montpellier in 2022 before returning to Australia.
Former Exeter Chief White to captain Western Force against the Lionspublished at 07:00 26 June
07:00 26 June
Tom English BBC Sport in Australia
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Image caption,
Nic White will captain Western Force against the Lions on Saturday
Former Exeter Chief scrum-half Nic White will captain the Western Force against the British and Irish Lions in Perth on Saturday, kick-off 11.00 BST.
The Force have named 11 Wallabies in their starting line-up including six current members of Joe Schmidt's squad.
The Perth side were dealt an injury blow when the veteran full-back Kurtley Beale was ruled out of the contest at the Optus Stadium.
They've been able to replace him with Ben Donaldson, however. Donaldson, an accomplished and experienced operator at 15 or at fly-half, came off the bench for the Wallabies in their victories over England and Wales last autumn.
Prop Tom Robertson, lock Darcy Swain, back-row Nick Champion de Crespigny, White, Donaldson and wing Dylan Pietsch are the current Wallabies who will face the Lions in their opening fixture on Australian soil.
Jeremy Williams (lock), Carlo Tizzano (back-row) and Harry Potter (wing) have not been released from Test camp for this game.
Three-cap Wallaby Hamish Stewart and former All Black Matt Proctor, on debut, make up the centre partnership as the Force try to beat the tourists for the first time.
Western Force: Donaldson, Grealy, Proctor, Stewart, Pietsch, Harford, White; T Robertson, Paenga-Amosa, Hoskins, Carter, Swain, Harris, Champion de-Crespigny, Ekuasi
Replacements: Dolly, Pearce, Tauakipulu, Faifua, Prinsep, H Robertson, Burey, Kuenzie
Schoeman trying to add value to 'Viking ship'published at 14:58 25 June
14:58 25 June
Lauren Jenkins BBC Sport
Players laying down a marker and encouraging others in their position to raise their game is exactly what Lions had coach Andy Farrell will be hoping for on this tour.
It was certainly true of loose-head prop Ellis Genge with his standout performance against Argentina in Dublin, and Pierre Schoeman off the bench too.
''Genge had an amazing game," said Schoeman.
"He's an amazing bloke - but we're competitive with everything. 'We're competitive in the gym. Even jokes and banter... who can stay in the ice bath the longest? Andrew Porter as well.
"That can really rub off; you're sharpening your swords or your axes together. You have to be the best version of yourself and add value to the Viking ship going to its destination.''
Image source, Lauren Jenkins
Image caption,
Scot Schoeman faces the media following training in Perth
Captain Maro Itoje, who said his team had played too much 'tippy-tappy' rugby after defeat by the Pumas, was banging that same drum in training beforehand.
"We were looking to force the pass a bit and in forcing the pass we turned the ball over and invited more pressure on ourselves," he said after a session before the game.
"In the moments when things don't go our way, let be more direct, let's back our physicality."
Elsewhere, there is insight into the make-up of the various tour committees with Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman being given responsibility for 'joke of the day' on the bus and Ireland centre Bundee Aki in charge of fines.
"Bundee was desperate to be on the fines committee," said Itoje.
"I had a few people tell me he shouldn't be allowed - that the power goes to his head - but he was so hungry for it I said he could have it."
England's Ellis Genge is one of the early stars. The England prop is noticeably vocal in the dressing room before and at half-time in the game against Argentina. There is also a nice moment as he praises Tadhg Beirne's scrum technique to assistant coach John Fogarty in training.
Beale labels Russell as Lions danger manpublished at 08:09 25 June
08:09 25 June
Nigel Ringland BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Perth
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Beale thinks Finn Russell is the player Australia must watch out for
Former Australian international Kurtley Beale says Finn Russell is the player that could lead the Lions to victory in the Test series.
Beale, who played in all three Tests for the Wallabies in 2013, is set to face the Lions again for Western Force when the tour gets underway in earnest here in Perth on Saturday.
Russell is expected to start the game for Andy Farrell’s tourists after helping Bath win their first Premiership title since 1996, a couple of weeks ago.
Farrell names his squad on Thursday.
Beale, 36, told The Australian newspaper,, external “I played with him at Racing and he’s such a mercurial, unpredictable player. And I think with a forward pack like he will have in front of him, he can create a lot of damage.
”He’s obviously got some exciting backs outside him as well who will thrive off of his delivery, his service. So I’d think he’d be the danger man.”
Beale had a stellar international career but infamously slipped when he lined up to take a potential match-winning penalty in the first Test in 2013.
He missed, the Lions won 23-21, and although Australia bounced back to win the second test, they lost the decider and the series.
Lions receive warm welcome at ceremony in Perthpublished at 12:49 23 June
12:49 23 June
The British and Irish Lions started their first full day in Australia by attending a welcome ceremony at Kings Park in Perth.
The Lions were treated to some traditional music while captain Maro Itoje handed over a team jersey to Indigenous elder Trevor Walley.
Back-row forward Henry Pollock was spotted holding tightly on to mascot BIL. Tradition dictates that the Lions' youngest squad member must look after the toy lion at all times or be given a fine.
A cracking setting looking over the city of Perth is not a bad way to start tour life.
Lions will keep 'chests up and crack on' - Currypublished at 23:05 22 June
23:05 22 June
Matt Gault BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist
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Image caption,
Tom Curry started all three Lions Tests against South Africa in 2021
Tom Curry says the British and Irish Lions must be prepared to have "tough conversations" in the wake of Friday's defeat by Argentina in Dublin.
The Lions' hopes for a buoyant send-off before their Australian tour were spoiled by an enterprising Pumas outfit, who deservedly won 28-24 at Aviva Stadium.
With the Lions now looking ahead to their tour opener against Western Force on Saturday in Perth (11:00 BST), Curry has called on the squad to "step up" and use Friday's loss as motivation to improve.
"I have been in these situations before and we have got to pull tighter, it is the only way," said the 27-year-old England back row.
"I feel like this group has taken so many steps off the field. I have not got a bad word to say about anyone.
"Everyone has been pulling in the right direction, especially the lads who came in this week, so when something goes against us we have got to keep our chests up and crack on with each other.
"We have to have the tough conversations. I am not going to say it is going to be a party, we don't need that. But we have got to pull tight and hit the ground running when it comes to training."
The Lions scored tries through Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne, either side of a penalty try, but Andy Farrell's side lacked a cutting edge when they entered Argentine territory.
And Curry, who started all three Tests against South Africa in 2021, said the players must take responsibility for their "own performances and how excited" they became on the ball.
"That is the really annoying thing because on the flip side it's really exciting because we do have our hands on the ball and are in great spots," said the Sale flanker.
"But come on, we need to take personal responsibility when we have it."
Despite Friday's defeat, Curry described this year's Lions experience so far as "sick" after the Covid-hit series against the Springboks four years ago.
"It's nice being in Dublin and people aren't booing you," he said.
"I think that's a cool thing. We speak a lot about respect with our own team-mates.
"We've only got six weeks together. Respect is so hard to earn but so easy to lose and I think it's really important, like I said, that every session and meeting we turn up and push in the right direction."
Lions have no time for 'sulking about' - Smithpublished at 18:20 22 June
18:20 22 June
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Image caption,
Fin Smith followed in his grandfather's footsteps by representing the Lions
Fin Smith says there is no time for "moping" as the British and Irish Lions look to move past Friday's "incredibly disappointing" loss to Argentina.
The Lions failed to warm up for their Australian tour in style as the Pumas ran out deserving 28-24 winners at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Smith said he was "gutted" to start his Lions career with a defeat and knows the onus is on Andy Farrell's side to conjure a strong response when they take on Western Force in Perth on Saturday (11:00 BST).
"I'm sure it's not the first time the Lions have not played particularly well in their first outing," said the Northampton Saints and England fly-half.
"The main thing is how quickly we can respond and how quickly we can stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We need to get back on the training pitch and get better as quickly as possible."
He added: "We need to get back on the horse straight away and have conversations that are going to make us better. That's definitely the aim."
Despite the result, 23-year-old Smith says the formative stages of his Lions career have been "everything I expected and more".
"With the scale of it, it really does feel like the pinnacle day to day," he added.
"It feels incredibly special. It's everything I could have imagined and more."
In pulling on the red jersey, Smith followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Tom Elliot with the former Scotland prop having played on the 1955 Lions tour.
"Running out, I did acknowledge it was a cool moment for my career," said Smith.
"And I'm sure I'll go upstairs now and see my family and my girlfriend and it will feel more of a celebration than I'm feeling now.
"But you know what it's like, we're all competitive and we all want to win first and foremost more than anything. I'd definitely say I'm not feeling too overwhelmed with joy at the minute."
Link with Tuipulotu has 'got to get better' - Akipublished at 14:02 22 June
14:02 22 June
Image source, Inpho
Image caption,
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu and Ireland's Bundee Aki started against Argentina
Bundee Aki says it was "frustrating" that he did not link up better with midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu in the British and Irish Lions' defeat by Argentina in Dublin on Friday.
Andy Farrell's side were beaten 28-24 by the Pumas in what was their sole warm-up fixture before they head to Australia for a nine-game tour that includes three Tests against the Wallabies.
While there were encouraging signs with ball in hand, too often key passes did not stick and Aki felt he did not "connect well" with his fellow centre.
"We all know how Sione is as a player, he's class," said Aki, who was also on the Lions' tour to South Africa four years ago.
"The frustrating thing for me was I wasn't able to connect well with him. He's an unbelievable player and there's no excuse, we've got to get better as a partnership going forward."
After the stuttering start for the touring side, Aki believes individual combinations improving will be "better and beneficial for the group".
"He speaks out loud, which is good because that's what we need, him being himself and I just feed off him and he feeds off me. So it's brilliant," Aki said.
"We've just got to be better at it and keep learning together, the more we grow as a partnership and then as a group, it's going to be better and beneficial for the group."
Tuipulotu and Aki would both more regularly be deployed as inside centres, while fellow tourists Garry Ringrose, Huw Jones and Elliot Daly are all more used to wearing the 13 jersey.
Tuipulotu has an established partnership with Jones for both Glasgow and Scotland, while Aki and Ringrose know each other well from Irish sides.
Aki added: "Whoever it is, Garry, Huw, Elliot, as a unit we've got to make sure we gel together and try to get that cohesiveness fairly quick because we need to be better."
Image source, Getty Images
