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British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says he expects a lively discussion about selection for the first Test with South Africa. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57874720 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-warren-gatland-expects-robust-selection-debate-for-first-test/

Halfback Ali Price has staked a Test claim to help the British and Irish Lions overwhelm the Stormers 49-3 as Alun Wyn Jones made a successful comeback from injury. Price is set to pressure tour captain Conor Murray for a starting place in the first Test against the world champion Springboks at the same venue next weekend after impressing on Saturday. Hamish Watson was an aggressive runner with ball in hand as was excellent hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, while lock Jones returned from a dislocated shoulder three weeks ago with seemingly no ill effects. “It was hugely physical. When you come up against South African teams you know you will be in for a physical challenge,” Lions captain Stuart Hogg said. “At times things came off for us, at times they didn’t. But we are happy with that performance. “We have a game plan that tries to get everybody involved, and if we execute well there will always be opportunities for points. But we still feel we left a lot out there.” The Lions’ tries c...

Former British and Irish Lion Matt Dawson says the team "have to look at themselves" after their loss to South Africa A on Wednesday. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57865603 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-matt-dawson-says-team-have-to-look-at-themselves-after-defeat/

South Africa have organised an extra game for their squad to prepare for the British and Irish Lions Test series, ensuring back-to-back matches at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday in yet another tweak to the tour schedule. A South Africa A line-up will play domestic team the Bulls before the British and Irish Lions face the Stormers in what’s also their last warm-up for the first Test a week later. The Springboks are in dire need of match practice after playing just one Test – against Georgia this month – in two years since winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Some players did get a second game in South Africa A’s victory over the Lions in a scheduled tour match on Wednesday night. But a long lay-off because of the coronavirus pandemic, and a cancelled second Test against Georgia this month because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Springboks’ squad, has left coaching staff fretting over a lack of match fitness for the world champions. “We want to be as well prepared as possible when we mee...

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie made eight changes for the decisive Test against France, including a huge gamble on youth at the base of the scrum, but played down suggestions his team would be affected by the short turn around from Melbourne’s close defeat. Australia went with a settled 23 in the opening two matches, including just one starting team change, but head to Brisbane with a revamped line up. Rennie, speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s third Test in Brisbane, said he and Wallabies staff had a plan in place to cope with the challenges of the short turnaround. Saturday’s decider is a third Test in 11 days. He also seemed to shrug off the relative intensity of Test match rugby to Wallabies training camp in saying: “Some of our trainings are actually tougher than the games we’ve played so far, around the running metrics and physicality. “We knew we would need to manage certain players and we’ve done that.” The biggest talking points come around the base of the scrum. Tate...

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says his players are in "bullish" mood, but is it false confidence? Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57844708 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-lessons-learned-from-test-dress-rehearsal-against-south-africa-a/

Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow is given a four-match ban for striking with the knee during England's victory over Canada at Twickenham. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57858884 https://therugbystore.com.au/lewis-ludlow-england-captain-handed-four-match-ban-for-foul-play-during-win-over-canada/

The British and Irish Lions' game against a high-quality South Africa A side on Wednesday will be "pivotal" in determining Test selection, says former tourist Ugo Monye. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57819677 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-south-africa-a-game-pivotal-says-ugo-monye/

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. And that might not be as big an exaggeration as it looks. Even just last week and again in Tuesday’s two-up panel, plenty of us in numerous discussions were highlighting the breakdown speed and accuracy as being an ongoing concern for the Wallabies. Here’s a quick cut and paste from my offering, which in itself was pointing to the chaotic final moments of the first Test in Brisbane last week. “The attacking cleanout needs to be the focus for the second Test. I mentioned last week that it was outstanding to see Angus Bell and Lachie Lonergan first on the scene when Tate McDermott went to ground with the fatally loose French ball last week, and with Rob Valetini, Darcy Swain, and Taniela Tupou not far behind. “And as I mentioned, this was great to see in the 81st minute, because there had been way too many occasions in the preceding eighty minutes where the attacking clean out was either too slow, too ineffective, or too non-exist...

It was almost as exciting as the first Test but, for Wallabies fans, the result was far less enjoyable. With the Wallabies going down to France 28-26 in a thriller last night, it’s time for you – the readers – to rate each player out of ten. If you’re not across how we do this thing on The Roar , don’t worry. We’ve got handy instructions just here. Simply, you rate each player from 1-10 based on your assessment of how well they performed. If you don’t think they were on the field long enough, or you just didn’t catch them enough, you don’t have to rate them – you can leave them blank. Then, we take everyone’s votes, crunch the numbers together and publish them the next day, so you can see where your opinion falls amongst your fellow Roarers. For a guide on how scores work, check this box out. 1. Had he not played, the team would have been better off. Negatively affected the performance of the side. May God John Eales have mercy on his soul. 2. Anonymous. Was he even there? 3. ...

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland rejects calls from the Springboks camp for his side to play South Africa A twice in a row. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57810953 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-warren-gatland-rejects-springboks-call-for-fixture-change/

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi tests positive for coronavirus as his side build up to the series against the British and Irish Lions. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57794891 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-south-africa-captain-siya-kolisi-tests-positive-for-covid-19/

Well, the Wallabies got it done last week against France, even if they did need a bit of overtime to do it. And though most rugby fans know that a win is a win, and that you don’t have to draw a picture on the scoreboard, there’s no denying there was a fair bit of rust in the Wallabies performance. But is that just a by-product of the professional game these days? That players are now so entrenched in domestic/club/provincial programs that national coaches have to spend time ‘un-stating’ them, to put them back on the national program? Was there perhaps some merit in the South African need for 500 hours after all? Which they might yet get again, the way the Lions Series is looking at the moment… Question 1: Why do you think some teams look rustier that others in their first Test of the year? And what is the biggest lesson from Brisbane that the Wallabies must get right for the 2nd Test in Melbourne? Harry It’s not rust, per se. It’s about depth and style. Australia lacks depth at...

France coach Fabien Galthie has made five charges to his starting team as they seek to level the series against the Wallabies in the second rugby Test in Melbourne. Three of them, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Ibrahim Diallo, will make their international debuts at AAMI Park on Tuesday night. A late blunder when they failed to find touch after a lineout cost France a 23-21 defeat in the first Test in Brisbane last week. Prop Demba Bamba has lost his place in the starting lineup to Castres’ Hounkpatin. The second row is completely changed, with Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua sitting on the bench for Cyril Cazeaux and Stade Francais youngster Azagoh. Flanker Cameron Woki replaces Dylan Cretin, who was ruled out with an ankle injury. After a solid display in the Brisbane Test, winger Gabin Villiere, centres Jonathan Danty and Arthur Vincent retained their spots, as did captain and number eight Anthony Jelonch. France are chasing their first Test win on Australian s...

Everything is so serious nowadays. COVID vaccinations! Death from sugar! Contact sport! The risk of living is suddenly so real and so great, there just isn’t enough cotton wool in the world to go round, and global warming has caused the shortage. The fact that Lachlan Swinton has been so harshly judged and branded before turning 24 years old says more about society today than about him. Virtue signalling has become such a trendy pastime that we have lost perspective when it comes to concussion in sport, and we have vilified players like Swinton when the game these days needs more of them. Let’s be clear. Swinton is not a thug or mindless and uncontrollable perpetrator of violence. He’s a young man trying to forge a reputation who has made a few stupid mistakes. Swinton hasn’t dropped an elbow into the nose of a defenceless Paul Carozza like Richard Loe did. He didn’t try to eat All Black ears like Johan le Roux either. Sure, Loe and Le Roux are pretty nasty acts to follow, but br...

England's Anthony Watson will make his first start of the British and Irish Lions tour when they face the Sharks on Saturday. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57781789 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-anthony-watson-to-start-against-sharks/

The British and Irish Lions tour faces more upheaval after coach Warren Gatland revealed that next week’s opponents could swap places to give South Africa more time to overcome their coronavirus outbreak. Fresh from seeing the Bulls replaced by the Sharks for Saturday’s fixture at Loftus Versfeld, plans are having to be revised for matches five and six of their tour. Instead of facing South Africa A on Wednesday and the Stormers three days later, they are set to trade slots as the Springboks look to halt the spread of coronavirus through their camp. The Lions depart for Cape Town on Sunday and Gatland also indicated that the final two Tests are highly likely to be moved from Johannesburg to the coastal city that hosts the series opener on July 24. “We’re not 100 per cent sure who the opposition is going to be next week, so it’s a little bit difficult to plan too far ahead,” Gatland said. “It’ll either be the Springboks A or the Stormers. They might switch those games around. “Tha...

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell may be forced home from the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa with an Achilles tear admits head coach Warren Gatland. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57792507 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-finn-russells-tour-may-be-over-admits-gatland/

Zander Fagerson becomes the second Scotland player to pull out of the British and Irish Lions side to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57595699 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-v-japan-zander-fagerson-replaced-by-tadhg-furlong/

Wallabies halfback Nic White is out of next month’s Test series against France, while fellow veterans Matt Toomua and James O’Connor are also battling injuries, potentially robbing the side of almost 150 Test caps. White has returned home to Canberra after suffering a MCL injury at training during their Gold Coast camp, and Toomua is already there with his injury being checked by Rugby Australia’s chief medical officer, Warren McDonald. Toomua is expected to rejoin the squad on Sunday with the Wallabies hopeful the playmaker will be available for the first Test on July 7. O’Connor, who has carried the injury from Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, is being managed through training but the five-eighth is expected to play. With White out, Queensland’s Tate McDermott is now set for his first Test start after two matches off the bench, while Brumbies No.9 Ryan Lonergan is likely to make his debut. Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon is in camp but is also recovering from a MCL injury and remains an ...