These are your headlines on the evening of Sunday, July 27
These are your headlines on the evening of Sunday, July 27.
Greenwood, Gatland and Johnson in agreement
Former England international Will Greenwood says he’s watched the Jac Morgan incident “50 times” and says Warren Gatland and Martin Johnson agree with him that it was never a penalty.
Morgan’s clearout of flanker Carlo Tizzano has been the headline act of a headline-grabbing match, with the Lions sneaking the win in Melbourne to seal the series 2-0.
Hugo Keenan’s late try at the MCG came courtesy of Morgan’s vital intervention, which was reviewed but ultimately cleared of any illegality.
Greenwood, who was working for Sky Sports at the match, says it didn’t even warrant a second watch by the TMO. He also added he had spoken to Gatland and former England and Lions team-mate Johnson, who both concurred with his assessment.
“The Morgan incident did not even need looking at. It was a brilliant clean-out; I’ve watched it 50 times,” Greenwood said in his Telegraph column.
“Whatever lens you view it through, I don’t see how you give that as a pen. I’ve spoken to Johnno and Warren Gatland – they both agreed.
“I’ve not come across anyone who has said Morgan was lucky.”
Wales coach in tears
An emotional Sean Lynn praised his players for their efforts following their historic win over the Wallabies on Saturday.
Wales Women emerged with a 21-12 victory over Australia in Brisbane, a result which will live long in the memory. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
It will serve as a huge morale boost for the squad just weeks out from the World Cup which starts next month in England.
A visibly moved Lynn and captain Alex Callender both arrived at their post-match press conference with tears still in their eyes, according to the BBC, emphasising how much the win meant to them.
Another match against the same opposition now awaits them in Sydney next weekend.
“We are going to enjoy it [victory] but we know we have work on Monday ready for a six-day turnaround,” said Lynn.
“We are not the finished article and still have a lot to work on, but what I wanted from the team and the girls this week, they delivered.
“We’re still going to work hard, I mean it, because we’re taking it to the World Cup.”
Bethan Lewis said of her coach: “I’m emotional. He is a quality person and to be able to put that performance in for him, I know how much he cares and he shows us that, and to be able to perform like that and hopefully build going forward, it means the world.”
Russell wants whitewash
By Duncan Bech, PA rugby union correspondent, Sydney
Finn Russell insists the British and Irish Lions have arrived in Sydney for the final week of their Australia tour intent on completing a series whitewash over the Wallabies.
The rivals delivered an all-time classic in the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground but it was Andy Farrell’s men who held their nerve to emerge 29-26 winners.
Now they are chasing the 100 per cent record Down Under that Farrell set as a pre-tour target – an achievement that has not been managed since the 1927 visit to Argentina.
Russell, who started the celebrations wearing a chocolate garland given to some of the players by Sione Tuipulotu, views the looming Sydney Olympic Park showdown as a must win occasion.
“Everyone here has been gunning for this for their whole career. To get to the Lions is one thing and then to get a series win is another,” the Scotland fly-half said.
“This is my third tour and I’ve not won one so it’s special to get this, bringing four nations together to be a family for five, six weeks.
“So to get the series is amazing, but the job’s still not done yet. We need to go and try and finish it off. Even though we’ve got the series, we want to finish on a high. Everyone wants to play in that game.”
Russell has been a key figure in the Lions’ first series triumph since 2013, forging an influential half-back partnership with Jamison Gibson Park that has been among the tourists’ greatest strengths.
On current form the best fly-half in the game, the 32-year-old is finally getting the accolades that his talent deserves after piloting Bath to Gallagher Premiership, Challenge Cup and Premier Cup success in the recent club season.
“I’ve learned another style of rugby at Bath. It’s a different style that’s about getting control back because of the backs that we have to launch,” he said.
“It’s changed the way I look at the game a little bit. On Saturday, we had a couple of calls on their 10 metre line and I’m looking at kick plays rather than launching straight away.
“I’m loving my rugby right now. Some of the boys might say it’s the most confident I’ve been and it’s my best rugby, which might be true, it might not.
“I’ve not won much in my career so to have won the titles at Bath and now this, it’s amazing, it’s so special.”