Latest news with #JosephSuaalii
Reuters
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Wallabies look to get Suaalii more involved in second Lions test
MELBOURNE, July 22 (Reuters) - Joseph Suaalii's Australia centre partner Len Ikitau is hoping to get the rugby league convert involved in the game earlier and more often in the second test against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday. Suaalii made an explosive entry into test rugby against England last November but was a bit part player as the Wallabies were dominated by the Lions for the first hour of the 27-19 loss in Brisbane last week. Inside centre Ikitau took the crash ball option more often than not in the face of a fierce Lions rush defence with the result that Suaalii received very little clean possession to exploit. "We've only played a handful of games together but it's just trying to understand in what places he'd like to get the ball and kind of just feeding off each other," Ikitau told reporters on Tuesday. "I felt like I didn't really get him into the game as early as I wanted, but that's a lot of learnings that I can take moving forward." Suaalii was not the only Australian back who struggled to get his hands on the ball in the first half of the series opener with talented right winger Max Jorgensen restricted to a couple of touches before he scored a try off a box kick. "We knew there were opportunities with their line speed and how they wanted to attack us in defence, but I think just being able to pull the trigger when the opportunity comes and backing our ability to pull the trigger," Ikitau said. "A few times I think we were just conservative and held the ball where there's opportunities out wide." Some in Australia have urged coach Joe Schmidt to rejig his backline and give Suaalii a run in the outside backs on Saturday. "To be honest, if he's on the field that's the best thing for us, just somewhere on the field," said Ikitau. "If he's playing 13, if he's on the wing, fullback, I know that he's just a freak of an athlete and he can step up to the occasion and just play his footy. "He always (says) at the end of the day, it's a footy game and he's a footballer so I don't think it would faze him."
CNA
22-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Wallabies look to get Suaalii more involved in second Lions test
MELBOURNE :Joseph Suaalii's Australia centre partner Len Ikitau is hoping to get the rugby league convert involved in the game earlier and more often in the second test against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday. Suaalii made an explosive entry into test rugby against England last November but was a bit part player as the Wallabies were dominated by the Lions for the first hour of the 27-19 loss in Brisbane last week. Inside centre Ikitau took the crash ball option more often than not in the face of a fierce Lions rush defence with the result that Suaalii received very little clean possession to exploit. "We've only played a handful of games together but it's just trying to understand in what places he'd like to get the ball and kind of just feeding off each other," Ikitau told reporters on Tuesday. "I felt like I didn't really get him into the game as early as I wanted, but that's a lot of learnings that I can take moving forward." Suaalii was not the only Australian back who struggled to get his hands on the ball in the first half of the series opener with talented right winger Max Jorgensen restricted to a couple of touches before he scored a try off a box kick. "We knew there were opportunities with their line speed and how they wanted to attack us in defence, but I think just being able to pull the trigger when the opportunity comes and backing our ability to pull the trigger," Ikitau said. "A few times I think we were just conservative and held the ball where there's opportunities out wide." Some in Australia have urged coach Joe Schmidt to rejig his backline and give Suaalii a run in the outside backs on Saturday. "To be honest, if he's on the field that's the best thing for us, just somewhere on the field," said Ikitau. "If he's playing 13, if he's on the wing, fullback, I know that he's just a freak of an athlete and he can step up to the occasion and just play his footy. "He always (says) at the end of the day, it's a footy game and he's a footballer so I don't think it would faze him."
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Owen Doyle: Tom Curry walked tightrope in first Lions Test, but maybe he knew tackle would go unpunished
The Lions discovered controlled, physical aggression in last Saturday's first Test . It had been worryingly absent up to then. However, after Dan Sheehan went over for a try just two minutes into the second half, the tourists' dynamic energy went AWOL. Perhaps it went for a walk in the Outback. Australia, on the other hand, did very well to then get their own mojo going, despite being down 24-5. They won the remaining 38 minutes 14-3, scoring two converted tries to a solitary penalty goal in that time. As always, there were issues of interest. Tom Curry did not get a yellow card when he stuffed young Wallaby outhalf Tom Lynagh, who was airborne at the time. Curry, who otherwise brought so much to the party, couldn't have complained if Ben O'Keeffe had reached into his pocket. But perhaps he knew that the other actors in this particular scene – Lynagh and the referee – would not have anticipated a card. Here's why. Lynagh was nearly cut in two by the Chiefs' Samipeni Finau in last year's Super Rugby Pacific competition, with the same referee in charge. It was outrageously dangerous, far worse than Curry's offence. While Lynagh's head whiplashed violently like a shaken rag doll, O'Keeffe called 'penalty only'. By that measure, the England backrow was never going to be carded. It's worth googling and seeing for yourself. READ MORE Then, at a crucial moment, Joseph Suaalii had a try disallowed. The officials took an age to rule it out. I thought they would then penalise the Lions' Ben Earl for a low, no-arms dangerous chop tackle on Suaalii, just moments before. It was another occasion when a Lions player flirted with a yellow card. Australia's Joseph Suaalii celebrates with teammates after scoring a try against the Lions that was subsequently disallowed. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho It was similar to the modus of Luke Cowan-Dickie, a renowned specialist in this area, who, not for the first time, knocked himself into oblivion in the Lions' match against the AUNZ Invitational XV. The officials somehow concluded that Earl had used his arms – both of them. It was a baffling, mystifying call when compared to what the replays showed. However, the officials did notice that Suaalii had not released the ball, just prior to getting over the line. With Earl on a generous get-out-of-jail card, it meant a relieving penalty kick for the Lions. It was a massive turnaround. Andy Farrell's Lions fire the first shot in Australia Listen | 46:27 Under immense pressure for the last 30 minutes, the Lions were leaking penalties when O'Keeffe clearly warned Maro Itoje that one more would mean yellow. In the event, no repeated infringement card was delivered. There were too many potential yellow-card scenarios, including Tadhg Furlong's shoulder, but the Lions got the rub of the green on each occasion. That might not happen next time. There were some clear breakdown offences which escaped sanction, but the teams were more compliant than they had been in the earlier match on Saturday morning between New Zealand and France. Unless someone has redefined it, side entry into the breakdown seemed almost compulsory. I don't recall even one being sanctioned by Australian referee Angus Gardner. When the jackler's legs are targeted in these instances, the potential to cause serious injury is real. 'He may be a great coach, but it's well nigh impossible to respect him.' That text landed in my inbox after South Africa had beaten Italy 45-0, in a match that saw Rassie Erasmus introducing what his fans call 'innovation'. It's what generated the text and also provoked much debate during the past week. The plan was to conspire that a scrum took place, then probably steamroll the Italians, kick the consequent penalty to the corner, maul a try, all before the visitors had even touched the ball. It answers those who insist referees never suffer for their errors So, Manie Libbok's kick-off travelled only a couple of metres, going directly to the offside Andre Esterhuizen. Having awarded a scrum as per South Africa's plan, referee Andrew Brace undermined the operation by giving a free kick to Italy. The law decrees that deliberate infringements must be penalised. The Erasmus fan club would have choked on their beer if Brace had awarded the required penalty. However, World Rugby, without a scintilla of equivocation, have confirmed it was a penalty offence, calling it an 'intentional violation of law'. Irish referee Andrew Brace takes control during the Rugby Championship Test match between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg last August. Photograph: Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images Later on, Jasper Wiese stupidly threw a headbutt into an otherwise handbags affair. Arguments that the contact wasn't particularly hard, which it wasn't, are wide of the mark; there cannot be degrees of headbutts. Brace was completely correct to issue the rarest of species, a straight red card. The match official appointments for the approaching Rugby Championship are interesting. Eleven referees will handle the 12 matches, supported by a large cast of extras – assistant refs, TMOs, bunker officials, replacement supervisors and citing commissioners. Ireland, disappointingly, have not received any appointment. Brace, who has refereed for the last three years in the tournament, misses out. While three Englishmen will referee, Luke Pearce has also been excluded. These omissions are bound to be performance-related, but unlikely to be long-term. Better outings will be needed in the autumn, to ensure they're in the mix for the Six Nations. World Rugby's head of match officials, Joel Jutge, and his fellow selectors have done this before. And it answers those who insist referees never suffer for their errors. Jutge acts quietly and reasonably. Furthermore, the officials will not have been surprised. They will know the reasons behind the decisions. It is a salutary message that appointments at the highest level are not automatic; they have to be earned. Brace has carried the weight of being Ireland's only international referee for far too long now. And, while he has not yet managed to copperfasten his position by breaking into the top group, it must still remain his goal. But first, find a beach and take a break.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies urged to sign 'five NRL players' amid backlash over post-match move
Corey Parker has urged Rugby Australia to try and sign "four or five" of the NRL's best players to make the Wallabies a rugby powerhouse once more. The Aussies went down 27-19 in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night, with two more matches to play. And although the Wallabies fought back from being down 24-5, alarm bells were ringing about how the rest of the series might go. Speaking on SEN radio on Monday, Brisbane Broncos great Parker said Rugby Australia should be doing everything in their power to poach some of the NRL's best talent. They've already convinced Joseph Suaalii to jump ship on a $5 million deal, but that was offset by Mark Nawaqanitawase going the other way to league. "I watched every minute of the game - and I do follow the rugby because my son plays," Parker said. "The Wallabies looked like a team that hadn't had much preparation at all. "They did finish with more possession than the Lions, but our attacking raids were a real downside (to our game). If the Wallabies are fair dinkum, they need to go after at least four or five NRL players, to finish and play a style of football that will have them competing with the best in the world." Parker name-dropped State of Origin wingers Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Brian To'o as the perfect candidates for rugby to target. "The lack of ability to make metres, and the lack of ability to create an attacking raid, there was just no class in certain areas," he said. "Late in that game a kick came over towards Harry Potter and he couldn't get there quick enough. "I'm talking guys like Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Brian To'o - these guys that score those tries 99 out of 100 times. They can create offloads, second phase play. I didn't see any of that really. I just thought there was a real inability from the Wallabies to create anything, and they didn't ask any questions of the defensive line." Parker was talking from an NRL perspective, but maybe that's what the Wallabies need. "Maybe the Wallabies need to play a style of football that encompasses their best attacking weapons," he said. "Joseph Suaalii isn't a battering finishers on the edges need to be better." Wallabies under fire in UK over 'un-Australian' scenes Unfortunately for the Wallabies it's not just their style of play that's being criticised. Back in the UK, a number of strange moments have been described as "un-Australian" that sum up a lack of killer instinct. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson raised eyebrows when he opted to kick the ball dead to end the game, rather than keep fighting for some late points. And the sight of Wallabies players mingling with their rival players after the game has also caused some controversy. World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward wrote for The Daily Mail: 'What summed up the game for me was with the clock in the red and with the Lions winning 27-19, the Australian captain Harry Wilson kicked the ball out to end the game. Talk about a losing mentality. "For me, it is the last play of the game so why not have a mentality to try and score as this could be the situation in seven days' time, only closer? Why not rehearse this scenario? Why would any player, especially the captain, want to end the game? That in so many ways reflects the current state of Australian rugby which is clearly not in a great position.' Former Lions player Tom Shanklin said on the BBC's coverage: 'It seemed weird that Australia were socialising with the Lions players, weird they kicked the ball out at the end, it was like it was a bonus-point loss. You want to see an Australia team deliver, to try and (show) some endeavour and they are lacking a lot in attack." Former England winger Chris Ashton added: 'In the post-match, Australia's players were mixing and mingling with the Lions, they seemed really happy. I cannot get my head around (that), it seems they are almost happy that the Lions are there." RELATED: Roosters fans get definitive answer as Joey Manu signs next contract Wallabies star calls out glaring truth after British and Irish Lions shafted Oliver Brown of the UK Telegraph wrote: 'Australia were a pale imitation of the great Wallabies sides… Joe Schmidt's side will require a miracle to achieve anything comparable. For large swathes of this game their performance was, quite simply, un-Australian, bereft of ferocity or any apparent belief they could win. "How odd, too, to see them mingling happily with the Lions at the final whistle, simply relieved that they had not suffered a humiliation. So much for the notion of a defeat, any defeat, eating away at the true Australian's soul.'
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How an AUSTRALIAN born player is set to give Joseph Suaalii his biggest Wallabies challenge yet - and the pair have on-field history
Joseph Suaalii looms as one of the Wallabies biggest threats ahead of the first Test against the British and Irish Lions - and the man tasked with limiting his brilliance was born in Australia. Sione Tuipulotu grew up in the Victorian suburb of Frankston, but with limited opportunities in Super Rugby with the Melbourne Rebels, he first headed overseas in 2018 to Japan. Now he is the Scottish captain, qualifying on ancestry grounds. Tuipulotu, 28, successfully went after Suaalii at Murrayfield last November when the hosts won 27-13 - and the centre is well aware Rugby Australia's $5million dollar man will want revenge at Suncorp Stadium. With tension mounting, Suaalii hit Tuipulotu hard in a fierce tackle, only to injure himself in the process. The players had to be separated as Tuipulotu sledged Suaalii, who countered with 'see you next time.' But when pressed about the matter this week, Suaalii refused to add fuel to the fire. 'I feel like there's been a lot of talk around that moment, but at the end of the day it's just a game of footy,' the 21-year-old told reporters. 'I'm a big believer that whatever is said on the field, stays on the field. 'I'm just focused on what I can do for the team, that's it. I'm not going to speak on it, to be fair. 'I always focus on myself first before I put my energy into someone else. 'Obviously fans want to see a rivalry and all at the end of the day, it's a team sport and I'm just trying to do the best for the team.' Tuipulotu revealed recently Wallabies analyst Eoin Toolan warned him to stop talking up the simmering rivalry with the former NRL star at the Sydney Roosters. 'I don't want to put any targets on my back,' Tuipulotu said. 'He's told me to stop talking on these podcasts about Joey, cause he says he's raring to go.' Tuipulotu is the only one of three Australians in the Lions tour party to be picked in Andy Farrell's Test 23. Winger Mack Hansen hurt his foot in training while prop Finlay Bealham was overlooked.
