British and Irish Lions: Tommy Freeman says head coach Andy Farrell has told squad ‘impress each other, not those on the outside’ | Rugby Union News

Tommy Freeman said that head coach of the British and Irish lions, Andy Farrell, had told the team to “impress themselves, not those outside” before the shock of the opening tour against Argentina on Friday, live Sky Sports.

The wing in England was appointed to start against the Pumas in Dublin and gave an overview of what life is under farrell in the Lions camp.

“Andy was very good at talking about impressing themselves rather than everyone outside the photo,” Freeman told Media this week.

“Obviously, you want to play for yourself and you want to do your best to select yourself for test matches, but in the end, you must be a team player and play your role in the team. You have to go beyond what you can do to add to it.

“Andy is very clear, very precise with his messages and he was really great. He was a massive decisive factor in the speed with which we learned and the way we want to play the game.

“It was shiny and very easy to do. Each match, and I would say that training too, you have to put your best foot forward every time you go on the field and get your hands on the ball.

“Obviously, this week, there will be a little pressure, and in your mind, you cannot ignore it, but each time you put this shirt or training equipment, you want to do your best for the team and yourself.”

Regarding the way in which the Lions environment differs from that of a club or a national team, Freeman reveals that an element really struck it: the speed at which players grasp new systems, tactics and play plans.

“The difference I found from the club scene and England is the speed with which people learn,” he said.

“It is the best of the best, isn’t it? You are all there for a reason. Learning the pieces, learning the calls, they are all very different and you have the same things in the clubs, but it is just named differently, so it is how much everyone learns and gets on board with it.

“How we learn to be with each other and how well the coaches have done to make us all on the same wavelength and make us marry all kinds.

“The way we also play, we have got to know each other and how the different players move the ball and do things, we have picked up clues here and there. It is just a question of adapting.

“It is rugby at the end of the day and it is a question of finding space and seizing the opportunity. If you see the opportunity, you call it and you get the ball. We will be measured on this subject and we do not want to miss phases and make it a phase too late.

“It’s very good rugby. You have a little shape of course, you have a kick, you have this unpredictability. Apart from that, it is just to play what you see and get the ball there if it needs to be there.

“It was obviously a short period of time, but I’m still as confident and I’m sure the guys are too.”

A bottom line of a huge size and physique – “we want to mark a lot of tests”

Apart from Marcus Smith at the back, the rest of the Lions’ background line for Friday’s shock is extremely large and physical.

Freeman and Scotland Duhan Van der Merwe are two of the largest wingers in sport, while the Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu centers were surprisingly associated with the midfielder filled with power.

The objective? To mark a test hatred, said Freeman.

“Without giving too much, I hope that a lot of tests to be honest. Playing instinctive, we are not going to be there to install things and go through phases to go through phases.

“We want to mark at the back of everything we can and the guys we have in the background line, threats that people have to offer and ball players that can put us in these spaces, it will be very fun and dangerous.

“You don’t want too many wingers on the wing and calm down for the games of games. You want them to appear in spaces to inject a little rhythm or power and create this additional number.

“If you stand on your wing and you are a little lazy, this is when you have probably lacked opportunities.

“I think that is suitable for the way I play and the way other boys are playing too. It will certainly play well for all of us.”

British and Irish team of Lions to face Argentina in Dublin Friday – live on Sky Sports

British and Irish lions: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan Van der Merwe, 10 end Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Maro Itoje (C), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl.

Substitutes: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Mack Hansen.

Visit of the British and Irish Lions in Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.