British and Irish Lions: Captain Maro Itoje calls for whitewash over Australia after Henry Pollock feedback | Rugby Union Information
British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje hopes Australia wish to whitewash his aspect after Henry Pollock revealed the crew need to win the collection 3-0.
After six warm-up matches, The Lions play their first Check towards Australia this Saturday at 11am (build-up from 10am), dwell on Sky Sports activities, in Brisbane as they search for their first collection win since 2013, which additionally got here towards the Wallabies.
Their final 3-0 collection victory in Australia was in 1904, whereas the 1974 crew, which is thought to be the best ever, gained three Checks and drew one in South Africa.
“I believe that is undoubtedly the ambition. It goes with out saying, nobody desires to lose a recreation,” stated Itoje of Pollock’s feedback.
“It will be a bit bizarre if one in every of my team-mates stated ‘we wish to win two and lose one’, that may be a bit odd.
“I hope it is Australia’s ambition too, to win all of the video games. We wish to win each recreation we play. However all our focus is that this Saturday, the opposite two video games will take care of themselves.”
On Monday, the Lions introduced Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham will be a part of the squad to assist present cowl after the primary Check.
Head coach Andy Farrell named a 38-player squad in Might however since arriving in Australia, full-back Jamie Osborne, hooker Jamie George and prop Tom Clarkson have additionally been added.
“Andy has known as them in as a result of he believes it would assist us obtain our objective of profitable a Check collection,” stated Itoje.
“The entire gamers which were known as in are high quality gamers. They’ve a excessive stage of expertise and achieved issues of their profession. We’re all on this collectively.
“It does not matter if there is a late name up. We’ve seen late name ups up to now have had large impacts on the tour in constructive methods. I’ve little doubt everybody who’s known as up will play an element within the crew attaining their objective.”
Itoje, who’s the primary black captain of the Lions, has more and more starred within the warm-up matches resulting in the primary Check.
The 30-year-old says “it’s an incredible honour” to be a part of a 3rd Lions tour and thinks it is “completely different” to every other match together with the Six Nations or Rugby World Cup.
“Naturally in Check week there is a sharpening of the thoughts. There’s in all probability a better stage of focus,” he stated.
“The standard of our opposition this week will probably be considerably greater than what we have now confronted up till now. We all know there may be going to be a giant step up.
“As we get nearer to the sport we’ll get sharper. There is a wholesome pressure within the squad as a result of we all know that is what we have now been working in the direction of.”
British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities
Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Checks towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely dwell.
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