British & Irish Lions

  1. Duhan van der Merwe scores for the Lions

  2. Hugo Keenan, Owen Farrell and Jac Morgan

  3. Ben Earl

  4. Bad Bunny tops Pollock's pops

    Henry Pollock and Bad BunnyGetty Images

    Henry Pollock's 'top artist' is Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny

    Lions back row Henry Pollock has revealed his pre-match playlist in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

    He has Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican magastar rapper, in his ears in the dressing room.

    "We have a family home in Menorca so when we have been there you always hear it in the bars and nightclubs," Pollock said.

    "I picked it up there and enjoyed it and the Spanish speaking."

    His pre-match breakfast is a bowl of porridge and he says he is surprised that his black head tape has become something of a calling card.

    "I used to wear head tape under my scrum hat, and then my scrum hat used to always fall off, and so I ended up just wearing the head tape," he added.

    "It is kind of mad it has become a big thing. When I rock up at Saints, and all the kids have got black head tape on. It is cool I guess."

  5. Henry Pollock playing for the Lions

  6. 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."

  7. 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.''

  8. 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.

  9. James O'Connor

  10. Ben White and Finn Russell of Scotland

  11. Jamie Osborne

  12. Andy Farrell and Matt Sherratt

  13. Owen Farrell

  14. '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."

  15. 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.

  16. Tom Curry

  17. 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

  18. Ollie Chessum

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. Garry Ringrose scores

  22. 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.

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

  24. Owen Farrell in Lions training kit