Set Move - Rugby Chat

Tomorrow’s second test at the MCG in Melbourne is the crucial game of the series. Lose and Australian rugby will find itself at yet another nadir, giving the Lions the chance of a whitewash. Win, and they live to fight another day in Sydney. Here I break down how the Australia can beat the Lions tomorrow, where they need to target and the intangibles that could get them over the line in front of 90,000 spectators. Be more physical A South African friend once told me that while playing in a schoolboy game, they were being physically outmatched by the opposition. He recounted that at half time the coach’s only words to the team were ‘Be more f****** physical eh!’ In the second half they turned up and made the game a contest. The Australians need to do the same on Saturday. Last weekend the Lions’ sheer power won the game in the first 20 minutes. At back row, Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne showed why Farrell had shown faith in them almost instantly, combining well with the former ...

The British & Irish Lions are nearly a third of the way into the 2025 tour. Two wins, one loss and one new rugby superstar. It’s time to to take a look at the headlines and what I think the test team looks like currently. The Irish are in the driving seat…mostly This may not be the most ground-breaking insight, but wherever there is an Irish player in position, its their position to lose. Ringrose, Hansen, McCarthy, Sheehan, Lowe – all played well last week against the Western Force. Conan put his hand up against the Queensland Reds and Furlong and Porter are an intimidating obstacle for the other props in the squad, but…Beirne has not met his usual standard, Keenan has yet to play a game and the two props above have had solid rather than spectacular performances. The back row view is forming…. Morgan and Conan played very well against the Reds. Conan is the muscular, bruising, direct running ball carrier every team needs. Morgan is the complete back rower – against the Que...