Fit-again Skelton welcomes Wallabies underdogs tagpublished at 08:38 BST 14 July 2025
08:38 BST 14 July 2025
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Skelton with former Saracens team-mates Jamie George and Owen Farrell
Australia lock Will Skelton says the Wallabies are relishing their underdog tag going into the first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane.
"I love it," he said "We love it. We are, like Joe said, we're worried solely on ourselves. Lions have played some great footy, and we want to showcase what we can do on Saturday.
"If you put pressure on any team, they can crack."
Skelton, who confirmed that he has recovered from a calf twinge that kept him out of the Wallabies' warm-up win over Fiji, also reflected on the influence one-time Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell could have on the tourists' camp.
"I know how much of a competitor he is," added Skelton. You could see how well he played on the weekend after a few months off.
"He's like every great ten that I've had. He's demanding. He has high standards, and that's what you want in a team. People take it the wrong way, but that's how he feels. He needs to project himself; he's got history, and it's worked for him."
Business picking up in Brisbanepublished at 08:33 BST 14 July 2025
08:33 BST 14 July 2025
Chris Jones Rugby union correspondent in Australia
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Lions captain said he had "no doubts" that Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman would be welcomed into the squad
Test week has finally arrived, and on a gloriously sunny day in Brisbane it feels like business is picking up.
This Australia side is not stacked full of big guns, but two of their biggest - Joseph-Aksuso Suaalii and Will Skelton - both spoke to the media today, a reminder of the firepower the Wallabies do possess.
Lions captain Maro Itoje also spoke to us as he reiterated Henry Pollock's desire for a 3-0 clean sweep.
The big news overnight has been the selection of a trio of Scottish players from across the ditch in New Zealand, echoing the controversial 'Geography Six' selection from 2017. The trio are all worth their place here, especially the outstanding Darcy Graham who was very unlucky to miss out in the first place and will join the squad straight away.
Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland will play for Scotland against Samoa before heading to Australia, with their selections to provide extra reinforcements to face the First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday and protect the Test team.
But while the Lions insist geography didn't play a big part in the selections, spare a thought for someone like Dewi Lake. If Wales had been playing in Fiji instead of Japan last weekend, would he have got a call up?
Meanwhile Itoje insists the players will be warmly welcomed into the Lions fold, as opposed to eight years ago when the 'Geography Six' were not treated as legitimate members of the squad by some members of the Lions party.
'Ruthless killer instinct missing'published at 16:42 BST 13 July 2025
16:42 BST 13 July 2025
Image source, The Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph in Australia headline said "Lions make statement but ruthless killer instinct missing".
That may be a little harsh after Andy Farrell's side won 48-0 against the AUNZ Invitational XV on Saturday.
The article goes on the say, "for a team that keeps bragging about being the best of the best, the Lions lacked the killer instinct to go on with the job against against a makeshift team whose build-up included a bonding session over beers at a pub.
"For Joe Schmidt and his underdog Wallabies, their best hope of beating the Lions lies in hope that they haven't been able to produce a full 80-minute performance since arriving in Australia."
Image source, The Australian
The Australian spoke to Japan-based fly-half Quade Cooper, who was last capped by the Wallabies in 2023, about how important the Lions tour is for rugby union in Australia.
The 37-year-old did not agree with Joe Schmidt's decision not to send back a large portion of his star players to their Super Rugby Pacific teams to play the Lions in warm-up games.
"If the Wallabies lose the series 3-0 to the British and Irish Lions, most people will shrug and say, 'well, that was always going to happen'. That's exactly what's holding Australian rugby back," Cooper said.
"The Lions sitting at 5-0 so far this tour isn't just a reflection of their quality - it's also as a result of the Wallabies choosing to rest so many of our top players from the Super Rugby teams that played the tourists.
"That decision robbed us of the chance to shift perception."
I could see Farrell on bench this Test series - Carepublished at 12:52 BST 13 July 2025
12:52 BST 13 July 2025
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Owen Farrell is the only current British and Irish Lions player to feature on four tours
The British and Irish Lions selecting Owen Farrell on the bench for the Test series against Australia, which starts on Saturday in Brisbane, is something former England scrum-half Danny Care could see happening.
Farrell, 33, played the final 30 minutes of the Lions' comfortable 48-0 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV on Saturday to mark his first appearance on tour.
Playing in his first game since 4 May, the former England captain showed some nice touches and proved his fitness before the Test series.
"Quietly I thought Owen Farrell came on and just did Owen Farrell things," Care told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.
"He was a calming presence and his passing game is up there with the best in the world.
"Smart kicks in behind and you could hear his energy with his voice, you could hear it through the TV screen.
"It would be a big shout to have Farrell in the Test 23."
Care still feels Marcus Smith's ability to play fly-half and full-back edges him ahead for a first-Test bench spot over Farrell.
"I don't see it happening in the first Test but I can see him getting into the Test squad," Care, a long-time half-back partner of Farrell for England, said.
"He covers many positions - 10 and 12 - he would be a great person to have on that bench with some back three cover and a scrum-half.
"I could see it happening."
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Farrell is known for being a vocal leader on the pitch
Lions head coach Andy Farrell opted against selecting his son in the initial squad but called him up when utility back Elliot Daly left the tour through injury.
Despite not covering Daly's outside back positions Farrell, who plays at fly-half and inside centre, was brought into the squad despite struggling for form and fitness last season at Racing 92.
With Farrell not having played international rugby in nearly two years, Marcus Smith or Fin Smith could still earn a first-Test bench spot ahead of him, with Finn Russell in pole position to wear the number 10 shirt.
The Lions then play against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on 22 July, before the second Test in Melbourne on 26 July.
Former England wing Chris Ashton believes that final midweek game could propel Farrell into Test contention.
"He will start at fly-half or inside centre [against First Nations and Pasifika XV] as the lads would be involved in the first Test," Ashton added.
"That is the real chance for Owen to show himself properly. That 30 minutes on Saturday against poor opposition wasn't enough.
"He looked really relieved to be out there and happy as he would have been dying just to be on the pitch and put behind him all press and noise out of the way.
"He had a couple of nice touches. He'll be happy to keep everything moving along."
Prop Clarkson joins Lions as front row coverpublished at 10:32 BST 13 July 2025
10:32 BST 13 July 2025
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Tom Clarkson scored in Ireland's emphatic win over Portugal on Saturday
Ireland and Leinster tight-head prop Tom Clarkson will join the British and Irish Lions squad to provide additional front row cover before the first Test against Australia on Saturday.
The 25-year-old was given his Ireland debut by Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach, in November and has gone on to win eight caps.
England hooker Jamie George was called up by the Lions on Saturday, with Luke Cowan-Dickie a doubt for the first Test in Brisbane after suffering a suspected concussion in Saturday's big win against the AUNZ Invitational XV.
Ireland's leading tight-head props Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham are already in Australia, with Clarkson linking up after starting Ireland's 106-7 win over Portugal on Saturday to bring the Irish contingent in the squad up to 18 players.
Clarkson has benefited from Furlong's injury troubles this season at both club and international level.
His Leinster and Ireland team-mate Jamie Osborne, who is comfortable at centre and full-back, has arrived in Brisbane after being called up earlier in the week as training cover for Blair Kinghorn.
The 23-year-old utility back was due to start against Portugal but was pulled out of the game after being called up by the Lions.
Owen Farrell looks sharp on Lions returnpublished at 17:40 BST 12 July 2025
17:40 BST 12 July 2025
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Owen Farrell made his first appearance on the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia, playing the final 30 minutes against the AUNZ Invitational XV.
The 33-year-old had not played since 4 May but showed some sharp touches on his return.
Farrell, who is on his fourth Lions tour, came on at inside centre in place of Huw Jones, with Sione Tuipulotu shifting to outside centre.
Replacement fly-half Marcus Smith took over the place-kicking duties, despite Farrell being on the pitch.
With his first touch in attack, the 112-cap former England captain linked sharply with Henry Pollock to unleash the 20-year-old down the wing.
Farrell also nudged a grubber kick through to set Pollock up for a try.
"Owen did OK, yeah?" said Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
In pictures: British and Irish Lions cruise to big win over AUNZ Invitational XVpublished at 14:38 BST 12 July 2025
14:38 BST 12 July 2025
The British and Irish Lions thrashed the AUNZ Invitational XV in their last game before the first Test against the Wallabies, pwering to a 48-0 win featuring eight tries at the Adelaide Oval.
Here's the story of the match in pictures.
Image source, Getty Images
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Duhan van der Merwe ran in a hat-trick, with two tries before half-time and this effort after 63 minutes.
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One worrying development was hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie being carried off in the first half after being hit by an opponent's knee in an attempted tackle. Cowan-Dickie was able to join his team-mates pitchside after the match, but the Lions later called up England hooker Jamie George to join the squad as cover.
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Flanker Henry Pollock scored his first try of the tour at the end of a typically all-action performance, somehow grounding the ball before Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.
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Owen Farrell appeared off the replacements' bench in the second half, making his tour debut at inside centre.
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Hugo Keenan may have played his way into the Lions' Test starting XV after an excellent display at full-back.
Earl: Great to have Farrell around againpublished at 14:08 BST 12 July 2025
14:08 BST 12 July 2025
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Image caption,
Owen Farrell is on his fourth Lions tour
Lions number eight Ben Earl was delighted to see former England captain Owen Farrell back in the red shirt.
Farrell came on in the second half of the Lions' 48-0 victory over the AUNZ Invitational XV.
"It was like being back at home, hearing him shout next to me," said Earl about his Saracens team-mate.
"It is amazing to have him back at club and international level, it is so exciting to see what he can do for the group."
Earl was named man of the match after another lung-bursting display as he sought to press his claims for a Test place.
"It wasn't easy but the scoreline probably reflects how well we played," he added. "We are really pleased with what we put out there, we didn't have much training so some of the ruthlessness we want to be known for we showed today.
"We have been known for coughing up opportunities in the 22, I'd like to know our conversion rate but I think it was pretty high.
"You can see to a man how much the shirt means to everyone."
Sione Tuipulotu scored the Lions' first try of the second half
The Lions ran in eight tries in a comfortable win at the Adelaide Oval.
In a disciplined performance, Andy Farrell's side barely gave their opponents a chance and will be delighted with a shut-out, and a few individual displays that give Farrell and his team something to ponder for the first Test.
Farrell is an 'insurance policy' for Russell - Barclaypublished at 11:41 BST 11 July 2025
11:41 BST 11 July 2025
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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."
Lions series 'bigger than the World Cup' - O'Connorpublished at 09:03 BST 11 July 2025
09:03 BST 11 July 2025
Lauren Jenkins BBC Sport in Australia
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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.''
Rugby Union Weekly: Farrell on bench and Osborne inpublished at 08:58 BST 11 July 2025
08:58 BST 11 July 2025
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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.
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