Ex-Wallaby's 'concerns' for shock starter in series opener
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Perth Now
28 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Wallabies can't lose heads in Lions Test tussle
Coach Joe Schmidt says his underdog Wallabies will have to play with brains as well as brawn to topple the unbeaten British and Irish Lions in their MCG showdown. The last Australian outfit to lose back-to-back Tests was in 1989, when they stormed to victory in the opening match before consecutive defeats. The Wallabies were criticised after their loss in game one in Brisbane for their lack of physicality, with the confrontational Lions forwards getting on top of their hosts. The lack of front-foot ball in the first half made life difficult for rookie flyhalf Tom Lynagh to make any inroads in attack. Schmidt has included powerhouse trio Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Dave Porecki for Saturday's clash to help combat the brutality of the Lions. The First Nations and Pasifika outfit had a fearless approach to the Lions in their midweek match in Melbourne, rattling their highly-rated opponents with their aggression in defence. While he wanted the Wallabies to front up and shed their "nice guy" tag, Schmidt didn't believe that would work in the Test arena against the best of the Lions players. "We don't want to be nice, and we don't want to be submissive," Schmidt said. "I thought the First Nations Pasifika team did a fantastic job, but after 31 minutes, they've conceded 13 line breaks. "If we do that in a Test match, we could be a lot further behind than the FNP team were on Tuesday evening so we've got to make sure we get the balance right. "Some of that aggressive line speed that they brought, we've got to bring that, but we've also got to make sure that it's connected, because when you leap like that and they can play in behind you, then it's very hard to get back in front of them. "So, you know, 13 line breaks to two after 30 minutes, we can't afford to have that stat." Fullback Tom Wright said the squad had full trust in wily Kiwi Schmidt, who took over as Wallabies coach at the start of 2024. Schmidt will hand the reins to Les Kiss after the Rugby Championship which provides the squad with even more incentive to send him out a winner. "I also have a real appreciation of the way that Joe coaches this group," Wright said. "I think we're absolutely all in on the way he coaches because we all believe in it. "What he does do is drive individuals for stuff that we can control in our own backyards or forwards, backs, my own sort of game. "I think he knows exactly what the group needs."
7NEWS
11 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Sione Tuipulotu ruled out of ‘crazy' Wallabies-Lions homecoming in Melbourne with hamstring injury
The absence of Melbourne product Sione Tuipulotu and the return of veteran Owen Farrell are two of the changes to the British and Irish Lions squad to face the Wallabies in the second Test. Tuipulotu, who started in the centres in Brisbane, has been left out of match-day 23 altogether, with Irishman Bundee Aki preferred at No.12, as the Lions try to wrap up the series in Melbourne on Saturday. Tuipulotu, who grew up in Melbourne before shifting to Scotland where he captains the national side, reportedly has a hamstring injury. 'It is kind of crazy,' the 28-year-old said just days earlier. 'To go back to Melbourne this week and hopefully play in front of my family ... the stars have aligned for me.' Four days after captaining the Lions in the midweek win over the First Nations and Pasifika, Farrell, the son of coach Andy Farrell, will make his first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup after being named on the bench. Farrell made three changes to the starting line-up that won the first Test 27-19, with lock Joe McCarthy unable to overcome a foot injury, with Olli Chessum the new face. Andrew Porter will start at loosehead ahead of Ellis Genge, forming an all-Irish front row. Aki will partner Scotsman Huw Jones in midfield, while the back three of Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Tommy Freeman is unchanged from the first Test. Coach Farrell said they were expecting a 'massive reaction' from the Wallabies after their disappointment at the 27-19 loss in the opening match in Brisbane. 'We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,' Farrell said in a statement. 'Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week.
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
Tuipulotu misses homecoming in Lions' second Test
The absence of Melbourne product Sione Tuipulotu and the return of veteran Owen Farrell are two of the changes to the British and Irish Lions squad to face the Wallabies in the second Test. Tuipulotu, who started in the centres in Brisbane, has been left out of match-day 23 altogether, with Irishman Bundee Aki preferred at No.12, as the Lions try to wrap up the series in Melbourne on Saturday. Tuipulotu, who grew up in Melbourne before shifting to Scotland where he captains the national side, reportedly has a hamstring injury. Four days after captaining the Lions in the midweek win over the First Nations and Pasifika, Farrell, the son of coach Andy Farrell, will make his first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup after being named on the bench. Farrell made three changes to the starting line-up that won the first Test 27-19, with lock Joe McCarthy unable to overcome a foot injury, with Olli Chessum the new face. Andrew Porter will start at loosehead ahead of Ellis Genge, forming an all-Irish front row. Aki will partner Scotsman Huw Jones in midfield, while the back three of Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Tommy Freeman is unchanged from the first Test. Coach Farrell said they were expecting a "massive reaction" from the Wallabies after their disappointment at the 27-19 loss in the opening match in Brisbane. "We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team," Farrell said in a statement. "Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week. BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS: Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn
