logo
Brumbies brothers join forces in bid to be Lion tamers

Brumbies brothers join forces in bid to be Lion tamers

Perth Now6 days ago
Tom Hooper will be joined by his brother Lachie when the Brumbies take on the touring Lions. (Andrew Cornaga/AAP PHOTOS)
Tom Hooper will be joined by his brother Lachie when the Brumbies take on the touring Lions. (Andrew Cornaga/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP
Lachie Hooper's debut game for the ACT Brumbies, against the might of the British and Irish Lions, will be his first chance to line up professionally alongside big brother Tom.
But it could also be the pair's last game together in Brumbies colours.
Lachie, 21, will start on the bench in Canberra on Wednesday night after being handed his debut by coach Stephen Larkham.
It's Wallabies flanker Tom's final appearance before he departs for English-based team Exeter Chiefs in the off-season.
Larkham hailed the talents of the younger Hooper, who he watched and helped develop over the years through the ACT rugby system.
"He's amazing when he goes on the field," he said.
"We really wanted them to be here together, and we really wanted them to play together, and we just didn't get the opportunity this year.
"But hopefully everything goes to plan and they get on the field and they really enjoy not only the moment, but the way that we play the game."
Tom, 24, returns to the starting side after playing 12 minutes in the Wallabies' ugly 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, but several big-name Test players will be absent, including Rob Valetini and captain Allan Alaalatoa.
"We've been planning for this for a while, and yeah, second row was certainly a position that we were a little bit light-on," Larkham said.
Also receiving his Brumbies debut against the Lion will be prop forward Cameron Orr, who will also start from the bench.
The 30-year-old was drafted from the Seattle Seawolves in the US Major League Rugby competition for the game, but has a wealth of Super Rugby experience with the Western Force and the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels.
Taming the Lions will be a tough ask for Larkham's inexperienced side.
The tourists posted half-centuries against the Queensland Reds and the Force, and despite a strong performance from the NSW Waratahs still prevailed 21-10 in Sydney.
Looking at the scorelines, Larkham conceded it was hard to argue that the Lions had yet to face a proper challenge in Australia.
"Although I thought the Waratahs were pretty good on the weekend," he said.
"I thought it was a very impressive game against the Reds, the British and Irish Lions put out there.
"We've learned a lot from that. We get the benefit of playing last so we get to see three of their games in Australia, they've had their Argentinian game as well, so we've sort of studied them quite closely.
"We don't know who we're playing against at this stage, we don't know what their selection is. But we feel that we've had a pretty good run at our preparation compared to the other teams.
"You'd like to think that the Waratahs had that little bit of extra preparation watching those other games. They came into the game with some tactics that worked pretty well, and we've learned a little bit out of the Waratahs game as well."
Wednesday's game will also serve as a Brumbies farewell for Jack Debreczeni and Ben O'Donnell, who will join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

6-0 6-0! Swiatek's historic blitz to win Wimbledon
6-0 6-0! Swiatek's historic blitz to win Wimbledon

The Advertiser

timean hour ago

  • The Advertiser

6-0 6-0! Swiatek's historic blitz to win Wimbledon

Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs. Iga Swiatek has cemented her place as an all-time great of women's tennis with her unprecedented, merciless 6-0 6-0 destruction of Amanda Anisimova in a brutal Wimbledon Centre Court final wipe-out. In blazing sunshine on the Centre Court, Polish great Swiatek made a nonsense of all her previous struggles on grass-courts as she swept to a majestic victory for a sixth grand slam triumph on Saturday in less than an hour. The 'double-bagel' triumph, which lasted just 57 minutes, had never happened in a Wimbledon final in the Open era. The last time it occurred at SW19 was 114 years ago in 1911, when Dorothea Lambert Chambers beat Dora Boothby in an all-British final, while the only modern day equivalent was the 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva. It ensured that at 24, Swiatek becomes the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win majors on all three surfaces after her four French Open titles on clay and her 2022 US Open win. And it prompted her to have a post-title swipe at her critics who've tried to unpick why she hadn't won a title for over a year. "For sure, the past months, how the media sometimes describe me - and I've got to say, unfortunately, Polish media - how they treated me and my team, it wasn't really pleasant," said Swiatek, who had served a one-month doping ban at the end of last season after taking contaminated medication. "I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me. "I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more - but it's my own process and my own life and my own career." Presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Swiatek had delivered a right royal performance, exhibiting machine-like quality with her groundstrokes as Anisimova, the American 13th seed, never recovered from getting broken to 15 in the opening service game. "I think everyone's in a state of shock at what's happened," said three-time Wimbledon champ John McEnroe, echoing everyone's feelings from the commentary box. "Swiatek played someone who absolutely froze. And it was so hard to watch." Inevitably, the tears came for Animisova, whose comeback had been one of the stories of the championship, with the former teenage prodigy having stepped away from tennis for eight months in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. Much was expected after the way she'd beaten world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, but she was the first to admit her failings after coughing up 28 mistakes in just a dozen games. "I was a bit frozen there, with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something," said the 23-year-old, who skipped practice on Friday because of fatigue and felt pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. "I ran out of gas today and I wish I could have put on a better performance for you," she told the crowd after paying a tearful tribute to her mum. Nothing, though, could be taken away from Swiatek. She's the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion, but her's is a name that truly belongs in the event's hall of fame after she'd never previously got beyond the quarter-finals. The first Polish winner at Wimbledon in 148 years had spent 125 weeks as the world No.1 between 2022 and 2024 but had slumped to a No.8 seeding after her win famine. Now she's back where she belongs.

Lions-less Ireland hit rugby century against Portugal
Lions-less Ireland hit rugby century against Portugal

The Advertiser

time2 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Lions-less Ireland hit rugby century against Portugal

Even without their host of British & Irish Lions stars, Ireland ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their biggest rugby Test win in the first encounter between the two nations. Connacht pair Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton went over twice on their debuts and there was also a brace each for club team-mate and flanker Cian Prendergast and Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien. With fly-half Jack Crowley landing 12 of his 15 conversion attempts - Ireland were also awarded a penalty try - the margin of victory eclipsed their previous biggest win when they scored 13 tries in an 83-3 defeat of the USA in 2000. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell was without 17 players, who are all on tour with the Lions in Australia, but his new-look side ruthlessly exposed the chasm between them and their hosts. O'Connell made six changes following last week's 34-5 win against Georgia in Tbilisi and the Irish went over for four converted tries in the opening 14 minutes. Centre Stuart McCloskey touched down in the corner after full-back Jimmy O'Brien's break straight from the kick off, setting the tone for the match. Even without their host of British & Irish Lions stars, Ireland ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their biggest rugby Test win in the first encounter between the two nations. Connacht pair Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton went over twice on their debuts and there was also a brace each for club team-mate and flanker Cian Prendergast and Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien. With fly-half Jack Crowley landing 12 of his 15 conversion attempts - Ireland were also awarded a penalty try - the margin of victory eclipsed their previous biggest win when they scored 13 tries in an 83-3 defeat of the USA in 2000. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell was without 17 players, who are all on tour with the Lions in Australia, but his new-look side ruthlessly exposed the chasm between them and their hosts. O'Connell made six changes following last week's 34-5 win against Georgia in Tbilisi and the Irish went over for four converted tries in the opening 14 minutes. Centre Stuart McCloskey touched down in the corner after full-back Jimmy O'Brien's break straight from the kick off, setting the tone for the match. Even without their host of British & Irish Lions stars, Ireland ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their biggest rugby Test win in the first encounter between the two nations. Connacht pair Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton went over twice on their debuts and there was also a brace each for club team-mate and flanker Cian Prendergast and Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien. With fly-half Jack Crowley landing 12 of his 15 conversion attempts - Ireland were also awarded a penalty try - the margin of victory eclipsed their previous biggest win when they scored 13 tries in an 83-3 defeat of the USA in 2000. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell was without 17 players, who are all on tour with the Lions in Australia, but his new-look side ruthlessly exposed the chasm between them and their hosts. O'Connell made six changes following last week's 34-5 win against Georgia in Tbilisi and the Irish went over for four converted tries in the opening 14 minutes. Centre Stuart McCloskey touched down in the corner after full-back Jimmy O'Brien's break straight from the kick off, setting the tone for the match.

Last-gasp try gives England series win over Pumas
Last-gasp try gives England series win over Pumas

Perth Now

time3 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Last-gasp try gives England series win over Pumas

Jack van Poortvliet's last-gasp try has earned England a 22-17 win over Argentina and another rugby Test series victory in Pumas country. An England team without 15 British and Irish Lions upheld its record of never losing a series in Argentina since the first tour in 1981. Saturday's match in San Juan was headed for a 17-17 draw until, with a minute left, Argentina spilled possession on their 40-metre line and England counterattacked. Replacement back-rower Guy Pepper burst into the open, ran over or drew the last three defenders and gave backup scrumhalf Van Poortvliet a clear run to the tryline. George Ford couldn't convert from the sideline, missing his first goalkick off the tee in the two Tests, but the tour captain was rapt with his young team's success against a Pumas team which beat the Lions three weeks ago. "We found a way in the end," Ford said. "We had a lot of opportunities in the 22 but we just couldn't execute. I like our fight, our togetherness, showing how much we care for each other. We should have scored more tries but the attitude of the group is great." After a ding-dong first half in which the lead swapped four times, Ford's tying penalty was the only score in the second half until the end. England spent most of the second spell in Argentina's half but the Pumas hustled and scrambled in defence. Overall, England had 17 visits in Argentina's 22 in the match but scored only three tries. But it was just enough after hammering the Pumas 35-12 in La Plata last weekend.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store