The latest rugby news stories from Wales, the Lions and beyond
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, June 19.
Farrell tries and fails to pick Lions Test team
Andy Farrell revealed he has tried and failed five times to pick his Lions Test team, admitting it is a pointless task at this stage. Farrell says selection is just too close to call at as he challenged his players to lay down an early marker against Argentina on Friday.
Maro Itoje captains the Lions for the first time and is joined in the starting XV by Wales skipper Jac Morgan, while scrum-half Tomos Williams is named on the bench. As many as 14 players could make their Lions debuts before the squad departs for Australia on Saturday and Farrell has demanded they make an immediate impact if they want a shot at facing the Wallabies.
“I did an exercise a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve done it about five times since, of choosing what the Test side could be,” the head coach said.
“You actually can’t even go there because there’s such good competition and that’s how it should be.
“The exciting thing about Friday night is these guys get to show the team-mates who are sat in the stand what they’re all about.
“We are looking for cohesion, connection and an ability to attack the game from the off.
“You can give yourself any excuse as far as time together is concerned, but we’ve had good prep and if you want to be a good Lions player you’ve got to hit your straps straight from the off.”
Furlong has been troubled by calf and hamstring injuries all season, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 autumn series and all but one match of the Six Nations. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
If fit, the three-time Lions tourist will be favourite to start at tighthead prop in the Test series against the Wallabies, but first he must negotiate the curtain raiser against a Pumas side ranked fifth in the world.
“Tadhg is fit and ready to go and train well and as keen as everyone else to get the show on the road,” Farrell said.
Farrell delivered positive fitness updates on Jamison Gibson-Park (glute), Huw Jones (Achilles) and Hugo Keenan (calf), stating that all three should be available for the the first match in Australia against Western Force on Saturday week.
Argentina were also the warm-up opponents in 2005 when they held Sir Clive Woodward’s Lions to a 25-25 draw in Cardiff.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for myself and the whole team. This is our first opportunity to set the standard that we want to be set and be the kind of team that we want to be,” Itoje said.
Wales’ ‘Mr Unlucky’ offers fresh outlook
Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod is ready to finally start his Wales career properly after a series of cruel setbacks which have continually stalled his progress over the past four years.
The 28-year-old was denied a Six Nations debut against Scotland in 2021 after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in training, shortly after his inclusion in the starting team was announced to the squad.
The back rower had to wait until the 2022 autumn clash against Georgia to win that first senior cap.
But Macleod missed the 2023 World Cup in France with a shoulder injury after being part of Wales’ pre-tournament training squad.
“I’ve had a decent bit of bad luck over the years,” said the twice-capped Macleod.
“This year one of my focuses has been to stay fit and do all I can off the pitch to hit that target. So far, so good.
“I’ve just kept my head down with the club, trying to perform for the Scarlets. It’s great to be back.”
Macleod’s recall is reward for an impressive season at club level, with his leadership vital in Scarlets being the only Welsh side to make the knockout stages of the United Rugby Championship. He has returned to the Wales camp to provide competition for Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright and Tommy reffell after being dogged by injury.
Wales have suffered 17 straight Test defeats – a record for a tier one nation – since claiming their last victory against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup.
Macleod said: “It was tough at the start not being involved at the Scarlets (through injury), but having played almost every game this year I feel my voice has been heard.
“Obviously we can’t shy away from past performances and past results here.
“But I guess not having been involved for a fair while…(I bring) a fresh outlook, a bit of leadership and a calm head.”
The back rower acknowledged the challenge posed by an Eddie Jones team as Wales seek to end their winless run in Japan.
Former Australia and England boss Jones, now in charge of Japan for the second time, hopes to extend Wales’ miserable losing sequence during Wales’ two-Test series in the Far East next month.
“I’m not too familiar with him myself but I have heard on the grapevine that he’s got certain attributes,” said back-rower Macleod.
“I think we’ll find those out on the pitch.
“No Test game is easy, but as a group we haven’t shied away from it (losing run).
“We’ve touched on the fact that we are looking to end that, we’ve got a job to do in the conditions.
“We’ve got to pull together and stay tight as a group, look to produce on the pitch and get that win.”
James O’Connor left out of Wallabies squad ahead of Lions series
By PA Sport Staff
James O’Connor is set to miss out on facing the British and Irish Lions after being left out of the Australia squad to face Fiji.
The 34-year-old fly-half had been tipped to return to Joe Schmidt’s squad for the Lions series, which begins on July 19 in Brisbane.
Schmidt has preferred Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio and Tom Lynagh as his options at number 10 for the warm-up Test against Fiji on July 6.
Western Force back-row forward Nick Champion de Crespigny and Brumbies winger Corey Toole are the only two uncapped players in the 36-man squad.
David Porecki returns for the first time since captaining the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup, while another former skipper, La Rochelle’s Will Skelton, is the only overseas-based player included.
Schmidt said: “Selection is always tight and there’ll be players who are excited and those that are disappointed.
“As coaches, there was a lot of healthy, robust discussion and we think we’ve selected a group that will work hard and connect well as a squad.
“There’s some continuity from last year, plus a few new or returning players, who have forced their way into the mix through strong performances in Super Rugby Pacific.
“This squad’s immediate focus is Fiji, and we will need to hit the ground running having not been together since early January.”
