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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Schmidt says Wallabies must hit the ground running in Melbourne
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says his young side must hit the ground running in the second Test to have any chance of keeping the British and Irish Lions series alive. The tourists outgunned Australia 27-19 in their opening clash in Brisbane on Saturday, with the scoreline flattering the hosts. They were slow off the mark, conceding a converted try in the eighth minute, and chased the game for much of the first-half. Another early lapse soon the restart saw them slump 24-5 behind before a gutsy fightback ensured they will take some confidence into Melbourne next weekend. "We've got to keep learning fast and hit the ground running next week. Otherwise it becomes a dead rubber in Sydney," Schmidt said, referring to the third and final Test. "Inevitably you're desperate to keep the series alive and I know that the Lions will want to close it out in Melbourne. So Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams." Schmidt will almost certainly be making changes to his starting XV. Experienced forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton are fit again and are in line to replace Nick Champion de Crespigny and either Jeremy Williams or Nick Frost. Australia were also noticeably better in the second-half when scrum-half Tate McDermott came off the bench and Angus Bell was installed at loosehead prop, with a case to be made for their inclusion. "I felt the bench added value when they came on. In that last 20 to 25 minutes, we did get a bit of momentum, and we weren't far away," said Schmidt. But with the Lions battle-hardened after winning all six games of their Australia tour so far, the Wallabies know they must lift their level considerably to have any hope of causing an upset at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. "I do think if we can just improve our accuracy, it will help us to be competitive," said Schmidt. "They've got strength and depth, and they came with a plan that they got the better of us in the first quarter, and we've got to start more strongly next week. "There's very much some of our collision area work has to be better, just because we know they're coming so hard there. "There was a few things in the lineup that I think we can tidy up. In contrast, I thought our scrum was very strong." mp/mtp
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions
Joe Schmidt saw enough spirit in a second-half comeback by his young Wallabies lineup to feel confident they can level the series next week despite losing the first test to the British and Irish Lions. 'This time last year we would have melted,' Schmidt said after the 27-19 loss on Saturday, 'but I love the way this team is developing.' The Lions overpowered the Australians in the early exchanges and led 24-5 just after halftime. The Lions, coming off a series of five wins in tour games, had all the momentum for the first 50 minutes, and the ball was bouncing their way. But late tries to replacements Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott cut the final margin to eight points. 'Very proud of the way the players fought their way back,' Schmidt said. 'A comparatively young side … still finding their way. There was enough demonstration that were already desperate, but we've got to be more accurate.' The Wallabies have been a work in progress since Schmidt was hired in the wake of Australia's failure to make the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 tests in a 2024 season that ended in a 22-19 loss to Ireland in Dublin to earn back some credibility and opened this international season with a narrow 21-18 win over Fiji two weeks ago. Another week together and the return of forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini from injury will help the Wallabies next week in Melbourne, where they need a win to ensure the series is alive going into the third and final test in Sydney. 'The team is desperate to keep the series alive,' Schmidt said. 'Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams.' Blindside flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny made his test debut in Brisbane, and 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, started a test for the first time at No. 10. Lynagh made some good runs, kicked well, and defended bravely, but as Schmidt noted, the young flyhalf was forced to be more reactive than proactive in attack because of the way the Lions were dominating the first half. He was tackled in the air by Tom Curry as he leaped to take a high ball just before the break but continued until midway through the second half to help claw back some momentum for the home team. Replacement scrumhalf McDermott had an immediate impact off the bench, creating a try for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii that was disallowed and then scoring one of the two late tries for Australia. British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is expecting the Australians to be more cohesive and more dangerous in the second test, and he has cautioned his players to look at history. In 2001, the Lions won the first test in Brisbane and then lost in Melbourne and Sydney as Australia rallied for an historic series victory. In 2013, the Lions narrowly won in Brisbane before losing the second test in Melbourne. They needed a big lift in Sydney to clinch that series. 'We know what's coming,' Farrell said. 'We know what happened in the second half here, and we roll into the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013. When an Australia team becomes desperate, it is difficult to handle, so we expect a different game next weekend,' he added. 'We need to make sure we are ready for them to be at their best (because) it'll take a better performance than what we've shown here to make sure we get a win next week.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Joe Schmidt saw enough spirit in a second-half comeback by his young Wallabies lineup to feel confident they can level the series next week despite losing the first test to the British and Irish Lions. 'This time last year we would have melted," Schmidt said after the 27-19 loss on Saturday, "but I love the way this team is developing.' The Lions overpowered the Australians in the early exchanges and led 24-5 just after halftime. The Lions, coming off a series of five wins in tour games, had all the momentum for the first 50 minutes and the ball was bouncing their way. But late tries to replacements Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott cut the final margin to eight points. 'Very proud of the way the players fought their way back,' Schmidt said. "A comparatively young side ... still finding their way. 'There was enough demonstration that we're already desperate, but we've got to be more accurate." The Wallabies have been a work in progress since Schmidt was hired in the wake of Australia's failure to make the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 tests in a 2024 season that ended in a 22-19 loss to Ireland in Dublin to earn back some credibility, and opened this international season with a narrow 21-18 win over Fiji two weeks ago. Another week together and the return of forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini from injury will help the Wallabies next week in Melbourne, where they need a win to ensure the series is alive going into the third and final test in Sydney. The team is "desperate to keep the series alive,' Schmidt said. 'Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams.' Blindside flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny made his test debut in Brisbane and 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, started a test for the first time at No. 10. Lynagh made some good runs, kicked well and defended bravely but, as Schmidt noted, the young flyhalf was forced to be more reactive than proactive in attack because of the way the Lions were dominating the first half. He was tackled in the air by Tom Curry as he leaped to take a high ball just before the break but continued until midway through the second half to help claw back some momentum for the home team. Replacement scumhalf McDermott had an immediate impact off the bench, creating a try for Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i that was disallowed and then scoring one of the two late tries for Australia. British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is expecting the Australians to be more cohesive and more dangerous in the second test, and he has cautioned his players to look at history. In 2001, the Lions won the first test in Brisbane and then lost in Melbourne and Sydney as Australia rallied for an historic series victory. In 2013, the Lions narrowly won in Brisbane before losing the second test in Melbourne. They needed a big lift in Sydney to clinch that series. 'We know what's coming,' Farrell said. 'We know what happened in the second half here and we roll into the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013.' 'When an Australia team becomes desperate, it is difficult to handle, so we expect a different game next weekend," he added. "We need to make sure we are ready for them to be at their best (because) it'll take a better performance than what we've shown here to make sure we get a win next week.' ___ AP rugby:
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Joe Schmidt saw enough spirit in a second-half comeback by his young Wallabies lineup to feel confident they can level the series next week despite losing the first test to the British and Irish Lions. 'This time last year we would have melted,' Schmidt said after the 27-19 loss on Saturday, 'but I love the way this team is developing.' The Lions overpowered the Australians in the early exchanges and led 24-5 just after halftime. The Lions, coming off a series of five wins in tour games, had all the momentum for the first 50 minutes and the ball was bouncing their way. But late tries to replacements Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott cut the final margin to eight points. 'Very proud of the way the players fought their way back,' Schmidt said. 'A comparatively young side ... still finding their way. 'There was enough demonstration that we're already desperate, but we've got to be more accurate.' The Wallabies have been a work in progress since Schmidt was hired in the wake of Australia's failure to make the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 tests in a 2024 season that ended in a 22-19 loss to Ireland in Dublin to earn back some credibility, and opened this international season with a narrow 21-18 win over Fiji two weeks ago. Another week together and the return of forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini from injury will help the Wallabies next week in Melbourne, where they need a win to ensure the series is alive going into the third and final test in Sydney. The team is 'desperate to keep the series alive,' Schmidt said. 'Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams.' Blindside flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny made his test debut in Brisbane and 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, started a test for the first time at No. 10. Lynagh made some good runs, kicked well and defended bravely but, as Schmidt noted, the young flyhalf was forced to be more reactive than proactive in attack because of the way the Lions were dominating the first half. He was tackled in the air by Tom Curry as he leaped to take a high ball just before the break but continued until midway through the second half to help claw back some momentum for the home team. Replacement scumhalf McDermott had an immediate impact off the bench, creating a try for Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i that was disallowed and then scoring one of the two late tries for Australia. British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is expecting the Australians to be more cohesive and more dangerous in the second test, and he has cautioned his players to look at history. In 2001, the Lions won the first test in Brisbane and then lost in Melbourne and Sydney as Australia rallied for an historic series victory. In 2013, the Lions narrowly won in Brisbane before losing the second test in Melbourne. They needed a big lift in Sydney to clinch that series. 'We know what's coming,' Farrell said. 'We know what happened in the second half here and we roll into the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013.' 'When an Australia team becomes desperate, it is difficult to handle, so we expect a different game next weekend,' he added. 'We need to make sure we are ready for them to be at their best (because) it'll take a better performance than what we've shown here to make sure we get a win next week.' ___ AP rugby:
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
The agony, the ecstasy and the comeback that nearly was
We were suddenly back in the match with a show – only 10-5 down. Relief! But again, when the Lions scored both before and after the break, and then another one 20 minutes in to go to a 24–5 lead, it really felt like a lady of wonderfully large proportions was warbling in the stands. Among the packed stands of Lions supporters, Red Rover was over and laughing at our expense. But wait! Relief! In that last quarter, just when all seemed lost, the Wallabies steadied, came back and gave it a real go. First Carlo Tizzano went over and then with a minute to go, reserve half-back Tate McDermott went over to close the gap to a more than respectable scoreline. Hence ... Pride. Go you good things! All up, how great were our blokes in the face of that Lions' onslaught? How wonderful that instead of shutting up shop and just trying to limit the damage, they continued to throw everything at them, backed themselves and never stopped emptying their tanks. In the backline, Alex Jorgensen tested the defence with every touch, as did McDermott when he came on in the last quarter. The colossi in the middle of our forwards were our back-rowers, Fraser McReight who proved himself, once again, world class; Nick Champion de Crespigny who made a fabulous debut which included pulling off a team-high nineteen tackles; and skipper Harry Wilson. (Told yers.) As the second half went on, the pride grew because our blokes started to believe in themselves more than ever. They grew in confidence, even as the Lions started to doubt the result enough that when presented with a kickable penalty with ten minutes to go, they took it in an attempt to ensure the win. That was how far the Wallabies had come in the course of the match, from us fearing being on the wrong end of a 50–0 pizzling. Frustration. Can we get the bloody line-outs to work, as in every time? Particularly in the first half, just when we had clawed back some momentum to threaten them, we threw the ball in . . . and they came away with it. One time, they scored because of our wayward throw. And can we use Joseph Aukuso Suaalii more effectively? Against England at Twickenham last year, the Gifted One showed himself to be something new in the world of rugby – a back who could humiliate an entire forward pack again and again by soaring high above the lot of them at kick-offs and tapping the ball back to our own rampaging forwards. Despite that, in this Test that was tried only once and it didn't work. And instead of kicking it short for him, or at least long to the corners, we kicked it to the No Man's Land of the Lions' 22 – beyond the reach of any of our blokes to put real pressure on, but perfectly suited for them to comfortably gather in and then roof it downfield. Why? Why? Do it short or do it long to the corner, but stop giving it to them in the very spot they most want it! I repeat: if you were the Lions captain, where would you want the ball to go? Short and be hammered, long and be cornered, or betwixt and between so you can belt it downfield and relieve all pressure. Well stop bloody kicking it there! And the other part of the frustration was what-might-have-been. On three occasions the Wallabies went within a Lions' whisker of scoring tries when skipper Harry Wilson and Suaalii both went over and appeared to have scored only to be called back, and then winger Harry Potter was only denied a try because the ball rolled out at the last instant. If only those line-ball tries had gone our way, we really might have snatched it. Hope. See all of the above. I won't say the Wallabies will win next week, but they really might win. They performed creditably well against the best team in the world right now, rose to the occasion and showed every sign of rising still further. Bravo, the lot of them.
