Latest news with #ACTBrumbies'
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Brumbies better prepared for Super title push: Hooper
Tom Hooper says the ACT Brumbies' push for the Super Rugby Pacific title has been years in the making and the team feels "far more prepared" than in previous semi-finals. The Brumbies will tackle the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday looking to end an Australian team hoodoo in New Zealand, where no side has ever won a Super knock-out game. The ACT side has now made the semis the last four seasons, since the competition added the Pacific element, but haven't been able to crack a place in the final and haven't won the title since 2004. Hooper, who has starred at both lock and blindside flanker, said the current crop of Brumbies faced this challenge with confidence after their seasons together. "It's all been building to a head for a long time now so we're very keen to take it one step further, take the learnings from the last three years and then take the learnings from games we've played this year," the 24-year-old said. "We're far more prepared, this group's been together for a long time and having the nucleus together for a fair chunk of this season has been really beneficial." The teams met in round three at FMG Stadium Waikato with the home side triumphant 49-34, however both scored six tries with the Chiefs' goal-kicking the difference. The Brumbies only trailed by five points before Anton Lienert-Brown locked down the result with a converted try in the 79th minute. The visitors were missing first-choice players Hooper, Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini, Tuaina Taii Tualima and David Feliua from that starting line-up. The Brumbies eliminated the Hurricanes to advance to the final four, with four of their five tries scored by their front-row, backing themselves to score each time they entered the 22m zone. "It's a huge advantage and we really pride ourselves on our 'A-zone' and I think we 100 per cent rate on the weekend and if we can do that against the Chiefs, it would be really great," Hooper said. "If I look back two years (2023 semi-final against the Chiefs), our conversion rate in A-zone was what lost us that game, ultimately." But Hooper said they weren't "one-trick ponies". "At the moment, we've been doing really well in our pick and go, but that doesn't mean we can't swing it out wide to Corey Toole and he can gas one over. "Any team that's going to win this competition has to have a few different weapons to their arsenal and we're definitely not a one-trick pony. "But that trick at the moment is working very well for us ... we'll keep going back to it, but we've got a few different weapons up our sleeve." Hooper is shifting his career to the UK, but he said he wasn't thinking this could be his last match in Brumbies colours. "We've got two grand finals left and we're going to pour absolutely everything into it as we fell short the last three years because we didn't," he said. "We're pouring everything into this one and then we'll pour everything into the next one and then after that we'll pour beers into the cup and drink out of it."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Brumbies better prepared for Super title push: Hooper
Tom Hooper says the ACT Brumbies' push for the Super Rugby Pacific title has been years in the making and the team feels "far more prepared" than in previous semi-finals. The Brumbies will tackle the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday looking to end an Australian team hoodoo in New Zealand, where no side has ever won a Super knock-out game. The ACT side has now made the semis the last four seasons, since the competition added the Pacific element, but haven't been able to crack a place in the final and haven't won the title since 2004. Hooper, who has starred at both lock and blindside flanker, said the current crop of Brumbies faced this challenge with confidence after their seasons together. "It's all been building to a head for a long time now so we're very keen to take it one step further, take the learnings from the last three years and then take the learnings from games we've played this year," the 24-year-old said. "We're far more prepared, this group's been together for a long time and having the nucleus together for a fair chunk of this season has been really beneficial." The teams met in round three at FMG Stadium Waikato with the home side triumphant 49-34, however both scored six tries with the Chiefs' goal-kicking the difference. The Brumbies only trailed by five points before Anton Lienert-Brown locked down the result with a converted try in the 79th minute. The visitors were missing first-choice players Hooper, Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini, Tuaina Taii Tualima and David Feliua from that starting line-up. The Brumbies eliminated the Hurricanes to advance to the final four, with four of their five tries scored by their front-row, backing themselves to score each time they entered the 22m zone. "It's a huge advantage and we really pride ourselves on our 'A-zone' and I think we 100 per cent rate on the weekend and if we can do that against the Chiefs, it would be really great," Hooper said. "If I look back two years (2023 semi-final against the Chiefs), our conversion rate in A-zone was what lost us that game, ultimately." But Hooper said they weren't "one-trick ponies". "At the moment, we've been doing really well in our pick and go, but that doesn't mean we can't swing it out wide to Corey Toole and he can gas one over. "Any team that's going to win this competition has to have a few different weapons to their arsenal and we're definitely not a one-trick pony. "But that trick at the moment is working very well for us ... we'll keep going back to it, but we've got a few different weapons up our sleeve." Hooper is shifting his career to the UK, but he said he wasn't thinking this could be his last match in Brumbies colours. "We've got two grand finals left and we're going to pour absolutely everything into it as we fell short the last three years because we didn't," he said. "We're pouring everything into this one and then we'll pour everything into the next one and then after that we'll pour beers into the cup and drink out of it."
The Advertiser
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Boost for Brumbies with star cleared of serious injury
Skipper Allan Alaalatoa has been cleared of serious injury in a major boost to the ladder-leading ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby Pacific title aspirations. The news is also a relief to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, with the experienced tighthead prop a certainty to face the touring British and Irish Lions, with the first Test in July. Alaalatoa was helped from the field soon after halftime in Canberra on Saturday night as the Brumbies trumped Queensland 24-14 to move to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was uncertain of the lower-leg issue but was hopeful that Alaalatoa, who missed the 2023 Rugby World Cup after rupturing his achilles, would be available for the Super finals. "He had a tight calf coming into halftime and it got a bit tighter when he was playing through that second-half," Larkham said post-match. The coach will likely have his wish, with scans on Monday clearing 31-year-old Alaalatoa of serious damage. "The Brumbies can confirm that captain Allan Alaalatoa underwent a scan on a lower leg injury after leaving the field during Saturday's fixture against the Reds at GIO Stadium," the Brumbies said in a statement."The results of the scan are favourable and show a low grade calf strain, which should have him return in the next couple of weeks." The Brumbies have a bye next week, then finish their regular season against the Crusaders, who are two points behind and level with the Chiefs in second. The Australian front-runners also have Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio sidelined after the five-eighth sustained a spinal injury earlier this month. Lolesio was also cleared of serious injury but no timeline has been provided for his return to play. Skipper Allan Alaalatoa has been cleared of serious injury in a major boost to the ladder-leading ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby Pacific title aspirations. The news is also a relief to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, with the experienced tighthead prop a certainty to face the touring British and Irish Lions, with the first Test in July. Alaalatoa was helped from the field soon after halftime in Canberra on Saturday night as the Brumbies trumped Queensland 24-14 to move to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was uncertain of the lower-leg issue but was hopeful that Alaalatoa, who missed the 2023 Rugby World Cup after rupturing his achilles, would be available for the Super finals. "He had a tight calf coming into halftime and it got a bit tighter when he was playing through that second-half," Larkham said post-match. The coach will likely have his wish, with scans on Monday clearing 31-year-old Alaalatoa of serious damage. "The Brumbies can confirm that captain Allan Alaalatoa underwent a scan on a lower leg injury after leaving the field during Saturday's fixture against the Reds at GIO Stadium," the Brumbies said in a statement."The results of the scan are favourable and show a low grade calf strain, which should have him return in the next couple of weeks." The Brumbies have a bye next week, then finish their regular season against the Crusaders, who are two points behind and level with the Chiefs in second. The Australian front-runners also have Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio sidelined after the five-eighth sustained a spinal injury earlier this month. Lolesio was also cleared of serious injury but no timeline has been provided for his return to play. Skipper Allan Alaalatoa has been cleared of serious injury in a major boost to the ladder-leading ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby Pacific title aspirations. The news is also a relief to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, with the experienced tighthead prop a certainty to face the touring British and Irish Lions, with the first Test in July. Alaalatoa was helped from the field soon after halftime in Canberra on Saturday night as the Brumbies trumped Queensland 24-14 to move to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was uncertain of the lower-leg issue but was hopeful that Alaalatoa, who missed the 2023 Rugby World Cup after rupturing his achilles, would be available for the Super finals. "He had a tight calf coming into halftime and it got a bit tighter when he was playing through that second-half," Larkham said post-match. The coach will likely have his wish, with scans on Monday clearing 31-year-old Alaalatoa of serious damage. "The Brumbies can confirm that captain Allan Alaalatoa underwent a scan on a lower leg injury after leaving the field during Saturday's fixture against the Reds at GIO Stadium," the Brumbies said in a statement."The results of the scan are favourable and show a low grade calf strain, which should have him return in the next couple of weeks." The Brumbies have a bye next week, then finish their regular season against the Crusaders, who are two points behind and level with the Chiefs in second. The Australian front-runners also have Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio sidelined after the five-eighth sustained a spinal injury earlier this month. Lolesio was also cleared of serious injury but no timeline has been provided for his return to play.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Boost for Brumbies with star cleared of serious injury
Skipper Allan Alaalatoa has been cleared of serious injury in a major boost to the ladder-leading ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby Pacific title aspirations. The news is also a relief to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, with the experienced tighthead prop a certainty to face the touring British and Irish Lions, with the first Test in July. Alaalatoa was helped from the field soon after halftime in Canberra on Saturday night as the Brumbies trumped Queensland 24-14 to move to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was uncertain of the lower-leg issue but was hopeful that Alaalatoa, who missed the 2023 Rugby World Cup after rupturing his achilles, would be available for the Super finals. "He had a tight calf coming into halftime and it got a bit tighter when he was playing through that second-half," Larkham said post-match. The coach will likely have his wish, with scans on Monday clearing 31-year-old Alaalatoa of serious damage. "The Brumbies can confirm that captain Allan Alaalatoa underwent a scan on a lower leg injury after leaving the field during Saturday's fixture against the Reds at GIO Stadium," the Brumbies said in a statement."The results of the scan are favourable and show a low grade calf strain, which should have him return in the next couple of weeks." The Brumbies have a bye next week, then finish their regular season against the Crusaders, who are two points behind and level with the Chiefs in second. The Australian front-runners also have Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio sidelined after the five-eighth sustained a spinal injury earlier this month. Lolesio was also cleared of serious injury but no timeline has been provided for his return to play.
The Age
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Brumbies win Super derby in Perth but Lolesio stretchered off with spinal injury
A spinal injury to Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio has overshadowed the ACT Brumbies' surge to an all-important Super Rugby Pacific home play-off. Lolesio was stretchered off wearing a neck brace, and in apparent extreme pain, midway through the first half of his Brumbies' 33-14 derby win over the Western Force in Perth. The Brumbies' and incumbent Australian No.10 was twisted in an accidental off-the-ball play while trying to repel a Force attack on his goal line in the 20th minute of Saturday night's derby. It was initially unclear if Lolesio had suffered a back, hip or leg injury in the incident. But Stan Sport's sideline commentator and former Wallabies star Cameron Shepherd said Lolesio had sustained a spinal injury. 'We don't want to speculate too much at the moment because there's a lot of scans and a lot of checks that need to be done,' Shepherd said. 'But the one small bit of good news is that he is moving his arms and legs. 'They have confirmed it is a spinal injury. At the moment, we just don't understand the severity.
