British & Irish Lions

Mantej Mann
BBC Sport Journalist

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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."

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.

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Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

Image source, Rex Features

The latest episode of The Ultimate Test, external – 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.

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Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

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Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan says that he is expecting plenty of trash talk from Lions wing Mack Hansen as he returns to his native Canberra.

Hansen left the Brumbies in 2021 to play for Connacht and made his debut for Ireland, who he qualifies for through his mother, a few months later.

"Super special to be able to go up against Mack, I'm sure he'll be talking heaps of [rubbish] as he always does," said Lonergan, using a slightly stronger term than 'rubbish'.

"We've been great mates since we're about 12 really. Really looking forward to catching up with him, haven't seen him since he went."

Like Hansen, Lonergan was in the stands of the GIO Stadium as a fan when the Brumbies beat the Lions in 2013.

"I still remember it. I think I was sitting over there somewhere as a little fella when we got up over the Lions," Lonergan added.

"Such a memorable moment, even as a fan, so to be able to do it tomorrow as a player [is] super special and the boys are really excited."

Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Out-of-favour Australia prop Taniela Tupou has revealed that he is seeing a psychologist to try and rediscover his love for the game.

The 29-year-old was released out of the Wallabies camp last week to play for the Waratahs against the Lions, suggesting he is unlikely to play a part in the first Test at least.

"There is still a lot of work to do before that smile is back," he told the Times., external

"Hopefully it will be one day soon. It has been tough. There is expectation to perform. There is pressure. When I don't do it, then there is more pressure. I let that get to me. It is frustrating."

Tupou will move to French side Racing 92 for next season after not being offered a central contract by Rugby Australia.

Tupou admits that he would have preferred to stay in Australia, but says he is looking forward to the "real challenge" of the Top 14.

He sought out newly-arrived tourist and recent Racing departee Owen Farrell for a chat after the Waratahs' defeat by the Lions on Saturday.

"I asked him if he had left all the money at Racing for me," Tupou joked.

Mantej Mann
BBC Sport Journalist

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Open-side flanker is one of the most competitive positions in the British and Irish Lions squad but England's Tom Curry says he is timing his rise to form perfectly.

Curry will be in possession of the number seven shirt when the tourists face Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday, with Ireland's Josh van der Flier and England's Henry Pollock among the replacements.

Wales captain Jac Morgan and England's Ben Earl are also in contention for the role but Curry is intent on retaining the jersey for the Test series with Australia despite facing "world class" competition.

"I don't do stats and numbers," said Curry.

"I judge my games on how hard I work and that is how I get my enjoyment out of the games, getting off the floor and running, and usually that puts me in the best spot to do what I want to do.

"I feel like I've done that and I feel like I could definitely add and there are moments where I've probably not been the best but I feel like it's building.

"All the back-rowers are great within their own right. From [Henry] Pollock to Josh van der Flier and Jac to Ben [Earl], everyone is word class in their own rights.

"I feel like I'm in a really good place. It was a bit stop-start but now it's back-to-back games and I feel like the more you play the better you get, so I'm timing it well."

Chris Jones
Rugby union Correspondent

The latest Nations Pod is out from Rugby Union Weekly as we discuss Andy Farrell's selection for the Brumbies on Wednesday.

Four games in, and it looks like Farrell has declared his hand, but could some players still force their way into - and out of - the Test team?

How much do the Lions need a statement victory on Wednesday? And should we be worried about the Test series given Australia's performance against Fiji?

We also praise England's resounding victory in Argentina but it was a different story for Wales in Japan. Where do Wales go from here?

You can listen to the podcast here.

Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport in Australia

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A 30-man Invitational AU & NZ squad has been confirmed to face the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

Coach Les Kiss’ squad includes 10 Wallabies and a strong All Black contingent.

Twenty players will already have had a taste of facing the Lions - either on this tour or in 2017.

All Black Ngani Laumape, who started the third Test at Eden Park, is joined by countrymen David Havili, Hoskins Sotutu and Shannon Frizell.

Eleven players from the Reds have been named including prop Aidan Ross, who could be facing the Lions with his fourth team having represented NZ Provincial Barbarians and the Chiefs in 2017.

There is also a spot for Waratahs wing Darby Lancaster, who beat four Lions defenders to score a try in Saturday‘s match.

Other Wallabies include Jock Campbell, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Tane Edmed and Seru Uru.

They join the likes of Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Marika Koroibete and Pete Samu, whose places had already been confirmed.

"As the first AUNZ side to be assembled in 36 years, we have the chance to do something pretty special here,” said Kiss, who will be assisted by former NZ head coach Ian Foster.

Saturday’s match will be the Lions‘ last before the Test series begins at Suncorp Stadium on 19 July.

Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport in Australia

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Australia's first-choice fly-half Noah Lolesio has been cleared of any serious injury after being stretchered off during Australia's 21-18 victory over Fiji.

Lolesio left the field in a neck brace with twenty minutes to go after his head hit the ground during a tackle, but the 25-year-old was later discharged from hospital. The Wallabies confirmed he rejoined the team at their hotel with his symptoms improving.

Lolesio, who started in 11 of 13 Tests last year, would have been the favourite to start the series at 10. However, it's only been two months since he left the pitch in similar circumstances playing for the Brumbies.

Western Force fly-half Ben Donaldson was the replacement against Fiji and the Reds' Tom Lynagh - who has two caps to his name - also remains in contention to face the Lions.

Schmidt will name a revised squad on Friday for the three-Test series.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Canberra

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Australia had the opportunity on Sunday to ignite interest in the Lions series had they played well and beaten Fiji handsomely.

That didn’t happen and there is now fear that the pre-Tour predictions of a Lions 3-0 series sweep could come to fruition.

That’s despite the Lions' ropey win over the Waratahs.

The Australian newspaper ran a damning editorial with the headline, “They beat Fiji, but the Wallabies are on track for a train wreck.”

The article goes on the say, “Australian rugby is spiralling out of control towards another train wreck that the code may struggle to recover from.

"Already heavy underdogs to overcome the combined forces of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Australia's lucky 21-18 win over Fiji at Newcastle on Sunday was an embarrassment that has now guaranteed the Lions will start at shorter odds to win the three-match series.”

The daily newspaper did offer one caveat.

”The only hope is if the Aussies are foxing and trying to pull off rugby's version of the rope-a-dope when Muhammad Ali let George Foreman pummel him until he exhausted himself.

“If only that was the case because the brutal reality is that with less than two weeks before the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July, the Wallabies appear clueless and are running out of time to mount a serious challenge to the Lions.”

Rugby Union already plays second fiddle to rugby league in this part of the world and to other sports like Aussie Rules.

This once in 12 years series is hugely important to Rugby Australia from a financial point of view and for keeping the sport in the shop window and at the forefront of Aussie sports fans minds.

For all these reasons the Australian side need to show up and challenge the Lions.

The Aussie media has its doubts.

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Huw Jones expects more success from the British and Irish Lions' centre pairings after his two tries against New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday.

Jones and his Scotland and Glasgow Warriors team-mate Sione Tuipulotu were paired together in the midfield for the first time on tour in the Lions' 21-10 win over the Waratahs.

Tuipulotu's no-look pass to set up Jones' first try demonstrated the benefits of playing regularly with the same centre partner.

Head coach Andy Farrell is yet to pair Ireland centres Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose together in Australia.

"As a centre group we have been working really hard to get the connections with all of us," said Jones.

"For the first try, Sione knows where I'm going to be. We have played loads together and it's all about timing.

"It worked against the Waratahs, but there's no saying it wouldn't have worked with any other player.

"We have worked as a unit in building those sorts of connections, whatever combination plays in the next couple of games, so hopefully we will see more results like that.

"We bounce loads of ideas off each other in terms of rugby stuff, but socially as well it has been great to get to know the others.

"It has been a really enjoyable couple of weeks, but once we get on the field we are giving each other all the secrets and trying to help each other out as much as we can."

British and Irish Lions chair Ieuan Evans and chief executive Ben Calveley attended a wreath laying ceremony for Robert Seddon, the first Lions captain, who drowned in the Hunter River during the first Lions tour to Australia in 1888.

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England back row Ben Earl says no player representing the British and Irish Lions can become complacent because of the illustrious history of the team.

The 27-year-old produced his best performance on tour in the Lions' unconvincing 21-10 victory over New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday.

Andy Farrell's side put over 50 points on Western Force and Queensland Reds in their opening two games in Australia, but could only muster up three tries in Sydney.

The Lions number eight registered 21 carries, the most of any player from both sides, and also made the most metres (114).

"How can you be complacent when you're playing for the Lions?" Earl told BBC Sport.

"You get complacent, you let down the badge, you let down the honour.

"You're never complacent when you pull on a Lions shirt."

The Saracens star responded to the performance of Wales flanker Jac Morgan, who was named player of the match on Wednesday against Queensland Reds.

Ireland's Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan have also impressed in Australia, while Henry Pollock, who missed Saturday's game because of a tight calf, had multiple eye-catching breaks in the win over Western Force.

Tom Curry started all three Tests against South Africa in 2021, but has yet to hit his best form on tour.

With the competition for a place in the back row intensifying in the build-up to the first Test against Australia on 19 July, Earl hopes his strengths will persuade head coach Farrell to pick him.

"I never want to copy the way Jac Morgan plays the game because I wouldn't be true to myself," added Earl.

"It is about finding a balance to what you're trying to do, but also, I'm just trying to be a good team-mate as that is what the Lions is about.

"I want to be remembered as being a good team-mate.

"If it doesn't go my way in Brisbane, come two weeks today, so be it.

"I have not come in with an expectation of saying 'I want to play in this Test'."

Chris Jones
Rugby union Correspondent

The Lions remain unbeaten in Australia but were far from convincing in their 21-10 win over New South Wales Waratahs.

It is two weeks before the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane and former England wing Chris Ashton joins me to look at how that team for the opener is shaping up.

We discuss why Andy Farrell's side haven't been able to hit their top level yet and what they need to improve on for the next match against ACT Brumbies on Wednesday.

Listen here to BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

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Head coach Andy Farrell said "Wednesday is too soon" for his son Owen Farrell to feature for the Lions after he called him up to replace the injured Elliot Daly.

Owen watched the Lions' 21-10 win over NSW Waratahs from the stands of the Allianz Stadium after arriving in Sydney on Friday.

"I don't honestly know, but I would think Wednesday is too soon as far as jetlag and the protocols you need to go through in regard to that," the Lions head coach said.

Former England captain Owen is on his fourth Lions tour after donning the famous red jersey during the 2013 series win in Australia as well as the 2017 and 2021 tours.

With Andy ruling his son out of the Lions' fixture against the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday, Owen could be in line for a first matchday call-up to face the Invitational Australia and New Zealand side next Saturday.

That is the Lions' final match before the three-match Test series against Australia begins on 19 July.