British & Irish Lions

Latest updates

  1. Australia's 'preparation was just not right'published at 15:17 BST 2 August

    Andy Nicol
    Former Scotland scrum-half

    Joe Schmidt has got this wrong, or Rugby Australia has got this wrong.

    The preparation was just not right. We have said on so many occasions it is not like the Lions have crept up. The Lions has been 12 years in the making.

    They will absolutely rue the lack of preparation for that first Test because we have seen in Test two and Test three they are very competitive, and in some cases a match or even better than the Lions.

    The fact the Lions won that first Test at a canter allowed them to be down in that second Test and come back and take the lead in the 79th minute. That has been hugely important and has won the Test series.

  2. In pictures: How the Lions fell at the last hurdlepublished at 15:15 BST 2 August

    With the series secured last week, the Lions look to cement their legacy and replicate a 3-0 series whitewash last achieved in 1927Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    With the series secured last week, the Lions looked to cement their legacy and replicate a 3-0 series whitewash last achieved in Argentina in 1927

    The Wallabies started like they did last week, and a Joseph Suaalii play set up Dylan Pietsch to score in the corner for the only try of the halfImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Wallabies started like they did last Saturday, and a Joseph Suaalii play set up Dylan Pietsch to score in the corner for the only try of the first half

    The weather was a big factor in the half, the Wallabies in control and showing slick handling skills in torrential rainImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The weather was a big factor in the half and it was the Wallabies who took control and showed slick handling skills in torrential rain

    On his final game for Australia, scrum-half Nic White showed his classImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    On his final game for Australia, scrum-half Nic White showed his class

    It wouldn't be a Test match without a scuffle. And, of course, it included Will SkeltonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    It wouldn't be a Test match without a scuffle. And, of course, it included Will Skelton

    Lions captain Maro Itoje and wing Tommy Freeman both failed head injury assessments at the end of the first halfImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Lions captain Maro Itoje and wing Tommy Freeman both failed head injury assessments at the end of the first half

    It only took two minutes into the second half for play to be abandoned due to lighting. Fans in the lower seats were told to head to the concourse, which lasted 40 minutes before play could resume  Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    It only took three minutes into the second half for play to be abandoned because of the threat of lightning strikes. Fans in the lower seats were told to head to the concourse as the match was delayed for 40 minutes before play could resume

    The Lions tried to regain some control with the ball, but bad tactics ultimately led to a Max Jorgensen try to extend the Wallabies to a 15-0 lead Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Lions tried to regain some control with the ball, but bad tactics ultimately led to a Max Jorgensen try to extend the Wallabies' lead to 15-0

    The Lions finally got themselves in the game, Jac Morgan powered over under immense pressure. No clear grounding but the ref had the best lookImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Lions finally got themselves in the game when Jac Morgan powered over under immense pressure. No clear grounding but the referee had the best view and awarded the try.

    The Lions lack of discipline proved to be their downfall. Will Skelton and Nic White, on his final game for the Wallabies, showing their class until the end to make the difference Australia neededImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Will Skelton made his presence felt with a dominant display throughout

    The Wallabies won the battle of the weather, with a Tate McDermott snipe and doing his thing. That secured the game and secured no first series whitewash since 1927 for the Lions as Australia won 22-12Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A Tate McDermott snipe over the line secured the game as Australia won 22-12 to avoid a series whitewash

    Despite losing the final test match, the Lions claimed the series 2-1 against a slow starting but determined AustraliaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Despite losing the final Test, the Lions claimed the series 2-1 to make it back-to-back series wins in Australia

  3. 'It felt like a game too far for the Lions'published at 15:14 BST 2 August

    Andy Nicol
    Former Scotland scrum-half

    The score today does really change the view on the whole tour. I said this time last week that I was so glad when Hugo Keenan scored the try to win the series but I still wanted it to be competitive. I was worried what might happen tonight.

    You couldn't foresee the weather conditions, which was a massive factor. It was split between which team would favour the weather, and it was definitely in favour of the Wallabies.

    I don't think the Lions will be pleased with how they played and it felt like a game too far after an attritional season.

  4. 'The Lions had a chance at a legacy'published at 15:11 BST 2 August

    Chris Jones
    Rugby union correspondent at Stadium Australia

    Not many Lions teams win a Test series so that has to be celebrated.

    They weren't playing a world champion New Zealand team or South African team, but an Australia team that is working its way back up and was not that prepared for the first Test in Brisbane.

    Yes, it's a series win, yes it will go down in the history books, but the Lions had a chance at a legacy and they weren't quite able to manage it.

  5. RUW listeners unite in Sydney!published at 10:17 BST 1 August

    Chris Jones
    Rugby union correspondent in Sydney

    The Sandys family have been following the Lions since 2001Image source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    The Sandys family, from right to left: Mark, Tamsin, Grace and Harry.

    On a filthy Sydney afternoon, we brought together a handful of Rugby Union Weekly podcast listeners to thrash out some of the major talking points of this Lions tour from a fans' perspective.

    How much do Lions fans just want to win, and how much do they want a close contest? How has this tour compared to others from a supporters' perspective? And does it matter if your country is represented in selection?

    We had people pop in from all across Britain and Ireland, as well as a number of ex-pats living in Australia, who were able to give some excellent insight as to how popular rugby union is, or isn't, down under.

    The Sandys family - pictured above - have been following Lions tours since 2001, with dad Mark going on that tour the day after proposing to Tamsin, a brave move.

    They have since had four children who have all adopted their love for rugby and the Lions, although having moved to Ireland 15 years ago, the kids have picked up a little Irish lilt..

    You can listen to the full podcast here.

  6. Moustache tribute for 'ultimate competitor' Whitepublished at 08:40 BST 1 August

    Nic WhiteImage source, Getty Images
    Harry Wilson hugs Nic WhiteImage source, Getty Images

    Scrum-half Nic White will play his final game for Australia in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

    The 35-year-old, who has been capped 71 times by the Wallabies, starts his first game of the Test series in Sydney, marking his final appearance before retiring from international rugby.

    White is known for his perfect moustache and the squad paid tribute to the scrum-half by wearing their own tash for the team photo.

    "White is the ultimate competitor and team man, especially over the last two year when he has been really running the non 23," Australia captain Harry Wilson said.

    "Every training session he gets the boys up and does whatever it takes for the team.

    "When he goes across that white line, he is a different man and competitor.

    "He is loved by this group and will be missed in the gold jersey. He represents what it is to be a Wallaby."

    Australia's matchday 23 photo was without hooker David Porecki, who was named to start the final Test.

    Billy Pollard will now start after Porecki suffered a heel injury in training, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa coming onto the bench.

    Paenga-Amosa has already played the Lions three times after featuring in earlier tour games for Western Force, the AUNZ Invitational XV and a First Nations and Pasifika XV.

    "We have a lot of confidence in BPA [Brandon Paenga-Amosa], he has been around this group for quite a long time over the last year/year and a half and he has played the Lions three times," Wilson added.

    "He has a lot of confidence and has fit in very quickly."

    Australia team photoImage source, Getty Images
  7. Speculation over Australia as Lions destination 'insulting' - Andy Farrellpublished at 17:25 BST 31 July

    Andy FarrellImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Andy Farrell served as an assistant to Warren Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours before moving up to the head coach role

    Lions head coach Andy Farrell says debate over whether Australia should continue as a destination for the touring side is "insulting".

    The Lions have won all eight matches so far down under, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series before the third Test in Sydney on Saturday.

    South Africa and New Zealand, the other two nations the Lions visit on rotation, have offered a significantly stiffer challenge in recent years.

    "It was never off the agenda, in my opinion," said Farrell.

    "Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia - the sporting nation that they are - are always going to come back.

    "Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100%.

    "It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way."

    Farrell also said he would only consider the possibility of leading the Lions in New Zealand in four years time once he had returned home.

    "Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday," he said.

    "I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about."

  8. 'Tizzano has copped a lot of abuse' - Schmidtpublished at 10:07 BST 31 July

    Lauren Jenkins
    BBC Sport in Australia

    Carlo Tizzano receiving treatmentImage source, Getty Images

    Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt says flanker Carlo Tizzano has been the target of online abuse following the controversial clear-out which decided the series in Melbourne.

    ''He's had a really tough week," said Schmidt. "He's copped a lot of online abuse. We've advised Carlo to stay away from the media full stop and the opinions that are out there because we've tried to just deal in the facts.

    Tizzano had been accused of diving in the aftermath of the Jac Morgan clear-out, with ex-players such as James Haskell and Sam Warburton criticising that sort of behaviour in rugby. But Schmidt dismissed the claims.

    ''We're all aware of Newton's third law. For every action there's an opposite reaction. When that force hits him and the speed of his head is collapsing down, he recoiled out of the back of the ruck. I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but it's the nature of force.''

    Despite being fit to be selected and not suffering concussion, Tizzano has been left out of the team for the third Test in Sydney.

    ''There were just over 54 G's of force, direct force that went through the neck, along with almost 2200 rads [radians] of rotational force, which is enough to cause a serious injury, not to a rugby player who's as well conditioned as Carlo, but he's probably best just left to take a deep breath and sit this one out," said Schmidt.

    Schmidt confirmed any findings of the review conducted by World Rugby would remain private.