Latest news with #NickChampionDeCrespigny
BBC News
5 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 Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Wallabies must lift to cover for absence of Rob Valetini
Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson says Australia's entire forward pack must lift in the absence of star back-rower Rob Valetini if his team is to have any chance of beating the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. The inability of two-time John Eales Medal winner Valetini to overcome a calf problem in time for the series opener in Brisbane is a huge blow to Australia's hopes of upsetting the heavily fancied tourist. However, No.8 Wilson said an increased contribution from himself and every other Wallabies forward could make up for the unavailability of Valetini. The loss of two-time John Eales Medal winner Rob Valetini is a blow for the Wallabies. Picture:for Rugby Australia ''Bobby' is a massive loss,' Wilson said. 'He's been one of the form players in world rugby for quite a long period now. 'The thing with 'Bobby' is he takes the tough carries for us week in, week out, It's something you don't take for granted, but you just appreciate a bloke that can take on two or three people and get you front-foot ball. 'The whole forward pack, we've got to really step up because when you're missing a player like him, it's not ideal, but if everyone picks up that little 10 per cent, it makes up for it, which is very exciting.' In the ongoing absence of Valetini, and with Langi Gleeson also injured, flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Test debut at the age of 29. 'The thing about Nick is it's his first Test, he's got that excitement and all week he's trained the house down,' Wilson said. 'He's a big, physical man, and he wants to impose himself on the opposition. We've really enjoyed having him in camp, and we can't wait to see him go out there and do his job.' Wilson will have a similar goal of doing his primary 'job' as a player rather than becoming consumed with the captaincy role. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson (right) and British and Irish Lions skipper Maro Itoje are ready for Saturday night's Test at Suncorp Stadium. Picture:'Being able to captain your country is one of the biggest honours you could ever have It's something I'll never take for granted … but the thing which is nice about captaining this team is I'm not doing it alone,' he said. 'I've got some many other leaders in this team who have really helped me out. We really are a unit and I'm just the one here speaking. 'My main job is to play good Test foot for Australia. That's all (Wallabies coach) Joe (Schmidt) has ever asked me to do, to try to perform and do my job. 'If I get named captain, it's a massive honour, and if not, I just want to play footy. 'I've just always wanted to be a Wallaby. To me, the biggest honour you can get is playing for your country and pulling on the gold jersey.' Read related topics: Suncorp Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
CNA
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Kefu calls on Wallabies forwards to go beserk against Lions
MELBOURNE :Wallabies icon Toutai Kefu has called on Australia's forwards to bring fire and fury in the series-opener against the British & Irish Lions and defy the doomsayers tipping a 3-0 whitewash for the hosts. Joe Schmidt's Wallabies head to Brisbane's Lang Park on Saturday missing key players through injury and face a formidable Lions outfit that has won all five tour matches in the country. However, former Australia number eight Kefu, who played in the 2-1 series win over the Lions in 2001, says the Wallabies have all the ammunition they need to upset Andy Farrell's team. "The biggest motivating factor for these players are they are huge underdogs," Kefu told Reuters. "The Lions haven't been beaten on our soil yet. They've pretty much manhandled most of our teams. "What bigger motivation as a player, to play one of the most iconic teams in the world who are on a huge roll and everyone's expecting you to lose? What bigger motivation can you have? "As a player, you would just go crazy and absolutely go mental, wouldn't you?" The Wallabies are missing their chief enforcer in loose forward Rob Valetini, ruled out with a calf injury. Uncapped flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny has big shoes to fill in place of Valetini in the back row. Never one to take a backwards step in his 60-test playing career, Kefu encouraged De Crespigny to live up to the billing of his teammate Fraser McReight, who praised the new boy as a "psycho" in the contest. "That's what we need," said Kefu. "We need eight psychos up front, absolute lunatics. That's the way we need to approach the game - without being too crazy and giving away penalties. "We need to go a little bit mental." Kefu will face the Lions from the coach's box on Tuesday when he guides the First Nations-Pasifika XV in a tour match at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium. Kefu's preparations suffered a late blow with former Wallabies loose forward Pete Samu, who has Samoan heritage, ruled out of the match due to an eligibility problem. Kefu said the Lions' management had objected to Samu's selection despite representations made by Rugby Australia (RA). A Lions spokesperson said only eligible players, as agreed by both sides as part of the tour agreement, could play in the game. An RA spokesperson said the governing body had hoped Samu would play. The selection wrangle comes a few weeks after Lions chief executive Ben Calveley demanded Australia field their most competitive teams to help the tourists prepare for the Wallabies series, and for "fans, partners and broadcasters". A disappointed Kefu said he was surprised the Lions would insist on Samu's omission.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Names on shirts, bums on seats
You can almost hear the Wallabies kit manager's sigh from here. Just as Nick Champion de Crespigny makes his debut, Australia are putting names on the back of their shirts for the first time on Saturday. This tour is the first time that the Lions have had names on the back of their shirts. Elsewhere, injured fly-half Noah Lolesio, ruled out of the series with a neck injury sustained in Australia's warm-up match against Fiji, has been into the Wallabies camp to wish his team-mates good luck. And, finally, the sold-out sign is up over the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium for the first Test, with the late returns from UK tour operators have been snapped up by local fans in Brisbane. "It's amazing. It's one of the best stadiums in the world and to see it sold out is super exciting," Australia captain Harry Wilson said.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Names on shirts, bums on seats
You can almost hear the Wallabies kit manager's sigh from as Nick Champion de Crespigny makes his debut, Australia are putting names on the back of their shirts for the first time on Saturday. This tour is the first time that the Lions have had names on the back of their injured fly-half Noah Lolesio, ruled out of the series with a neck injury sustained in Australia's warm-up match against Fiji, has been into the Wallabies camp to wish his team-mates good luck. And, finally, the sold-out sign is up over the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium for the first Test, with the late returns from UK tour operators have been snapped up by local fans in Brisbane., external"It's amazing. It's one of the best stadiums in the world and to see it sold out is super exciting," Australia captain Harry Wilson said.
