DUBLIN — Tom Curry stated the British & Irish Lions gamers have to take private duty after their 28-24 defeat to Argentina, including the staff should have some “powerful conversations” to get to the foundation of why they did not impress on Friday in Dublin.
Curry began within the back-row alongside his England teammate Ben Earl and Wales’ Jac Morgan. And with a number of potential Check starters making the reduce, Argentina punished the Lions’ sloppy errors to assert a well-known victory. The defeat underlined the dimensions of the duty going through Andy Farrell as he seems to be to mould the vacationers right into a staff able to beating the Wallabies in 4 week’s time.
Curry was visibly pissed off after the match as he assessed the defeat. He stated the most important level he took from the match is the Lions must be extra “medical with the ball” however he stated they must welcome some “powerful conversations” over why they underperformed in entrance of a bought out Aviva Stadium on Friday.
“Yeah, it is a chance gone,” Curry stated. “I’ve been in these conditions earlier than and we now have bought to drag tighter, it’s the solely method. I really feel like this group has taken so many steps off the sphere. I’ve not bought a foul phrase to say about anybody. Everybody has been pulling in the fitting path, however we now have to have the powerful conversations.
“Now we have to be trustworthy. We will not take it too personally. That is the factor with this sport and this tour. It comes and goes so shortly. You have to benefit from it — each assembly and each session. Earlier than you understand it we’ll be taking part in in Australia so we won’t let moments cross us by. We have got to completely take it on the chin, have powerful conversations, but additionally do as we are saying. We will not simply maintain saying it and never doing it.”
When requested whether or not it was the Lions struggling to regulate to a brand new system, Curry stated: “I’ve been on this stuff earlier than and you may wait till Monday earlier than you say these things. However you will get to the sixth week and nonetheless make the identical excuse. Six weeks isn’t a very long time so we won’t make that excuse the entire method by way of. We nipped that within the bud immediately. That isn’t a motive and we have to take private duty for our personal performances.”
The Lions flew to Australia on Saturday, touchdown Sunday night time in Perth. Curry was contemplating watching the defeat to the Pumas again, however as an alternative opted to observe “The Workplace.” However as he picked aside the defeat to Argentina, you could possibly sense his frustration. As he regarded for positives, although, he did assume he labored properly in tandem with fellow flanker Morgan.
“It was good, there have been nonetheless moments after we in all probability must be across the ball a bit extra,” Curry stated. “There have been moments after I managed to hyperlink with Jac a bit in assault and defence which was actually thrilling and I actually loved that. I nonetheless assume one among us can keep across the ball a bit extra however that can include (A) working collectively and (B) you get that instinct and really feel however we have to construct that method faster. It was a very good begin.”
Up subsequent for the Lions are the Western Power in Perth on June 28. Andy Farrell will possible rotate the squad once more for that match as he checks out new mixtures. Fin Smith was at fly-half for the Lions in opposition to the Pumas on Friday and he stated they may deal with their shortcomings with some urgency as they give the impression of being to construct in direction of the Check sequence with the Wallabies.
“I am positive it isn’t the primary time the Lions haven’t performed significantly properly of their first outing,” Fin Smith stated. “The primary factor is how shortly we will reply and the way shortly we will cease feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to get again on the coaching pitch and get higher as shortly as attainable.”
– British and Irish Lions tour of Australia: What to know
– British & Irish Lions 2025: Australia tour fixtures
