Cian Tracey
@CianTracey1
Rugby writer with the Irish Independent. Email: [email protected]
Gotta love Finn Russell’s pre-match vibe. Writing some last minute notes on his hand, earphones in, bopping around some nervous faces in the Lions dressing room. Looks like he’s loving life and that’s been reflected in his performances so far.
Owen Farrell’s voice is so prominent on the ref mic. Regularly stepping in as first receiver and calling the shots. Must be a seriously strong temptation for the Lions to have Farrell on the bench for Test 2 on Saturday.
That was one crazy long advantage! Surely should have been called over?!
Rob Valetini and Will Skelton both off early in the second-half. Australia playing with a scrum-half on the wing from early on. The Lions bench should really make a big difference here.
Watching a replay of Tom Wright’s try - looks like he could have made the angle of the conversion easier for Tom Lynagh. Those two missed points could be costly come full-time.
Australia scored 17 points without reply. The Lions then scored 12 points without reply. What a first-half that was - more of the same in the second please!
This is brilliant from Australia. Between the midweek game and today, this was the week the 2025 Lions tour finally came alive. Great stuff.
Australia’s 6/2 bench backfires after only 20 minutes. Disaster. Kieran Marmion on the wing vibes for Joe Schmidt.
Australia still haven’t arrived at the MCG… 20 minutes late. God help the bus driver when Joe Schmidt gets a hold of them. #NeverForget
When I spent time with the Georgian rugby team recently, a player took a blow to the head in a training drill. He insisted on playing on but the medics overruled him, took him off and got him checked out. Further encouraging sign of rugby's changing attitude towards concussion.
By self-reporting his concussive symptoms, Garry Ringrose has done more for rugby as a sport than scoring the winning try in a Lions Series. Very powerful message that should be noted by every rugby player, regardless of what age/level they play at. 'If in doubt, sit them out.'
Some thoughts on the Lions’ last midweek game: 👏🏻 Gutsy First Nations & Pasifika highlight lack of quality opponents on tour 🤔 Andy Farrell would have welcomed more selection headaches ☘️ Irish eyes are (mostly) smiling 🌟 Owen Farrell has still got it m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/li…
Fair play to First Nations & Pasifika XV who have shown how good the midweek games could have been on this Lions tour. Playing great stuff and bringing plenty of niggle. Very enjoyable half.
Finn Russell has been brilliant for the Lions on this tour. He was class again in the first Test – aided by playing as second receiver on a couple of occasions to chief play-maker Tadhg Furlong 😉 Russell's triple threat – run, kick, pass – is top notch.
What Lions changes (if any) would you make for Test 2? If Joe McCarthy misses out through injury (hopefully not), how are you setting up the pack? Straight second-row swap or a rejig?