Latest news with #Crusaders
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
In rare rugby air, Tokyo Olympian relishes clarity
Now in rare rugby air, it's no wonder Lachie Anderson has a sense of clarity. The Tokyo Olympian and rugby sevens convert joined an exclusive Super Rugby group in Saturday's final round of the regular season when he crossed four times for the Queensland Reds. His extraordinary first-half effort is a Reds record in the professional era. Wallabies stars Joe Roff (Brumbies, 1996) and Drew Mitchell (Waratahs, 2010) are the only other Australians to replicate the feat. A potential ankle injury to fellow winger Tim Ryan may make the process simpler for coach Les Kiss. But in a team brimming with backline talent, Anderson's haul against the helpless Fijian Drua was a strong case for retention on the wing in Friday's quarter-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Fellow sevens convert Corey Toole is loudly pushing his case for Test honours in Canberra with the ACT Brumbies. This was the centre stage moment for the underrated 27-year-old Melbourne Rebels recruit, where he had moved to in 2020 and played 35 games before the club was shuttered last year. "It's amazing what clarity on your future can do," Anderson said. "It wasn't easy in Melbourne and what the club went through. Unless you were there and living it you don't now how tough that was. "The unknown; it's tough. Blokes with kids in schools, partners with jobs and you didn't know what it would be like in six months. "To come up here to this program, have clarity to focus on rugby ... I'm really enjoying it." Anderson scored three times inside 10 minutes then had a fourth when in-form flyhalf Tom Lynagh assisted again with a calm cross-field kick to his corner. "I didn't know (about the record)," he said. "You're in the thick of it, don't think too much about it but didn't know the stats on it anyway. "It's a great feeling, to be on the back end of some of that stuff and when you train those moves at training and a few come off. "You always need a bit of luck in this game and I got a bit of it." The Reds, who were on top of the ladder barely a month ago, finished fifth and will need to beat the second-placed Crusaders to earn a spot in a semi-final. The Crusaders inflicted the biggest defeat - 43-19 - on the Reds this season when they met in March. "The belief we've got, across the whole squad, in all positions," Anderson said. "We've been tested on that front and everyone has belief. It gives confidence about how far we can go." Now in rare rugby air, it's no wonder Lachie Anderson has a sense of clarity. The Tokyo Olympian and rugby sevens convert joined an exclusive Super Rugby group in Saturday's final round of the regular season when he crossed four times for the Queensland Reds. His extraordinary first-half effort is a Reds record in the professional era. Wallabies stars Joe Roff (Brumbies, 1996) and Drew Mitchell (Waratahs, 2010) are the only other Australians to replicate the feat. A potential ankle injury to fellow winger Tim Ryan may make the process simpler for coach Les Kiss. But in a team brimming with backline talent, Anderson's haul against the helpless Fijian Drua was a strong case for retention on the wing in Friday's quarter-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Fellow sevens convert Corey Toole is loudly pushing his case for Test honours in Canberra with the ACT Brumbies. This was the centre stage moment for the underrated 27-year-old Melbourne Rebels recruit, where he had moved to in 2020 and played 35 games before the club was shuttered last year. "It's amazing what clarity on your future can do," Anderson said. "It wasn't easy in Melbourne and what the club went through. Unless you were there and living it you don't now how tough that was. "The unknown; it's tough. Blokes with kids in schools, partners with jobs and you didn't know what it would be like in six months. "To come up here to this program, have clarity to focus on rugby ... I'm really enjoying it." Anderson scored three times inside 10 minutes then had a fourth when in-form flyhalf Tom Lynagh assisted again with a calm cross-field kick to his corner. "I didn't know (about the record)," he said. "You're in the thick of it, don't think too much about it but didn't know the stats on it anyway. "It's a great feeling, to be on the back end of some of that stuff and when you train those moves at training and a few come off. "You always need a bit of luck in this game and I got a bit of it." The Reds, who were on top of the ladder barely a month ago, finished fifth and will need to beat the second-placed Crusaders to earn a spot in a semi-final. The Crusaders inflicted the biggest defeat - 43-19 - on the Reds this season when they met in March. "The belief we've got, across the whole squad, in all positions," Anderson said. "We've been tested on that front and everyone has belief. It gives confidence about how far we can go." Now in rare rugby air, it's no wonder Lachie Anderson has a sense of clarity. The Tokyo Olympian and rugby sevens convert joined an exclusive Super Rugby group in Saturday's final round of the regular season when he crossed four times for the Queensland Reds. His extraordinary first-half effort is a Reds record in the professional era. Wallabies stars Joe Roff (Brumbies, 1996) and Drew Mitchell (Waratahs, 2010) are the only other Australians to replicate the feat. A potential ankle injury to fellow winger Tim Ryan may make the process simpler for coach Les Kiss. But in a team brimming with backline talent, Anderson's haul against the helpless Fijian Drua was a strong case for retention on the wing in Friday's quarter-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Fellow sevens convert Corey Toole is loudly pushing his case for Test honours in Canberra with the ACT Brumbies. This was the centre stage moment for the underrated 27-year-old Melbourne Rebels recruit, where he had moved to in 2020 and played 35 games before the club was shuttered last year. "It's amazing what clarity on your future can do," Anderson said. "It wasn't easy in Melbourne and what the club went through. Unless you were there and living it you don't now how tough that was. "The unknown; it's tough. Blokes with kids in schools, partners with jobs and you didn't know what it would be like in six months. "To come up here to this program, have clarity to focus on rugby ... I'm really enjoying it." Anderson scored three times inside 10 minutes then had a fourth when in-form flyhalf Tom Lynagh assisted again with a calm cross-field kick to his corner. "I didn't know (about the record)," he said. "You're in the thick of it, don't think too much about it but didn't know the stats on it anyway. "It's a great feeling, to be on the back end of some of that stuff and when you train those moves at training and a few come off. "You always need a bit of luck in this game and I got a bit of it." The Reds, who were on top of the ladder barely a month ago, finished fifth and will need to beat the second-placed Crusaders to earn a spot in a semi-final. The Crusaders inflicted the biggest defeat - 43-19 - on the Reds this season when they met in March. "The belief we've got, across the whole squad, in all positions," Anderson said. "We've been tested on that front and everyone has belief. It gives confidence about how far we can go."
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Wilson in frame as Reds assess injury damage for finals
Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of the sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. Liam Wright, Matt Faessler, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Massimo De Lutiis and Alex Hodgman are among the key Reds on their swollen injury list. Enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday. With McLaughlin-Phillips sidelined it's likely Lynagh will need to clock on for an 80-minute shift. The Wallabies hopeful, in silky form against the Drua, is confident the side can hold their nerve and upset the Crusaders. "We're just going to play how we want to play and won't let the occasion dictate that," the No.10 said. The Reds were well beaten in Christchurch earlier this season and blown away in last year's quarter-final loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton. "Just play smart footy ... when things don't go our way, get little wins and try to stack them rather than have those errors back to back," Lynagh said of how they'll attempt to control the contest in enemy territory. "We've got belief to turn it around if things aren't going our way. "We've come a long way and added some good additions." Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor has excelled as a replacement No.10 after shifting to the Crusaders this year. The Wallabies veteran is back in the conversation for Test honours ahead of the British and Irish Lions series after wearing the No.10 against the tourists 12 years ago. "I haven't heard from him in a couple of weeks, but it'll be good to come up against him again," Lynagh, who counted O'Connor as a mentor when he arrived at Ballymore, said. The son of Wallabies great Michael is bidding to make history, with no Australian father-son combination yet to run out against the British and Irish Lions. "I want to take care of the Reds' season first," Lynagh said of his aspirations. "The deeper you go, the better opportunity and more time to show what you've got, but I want to take care of what's in front of us at the moment." Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of the sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. Liam Wright, Matt Faessler, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Massimo De Lutiis and Alex Hodgman are among the key Reds on their swollen injury list. Enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday. With McLaughlin-Phillips sidelined it's likely Lynagh will need to clock on for an 80-minute shift. The Wallabies hopeful, in silky form against the Drua, is confident the side can hold their nerve and upset the Crusaders. "We're just going to play how we want to play and won't let the occasion dictate that," the No.10 said. The Reds were well beaten in Christchurch earlier this season and blown away in last year's quarter-final loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton. "Just play smart footy ... when things don't go our way, get little wins and try to stack them rather than have those errors back to back," Lynagh said of how they'll attempt to control the contest in enemy territory. "We've got belief to turn it around if things aren't going our way. "We've come a long way and added some good additions." Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor has excelled as a replacement No.10 after shifting to the Crusaders this year. The Wallabies veteran is back in the conversation for Test honours ahead of the British and Irish Lions series after wearing the No.10 against the tourists 12 years ago. "I haven't heard from him in a couple of weeks, but it'll be good to come up against him again," Lynagh, who counted O'Connor as a mentor when he arrived at Ballymore, said. The son of Wallabies great Michael is bidding to make history, with no Australian father-son combination yet to run out against the British and Irish Lions. "I want to take care of the Reds' season first," Lynagh said of his aspirations. "The deeper you go, the better opportunity and more time to show what you've got, but I want to take care of what's in front of us at the moment." Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of the sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. Liam Wright, Matt Faessler, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Massimo De Lutiis and Alex Hodgman are among the key Reds on their swollen injury list. Enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday. With McLaughlin-Phillips sidelined it's likely Lynagh will need to clock on for an 80-minute shift. The Wallabies hopeful, in silky form against the Drua, is confident the side can hold their nerve and upset the Crusaders. "We're just going to play how we want to play and won't let the occasion dictate that," the No.10 said. The Reds were well beaten in Christchurch earlier this season and blown away in last year's quarter-final loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton. "Just play smart footy ... when things don't go our way, get little wins and try to stack them rather than have those errors back to back," Lynagh said of how they'll attempt to control the contest in enemy territory. "We've got belief to turn it around if things aren't going our way. "We've come a long way and added some good additions." Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor has excelled as a replacement No.10 after shifting to the Crusaders this year. The Wallabies veteran is back in the conversation for Test honours ahead of the British and Irish Lions series after wearing the No.10 against the tourists 12 years ago. "I haven't heard from him in a couple of weeks, but it'll be good to come up against him again," Lynagh, who counted O'Connor as a mentor when he arrived at Ballymore, said. The son of Wallabies great Michael is bidding to make history, with no Australian father-son combination yet to run out against the British and Irish Lions. "I want to take care of the Reds' season first," Lynagh said of his aspirations. "The deeper you go, the better opportunity and more time to show what you've got, but I want to take care of what's in front of us at the moment."
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wilson in frame as Reds assess injury damage for finals
Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of Friday's sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. In brighter news, enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return from injury for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday.
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Wilson in frame as Reds assess injury damage for finals
Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of Friday's sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. In brighter news, enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return from injury for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Wilson in frame as Reds assess injury damage for finals
Injured on Saturday, Harry Wilson is still a chance to play in the Queensland Reds' quarter-final. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' quarter-final in Christchurch. But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season. Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season. Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of Friday's sudden-death clash. Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips. In brighter news, enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return from injury for the clash. The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday.
