Latest news with #TomLynagh
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: No place like home as Australia's best hunt playoff edge
By Nick Mulvenney , Reuters The Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies are trying to end the stranglehold of New Zealand teams on Super Rugby Pacific. Photo: Photosport The ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds have carried the heaviest loads to fire Australia's Super Rugby revival this year and Saturday's round 14 clash will decide which of them has the best shot at breaking New Zealand's stranglehold on the top two. A top-two finish in the regular-season standings guarantees home advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs, an edge that no team from outside New Zealand has enjoyed in the three years of Super Rugby Pacific. The Canberra-based Brumbies know to their cost how big of an advantage it is, having got through the opening round of the playoffs in all three seasons only to bow out at the semi-final stage on the other side of the Tasman Sea. With the competition-leading Chiefs on a bye, the Brumbies will go top on Saturday if they can overcome the fourth-placed Reds in the Australian capital. "Currently the two best Australian teams going at it and an important game for us," Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said after naming his team. "The Reds are sitting comfortably in the top six but, like us, would like to finish high in the ladder as it gives you the best opportunity to go well into the finals." Both teams will have backups at first-five after Brumbies pivot Noah Lolesio and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh suffered concussions last weekend, but it may be absences in the forwards that have a bigger impact. While the Brumbies are also without in-form flanker Luke Reimer (concussion), the Reds have added locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) to a casualty list already featuring Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson. A slip-up by the Brumbies would allow the 12-times champion Canterbury Crusaders to move into the top two but only if they can snap a two-match losing streak against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Absences also loom large over this fixture with the home side's marquee signing Joseph Suaalii ruled out for a month by a jaw injury and the Crusaders without world-class fullback Will Jordan and All Blacks captain Scott Barrett. "We need to be good over there," said Crusaders coach Rob Penney, who was sacked by the Waratahs in 2021. "The Waratahs are dangerous at home because they love the challenge of playing one of the best teams in the world, and they consistently get up for that game." Moana Pasifika play the Blues this weekend. Photo: Photosport The Hurricanes and Blues topped the regular standings last year and both will be out to continue their late-season revivals after poor starts to the campaign. The sixth-placed Hurricanes are aiming for a third straight win to cement their place in the playoff spots when they host the Highlanders on Friday night. The reigning champion Blues, who have moved up to fifth on the back of two successive wins, make the short trip across Auckland to face Ardie Savea's seventh-placed Moana Pasifika on Saturday. Moana, coming off a bye, notched their fifth win of the season with a last-gasp victory over the Highlanders two weeks ago and will be out to record consecutive wins over New Zealand opposition for the first time. Saturday's opening match pitches Western Force, who are ninth but only four points off the playoff spots, against bottom club Fijian Drua in Lautoka. -Reuters
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland Reds to tackle Brumbies without Lynagh, Salakaia-Loto and Uru
Queensland's hopes of beating the ACT Brumbies on Saturday night have been hit by the loss of Test trio Tom Lynagh, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Seru Uru. Flyhalf Lynagh (concussion), lock Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and flanker Uru (knee) will miss the Super Rugby Pacific battle in Canberra, where the Reds can ill-afford a loss in their bid to secure a top-three finish and a home finals clash. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Ryan Smith and Joe Brial will be the injured trio's respective replacements. In one other change to the Reds side that started in Queensland's 28-21 win over the NSW Waratahs last Friday, centre Hunter Paisami returns from a hip injury, replacing Dre Pakeho, who drops back to the bench. 'We certainly showed our qualities of grit and belief with how strongly we finished the against the NSW Waratahs,' Reds coach Les Kiss said. 'It was very pleasing coming off the short turnaround from our previous match in Fiji.' Kiss backed young gun McLaughlin-Phillips to perform well in the absence of Lynagh 'Harry had a very strong second half when he came in for Tom against the Waratahs and has stepped up for us with his opportunities this season,' the Reds coach said. 'He's a solid, tough lad too. We're lucky in that sense. He can take the line on. 'Our leadership (group) has a lot of faith in him as well,' Meanwhile, 22-year-old Reds squad member Mason Gordon has announced his retirement on medical grounds due to ongoing symptoms after being concussed in pre-season training. 'This is not how, or when, I anticipated my career concluding after I signed a contract at the Queensland Reds in October 2024, the same year I made my Super Rugby debut for the Melbourne Rebels,' fullback Gordon said in an open letter. 'This is an unfortunate injury, however I am grateful for the memories I have of my professional rugby career and will cherish the friendships I have made forever.' Gordon made four Super Rugby appearances for the Rebels, and debuted to the Reds against Wales in July last year. 'He's a quality human being,' Kiss said of Gordon. 'You could see it meant lot to him to become a Red. We'll continue to look after him.'
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Key omissions as Aussie sides spar for Super leg-up
Tom Lynagh will join rival flyhalf Noah Lolesio on the sidelines for the Queensland Reds' clash with the ACT Brumbies that will shape this year's Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The standout Australian teams sit fourth and second respectively ahead of Saturday's Canberra battle, with a home game in the first week of the rejigged six-team finals format the prize for a top-three finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the Reds are five points - equivalent to a bonus-point win - behind the third-placed Crusaders, while the Brumbies are a further two points clear but have played an extra game. The Reds' pulsating defeat of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday kept them in the hunt, but came at a cost. Wallabies No.10 prospect Lynagh (concussion), fellow Test contender Seru Uru (knee) and second-row weapon Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) are all unavailable. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will replace Lynagh after a solid second-half foray in Sydney last week and several other cameos this year. Hunter Paisami is also back from a corked hip to team with Filipo Daugunu in the midfield and send impressive rookie Dre Pakeho to the bench. Lolesio has been cleared of serious injury after his scary exit last weekend and is viewed as a short-term loss by coach Stephen Larkham, who will turn to Queensland product Declan Meredith in the No.10. "It's going to be the two best teams in Australia currently going at it on Saturday," Larkham said. "All the remaining games for every team are important. "The Reds ... like us, would like to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It gives you the best opportunity to go deep into the finals." The Western Force won't take Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart or Nic White to Lautoka to face Fijian Drua as coach Simon Cron attempts to navigate a gruelling travel schedule. New Zealand playmaker Alex Harford, an injury replacement player, will wear the No.10, with Ben Donaldson set to come off the bench along with fit-again hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Force are ninth but sit just four points behind the sixth-placed Hurricanes. The Waratahs will be without cross-code sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for at least four weeks because of a fractured jaw suffered in friendly fire in the last round. Andrew Kellaway shifts to fullback and Derby Lancaster will return to the starting side on the left wing. The Waratahs, eighth and level with the Force on 22 points, can keep their finals hopes alive and directly boost the Reds' top-three hopes with a win against the Crusaders in Sydney. Tom Lynagh will join rival flyhalf Noah Lolesio on the sidelines for the Queensland Reds' clash with the ACT Brumbies that will shape this year's Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The standout Australian teams sit fourth and second respectively ahead of Saturday's Canberra battle, with a home game in the first week of the rejigged six-team finals format the prize for a top-three finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the Reds are five points - equivalent to a bonus-point win - behind the third-placed Crusaders, while the Brumbies are a further two points clear but have played an extra game. The Reds' pulsating defeat of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday kept them in the hunt, but came at a cost. Wallabies No.10 prospect Lynagh (concussion), fellow Test contender Seru Uru (knee) and second-row weapon Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) are all unavailable. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will replace Lynagh after a solid second-half foray in Sydney last week and several other cameos this year. Hunter Paisami is also back from a corked hip to team with Filipo Daugunu in the midfield and send impressive rookie Dre Pakeho to the bench. Lolesio has been cleared of serious injury after his scary exit last weekend and is viewed as a short-term loss by coach Stephen Larkham, who will turn to Queensland product Declan Meredith in the No.10. "It's going to be the two best teams in Australia currently going at it on Saturday," Larkham said. "All the remaining games for every team are important. "The Reds ... like us, would like to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It gives you the best opportunity to go deep into the finals." The Western Force won't take Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart or Nic White to Lautoka to face Fijian Drua as coach Simon Cron attempts to navigate a gruelling travel schedule. New Zealand playmaker Alex Harford, an injury replacement player, will wear the No.10, with Ben Donaldson set to come off the bench along with fit-again hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Force are ninth but sit just four points behind the sixth-placed Hurricanes. The Waratahs will be without cross-code sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for at least four weeks because of a fractured jaw suffered in friendly fire in the last round. Andrew Kellaway shifts to fullback and Derby Lancaster will return to the starting side on the left wing. The Waratahs, eighth and level with the Force on 22 points, can keep their finals hopes alive and directly boost the Reds' top-three hopes with a win against the Crusaders in Sydney. Tom Lynagh will join rival flyhalf Noah Lolesio on the sidelines for the Queensland Reds' clash with the ACT Brumbies that will shape this year's Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The standout Australian teams sit fourth and second respectively ahead of Saturday's Canberra battle, with a home game in the first week of the rejigged six-team finals format the prize for a top-three finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the Reds are five points - equivalent to a bonus-point win - behind the third-placed Crusaders, while the Brumbies are a further two points clear but have played an extra game. The Reds' pulsating defeat of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday kept them in the hunt, but came at a cost. Wallabies No.10 prospect Lynagh (concussion), fellow Test contender Seru Uru (knee) and second-row weapon Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) are all unavailable. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will replace Lynagh after a solid second-half foray in Sydney last week and several other cameos this year. Hunter Paisami is also back from a corked hip to team with Filipo Daugunu in the midfield and send impressive rookie Dre Pakeho to the bench. Lolesio has been cleared of serious injury after his scary exit last weekend and is viewed as a short-term loss by coach Stephen Larkham, who will turn to Queensland product Declan Meredith in the No.10. "It's going to be the two best teams in Australia currently going at it on Saturday," Larkham said. "All the remaining games for every team are important. "The Reds ... like us, would like to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It gives you the best opportunity to go deep into the finals." The Western Force won't take Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart or Nic White to Lautoka to face Fijian Drua as coach Simon Cron attempts to navigate a gruelling travel schedule. New Zealand playmaker Alex Harford, an injury replacement player, will wear the No.10, with Ben Donaldson set to come off the bench along with fit-again hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Force are ninth but sit just four points behind the sixth-placed Hurricanes. The Waratahs will be without cross-code sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for at least four weeks because of a fractured jaw suffered in friendly fire in the last round. Andrew Kellaway shifts to fullback and Derby Lancaster will return to the starting side on the left wing. The Waratahs, eighth and level with the Force on 22 points, can keep their finals hopes alive and directly boost the Reds' top-three hopes with a win against the Crusaders in Sydney.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Key omissions as Aussie sides spar for Super leg-up
Tom Lynagh will join rival flyhalf Noah Lolesio on the sidelines for the Queensland Reds' clash with the ACT Brumbies that will shape this year's Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The standout Australian teams sit fourth and second respectively ahead of Saturday's Canberra battle, with a home game in the first week of the rejigged six-team finals format the prize for a top-three finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the Reds are five points - equivalent to a bonus-point win - behind the third-placed Crusaders, while the Brumbies are a further two points clear but have played an extra game. The Reds' pulsating defeat of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday kept them in the hunt, but came at a cost. Wallabies No.10 prospect Lynagh (concussion), fellow Test contender Seru Uru (knee) and second-row weapon Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) are all unavailable. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will replace Lynagh after a solid second-half foray in Sydney last week and several other cameos this year. Hunter Paisami is also back from a corked hip to team with Filipo Daugunu in the midfield and send impressive rookie Dre Pakeho to the bench. Lolesio has been cleared of serious injury after his scary exit last weekend and is viewed as a short-term loss by coach Stephen Larkham, who will turn to Queensland product Declan Meredith in the No.10. "It's going to be the two best teams in Australia currently going at it on Saturday," Larkham said. "All the remaining games for every team are important. "The Reds ... like us, would like to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It gives you the best opportunity to go deep into the finals." The Western Force won't take Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart or Nic White to Lautoka to face Fijian Drua as coach Simon Cron attempts to navigate a gruelling travel schedule. New Zealand playmaker Alex Harford, an injury replacement player, will wear the No.10, with Ben Donaldson set to come off the bench along with fit-again hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Force are ninth but sit just four points behind the sixth-placed Hurricanes. The Waratahs will be without cross-code sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for at least four weeks because of a fractured jaw suffered in friendly fire in the last round. Andrew Kellaway shifts to fullback and Derby Lancaster will return to the starting side on the left wing. The Waratahs, eighth and level with the Force on 22 points, can keep their finals hopes alive and directly boost the Reds' top-three hopes with a win against the Crusaders in Sydney.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Key omissions as Aussie sides spar for Super leg-up
Tom Lynagh will join rival flyhalf Noah Lolesio on the sidelines for the Queensland Reds' clash with the ACT Brumbies that will shape this year's Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The standout Australian teams sit fourth and second respectively ahead of Saturday's Canberra battle, with a home game in the first week of the rejigged six-team finals format the prize for a top-three finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the Reds are five points - equivalent to a bonus-point win - behind the third-placed Crusaders, while the Brumbies are a further two points clear but have played an extra game. The Reds' pulsating defeat of the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday kept them in the hunt, but came at a cost. Wallabies No.10 prospect Lynagh (concussion), fellow Test contender Seru Uru (knee) and second-row weapon Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) are all unavailable. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will replace Lynagh after a solid second-half foray in Sydney last week and several other cameos this year. Hunter Paisami is also back from a corked hip to team with Filipo Daugunu in the midfield and send impressive rookie Dre Pakeho to the bench. Lolesio has been cleared of serious injury after his scary exit last weekend and is viewed as a short-term loss by coach Stephen Larkham, who will turn to Queensland product Declan Meredith in the No.10. "It's going to be the two best teams in Australia currently going at it on Saturday," Larkham said. "All the remaining games for every team are important. "The Reds ... like us, would like to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It gives you the best opportunity to go deep into the finals." The Western Force won't take Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart or Nic White to Lautoka to face Fijian Drua as coach Simon Cron attempts to navigate a gruelling travel schedule. New Zealand playmaker Alex Harford, an injury replacement player, will wear the No.10, with Ben Donaldson set to come off the bench along with fit-again hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Force are ninth but sit just four points behind the sixth-placed Hurricanes. The Waratahs will be without cross-code sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for at least four weeks because of a fractured jaw suffered in friendly fire in the last round. Andrew Kellaway shifts to fullback and Derby Lancaster will return to the starting side on the left wing. The Waratahs, eighth and level with the Force on 22 points, can keep their finals hopes alive and directly boost the Reds' top-three hopes with a win against the Crusaders in Sydney.
