Gerard Meagher
Sports Journalist and Sub-editor at The Guardian
Rugby union for @guardian_sport. Timaru, Tipperary and Twickenham. Views mine
Articles
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1 week ago |
theguardian.com | Gerard Meagher
Duhan van der Merwe does not want to shake hands. It is not that the hulking Scotland winger is being rude – he is polite to a fault – but after a gruelling gym session the British & Irish Lion has blisters as big as golf balls. A fist bump – a touch daunting given the size of his biceps – must suffice. Van der Merwe’s war wounds are the first indication that public perception about him can be misleading and there are many to follow in the ensuing half-hour.
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1 week ago |
theguardian.com | Gerard Meagher
If either call were to come, does Owen Farrell want to go on tour with England or the British & Irish Lions this summer? It is both the question that most intrigues and the one that he steadfastly does not answer following his return to Saracens. “There’s nothing for me to do other than concentrate on getting myself back here and getting myself in the best place I can and everything else is hypothetical,” is a typical example of his response.
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1 week ago |
theguardian.com | Gerard Meagher
Johnny Sexton has insisted he is “here to help” Finn Russell in his capacity as British & Irish Lions assistant coach, after the pair shook hands and cleared the air last month following the former Ireland captain’s previous criticism of the Scotland fly-half. Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017 but was a surprise omission from Warren Gatland’s squad in 2021.
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1 week ago |
theguardian.com | Gerard Meagher
Had Handré Pollard done his homework he might have known what was coming. For Finn Russell has previous when it comes to intercepts when attacking Twickenham’s south stand. It was playing that way he picked off Owen Farrell’s pass before streaking clear in the madcap 38-38 draw between England and Scotland in 2019. And he was at it again on Saturday, coming up with the decisive moment in Bath’s dogged Premiership final victory over Leicester.
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2 weeks ago |
theguardian.com | Gerard Meagher
Premiership Rugby has rebranded England’s top division as the Gallagher Prem as part of a wide-ranging reboot that includes plans to take a fixture to the United States in the coming years and kicking off next season on a Thursday night. Unperturbed by the existential threat posed by the R360 breakaway league, PRL on Saturday relaunches the Premiership on the day that Bath face Leicester in the final at Twickenham.
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Mounting problems for Lions at tighthead. Zager Fagerson ruled out and serious question marks over Tadhg Furlong. Findlay Bealham called into squad. Asher Opoku-Fordjour added to training camp and in with a shot of making tour of Australia. Jamie George in training squad
Leinster v Glasgow and Bath v Sale finals would leave only 18 of the 38 selected Lions for first training camp in Portugal. Could be as few as 15 in (unlikely) event of Saracens v Northampton
🦁 This changes things a little, but would still be surprised if any of those starters then play for the Lions 6 days later... Given celebrations etc, probably won't be training until Monday, so a Lions test on what will likely be 3ish days in training feels unlikely.
Today is shaping up as a good day for a flashy fly-half or two...
Understand Maro Itoje will be named British & Irish Lions captain tomorrow. Still a long way to go with the squad but hearing Henry Pollock very much part of the conversation. Don't count out Owen Farrell either. https://t.co/Tr5cRX4yJX
