Latest news with #AUNZ
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
No final fond farewell: Wallabies legend Hooper out of Lions clash
It was revealed after the game that Mo'unga had spent three days in an oxygen chamber in the build-up to the showpiece game. Mo'unga went on to win player of the game and scored 13 points in an assured all-around performance, including the first try of the match. 'I knew it wasn't impossible to play this weekend, and obviously a final, it's a no-brainer really,' Mo'unga told media after the game. 'You want to give yourself the best chance to be part of something special.' Fellow New Zealand playmaker Beauden Barrett also suffered from a broken hand while playing for the Blues against the Brumbies in March, but returned a month later, giving Mo'unga hope of recovering to play at Adelaide Oval in six weeks. Mo'unga is keen to play in Adelaide and will be reviewed after Mo'unga, Frizell and TJ Perenara are all keen to represent the first combined Australian and New Zealand team since the 1989 Lions tour to Australia. That team mostly, filled with Australians, lost 15-19 to the Lions. Only three New Zealanders, prop Steve McDowall, centre Frano Botica and fullback Kieran Crowley made the team. RA are working with insurers and the New Zealanders' Japanese clubs to greenlight their selection in the squad, which will be led by future Wallabies' coach Les Kiss. In March, RA's director of high-performance Peter Horne confirmed to this masthead that the games outside of the series needed to be competitive and Wallabies could feature in both the AUNZ and First Nations/Pasifika games. Most players in both squads are set to be local players. 'And then we have an approach where we want to make sure that our provincial games are competitive, and we're putting out good quality teams,' Horne said. 'The same goes for those AUNZ and also the First Nations/Pasifika games. So, if there are players that are in the Wallabies squad, and we think that it's in their best interest to have game time, then they'll be made available. Former Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia played their final games in Japan League One. Their futures in rugby are unclear. Last month, Genia was asked by former England and Lions halfback Ben Youngs on the For the Love of Rugby podcast whether he would be keen to play for either the AUNZ or First Nations and Pasifika selections in the Lions series. 'I'd love to put my hand up for both teams, the ANZAC XV and the Pacific Island team,' Genia said.
The Age
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
No final fond farewell: Wallabies legend Hooper out of Lions clash
It was revealed after the game that Mo'unga had spent three days in an oxygen chamber in the build-up to the showpiece game. Mo'unga went on to win player of the game and scored 13 points in an assured all-around performance, including the first try of the match. 'I knew it wasn't impossible to play this weekend, and obviously a final, it's a no-brainer really,' Mo'unga told media after the game. 'You want to give yourself the best chance to be part of something special.' Fellow New Zealand playmaker Beauden Barrett also suffered from a broken hand while playing for the Blues against the Brumbies in March, but returned a month later, giving Mo'unga hope of recovering to play at Adelaide Oval in six weeks. Mo'unga is keen to play in Adelaide and will be reviewed after Mo'unga, Frizell and TJ Perenara are all keen to represent the first combined Australian and New Zealand team since the 1989 Lions tour to Australia. That team mostly, filled with Australians, lost 15-19 to the Lions. Only three New Zealanders, prop Steve McDowall, centre Frano Botica and fullback Kieran Crowley made the team. RA are working with insurers and the New Zealanders' Japanese clubs to greenlight their selection in the squad, which will be led by future Wallabies' coach Les Kiss. In March, RA's director of high-performance Peter Horne confirmed to this masthead that the games outside of the series needed to be competitive and Wallabies could feature in both the AUNZ and First Nations/Pasifika games. Most players in both squads are set to be local players. 'And then we have an approach where we want to make sure that our provincial games are competitive, and we're putting out good quality teams,' Horne said. 'The same goes for those AUNZ and also the First Nations/Pasifika games. So, if there are players that are in the Wallabies squad, and we think that it's in their best interest to have game time, then they'll be made available. Former Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia played their final games in Japan League One. Their futures in rugby are unclear. Last month, Genia was asked by former England and Lions halfback Ben Youngs on the For the Love of Rugby podcast whether he would be keen to play for either the AUNZ or First Nations and Pasifika selections in the Lions series. 'I'd love to put my hand up for both teams, the ANZAC XV and the Pacific Island team,' Genia said.
