Latest news with #FijianDrua
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.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Five lessons from Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua matches at the weekend
Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua Photo: supplied It wasn't the ending Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua would have wanted. On Saturday night, the two Pasifika teams lost their final Super Rugby Pacific matches for the season. Moana were thrashed 64-12 by the Hurricanes in front of just over 20,000 fans at the Sky Stadium. It was a match they needed to win to claim a sixth-place finish in the competition. But they were not able to withstand the Hurricanes' pressure, and lost out of getting into the quarterfinals. However, they finished seventh for the first time in the competition since 2022, the year they made their debut. In Brisbane, the Fijian Drua went down 52-7 to the Queensland Reds. So what went wrong? What could the teams learn from their respective encounters? Are there lessons they can take forward to 2026? Here are five lessons from the team's performances. There were some who said Moana Pasifika might have peaked early, with their best effort coming against the Blues a month ago. That argument comes in light of the team's big losses to the Chiefs and the Hurricanes in the last two weekends. Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium on Saturday 24 May 2025. Photo: Jeremy Ward Did they peak early? Assistant coach Stephen Jones believes they had prepared well for both matches and just could not click on the day. He said both the Chiefs and the Hurricanes were just too superior and suffocated Moana Pasifika. Did the two teams suffer from the lack of mental toughness? It was a question both head coaches, Drua's Glen Jackson and Moana's Fa'alogo Tana Umaga, were asked now and then. How are their players handling the pressure? Would they come back from losses they had suffered and be ready for their next matches? Both teams showed a lot of promise early in the season and while the Drua struggled from the midway mark, Moana Pasifika showed they had a lot in their tank and won six matches. But the North Harbour-based side struggled against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. To many, it looked as if the side had not been able to handle the high of winning against the Blues. The Drua had a 'on and off' season, winning one and then losing three on the road. One thing both sides had in common was the fact that a lot of their players were still new to Super Rugby. It showed. Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua Photo: supplied One of the standouts is the fact that most of the players in both teams still need a lot of game time. They need to be playing throughout the season, in competition that will make them seasoned campaigners. Drua's Jackson said they will also look at those local players in Fiji playing in the Skipper Cup competition. He lamented earlier that the majority of his players are not able to play in the New Zealand National Provincial Championship (NPC). Moana Pasifika, on the other hand, have a number of young players in the NPC. They all need to be getting games consistently. One of the biggest problems for both teams has been the injuries suffered by some of their key players. It proved to be critical in their campaign for the top six. What will it mean moving forward? How can the two teams ensure their players are injury-free for the season they are needed for? It is an ongoing issue that they both will have to work on moving into the new season. Moana Pasifika fans, crowd and supporters, Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, round 16 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Photo: Photosport / Elias Rodriguez With some players confirmed to leave both clubs, it would be critical that new recruits are secured. Not just new recruits but those who can be identified as key players who can help both clubs improve. There have been talks of some star players joining Moana Pasifika, following the inspirational Ardie Savea. Whether the club will have the resources to do that is another story. With almost seven months to go before the pre-season begins again, it is therefore important that both teams get their talent identification going early. One thing is certain though: both the Drua and Moana Pasifika are here to stay and have key roles to play in keeping Super Rugby Pacific going.
