Third Test updates, kick-off 11am BST / 8pm AEST The Breakdown | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail Lee The West Wing’s Toby Ziegler once stated: “They’ll like us when we win!” In the show, this was a questionable justification for yet another US war, but the sentiment probably sits well with the Lions head coach. It is oft repeated that Andy Farrell is a winner and this has broadly been true of his career (if you discount Ireland progressing beyond the quarter finals of a World Cup; but you can’t expect one man – however impressive – to solve that particular historical psychodrama). With the series is already won hopes were raised of something resembling a banter team selection for Lions in this cherry-on-the-top third test. To expect this is to misunderstand Farrell and his history. Continue reading...

Nel grabbed a 30-minute hat-trick before No 8 Neels Volschenk scored in the last play of the first half to give the Cheetahs a 28-13 lead at the break.

Scrumhalf Jandre Nel scored four of the Cheetahs' six tries in an emphatic Currie Cup win against the Pumas in Bloemfontein on Friday night. The post Nel stars as Cheetahs outrun Pumas appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Australia will have other ideas but Andy Farrell’s team are intent on sealing the clean sweep with a triumph that would stand the test of time As the 2025 British & Irish Lions prepare for their last hurrah there are distant echoes of former glories in the damp Sydney air. A highly respected English lock forward leading out a history-chasing team in the same stadium which staged the 2003 Rugby World Cup final? It is not the worst of precedents for Maro Itoje as he and his modern-day Lions await their third and final date with destiny. Itoje and his squad would also dearly love to rekindle memories of another significant contest in this city. The decisive concluding Test of the 2013 Lions series was a classic example of a touring side saving its best until last, with a tiring Wallaby side eventually losing 41-16 after a certain assistant coach called Andy Farrell had urged the players to take their hosts to “the hurt arena”. Continue reading...

Follow the live action as the Cheetahs face the Pumas in Bloemfontein. #CurrieCup #CHEvPUM The post LIVE: Cheetahs vs Pumas appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Men’s pro competition rattled as New Orleans exit, San Diego and LA merge, and Utah and Miami face uncertainty. Utah CEO tells Guardian he’s confident funds can be found Major League Rugby has endured a tough week with a merger and a withdrawal reducing the competition to nine teams, but the US men’s professional rugby union competition could yet fall to just seven entrants if two more teams fail to raise new funds, the Guardian learned. The merger of the San Diego Legion and RFC Los Angeles and the exit of the NOLA Gold were announced on Wednesday. Martin Pengelly writes on Substack at The National Maul, on rugby in the US. Continue reading...

Wales are facing a nervous wait on an injury suffered by co-captain Alex Callender with the Rugby World Cup fast approaching.

England flanker Marlie Packer admits she got "emotional" at the prospect of captaining the Red Roses again in Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Spain.

Former Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper has urged Rugby Australia to follow the Springboks’ blueprint for success. The post Quade: Wallabies should copy Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

We meet pod listeners in Sydney to discuss the big talking points of this Lions tour.

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The Lions are focused on completing a clean sweep against the Wallabies in Sydney in Saturday's final Test.

Michael Cheika says the All Blacks’ two-match 'series' against the Springboks in September will be “really pivotal” for Scott Robertson’s men. The post Cheika: Bok Tests huge for All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

The question is: why would you go hunting elsewhere when you already have the best coach available right in front of you? Whether Andy Farrell is the British & Irish Lions head coach on the 2029 tour of New Zealand should ultimately come down to if he wants to do it. He has earned the right to choose. Those responsible for making the decision should not be looking at any other candidate. Why would you go hunting elsewhere and try to find someone else when you already have the best coach available right in front of you? Put simply, Farrell has delivered. He was told in no uncertain terms to deliver a first series win in 12 years and that is precisely what he has done. The Lions are closing in on a 3-0 series whitewash, something Farrell targeted from the start of the tour and that would bring about another significant slice of history. Continue reading...