Latest news with #Wallabies'
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's do-or-die as holes are exposed: Four things learnt in Reds' defeat
How finals will determine Wallabies' No.10 battle Tom Lynagh has thrust himself firmly into contention to steer the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions, but Friday's battle was one that perhaps did his chance some harm. While the 22-year-old still showed some strength running the ball and a few deft passes long and short, his kicking game was a far cry from the clean and booming nature Reds fans have grown accustomed to, while McDermott also shouldered some burden. He also missed five tackles, but his work off the tee, kicking five goals from five attempts, including the Reds' first two penalties of the season, kept them in the hunt before he was subbed out with 15 minutes remaining. Loading National coach Joe Schmidt has previously confirmed if any selection battles were neck-and-neck races, those who had committed to Australian rugby beyond 2025 would be preferred – which could spell the end of Japan-bound Brumbies star Noah Lolesio's bid. That would leave Lynagh in a likely fight with Western Force counterpart Ben Donaldson, who announced this week he had re-signed until the end of 2027. Schmidt, however, has also hinted finals form would count for plenty given the do-or-die nature of that stage. Donaldson and his ninth-placed Force will not get that opportunity. Lynagh and his Queensland teammates will need to rally against the Drua in Brisbane next week before contemplating their finals quest. 'I just had a couple of moments – a lack of focus, and some of those under pressure yes, but I've got to be better.' Tate McDermott Great's son made for the big stage He has spent his time at Ballymore stuck behind an all-star back row of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Liam Wright. But when injuries have reared, Joe Brial has proven he has the tools to thrive at this level, and he stood up for the most crucial moment of his career to almost steal the win. Trailing by six, Queensland's go forward was lacking as they built up 20 phases without much penetration – players seemingly catching the ball flat-footed and unsure whether to shift it wide or play it through the middle. Brial, the son of 13-Test Wallaby Michael Brial, chose the latter, carrying then shrugging off three defenders en route to a brilliant individual try. The 23-year-old only recently put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension until the end of 2026, and with Wright's worrying injury history – still sidelined with the same shoulder concern that curtailed his Test comeback last year – Brial looms as a key figure in the Reds' finals quest. 'We always knew how good of an athlete Brially was ... he's absolutely shot out of the gates and been really impressive.' Tate McDermott McDermott's case builds, as Reds hope for reinforcements Despite the result, McDermott has given his case for the Wallabies' No.9 jumper another telling boost on the back of his try-scoring brace which kept his side within striking distance. The halfback's long passing game early in the second half unleashed the backline before scoring himself on the inside support, while he finished the night with 67 running metres while beating five defenders. '[Wright] is out for a little while, we're waiting for our next meet with the surgeon on that and get some more [information].' Les Kiss There is still hope McDermott's backline will receive some reinforcements, with outside centre Josh Flook (hamstring) in line to be available for selection against the Drua, with Seru Uru (knee) also a chance. But Kiss confirmed Wright and Faessler (hamstring) would likely not feature for the Reds again this season, with the former having undergone surgery.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
It's do-or-die as holes are exposed: Four things learnt in Reds' defeat
How finals will determine Wallabies' No.10 battle Tom Lynagh has thrust himself firmly into contention to steer the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions, but Friday's battle was one that perhaps did his chance some harm. While the 22-year-old still showed some strength running the ball and a few deft passes long and short, his kicking game was a far cry from the clean and booming nature Reds fans have grown accustomed to, while McDermott also shouldered some burden. He also missed five tackles, but his work off the tee, kicking five goals from five attempts, including the Reds' first two penalties of the season, kept them in the hunt before he was subbed out with 15 minutes remaining. Loading National coach Joe Schmidt has previously confirmed if any selection battles were neck-and-neck races, those who had committed to Australian rugby beyond 2025 would be preferred – which could spell the end of Japan-bound Brumbies star Noah Lolesio's bid. That would leave Lynagh in a likely fight with Western Force counterpart Ben Donaldson, who announced this week he had re-signed until the end of 2027. Schmidt, however, has also hinted finals form would count for plenty given the do-or-die nature of that stage. Donaldson and his ninth-placed Force will not get that opportunity. Lynagh and his Queensland teammates will need to rally against the Drua in Brisbane next week before contemplating their finals quest. 'I just had a couple of moments – a lack of focus, and some of those under pressure yes, but I've got to be better.' Tate McDermott Great's son made for the big stage He has spent his time at Ballymore stuck behind an all-star back row of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Liam Wright. But when injuries have reared, Joe Brial has proven he has the tools to thrive at this level, and he stood up for the most crucial moment of his career to almost steal the win. Trailing by six, Queensland's go forward was lacking as they built up 20 phases without much penetration – players seemingly catching the ball flat-footed and unsure whether to shift it wide or play it through the middle. Brial, the son of 13-Test Wallaby Michael Brial, chose the latter, carrying then shrugging off three defenders en route to a brilliant individual try. The 23-year-old only recently put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension until the end of 2026, and with Wright's worrying injury history – still sidelined with the same shoulder concern that curtailed his Test comeback last year – Brial looms as a key figure in the Reds' finals quest. 'We always knew how good of an athlete Brially was ... he's absolutely shot out of the gates and been really impressive.' Tate McDermott McDermott's case builds, as Reds hope for reinforcements Despite the result, McDermott has given his case for the Wallabies' No.9 jumper another telling boost on the back of his try-scoring brace which kept his side within striking distance. The halfback's long passing game early in the second half unleashed the backline before scoring himself on the inside support, while he finished the night with 67 running metres while beating five defenders. '[Wright] is out for a little while, we're waiting for our next meet with the surgeon on that and get some more [information].' Les Kiss There is still hope McDermott's backline will receive some reinforcements, with outside centre Josh Flook (hamstring) in line to be available for selection against the Drua, with Seru Uru (knee) also a chance. But Kiss confirmed Wright and Faessler (hamstring) would likely not feature for the Reds again this season, with the former having undergone surgery.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'I want it bad': why O'Connor feels ready to tame Lions
Branding a British and Irish Lions series bigger than a Rugby World Cup, James O'Connor has revealed his sales pitch for a Test recall to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. Thriving at the Crusaders, O'Connor says he has had a "good conversation" with Schmidt about suddenly being in the frame for a shock return for the Lions' blockbuster three-Test series in Australia this winter. "I want it bad," the 34-year-old said after coming off the bench to play another starring cameo role in the Crusaders' 48-33 Super Rugby Pacific win over the NSW Waratahs last Friday. "I'd love to be involved with the Wallabies again." "I'm under no illusion that there's other guys who are playing really well and there's fresh young men and guys who are coming into their prime who are doing a great job for their clubs as well," O'Connor added. "But I do feel like I could add something. Any part I can play to help us beat the Lions. I'm still bitter about the last tour, so I want us to get this win. "I feel like I'm moving better than I have in a long time and I'm reinvigorated and keen to play." It had been assumed the Wallabies' flyhalf role was a race in three between Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. But, with none of the trio making compelling claims, O'Connor is adamant he could do the job and, as a 34-year-old Dan Carter proved at the 2015 World Cup for the All Blacks, having an older head could work for Schmidt. O'Connor was only 23 when Robbie Deans thrust him into the No.10 role for the Wallabies' 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013. The veteran feels a far more complete chief playmaker 12 years on, having only first been handed the flyhalf job on a two-Test spring tour in 2011. "I was always in Robbie's ear to give me a crack," O'Connor said. "In 2013, I didn't shy away from it but I had a chip on my shoulder, for sure, so I thought I was the greatest. I thought I could do the job. "I had no idea about how to run a game or manage a game. That Lions series, it just showed me how much I didn't know." O'Connor confessed to being schooled in the 41-16 third-Test loss in Sydney by wily Lions like Jonathan Davies and Brian O'Driscoll when the series was on the line. "I didn't know what to do in that moment. I'd never been in it before and I wasn't smart enough, didn't have the game knowledge to be able to get that momentum back," he said. His game-managing smarts came after he ventured overseas in 2013. "Went to Toulon and started learning from Gits (Matt Giteau) and Jonny Wilkinson and even picking Ma'a Nonu's brain and Bryan Habana's and all those sort of guys," he said. "I moved to Sale and I spent a lot of time with AJ MacGinty and also Faf de Klerk and understanding how they play the game and then I meshed it all into my own when I came back to the Reds." "I'm not the finished product but I've been learning for the past five years." Deployed mostly at fullback and centre at the 2011 and 2019 World Cups, O'Connor personally reckons a Lions series doesn't compare as equal to a global showpiece. "It's bigger, man," he said. "World Cups are incredible but the Lions, I was blown away. "I grew up watching league and union, but never really watched a Lions series before and the older players had said how big it was. "But I was like, "Oh, look, I've done a World Cup before, cool, like it can't be bigger than a World Cup. "But it's just two teams and I remember every place we were in, whether it was Brisbane or Melbourne or Sydney, it was just 60,000 people. "Every time we left the hotel, we were just bombarded and it's not like the British are quiet. They're on the piss at 10am, so you're getting heckled just walking up the street. "It was awesome, great banter, but it was quite overwhelming. Another level."
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Jaw surgery leaves Suaalii's Lions status in limbo
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii requires surgery on a fractured jaw, placing him in doubt for the Wallabies' blockbuster British and Irish Lions duel. The code-hopping NSW Waratahs star copped an accidental knee from a teammate in Friday's loss to the Queensland Reds and was carted from Allianz Stadium in a medicab. The 21-year-old was concussed, but there was optimism he would miss just one week as the Waratahs pushed for a Super Rugby Pacific finals spot. But on Wednesday the Waratahs revealed their star NRL convert required surgery to reinforce a fractured jaw. A review in four weeks - about one month before the three-Test series begins in Brisbane on July 19 - will determine his return-to-play time frame. There are three Super Rugby regular-season games remaining before a three-week finals series. The Wallabies begin their Test season against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. "We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies," Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. Suaalii made a statement in his Test debut last year before he'd even played a game for the Waratahs, and has since flourished playing both at fullback and in the centres. Speaking on Monday, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said he'd prefer not to wrap Suaalii in cotton wool. "I'm keen to see him keep playing," he said. "He's missed a few games already this season. He hasn't had that many games anyway so, for Joseph, it's important that he just keep playing when he's fit and available to play." The setback adds to a pile of injury concerns, with flyhalf contenders Tom Lynagh (concussion) and Noah Lolesio (back) both key omissions for the Reds and ACT Brumbies, who play each other on Saturday. The Reds are also carrying Test skipper Harry Wilson (arm) and contenders Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright and Seru Uru on their injury list. Waratahs flyer Max Jorgensen (ankle), in-form Western Force back-rower Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) and winger Dylan Pietsch (quad) are also nursing wounds. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii requires surgery on a fractured jaw, placing him in doubt for the Wallabies' blockbuster British and Irish Lions duel. The code-hopping NSW Waratahs star copped an accidental knee from a teammate in Friday's loss to the Queensland Reds and was carted from Allianz Stadium in a medicab. The 21-year-old was concussed, but there was optimism he would miss just one week as the Waratahs pushed for a Super Rugby Pacific finals spot. But on Wednesday the Waratahs revealed their star NRL convert required surgery to reinforce a fractured jaw. A review in four weeks - about one month before the three-Test series begins in Brisbane on July 19 - will determine his return-to-play time frame. There are three Super Rugby regular-season games remaining before a three-week finals series. The Wallabies begin their Test season against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. "We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies," Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. Suaalii made a statement in his Test debut last year before he'd even played a game for the Waratahs, and has since flourished playing both at fullback and in the centres. Speaking on Monday, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said he'd prefer not to wrap Suaalii in cotton wool. "I'm keen to see him keep playing," he said. "He's missed a few games already this season. He hasn't had that many games anyway so, for Joseph, it's important that he just keep playing when he's fit and available to play." The setback adds to a pile of injury concerns, with flyhalf contenders Tom Lynagh (concussion) and Noah Lolesio (back) both key omissions for the Reds and ACT Brumbies, who play each other on Saturday. The Reds are also carrying Test skipper Harry Wilson (arm) and contenders Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright and Seru Uru on their injury list. Waratahs flyer Max Jorgensen (ankle), in-form Western Force back-rower Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) and winger Dylan Pietsch (quad) are also nursing wounds. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii requires surgery on a fractured jaw, placing him in doubt for the Wallabies' blockbuster British and Irish Lions duel. The code-hopping NSW Waratahs star copped an accidental knee from a teammate in Friday's loss to the Queensland Reds and was carted from Allianz Stadium in a medicab. The 21-year-old was concussed, but there was optimism he would miss just one week as the Waratahs pushed for a Super Rugby Pacific finals spot. But on Wednesday the Waratahs revealed their star NRL convert required surgery to reinforce a fractured jaw. A review in four weeks - about one month before the three-Test series begins in Brisbane on July 19 - will determine his return-to-play time frame. There are three Super Rugby regular-season games remaining before a three-week finals series. The Wallabies begin their Test season against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. "We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies," Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. Suaalii made a statement in his Test debut last year before he'd even played a game for the Waratahs, and has since flourished playing both at fullback and in the centres. Speaking on Monday, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said he'd prefer not to wrap Suaalii in cotton wool. "I'm keen to see him keep playing," he said. "He's missed a few games already this season. He hasn't had that many games anyway so, for Joseph, it's important that he just keep playing when he's fit and available to play." The setback adds to a pile of injury concerns, with flyhalf contenders Tom Lynagh (concussion) and Noah Lolesio (back) both key omissions for the Reds and ACT Brumbies, who play each other on Saturday. The Reds are also carrying Test skipper Harry Wilson (arm) and contenders Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright and Seru Uru on their injury list. Waratahs flyer Max Jorgensen (ankle), in-form Western Force back-rower Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) and winger Dylan Pietsch (quad) are also nursing wounds.
7NEWS
14-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in need of surgery and in doubt for Wallabies' blockbuster series with Lions
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii requires surgery on a fractured jaw that's placed him in doubt for the Wallabies' blockbuster British and Irish Lions duel. The code-hopping NSW Waratahs star copped an accidental knee from a teammate in Saturday's loss to the Queensland Reds and was carted from Allianz Stadium in a medicab. The 21-year-old was concussed but there was optimism he would miss just one week as the Waratahs pushed for a Super Rugby Pacific finals spot. But on Wednesday the Waratahs revealed their star NRL convert required surgery to reinforce a fractured jaw. A review in four weeks will then determine a return-to-play time frame, leaving the supreme talent in massive doubt ahead of the much-hyped three-Test series that begins in Brisbane on July 19. The Wallabies begin their Test season against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. 'We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies,' Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. Suaalii made a statement in his Test debut last year before he'd even played a game for the Waratahs and has since flourished playing both at fullback and in the centres. Speaking on Monday, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said that he'd prefer not to wrap Suaalii in cotton wool. 'I'm keen to see him keep playing,' he said. 'He's missed a few games already this season. 'He hasn't had that many games anyway so, for Joseph, it's important that he just keep playing when he's fit and available to play.'
