Latest news with #AndrewKellaway
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Waratahs' Super Rugby finals hopes crushed in ugly thrashing by Blues
The NSW Waratahs' season of promise has ended in despair with an ugly, record-breaking 46-6 Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Blues in Auckland. The Waratahs needed to defeat the defending champions for the first time at Eden Park in 16 years to keep their finals hopes alive. Instead, Dan McKellar's depleted side copped a seven-tries-to-nil drubbing at New Zealand rugby's burial ground on Saturday. For the opening half an hour, a famous victory looked possible - until the wheels fell off in a sorry, anticlimactic conclusion to what had been the Waratahs' best start to a Super campaign since 2009. But a disastrous, coach-killing four-minute lapse before the interval ultimately cruelled the dreamy visitors before the Blues ran amok with four tries in a second-half clinic. Despite being without injured stars Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, skipper Jake Gordon and flankers Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble, the Waratahs were right in the must-win game for both sides after rookie flyhalf Jack Bowen slotted a 34th-minute penalty goal to reduce the deficit to four points. Playing with spirit, as they should with their season on the line, the Tahs had winger Andrew Kellaway and rookie scrumhalf Teddy Wilson to thank for desperate try-saving tackles to stay in the contest. But a Bowen blunder, when he slipped and failed to find touch for a clearing kick, and a touch of magic from two-time world player of the player Beauden Barrett blew the game wide open for the Blues in a twinkling. Two tries in three minutes to brilliant centre Rieko Ioane, the second after the halftime siren when Waratahs opposite Henry O'Donnell couldn't handle a probing kick from Barrett near halfway, suddenly extended the Blues' tenuous lead from 10-6 to 24-6. There was no coming back for the Waratahs when fullback Corey Evans strolled over untouched shortly after the break to extend the Blues' lead to 31-6. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion The Blues' sixth try, to hooker Ricky Riccitelli, was more than academic. It virtually secured a precious bonus point to pile the pressure on Moana Pasifika to produce a similar victory later on Saturday against the Hurricanes in Wellington to deny Vern Cotter's side a place in the finals. The hosts' seventh five-pointer was more significant to Ioane, who equalled All Blacks great Doug Howlett's Blues try-scoring record with 55 after beating three Waratahs defenders to another menacing Barrett kick. The Blues' biggest-ever victory margin over the Waratahs did not look likely when Bowen's two first-half penalties almost wiped out Mark Tele'a's 11th-minute try and then Ioane's first strike off a deft AJ Lam grubber. But an hour later and the Blues were anxiously awaiting their finals fate, needing the fourth-placed Hurricanes to deny Moana an unlikely bonus-point triumph away in the NZ capital to push the title-holders through to the play-offs.
The Age
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Super Rugby LIVE: Waratahs take on Force with their season of the line
Latest posts Latest posts 7.14pm Andrew Kellaway out for Waratahs Some late team news, Andrew Kellaway is out, with the Wallabies utility back switching out with Darby Lancaster who gets another chance on the wing after a difficult night in defence for the Waratahs. There's a direct showdown between former Waratahs' playmaker Ben Donaldson and the current man in possession of the jersey, Tane Edmed. Taniela Tupou gets his first start after coming off the bench for the last five games for the Waratahs, expect the tighthead to make Fatongia Paea's night as difficult as possible in the set piece. The Force can't qualify for the finals in Super Rugby, but they have the first game against the British and Irish Lions and many of their team including breakaway Carlos Tizzano and winger Harry Potter will be desperate to book their place in Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt's extended Test squad. 6.58pm How the Waratahs are lining up 6.58pm Can the Tahs make finals? 6.58pm It's all on the line tonight Good evening rugby fans. It's Jonathan Drennan, and I will be guiding you through tonight's action in Perth. There is rarely a dull day on the Waratahs' beat and here we are on the penultimate game of the season against the Force. Last season, the Waratahs would be well in with a chance of playing finals, but this year, with the number of slots down from eight to six, they must win in Perth. If they win against the Force, they then must win against the Blues in Auckland and also hope that Moana Pasifika lose against the Hurricanes. None of this is impossible, but it's going to be a hell of a job for a team that hasn't won on the road this year. There were some strong words from coach Dan McKellar and captain Jake Gordon after last week's defeat against the Crusaders and a tough review at training. Will it be enough to inspire this Waratahs team? We will soon find out.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Super Rugby LIVE: Waratahs take on Force with their season of the line
Latest posts Latest posts 7.14pm Andrew Kellaway out for Waratahs Some late team news, Andrew Kellaway is out, with the Wallabies utility back switching out with Darby Lancaster who gets another chance on the wing after a difficult night in defence for the Waratahs. There's a direct showdown between former Waratahs' playmaker Ben Donaldson and the current man in possession of the jersey, Tane Edmed. Taniela Tupou gets his first start after coming off the bench for the last five games for the Waratahs, expect the tighthead to make Fatongia Paea's night as difficult as possible in the set piece. The Force can't qualify for the finals in Super Rugby, but they have the first game against the British and Irish Lions and many of their team including breakaway Carlos Tizzano and winger Harry Potter will be desperate to book their place in Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt's extended Test squad. 6.58pm How the Waratahs are lining up 6.58pm Can the Tahs make finals? 6.58pm It's all on the line tonight Good evening rugby fans. It's Jonathan Drennan, and I will be guiding you through tonight's action in Perth. There is rarely a dull day on the Waratahs' beat and here we are on the penultimate game of the season against the Force. Last season, the Waratahs would be well in with a chance of playing finals, but this year, with the number of slots down from eight to six, they must win in Perth. If they win against the Force, they then must win against the Blues in Auckland and also hope that Moana Pasifika lose against the Hurricanes. None of this is impossible, but it's going to be a hell of a job for a team that hasn't won on the road this year. There were some strong words from coach Dan McKellar and captain Jake Gordon after last week's defeat against the Crusaders and a tough review at training. Will it be enough to inspire this Waratahs team? We will soon find out.
CNA
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Suaalii to miss Waratahs' clash with Crusaders due to concussion
Australia winger Joseph Suaalii will miss New South Wales Waratahs' Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Canterbury Crusaders next week due to concussion after he was stretchered off in his side's 28-21 loss to the Queensland Reds on Friday. Suaalii sustained a blow to the head just before halftime when he collided with teammate Andrew Kellaway at Sydney Football Stadium, but Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said the 21-year-old had not required hospitalisation after the incident. "We've got access to vision and the analyst told me pretty quickly that he'd got a knee to the head," McKellar told Australian media. "The medical staff were on there quickly and gave him the support that he needed. "He's with his mum and dad now back home, so he'll be OK. Obviously he just gave everyone a fright; you don't want to see any player down on the ground, knocked out." Suaalii joined the Waratahs this season after making a high-profile switch from rugby league's Sydney Roosters and is expected to feature prominently when Australia take on the British and Irish Lions in July and August.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joseph Suaalii KOd in frightening friendly fire collision
Joseph Suaalii left Allianz Stadium on a stretcher on Friday night after an ugly incident involving teammate Andrew Kellaway left him knocked out. Play stopped and a hush fell over the stadium shortly before half-time in the Waratahs' match against the Queensland Reds after the rugby convert went to the ground. Replays showed he was hit in the head accidentally by the knee of Kellaway and was knocked out. You can watch the scary KO in the player above. Suaalii spent a lengthy period receiving medical attention on the ground before he was eventually taken from the field on a medicab. The full extent of his injury remains unclear. 'I think it looks like a head knock,' Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. 'I haven't seen him yet. It's a head knock that made him fairly groggy.' The Waratahs went on to lose 28-21 to the Reds in Sydney.
