Huge boost for Reds as Crusaders call on All Blacks
Harry Wilson has been named to start for the Queensland Reds against a Crusaders team stacked with All Blacks for their Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final.
The incumbent Wallabies captain looked at long odds to play when he ran off in obvious pain late in Saturday's defeat of the Fijian Drua, just two games into his return from a fractured arm.
But precautionary scans cleared Wilson to return to training this week.
The influential No.8 trained on Tuesday and has been named to start in what is forecast to be a cold, wet Friday-night encounter.
Wilson starred when the Reds ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last year.
He has always been highly rated across the ditch, earning glowing praise from then Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, now helming the All Blacks, after his 2020 Super Rugby debut.
"It's really pleasing news for us but, more importantly, for Harry. He's come through the early part of the week well," coach Les Kiss said."He's a true competitor when it comes to battles against the New Zealand sides and their top back rows."
Versatile forward Seru Uru (knee) has not been recalled despite training on Tuesday, the Reds' pack unchanged for a third straight game.
Centre Dre Pakeho returns to the bench with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (HIA) sidelined, while Filipo Daugunu will start on the wing and Tim Ryan will come off the bench.
The Crusaders, who won five consecutive Super Rugby titles either side of the COVID-19 impacted 2020-21 seasons, are on a 16-game finals winning streak dating back to 2016.
They have never lost a finals game at home and have won 13 of their past 14 games against the Reds.
Fullback Will Jordan is back, while captain David Havili returns at centre, the pair among 10 All Blacks in the Crusaders' starting 15.
Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor, hunting a feel-good Wallabies recall ahead of the British and Irish Lions series, will come off the bench.
"This is a strong team, and I can't wait to unleash them come Friday," coach Rob Penney said.
REDS: Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell. Reserves: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan.
CRUSADERS: Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan. Replacements: George Bell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Johnny McNicholl.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Three years ago, Clint did not run. He's just completed an epic 100km trail event.
Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners.
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
Lagergren blows hot to lead weather-hit KLM Open
British trio Connor Syme, Richie Ramsay and Andy Sullivan have remained in contention as Sweden's Joakim Lagergren led the KLM Open at the end of a disrupted second day. Winds of over 35mph in Amsterdam led to a two-hour stoppage due to "oscillating balls", extending play deep into the evening for a second successive day after Thursday's storms. Lagergren was already safely round in 68 for an eight-under-par halfway total, which proved too much for the chasing pack to match in tough scoring conditions. Syme followed up his opening 65 with a one-over-par 72 to reach five under, good enough for third place behind first-round leader Ricardo Gouveia. Fellow Scot Ramsay was also one over for his round with one hole to play when darkness descended, sharing fourth place with France's Pierre Pineau on four under. England's Sullivan shot 70 to reach three under alongside Francesco Laporta, who also had one hole to complete, and Oliver Lindell. Another Englishman, Dan Brown, had finished day one in a share of third place after matching Ramsay's 66 but fell off the pace on Friday with three double bogeys, including at the second and third holes. His eventual 79 left him only just inside the cut line at three over. It was not a good day for Australians, Jason Scrivener following his opening-round 68 with a 75 that left him nine off the lead. David Micheluzzi is 10 over after repeating a 76 and Daniel Gale is 16 over following his 75 while Danny List withdrew.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Lagergren blows hot to lead weather-hit KLM Open
British trio Connor Syme, Richie Ramsay and Andy Sullivan have remained in contention as Sweden's Joakim Lagergren led the KLM Open at the end of a disrupted second day. Winds of over 35mph in Amsterdam led to a two-hour stoppage due to "oscillating balls", extending play deep into the evening for a second successive day after Thursday's storms. Lagergren was already safely round in 68 for an eight-under-par halfway total, which proved too much for the chasing pack to match in tough scoring conditions. Syme followed up his opening 65 with a one-over-par 72 to reach five under, good enough for third place behind first-round leader Ricardo Gouveia. Fellow Scot Ramsay was also one over for his round with one hole to play when darkness descended, sharing fourth place with France's Pierre Pineau on four under. England's Sullivan shot 70 to reach three under alongside Francesco Laporta, who also had one hole to complete, and Oliver Lindell. Another Englishman, Dan Brown, had finished day one in a share of third place after matching Ramsay's 66 but fell off the pace on Friday with three double bogeys, including at the second and third holes. His eventual 79 left him only just inside the cut line at three over. It was not a good day for Australians, Jason Scrivener following his opening-round 68 with a 75 that left him nine off the lead. David Micheluzzi is 10 over after repeating a 76 and Daniel Gale is 16 over following his 75 while Danny List withdrew.
