Tupou set to fire up and tame the Lions, say Wallabies
In a chilling warning to the British and Irish Lions, Wallabies prop Angus Bell is predicting front-row "freak" Taniela Tupou to emerge from his slumber and wreak havoc during the looming showpiece series.
Tupou's fluctuating form, even by his own admission, has been one of the major discussion points during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The million-dollar behemoth made the startling confession last month that at times he feels like he's forgotten how to play the game, so low on confidence Tupou has been in 2025.
But Bell, his NSW Waratahs and Wallabies teammate and front-row partner, believes the sleeping giant is ready to roar against the Lions and says "of course" Tupou should be named in Joe Schmidt's squad next week.
"We know how important Taniela is for Australian rugby. If we're going to compete and beat the Lions, Taniela will be in and around the team and the squad," Bell said.
"We know how important he is and what he can do when he's in his career-best form.
"He's working really hard at NSW and he's working really hard at camps to get himself there, and we believe in Taniela - he's a mate, he's a freak of nature and we all know that.
"So, look, he's happy and he's looking forward to the Tests and he's as excited as everyone else in Australian rugby. It's a pretty cool time and 'Nela' will be awesome this year, I reckon."
The scrum and set piece have traditionally been a huge strength of the Lions, but Australia's front-row depth is fast emerging as a weapon for the Wallabies too.
Bell and Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa were both named in the Super Rugby Pacific team of the season, while Tupou at his destructive best and veteran James Slipper, now Australia's most-capped player ever, shape as a formidable threat to the Lions.
"It's good for Joe because he's got a lot of selection headaches, which is awesome for Australian rugby," Bell said.
"It's now become a real strength of Australia that not every position is locked down, so everyone's just got to keep fighting for positions, and as a squad if we do that ... when the squad gets announced, it will put Australia in good stead against the Lions."
The Wallabies are, however, also bracing for a different style of play from the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales than the typically dour northern hemisphere brand of yesteryear.
"They'll definitely play an expansive game," Bell said.
"I feel like European rugby's come a long way in that sense.
"They used to be very heavily set-piece orientated. Now they're moving the ball just like New Zealand would.
"So, look, I feel like they're a similar team to what we play down here in the southern hemisphere and they'll be extremely challenging.
"We know the stars they have in their team."
Schmidt plans to name a squad of up to 40 players for the Wallabies' first Test of the year - against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 - once the last Australian team standing is eliminated from the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The ACT Brumbies face the table-topping Chiefs in the semi-finals in Hamilton on Saturday, meaning a squad could be announced as early as Sunday or Monday.
The first Test is in Brisbane on July 19.
In a chilling warning to the British and Irish Lions, Wallabies prop Angus Bell is predicting front-row "freak" Taniela Tupou to emerge from his slumber and wreak havoc during the looming showpiece series.
Tupou's fluctuating form, even by his own admission, has been one of the major discussion points during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The million-dollar behemoth made the startling confession last month that at times he feels like he's forgotten how to play the game, so low on confidence Tupou has been in 2025.
But Bell, his NSW Waratahs and Wallabies teammate and front-row partner, believes the sleeping giant is ready to roar against the Lions and says "of course" Tupou should be named in Joe Schmidt's squad next week.
"We know how important Taniela is for Australian rugby. If we're going to compete and beat the Lions, Taniela will be in and around the team and the squad," Bell said.
"We know how important he is and what he can do when he's in his career-best form.
"He's working really hard at NSW and he's working really hard at camps to get himself there, and we believe in Taniela - he's a mate, he's a freak of nature and we all know that.
"So, look, he's happy and he's looking forward to the Tests and he's as excited as everyone else in Australian rugby. It's a pretty cool time and 'Nela' will be awesome this year, I reckon."
The scrum and set piece have traditionally been a huge strength of the Lions, but Australia's front-row depth is fast emerging as a weapon for the Wallabies too.
Bell and Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa were both named in the Super Rugby Pacific team of the season, while Tupou at his destructive best and veteran James Slipper, now Australia's most-capped player ever, shape as a formidable threat to the Lions.
"It's good for Joe because he's got a lot of selection headaches, which is awesome for Australian rugby," Bell said.
"It's now become a real strength of Australia that not every position is locked down, so everyone's just got to keep fighting for positions, and as a squad if we do that ... when the squad gets announced, it will put Australia in good stead against the Lions."
The Wallabies are, however, also bracing for a different style of play from the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales than the typically dour northern hemisphere brand of yesteryear.
"They'll definitely play an expansive game," Bell said.
"I feel like European rugby's come a long way in that sense.
"They used to be very heavily set-piece orientated. Now they're moving the ball just like New Zealand would.
"So, look, I feel like they're a similar team to what we play down here in the southern hemisphere and they'll be extremely challenging.
"We know the stars they have in their team."
Schmidt plans to name a squad of up to 40 players for the Wallabies' first Test of the year - against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 - once the last Australian team standing is eliminated from the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The ACT Brumbies face the table-topping Chiefs in the semi-finals in Hamilton on Saturday, meaning a squad could be announced as early as Sunday or Monday.
The first Test is in Brisbane on July 19.
In a chilling warning to the British and Irish Lions, Wallabies prop Angus Bell is predicting front-row "freak" Taniela Tupou to emerge from his slumber and wreak havoc during the looming showpiece series.
Tupou's fluctuating form, even by his own admission, has been one of the major discussion points during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The million-dollar behemoth made the startling confession last month that at times he feels like he's forgotten how to play the game, so low on confidence Tupou has been in 2025.
But Bell, his NSW Waratahs and Wallabies teammate and front-row partner, believes the sleeping giant is ready to roar against the Lions and says "of course" Tupou should be named in Joe Schmidt's squad next week.
"We know how important Taniela is for Australian rugby. If we're going to compete and beat the Lions, Taniela will be in and around the team and the squad," Bell said.
"We know how important he is and what he can do when he's in his career-best form.
"He's working really hard at NSW and he's working really hard at camps to get himself there, and we believe in Taniela - he's a mate, he's a freak of nature and we all know that.
"So, look, he's happy and he's looking forward to the Tests and he's as excited as everyone else in Australian rugby. It's a pretty cool time and 'Nela' will be awesome this year, I reckon."
The scrum and set piece have traditionally been a huge strength of the Lions, but Australia's front-row depth is fast emerging as a weapon for the Wallabies too.
Bell and Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa were both named in the Super Rugby Pacific team of the season, while Tupou at his destructive best and veteran James Slipper, now Australia's most-capped player ever, shape as a formidable threat to the Lions.
"It's good for Joe because he's got a lot of selection headaches, which is awesome for Australian rugby," Bell said.
"It's now become a real strength of Australia that not every position is locked down, so everyone's just got to keep fighting for positions, and as a squad if we do that ... when the squad gets announced, it will put Australia in good stead against the Lions."
The Wallabies are, however, also bracing for a different style of play from the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales than the typically dour northern hemisphere brand of yesteryear.
"They'll definitely play an expansive game," Bell said.
"I feel like European rugby's come a long way in that sense.
"They used to be very heavily set-piece orientated. Now they're moving the ball just like New Zealand would.
"So, look, I feel like they're a similar team to what we play down here in the southern hemisphere and they'll be extremely challenging.
"We know the stars they have in their team."
Schmidt plans to name a squad of up to 40 players for the Wallabies' first Test of the year - against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 - once the last Australian team standing is eliminated from the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The ACT Brumbies face the table-topping Chiefs in the semi-finals in Hamilton on Saturday, meaning a squad could be announced as early as Sunday or Monday.
The first Test is in Brisbane on July 19.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Brumbies legend says team tapered for Super finals push
Winner of two Super Rugby titles, Joe Roff feels the Brumbies have got their preparations right this season after falling short in recent years. The ACT franchise face the table-topping Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon with the winner advancing to the Super Rugby Pacific grand final. Roff was part of the title-winning Brumbies sides in 2000 and 2004, which was the club's last trophy, but the Wallabies legend says former teammate and coach Stephen Larkham has the team primed to perform. The Brumbies have made the last four semi-finals but haven't been able to make the decider. "Speaking with Steve ... he has unfinished business here," Roff told AAP. "He knows now, in the cycle of his coaching evolution, that the Melbourne Cup is not won in February. "He's coached his team to be primed at the right time of the season and so this weekend, I'm expecting and looking forward to a big performance." No Australian team has won a Super play-off in New Zealand with a 0-20 record, but Roff said that statistic shouldn't bother the Brumbies. They snapped a 12-year hoodoo in Auckland against the Blues this season while they've also beaten the Chiefs in Hamilton, back in 2022. "I see with the Brumbies a sense of self belief," Roff said. "It was only two years ago where, as an Australian public, we were saying we don't know how to beat New Zealand Super Rugby sides and that is not the case anymore, not by any, any stretch. "The belief that the Brumbies have going over to play against a wounded Chiefs team, who will come out very hard, is there." Speaking from Hamilton, Brumbies lock Nick Frost said such records were there to be broken and asked "why not us". "Obviously a lot of it is a bit upstairs, a bit mental," Frost said. "It's we haven't won here for a while or we don't do that well', but it's why not, why can't we be the first to break a record, why can't we be the first team to do that? "In 2013, the Brumbies were the first Australian team to win a play-off match in South Africa ... so the record in New Zealand is going to be broken one day so why can't it be us?" Frost said the team wanted to start well and believed they had the ability to close out a tight game if that was how it unfolded. "We've worked at our game through the year to be able to really close out games and we obviously fell short against the Crusaders, but we still have that big belief we can come home with a wet sail," the Wallabies forward said. "Probably the big thing is starting well, we didn't do that against the Crusaders and you let a quality side get out to a big lead it's hard to claw back, so we want to start strong and start hard." The Chiefs have lost the last two grand finals and were upset by the Blues in the qualifying final, but have All Blacks Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea back in the line-up. The Brumbies, who overcame the Hurricanes in their week-one final, are unchanged. Winner of two Super Rugby titles, Joe Roff feels the Brumbies have got their preparations right this season after falling short in recent years. The ACT franchise face the table-topping Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon with the winner advancing to the Super Rugby Pacific grand final. Roff was part of the title-winning Brumbies sides in 2000 and 2004, which was the club's last trophy, but the Wallabies legend says former teammate and coach Stephen Larkham has the team primed to perform. The Brumbies have made the last four semi-finals but haven't been able to make the decider. "Speaking with Steve ... he has unfinished business here," Roff told AAP. "He knows now, in the cycle of his coaching evolution, that the Melbourne Cup is not won in February. "He's coached his team to be primed at the right time of the season and so this weekend, I'm expecting and looking forward to a big performance." No Australian team has won a Super play-off in New Zealand with a 0-20 record, but Roff said that statistic shouldn't bother the Brumbies. They snapped a 12-year hoodoo in Auckland against the Blues this season while they've also beaten the Chiefs in Hamilton, back in 2022. "I see with the Brumbies a sense of self belief," Roff said. "It was only two years ago where, as an Australian public, we were saying we don't know how to beat New Zealand Super Rugby sides and that is not the case anymore, not by any, any stretch. "The belief that the Brumbies have going over to play against a wounded Chiefs team, who will come out very hard, is there." Speaking from Hamilton, Brumbies lock Nick Frost said such records were there to be broken and asked "why not us". "Obviously a lot of it is a bit upstairs, a bit mental," Frost said. "It's we haven't won here for a while or we don't do that well', but it's why not, why can't we be the first to break a record, why can't we be the first team to do that? "In 2013, the Brumbies were the first Australian team to win a play-off match in South Africa ... so the record in New Zealand is going to be broken one day so why can't it be us?" Frost said the team wanted to start well and believed they had the ability to close out a tight game if that was how it unfolded. "We've worked at our game through the year to be able to really close out games and we obviously fell short against the Crusaders, but we still have that big belief we can come home with a wet sail," the Wallabies forward said. "Probably the big thing is starting well, we didn't do that against the Crusaders and you let a quality side get out to a big lead it's hard to claw back, so we want to start strong and start hard." The Chiefs have lost the last two grand finals and were upset by the Blues in the qualifying final, but have All Blacks Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea back in the line-up. The Brumbies, who overcame the Hurricanes in their week-one final, are unchanged. Winner of two Super Rugby titles, Joe Roff feels the Brumbies have got their preparations right this season after falling short in recent years. The ACT franchise face the table-topping Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon with the winner advancing to the Super Rugby Pacific grand final. Roff was part of the title-winning Brumbies sides in 2000 and 2004, which was the club's last trophy, but the Wallabies legend says former teammate and coach Stephen Larkham has the team primed to perform. The Brumbies have made the last four semi-finals but haven't been able to make the decider. "Speaking with Steve ... he has unfinished business here," Roff told AAP. "He knows now, in the cycle of his coaching evolution, that the Melbourne Cup is not won in February. "He's coached his team to be primed at the right time of the season and so this weekend, I'm expecting and looking forward to a big performance." No Australian team has won a Super play-off in New Zealand with a 0-20 record, but Roff said that statistic shouldn't bother the Brumbies. They snapped a 12-year hoodoo in Auckland against the Blues this season while they've also beaten the Chiefs in Hamilton, back in 2022. "I see with the Brumbies a sense of self belief," Roff said. "It was only two years ago where, as an Australian public, we were saying we don't know how to beat New Zealand Super Rugby sides and that is not the case anymore, not by any, any stretch. "The belief that the Brumbies have going over to play against a wounded Chiefs team, who will come out very hard, is there." Speaking from Hamilton, Brumbies lock Nick Frost said such records were there to be broken and asked "why not us". "Obviously a lot of it is a bit upstairs, a bit mental," Frost said. "It's we haven't won here for a while or we don't do that well', but it's why not, why can't we be the first to break a record, why can't we be the first team to do that? "In 2013, the Brumbies were the first Australian team to win a play-off match in South Africa ... so the record in New Zealand is going to be broken one day so why can't it be us?" Frost said the team wanted to start well and believed they had the ability to close out a tight game if that was how it unfolded. "We've worked at our game through the year to be able to really close out games and we obviously fell short against the Crusaders, but we still have that big belief we can come home with a wet sail," the Wallabies forward said. "Probably the big thing is starting well, we didn't do that against the Crusaders and you let a quality side get out to a big lead it's hard to claw back, so we want to start strong and start hard." The Chiefs have lost the last two grand finals and were upset by the Blues in the qualifying final, but have All Blacks Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea back in the line-up. The Brumbies, who overcame the Hurricanes in their week-one final, are unchanged.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Up to Australia's bowlers again in WTC title defence
After another dramatic collapse, Australia's pace machine will need to bowl them to a famous victory as South Africa struck back in a pulsating World Test Championship final at Lord's. Having secured a first-innings lead of 74 thanks to a landmark 6-28 from captain Pat Cummins, Australia limped to 8-144 at stumps on Thursday in a decider that should be over well within three days. A frantic 45-minute collapse of 5-29 after tea on day two left the door ajar for the Proteas to pull off a monumental upset as they attempt to lift their first ICC trophy since 1998. The lead of 218 could already still be enough after South Africa were rolled for just 138 in their first innings. Only four teams have successfully chased a target of more than 200 in a Test at Lord's. "Happy we got 200," Cummins said. "Hopefully, we get another 20 or 30 in the morning, that'd be good. "That would give us a few more options to bowl, a few more aggressive fields. "Ideally we'd have a few more wickets in the shed. "We're going to have to still bowl well in the fourth innings." Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day. But wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43) and star quick Mitchell Starc (16no) were able to steady Australia late in the day. The pair put on a crucial 61-run stand, after the reigning WTC title holders had slumped to 7-73. Kagsio Rabada (3-44), however, had one last spell in him and was able to dismiss Carey for his eighth wicket of the Test. Starc was then dropped by towering Proteas quick Marco Jansen in the slips two balls before stumps. In seven overs of chaos after tea, unheralded Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi (3-33) steamrolled Australia's middle-order in stunning fashion to boost the chances of a boilover. Left-armer Jansen, who appeared to hurt his finger in the field, removed Marcus Labuschagne in the second failure of his first Test as an opener. Having not played a Test since September, Ngidi then took the prized wicket of Steve Smith, before taking care of Beau Webster and Cummins. Earlier, Cummins had demolished South Africa to become the eighth Australian to take 300 Test wickets. While Starc started the destruction on Wednesday evening, Cummins was relentless in finishing the job with the 14th five-wicket haul of his brilliant 68-Test career. The first paceman to captain Australia long-term, Cummins joins the country's greats in reaching 300 wickets. Shane Warne (708 wickets) and Glenn McGrath (563) sit one and two, while Cummins' teammates Nathan Lyon (553) and Mitchell Starc (384) are next in line. Dennis Lillee (355), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee (310) are the others to take more than 300. Out of those eight, only McGrath has a better average (21.64) than Cummins' 22.08. The 32-year-old also finished with the best figures by a captain at Lord's, bettering England's Bob Willis' 6-101 in 1982. One of Cummins' six victims was Kyle Verreynne, who had to go after being trapped lbw. As Cummins was pedalling backwards while appealing, he and Verreynne collided with each other and tumbled over. The umpire gave the South Africa wicketkeeper not out, but Cummins successfully appealed. David Bedingham (45) top scored for South Africa, while Proteas captain Temba Bavuma survived a controversial DRS decision. Adjudged lbw on 16 off Josh Hazlewood, Bavuma left it late to review, but eventually took the decision upstairs with four seconds remaining. Bedingham insisted South Africa were not burdened by the weight of history and the Proteas' dismal record in big ICC games. "There's a massive belief in this team," he said. "It's just an amazing chance. "We're all very excited about the opportunity to win." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. After another dramatic collapse, Australia's pace machine will need to bowl them to a famous victory as South Africa struck back in a pulsating World Test Championship final at Lord's. Having secured a first-innings lead of 74 thanks to a landmark 6-28 from captain Pat Cummins, Australia limped to 8-144 at stumps on Thursday in a decider that should be over well within three days. A frantic 45-minute collapse of 5-29 after tea on day two left the door ajar for the Proteas to pull off a monumental upset as they attempt to lift their first ICC trophy since 1998. The lead of 218 could already still be enough after South Africa were rolled for just 138 in their first innings. Only four teams have successfully chased a target of more than 200 in a Test at Lord's. "Happy we got 200," Cummins said. "Hopefully, we get another 20 or 30 in the morning, that'd be good. "That would give us a few more options to bowl, a few more aggressive fields. "Ideally we'd have a few more wickets in the shed. "We're going to have to still bowl well in the fourth innings." Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day. But wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43) and star quick Mitchell Starc (16no) were able to steady Australia late in the day. The pair put on a crucial 61-run stand, after the reigning WTC title holders had slumped to 7-73. Kagsio Rabada (3-44), however, had one last spell in him and was able to dismiss Carey for his eighth wicket of the Test. Starc was then dropped by towering Proteas quick Marco Jansen in the slips two balls before stumps. In seven overs of chaos after tea, unheralded Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi (3-33) steamrolled Australia's middle-order in stunning fashion to boost the chances of a boilover. Left-armer Jansen, who appeared to hurt his finger in the field, removed Marcus Labuschagne in the second failure of his first Test as an opener. Having not played a Test since September, Ngidi then took the prized wicket of Steve Smith, before taking care of Beau Webster and Cummins. Earlier, Cummins had demolished South Africa to become the eighth Australian to take 300 Test wickets. While Starc started the destruction on Wednesday evening, Cummins was relentless in finishing the job with the 14th five-wicket haul of his brilliant 68-Test career. The first paceman to captain Australia long-term, Cummins joins the country's greats in reaching 300 wickets. Shane Warne (708 wickets) and Glenn McGrath (563) sit one and two, while Cummins' teammates Nathan Lyon (553) and Mitchell Starc (384) are next in line. Dennis Lillee (355), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee (310) are the others to take more than 300. Out of those eight, only McGrath has a better average (21.64) than Cummins' 22.08. The 32-year-old also finished with the best figures by a captain at Lord's, bettering England's Bob Willis' 6-101 in 1982. One of Cummins' six victims was Kyle Verreynne, who had to go after being trapped lbw. As Cummins was pedalling backwards while appealing, he and Verreynne collided with each other and tumbled over. The umpire gave the South Africa wicketkeeper not out, but Cummins successfully appealed. David Bedingham (45) top scored for South Africa, while Proteas captain Temba Bavuma survived a controversial DRS decision. Adjudged lbw on 16 off Josh Hazlewood, Bavuma left it late to review, but eventually took the decision upstairs with four seconds remaining. Bedingham insisted South Africa were not burdened by the weight of history and the Proteas' dismal record in big ICC games. "There's a massive belief in this team," he said. "It's just an amazing chance. "We're all very excited about the opportunity to win." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. After another dramatic collapse, Australia's pace machine will need to bowl them to a famous victory as South Africa struck back in a pulsating World Test Championship final at Lord's. Having secured a first-innings lead of 74 thanks to a landmark 6-28 from captain Pat Cummins, Australia limped to 8-144 at stumps on Thursday in a decider that should be over well within three days. A frantic 45-minute collapse of 5-29 after tea on day two left the door ajar for the Proteas to pull off a monumental upset as they attempt to lift their first ICC trophy since 1998. The lead of 218 could already still be enough after South Africa were rolled for just 138 in their first innings. Only four teams have successfully chased a target of more than 200 in a Test at Lord's. "Happy we got 200," Cummins said. "Hopefully, we get another 20 or 30 in the morning, that'd be good. "That would give us a few more options to bowl, a few more aggressive fields. "Ideally we'd have a few more wickets in the shed. "We're going to have to still bowl well in the fourth innings." Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day. But wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43) and star quick Mitchell Starc (16no) were able to steady Australia late in the day. The pair put on a crucial 61-run stand, after the reigning WTC title holders had slumped to 7-73. Kagsio Rabada (3-44), however, had one last spell in him and was able to dismiss Carey for his eighth wicket of the Test. Starc was then dropped by towering Proteas quick Marco Jansen in the slips two balls before stumps. In seven overs of chaos after tea, unheralded Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi (3-33) steamrolled Australia's middle-order in stunning fashion to boost the chances of a boilover. Left-armer Jansen, who appeared to hurt his finger in the field, removed Marcus Labuschagne in the second failure of his first Test as an opener. Having not played a Test since September, Ngidi then took the prized wicket of Steve Smith, before taking care of Beau Webster and Cummins. Earlier, Cummins had demolished South Africa to become the eighth Australian to take 300 Test wickets. While Starc started the destruction on Wednesday evening, Cummins was relentless in finishing the job with the 14th five-wicket haul of his brilliant 68-Test career. The first paceman to captain Australia long-term, Cummins joins the country's greats in reaching 300 wickets. Shane Warne (708 wickets) and Glenn McGrath (563) sit one and two, while Cummins' teammates Nathan Lyon (553) and Mitchell Starc (384) are next in line. Dennis Lillee (355), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee (310) are the others to take more than 300. Out of those eight, only McGrath has a better average (21.64) than Cummins' 22.08. The 32-year-old also finished with the best figures by a captain at Lord's, bettering England's Bob Willis' 6-101 in 1982. One of Cummins' six victims was Kyle Verreynne, who had to go after being trapped lbw. As Cummins was pedalling backwards while appealing, he and Verreynne collided with each other and tumbled over. The umpire gave the South Africa wicketkeeper not out, but Cummins successfully appealed. David Bedingham (45) top scored for South Africa, while Proteas captain Temba Bavuma survived a controversial DRS decision. Adjudged lbw on 16 off Josh Hazlewood, Bavuma left it late to review, but eventually took the decision upstairs with four seconds remaining. Bedingham insisted South Africa were not burdened by the weight of history and the Proteas' dismal record in big ICC games. "There's a massive belief in this team," he said. "It's just an amazing chance. "We're all very excited about the opportunity to win." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Aussie teenager earns first podium in Diamond League
Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League. The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete. Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him. The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete. "I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said. "But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted. "I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me." Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m. The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15. "I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days." "I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building." Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs. Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20. Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most. Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish. Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April. Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen. "I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday." with Reuters Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League. The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete. Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him. The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete. "I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said. "But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted. "I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me." Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m. The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15. "I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days." "I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building." Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs. Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20. Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most. Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish. Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April. Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen. "I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday." with Reuters Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League. The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete. Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him. The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete. "I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said. "But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted. "I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me." Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m. The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15. "I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days." "I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building." Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs. Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20. Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most. Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish. Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April. Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen. "I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday." with Reuters Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League. The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete. Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him. The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete. "I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said. "But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted. "I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me." Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m. The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15. "I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days." "I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building." Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs. Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20. Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most. Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish. Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April. Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen. "I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday." with Reuters
