DUBLIN — Tom Curry mentioned the British & Irish Lions gamers have to take private accountability after their 28-24 defeat to Argentina, including the staff should have some “robust conversations” to get to the basis 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 Take a look at 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 appears 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 mentioned the most important level he took from the match is the Lions should be extra “scientific with the ball” however he mentioned they should welcome some “robust conversations” over why they underperformed in entrance of a bought out Aviva Stadium on Friday.
“Yeah, it is a chance gone,” Curry mentioned. “I’ve been in these conditions earlier than and we’ve got obtained to tug tighter, it’s the solely method. I really feel like this group has taken so many steps off the sector. I’ve not obtained a nasty phrase to say about anybody. Everybody has been pulling in the best path, however we’ve got to have the robust conversations.
“We now have to be sincere. We won’t take it too personally. That is the factor with this sport and this tour. It comes and goes so rapidly. You have to benefit from it — each assembly and each session. Earlier than you recognize it we’ll be enjoying in Australia so we won’t let moments cross us by. We have to totally take it on the chin, have robust conversations, but additionally do as we are saying. We won’t 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 mentioned: “I’ve been on this stuff earlier than and you’ll wait till Monday earlier than you say these items. However you may get to the sixth week and nonetheless make the identical excuse. Six weeks shouldn’t be 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’s not a motive and we have to take private accountability 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 a substitute opted to look at “The Workplace.” However as he picked aside the defeat to Argentina, you would sense his frustration. As he appeared 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 most likely should be across the ball a bit extra,” Curry mentioned. “There have been moments once 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 may include (A) working collectively and (B) you get that instinct and really feel however we have to construct that method faster. It was begin.”
Up subsequent for the Lions are the Western Power in Perth on June 28. Andy Farrell will seemingly rotate the squad once more for that match as he exams out new combos. Fin Smith was at fly-half for the Lions in opposition to the Pumas on Friday and he mentioned they’ll handle their shortcomings with some urgency as they give the impression of being to construct in direction of the Take a look at sequence with the Wallabies.
“I am positive it is not the primary time the Lions haven’t performed significantly properly of their first outing,” Fin Smith mentioned. “The primary factor is how rapidly we are able to reply and the way rapidly we are able to cease feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to get again on the coaching pitch and get higher as rapidly as potential.”
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