In another blazing week of sporting drama, The British & Irish Lions lost the front page if only because their performance was expected and the result was never really in doubt. You can obviously only beat what is in front of you and the same applied to Scottie Scheffler at the Open although that is where the similarities ended.

On a links course normally favouring the canny Celts – and they did well, eg MacIntyre, McIlroy – it became a procession for the World No 1. What stood out however was his pre-tournament observation on what is important in his world – health, happiness and family by a country mile which set himself apart from other golfing, if not sporting, greats for his explicit motivations in life, which he was prepared to publicise. Cynics will opine that it is easy to say that from the top of the tree, but he clearly lives his words for real and attributes his success to those influences. The family scenes on the 18^th were unique and to be celebrated even if the slightly crusty R&A committee was a little nonplussed. Great to see one of rugby’s successful CEO’s, Mark Darbon, relishing his new role at the R&A .

Slightly under the radar screen but no less dramatic and meaningful has been the advance of the Lionesses to the Finals of the 2025 Euros. They have defied logic and form by squeezing out unlikely results when all seemed lost. Dealing with some off-field stress has not helped. People talk carelessly about resilience, but this is the true reflection of that quality in action. To pick out a match winning moment in the final minutes of knock-out sport is mental toughness and a true TCUP moment (thinking correctly under pressure). That bond which they have created of a never say die attitude is rarely enough on its own to be an eventual winner, but the only consideration about a Final is to have your name on the trophy, however it plays out. I was the wrong side of it for Rugby World cup glory in 1991 and I know how bad it feels. Let us not forget we are counting down the days where our own Rugby Red Roses will look to consolidate their own position at the top of the tree not only in data terms but with a cup to hold aloft at Twickenham – let’s dare to dream of two top trophies for our sporting stars as women’s sport continues to grow at an exciting pace.

A shout-out for a sporting competition sometimes lost because of its sheer longevity, the race to the top of Mont Ventoux for the 15^th stage of the Tour de France. It was absolutely and literally breathtaking, with a steepness of incline which had us all shaking our heads for what the pain in the muscles must have been like… Talk about crowd participation, and other than the ice in the veins of the yellow Jersey race leader Pogacar, the efforts of the diminutive pink shirted Irishman Ben Healy were heroic but ultimately unsuccessful. Grand Chapeau and Kudos to all involved.

Well, the B&I Lions cannot be an afterthought but in order of priority they must now make their own statement and if Australia cannot match them this weekend then they will want to achieve a significant series winning result, not drift into the end of the game looking dishevelled as they did. Individually. in the First Test for 57 minutes, Tom Curry was playing backrow rugby from a different planet, ball in hand or shoulder into ribs, mostly legal! Courtney Lawes will have smiled in recognition at the intensity of his tackling. Not far behind was Dan Sheehan, best hooker in the world now, and the likes of Beirne and Furlong defying the critics view of their gradual decline. From the commentary I read having missed the live action, I assumed the worst for the spectacle when viewing on playback and reading the media. In fact, the Wallabies were not that bad, and the Lions did not have to be that good… hence no one felt very enthralled I suppose. This will all change at the weekend – pride on the line, some heavyweight names in gold back on show because Schmidt knows this is the one, so he did quietly rest one or two. I love Michael Lynagh as a human being and as one of the very best in the business, but it has all come too early for his son, or has it? It is one of the big questions for the outcome as I assume he will play again this weekend. The running ability of their backline was scarcely seen – surely not again – and for me it was very disappointing to see a sub-standard pack of forwards playing boring ‘one-man out’ style. Campo will have been furious. Surely, surely a contest of supreme drama awaits and a moment that every sportsperson dreams of – should they win, alongside those brave Lionesses, we will feast on their achievements.

Hallers