Latest news with #Castres
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Champion de Crespigny 'a psycho who loves contact'
Australia fans might have been expecting a Wallabies enforcer with Top14 experience to make an impact this series. But instead of La Rochelle lock forward Will Skelton, who is out injured, in comes flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny who joined Western Force from starts in the six shirt on Saturday, hoping to hit the ground running on his Wallabies something we've seen on previous Lions tours. A certain Israel Folau scored two tries on debut in 2013 and lock Justin Harrison went on to break Lions' hearts with the crucial line-out steal in the third Test in de Crespigny has been described by Skelton as "a weapon, a gun and a tough so-and-so", by Fraser McReight as "a psycho who loves contact" and by his coach Joe Schmidt as "a real galvaniser of action".He starts alongside McReight at seven and captain Harry Wilson at eight in the absence of one of their most effective carriers Rob Valetini - who had started 47 of 50 matches before the recent Fiji Test.''Bobby V (as he's affectionately known) is a massive loss,'' says Wilson. ''He's been one of the in-form players in world rugby for quite a long period now.''We've all had to up our workload with Bobby out. He takes the tough carries for us week in, week out. You appreciate a bloke who can take on two or three people and get front-foot ball."It's not ideal when you're missing a player like him so everyone has to pick up 10%. But we're confident and in a very good place.''Schmidt confirmed that Valetini and Skelton will both be available for selection for next week's second Test in Wallabies may be understrength on paper, but they'll sure be inspired.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Harry Potter to start for Wallabies against British Lions
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt backed Nick Champion de Crespigny to be the team's 'roving scavenger' on Thursday after handing him a shock debut in the opening British and Irish Lions Test at Brisbane. Kick-off on Saturday is at 12:00 (SA time). Hard man Champion De Crespigny, who spent three seasons at French side Castres before moving to the Western Force this year, gets his chance on Saturday with first-choice blindside flanker Rob Valetini not fully fit. His elevation is an eye-opener, preferred to Tom Hooper, but Schmidt said he had no doubt about his abilities. 'I keep an eye on the Top 14 having coached there many years ago,' said Schmidt. 'Obviously Nick was playing for Castres and they'd been a high-performing team and so when he decided to come back he was immediately on the radar. 'The good thing with Nick, he's a good line-out option … he is probably a bit more of a roving scavenger than 'Bobby V', who in the past has been a big ball-carrier for us, and so he'll compliment Fraser [McReight] in that respect.' He will pack down with skipper Harry Wilson and McReight in the back row, tasked with dominating the breakdown. A head knock to Dave Porecki against Fiji opened the door to Matt Faessler's return as starting hooker, alongside veteran props Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper. Slipper joins George Smith as the only players to feature for the Wallabies in back-to-back Lions series in the professional era. With Will Skelton failing to shake off a calf injury, Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost retain their positions at lock. Like Champion de Crespigny, Tom Lynagh has also leapt up the pecking order and will start at flyhalf, adding to his three caps, all as a substitute. He will wear the No 10 shirt against the Lions 36 years after his World Cup-winning father Michael – a long-time Wallabies flyhalf and trusty kicker – did the same on their 1989 visit. Ben Donaldson was initially seen as favourite to be playmaker when Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the series after a nasty neck injury during Australia's lacklustre 21-18 win over Fiji this month – the Wallabies' only warm-up Test. While he made the bench, there was no room for veteran James O'Connor, who started all three Tests at flyhalf when Australia last hosted the tourists in 2013. 'I'm really excited for Tom,' said Schmidt. 'You wouldn't think that he's necessarily designed to run a game and dictate what's happening, but he does have a quiet confidence. 'He's fitted in really well this week, he has given us the confidence and the players the confidence that he's going to run the game really well for us.' Jake Gordon is the preferred scrumhalf while Len Ikitau partners dynamic Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the centres. Max Jorgensen is on the left wing, Harry Potter on the right and Tom Wright at fullback. 'The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what's going to be a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team,' said Schmidt. 'With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly from the performance we had against Fiji recently.' Australia are heavy underdogs against a Lions side who have won all five tour matches so far. 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Nick Champion de Grespigny, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Matt Daessler, 1 James Slipper Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
France 24
6 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Champion De Crespigny handed surprise Wallabies debut in Lions Test
Hard man Champion De Crespigny, who spent three seasons at French side Castres before moving to Western Force this year, gets his chance on Saturday with first-choice blindside flanker Rob Valetini not fully fit. His elevation is an eye-opener, preferred to Tom Hooper and Langi Gleeson. Lynagh has also leapt up the pecking order and will add to his three caps, all as a substitute. He will wear the No.10 shirt against the Lions 36 years after his World Cup-winning father Michael -- a long-time Wallabies fly-half and trusty kicker -- did the same on their 1989 visit. Ben Donaldson was initially seen as favourite to be playmaker when Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the series after a nasty neck injury during Australia's lacklustre 21-18 win over Fiji this month -- the Wallabies' only warm-up Test. While he made the bench, there was no room for veteran James O'Connor, who started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the tourists in 2013. Harry Wilson retains the captaincy and will pack down in the back row with Champion De Crespigny and Fraser McReight, tasked with dominating the breakdown. 'Massive challenge' A head knock to Dave Porecki against Fiji opened the door to Matt Faessler's return as starting hooker in a front row alongside veterans Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper. Slipper joins George Smith as the only players to feature for the Wallabies in back-to-back Lions series in the professional era. With Will Skelton failing to shake off a calf injury, Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost retain their positions at lock. Jake Gordon is the preferred scrum-half while Len Ikitau partners dynamic Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the centres. Max Jorgensen is on the left wing, Harry Potter on the right and Tom Wright at fullback. "The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what's going to be a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team," said Schmidt. "With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly from the performance we had against Fiji recently. "We're very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field." Australia are heavy underdogs against a Lions side who have won all five tour matches so far. Lions head coach Andy Farrell names his team later Thursday. Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Nick Champion de Grespigny; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost; Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Daessler, James Slipper
Sydney Morning Herald
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Impeccable pedigree, but Nick Champion de Crespigny will bring mongrel against Lions
Arriving at Sydney University as an economics student in 2015, Champion de Crespigny had to make a choice and plumped for the rugby club. His decision was vindicated two years later when he won the Shute Shield playing alongside Wallabies Harry Potter and Jake Gordon. After graduating, Champion de Crespigny found work in property development while trying and ultimately failing to nail down a spot with the Waratahs. An offer to play as a full-time professional in France with Castres eventually followed, and the back-rower moved to the country of his forefathers. Castres is home to just over 40,000 people, and most of them are well-acquainted with the town's rugby team. Champion de Crespigny embraced life in France, helping his new side defeat an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse in the Top 14 semi-finals in 2022 before playing in front of 78,245 fans at the Stade de France in the final against eventual champions Montpellier. In front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, Champion de Crespigny will face the toughest challenge of his professional career when the Force go head-to-head with the Lions in the tourists' first match on Australian soil. 'I actually reflect most days. I had the privilege of not having the most linear path to professional rugby and I really appreciate it,' Champion de Crespigny said. ' I remember labouring during the day, training at night, and studying, and then getting up at 6am to get to the gym before having to go work in the city for another day. 'I've seen the other side of life where you're trying to balance it all, so I think every single day, wow, this is amazing. This week's been a bit of a whirlwind with everything going on. But I'm starting to really get excited and sit back and go, what a journey it's been.' One of Champion de Crespigny's possible opponents on Saturday, Pierre Schoeman, is reflecting on his own unique journey to the Lions series. The prop moved from South Africa to Scotland seven years ago and qualified for his adopted country three years later. Schoeman played for South Africa's under-20s, but has now fully embraced life as part of the British and Irish Lions squad. 'Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself, I know other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home, you embrace that, you fully take that on,' Schoeman said. Loading 'It's like the movie Outlander, you move to a different country, and now that's your house, you live there. If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you're going to go for them and you can really make that home. 'But this is much different. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that, nothing else matters.'
The Age
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Impeccable pedigree, but Nick Champion de Crespigny will bring mongrel against Lions
Arriving at Sydney University as an economics student in 2015, Champion de Crespigny had to make a choice and plumped for the rugby club. His decision was vindicated two years later when he won the Shute Shield playing alongside Wallabies Harry Potter and Jake Gordon. After graduating, Champion de Crespigny found work in property development while trying and ultimately failing to nail down a spot with the Waratahs. An offer to play as a full-time professional in France with Castres eventually followed, and the back-rower moved to the country of his forefathers. Castres is home to just over 40,000 people, and most of them are well-acquainted with the town's rugby team. Champion de Crespigny embraced life in France, helping his new side defeat an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse in the Top 14 semi-finals in 2022 before playing in front of 78,245 fans at the Stade de France in the final against eventual champions Montpellier. In front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, Champion de Crespigny will face the toughest challenge of his professional career when the Force go head-to-head with the Lions in the tourists' first match on Australian soil. 'I actually reflect most days. I had the privilege of not having the most linear path to professional rugby and I really appreciate it,' Champion de Crespigny said. ' I remember labouring during the day, training at night, and studying, and then getting up at 6am to get to the gym before having to go work in the city for another day. 'I've seen the other side of life where you're trying to balance it all, so I think every single day, wow, this is amazing. This week's been a bit of a whirlwind with everything going on. But I'm starting to really get excited and sit back and go, what a journey it's been.' One of Champion de Crespigny's possible opponents on Saturday, Pierre Schoeman, is reflecting on his own unique journey to the Lions series. The prop moved from South Africa to Scotland seven years ago and qualified for his adopted country three years later. Schoeman played for South Africa's under-20s, but has now fully embraced life as part of the British and Irish Lions squad. 'Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself, I know other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home, you embrace that, you fully take that on,' Schoeman said. Loading 'It's like the movie Outlander, you move to a different country, and now that's your house, you live there. If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you're going to go for them and you can really make that home. 'But this is much different. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that, nothing else matters.'
