Tom Lynagh was smashed by the Lions in Brisbane. A Wallabies great wanted an immediate response
Slipper pointed to a more ruthless attitude at the MCG by the Wallabies as key back-rower Rob Valetini confirmed his availability for the must-win clash.
The grunt work of Valetini was missed at Suncorp Stadium, where the Lions physically dominated the Wallabies. Valetini said he felt on track to play after a calf injury but revealed coach Joe Schmidt had made the call not to risk the big back-rower for the first Test.
'I thought I would have been a shoo-in for the first Test but [it was] sort of a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training, a bit more loading through the calf,' Valetini said. 'It feels good to go.'
The return of Valetini and Will Skelton will go a long way toward helping the Wallabies improve their physicality in the contact zone, and a more street-smart approach to the breakdown as well could help, in the eyes of Slipper.
Slipper, 36, is the only survivor in the Wallabies from the 2013 series, when Australia rallied from a first Test loss in Brisbane to win in Melbourne.
Slipper said the advice he would pass to the team is to 'being composed and relying on your preparation'.
One area the Wallabies need to improve is matching the Lions in pushing the boundaries with the referee. Australian coaches throughout the whole Lions tour have been privately miffed about the sight of tourists repeatedly slowing down or impeding halfbacks by 'accidentally' being offside at the ruck, and Curry did it several times in Brisbane as well, without sanction.
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The Advertiser
19 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Newton's third law': Schmidt defence of rested Tizzano
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt reckons resting Carlo Tizzano from the third Test against the British and Irish Lions is best for the flanker's welfare after becoming the target of online abuse. Tizzano has been omitted from the match-day 23 for Saturday's "dead rubber" in Sydney after being swept up in raging debate swirling around the Lions' last-gasp 29-26 second-Test win in Melbourne. The Wallabies were furious that Jac Morgan's clearout on Tizzano in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's final-minute try at the MCG last Saturday went unpunished by the officials. Lions flyhalf Finn Russell later accused Tizzano of making the most of the challenge, stating that he "obviously holds his head and tried to get a penalty from it", while former England flanker James Haskell declared the Wallabies replacement should have been sent off for "diving". Schmidt, though, insists it's all a matter of physics. "He's had a really tough week. He's copped a lot of online abuse," Schmidt told reporters. "The only thing I'd say in defence of Carlo is that there were just over 54 Gs of force that went directly through the neck, which is enough to cause serious injury, although not to a rugby player who is as well conditioned as Carlo. "We are all aware of Newton's third law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. "When that force hits him and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the ruck. "I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but that's the nature of force. That there is an equal and opposite reaction. "We weren't sure about him on Tuesday. He was still pretty sore. He was great today (Thursday). He was right back to the irrepressible character he is. "I've advised Carlo to stay away from the media full stop, and the opinions that are out there. For Carlo, it's better that he sits this one out." Schmidt made it clear in the bitter aftermath to last week's series-deciding loss that he felt Morgan's clear-out was illegal and the no-penalty decision went against World Rugby's campaign for player safety. While the New Zealander escaped sanction, World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin was unimpressed. Five days on and Schmidt wants to leave the saga in the past and focus on ensuring the Wallabies avoid becoming the first team to be whitewashed 3-0 in a Lions series in Australia since 1904. "You can lament all sorts of things," Schmidt said. "I actually feel like (Italian referee) Andrea Piardi had a good game. "There's a couple of decisions we might not agree with, but I thought he refereed well. So we're not looking at refereeing decisions. "We're looking at what we could have done better, making sure that we try to repair those things." With agencies Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt reckons resting Carlo Tizzano from the third Test against the British and Irish Lions is best for the flanker's welfare after becoming the target of online abuse. Tizzano has been omitted from the match-day 23 for Saturday's "dead rubber" in Sydney after being swept up in raging debate swirling around the Lions' last-gasp 29-26 second-Test win in Melbourne. The Wallabies were furious that Jac Morgan's clearout on Tizzano in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's final-minute try at the MCG last Saturday went unpunished by the officials. Lions flyhalf Finn Russell later accused Tizzano of making the most of the challenge, stating that he "obviously holds his head and tried to get a penalty from it", while former England flanker James Haskell declared the Wallabies replacement should have been sent off for "diving". Schmidt, though, insists it's all a matter of physics. "He's had a really tough week. He's copped a lot of online abuse," Schmidt told reporters. "The only thing I'd say in defence of Carlo is that there were just over 54 Gs of force that went directly through the neck, which is enough to cause serious injury, although not to a rugby player who is as well conditioned as Carlo. "We are all aware of Newton's third law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. "When that force hits him and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the ruck. "I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but that's the nature of force. That there is an equal and opposite reaction. "We weren't sure about him on Tuesday. He was still pretty sore. He was great today (Thursday). He was right back to the irrepressible character he is. "I've advised Carlo to stay away from the media full stop, and the opinions that are out there. For Carlo, it's better that he sits this one out." Schmidt made it clear in the bitter aftermath to last week's series-deciding loss that he felt Morgan's clear-out was illegal and the no-penalty decision went against World Rugby's campaign for player safety. While the New Zealander escaped sanction, World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin was unimpressed. Five days on and Schmidt wants to leave the saga in the past and focus on ensuring the Wallabies avoid becoming the first team to be whitewashed 3-0 in a Lions series in Australia since 1904. "You can lament all sorts of things," Schmidt said. "I actually feel like (Italian referee) Andrea Piardi had a good game. "There's a couple of decisions we might not agree with, but I thought he refereed well. So we're not looking at refereeing decisions. "We're looking at what we could have done better, making sure that we try to repair those things." With agencies Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt reckons resting Carlo Tizzano from the third Test against the British and Irish Lions is best for the flanker's welfare after becoming the target of online abuse. Tizzano has been omitted from the match-day 23 for Saturday's "dead rubber" in Sydney after being swept up in raging debate swirling around the Lions' last-gasp 29-26 second-Test win in Melbourne. The Wallabies were furious that Jac Morgan's clearout on Tizzano in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's final-minute try at the MCG last Saturday went unpunished by the officials. Lions flyhalf Finn Russell later accused Tizzano of making the most of the challenge, stating that he "obviously holds his head and tried to get a penalty from it", while former England flanker James Haskell declared the Wallabies replacement should have been sent off for "diving". Schmidt, though, insists it's all a matter of physics. "He's had a really tough week. He's copped a lot of online abuse," Schmidt told reporters. "The only thing I'd say in defence of Carlo is that there were just over 54 Gs of force that went directly through the neck, which is enough to cause serious injury, although not to a rugby player who is as well conditioned as Carlo. "We are all aware of Newton's third law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. "When that force hits him and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the ruck. "I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but that's the nature of force. That there is an equal and opposite reaction. "We weren't sure about him on Tuesday. He was still pretty sore. He was great today (Thursday). He was right back to the irrepressible character he is. "I've advised Carlo to stay away from the media full stop, and the opinions that are out there. For Carlo, it's better that he sits this one out." Schmidt made it clear in the bitter aftermath to last week's series-deciding loss that he felt Morgan's clear-out was illegal and the no-penalty decision went against World Rugby's campaign for player safety. While the New Zealander escaped sanction, World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin was unimpressed. Five days on and Schmidt wants to leave the saga in the past and focus on ensuring the Wallabies avoid becoming the first team to be whitewashed 3-0 in a Lions series in Australia since 1904. "You can lament all sorts of things," Schmidt said. "I actually feel like (Italian referee) Andrea Piardi had a good game. "There's a couple of decisions we might not agree with, but I thought he refereed well. So we're not looking at refereeing decisions. "We're looking at what we could have done better, making sure that we try to repair those things." With agencies
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sheik Mohammed's racing operation spread $40 million worth of horses around the country. These trainers are the big winners
Cummings, the grandson of Melbourne Cup legend Bart, has accepted a lucrative training position in racing mecca Hong Kong from next year. Of Godolphin's headline horses, the group 1-winning Tom Kitten has been placed with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Melbourne Cup fourth-place getter Zardozi has joined Maher, Golden Mile went to Pride, while Waller also picked up Commemorative and Beiwacht. Several of the Godolphin horses have already trialled for their new stables. As part of its shift in approach, Godolphin sold 25 ready-to-race horses for almost $2.2 million on Inglis Digital a fortnight ago, including South Australian Derby place-getter Lavalier for $380,000 and group 3-winner Pisces for $330,000. While the father-son Freedman combination has prepared a number of young horses for Godolphin in the past, including 2022 Blue Diamond winner Daumier, Sam Freedman sees the racing giant's change in strategy as a winning move. 'It's an exciting change for the whole Godolphin brand, and exciting for Australian racing to see their stock spread out,' Freedman said. 'I have no doubt it will be a success. There's obviously a lot to work through and there will be little hiccups on the way, I'm sure, but on the whole it feels like a really positive change. 'I think, ultimately, the one-trainer model is becoming more and more rare.' While Freedman said they did not lobby for any horses, they felt privileged to be handed ready-made group 1 star Tom Kitten. Loading 'He'd be the highest-rated horse we've got,' the 2023 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said. 'As an established weight-for-age horse, he's right at the top. 'It's very rare that you get a horse like that in the stable that's able to compete from 1400m to 2000m at weight-for-age against the best horses in the country. It's exciting.' Freedman said the four-year-old gelding would likely resume in the group 1 1400m Memsie Stakes At Caulfield on August 30 before heading to the group 1 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a fortnight later. 'If he's really flying along, and it looks like a realistic target, that could mean he'll line up in the Cox Plate,' Freedman said. 'But his first two runs are sort of pencilled in, and then we are just going to assess him after that.' Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv and racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh oversaw the mass relocation of their horses. 'It certainly wasn't an easy decision, and it doesn't preclude opportunities for others (trainers) in the future,' Makiv said. Godolphin's breeding arm Darley will continue to stand stallions, including those that raced during Cumming's tenure such as Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder. But their number of runners has fallen away significantly in recent years. After a high of 1276 starters in the 2018/19 season, those figures have dropped to 804 in 2023/24 and 680 last season. But Makiv denied this will be an ongoing trend. 'Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility,' he said at the end of April. 'We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it's fundamental to what we do.'
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Sheik Mohammed's racing operation spread $40 million worth of horses around the country. These trainers are the big winners
Cummings, the grandson of Melbourne Cup legend Bart, has accepted a lucrative training position in racing mecca Hong Kong from next year. Of Godolphin's headline horses, the group 1-winning Tom Kitten has been placed with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Melbourne Cup fourth-place getter Zardozi has joined Maher, Golden Mile went to Pride, while Waller also picked up Commemorative and Beiwacht. Several of the Godolphin horses have already trialled for their new stables. As part of its shift in approach, Godolphin sold 25 ready-to-race horses for almost $2.2 million on Inglis Digital a fortnight ago, including South Australian Derby place-getter Lavalier for $380,000 and group 3-winner Pisces for $330,000. While the father-son Freedman combination has prepared a number of young horses for Godolphin in the past, including 2022 Blue Diamond winner Daumier, Sam Freedman sees the racing giant's change in strategy as a winning move. 'It's an exciting change for the whole Godolphin brand, and exciting for Australian racing to see their stock spread out,' Freedman said. 'I have no doubt it will be a success. There's obviously a lot to work through and there will be little hiccups on the way, I'm sure, but on the whole it feels like a really positive change. 'I think, ultimately, the one-trainer model is becoming more and more rare.' While Freedman said they did not lobby for any horses, they felt privileged to be handed ready-made group 1 star Tom Kitten. Loading 'He'd be the highest-rated horse we've got,' the 2023 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said. 'As an established weight-for-age horse, he's right at the top. 'It's very rare that you get a horse like that in the stable that's able to compete from 1400m to 2000m at weight-for-age against the best horses in the country. It's exciting.' Freedman said the four-year-old gelding would likely resume in the group 1 1400m Memsie Stakes At Caulfield on August 30 before heading to the group 1 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a fortnight later. 'If he's really flying along, and it looks like a realistic target, that could mean he'll line up in the Cox Plate,' Freedman said. 'But his first two runs are sort of pencilled in, and then we are just going to assess him after that.' Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv and racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh oversaw the mass relocation of their horses. 'It certainly wasn't an easy decision, and it doesn't preclude opportunities for others (trainers) in the future,' Makiv said. Godolphin's breeding arm Darley will continue to stand stallions, including those that raced during Cumming's tenure such as Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder. But their number of runners has fallen away significantly in recent years. After a high of 1276 starters in the 2018/19 season, those figures have dropped to 804 in 2023/24 and 680 last season. But Makiv denied this will be an ongoing trend. 'Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility,' he said at the end of April. 'We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it's fundamental to what we do.'
