'I'd give up my left testicle': Tom Robertson
So just how desperate is prop Tom Robertson to play for the Wallabies again?
"I would give up my left testicle," the Western Force veteran says without hesitation.
It's been three years since Robertson last pulled on the Wallabies gold.
Since then, he has ruptured his ACL, spent a year-long study sabbatical at Oxford as part of his path to becoming a doctor, and fell back in love with rugby again.
Robertson produced a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign this year to win the Nathan Sharpe Medal as the Western Force's player of the season.
The 30-year-old further bolstered his Wallabies hopes with a strong display for the Force in Saturday night's 54-7 loss to the British and Irish Lions in front of 46,656 fans at Optus Stadium.
The Force's scrum was widely tipped to be humbled against the Lions.
But powered by Robertson's efforts, the Force's scrum stood firm all night, and was arguably the better of the two teams.
Robertson has notched 31 caps for the Wallabies since making his debut in 2016, and his selection in the squad for next Sunday's Test against Fiji in Newcastle shows he's now well and truly back in the frame.
Getting a gig to feature in the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions would be a dream come true.
"It would mean the world," Robertson said.
"You know, I haven't played a Test since 2022, and that's the highlight of your career.
"I would give my left testicle to do it again.
"Just to be in the squad is an honour, and to push for a gig in that 23 would be unreal.
"I came close last year being in the squad for a bit, but I had a few injuries and didn't make the 23.
"It would be an unreal experience to play a Test against the Lions."
Robertson said there were definitely moments he doubted he would ever feature for the Wallabies again.
"I did my ACL in 2023 and took a year off, went over to Oxford," he said.
"It was great fun. And I sort of got away from rugby, but I think that was the best thing for me. I really got that drive back.
"When I was away, there were definitely moments there where I didn't know if I'd come back to professional rugby, but I'm very glad I did.
"I feel like I've got that spark back."
Another Force player who boosted his chances of a Wallabies recall was Dylan Pietsch, who was the standout performer against the Lions on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old produced a series of dazzling runs in the first half in what was just his second match back from a serious quad injury.
"I did a 25cm grade-three tear in my quad," Pietsch revealed of the injury.
"It was pretty big, it was in the first three minutes of the Highlanders game (in round eight), when I went to take off and it just ripped."
Pietsch returned for the Force's final game of the season, and credits the team's physiotherapist, "Magic" Mike Neil, for having him in tip-top shape.
"I just feel smooth," Pietsch said.
"Throughout the back end of last year, and then going into the start of this year, I was kind of fighting for a lot of things.
"Like my joints weren't really going that well.
"Just to be able to not have to worry about that, and get to the speed and the agility that I want to be at is pretty cool."
So just how desperate is prop Tom Robertson to play for the Wallabies again?
"I would give up my left testicle," the Western Force veteran says without hesitation.
It's been three years since Robertson last pulled on the Wallabies gold.
Since then, he has ruptured his ACL, spent a year-long study sabbatical at Oxford as part of his path to becoming a doctor, and fell back in love with rugby again.
Robertson produced a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign this year to win the Nathan Sharpe Medal as the Western Force's player of the season.
The 30-year-old further bolstered his Wallabies hopes with a strong display for the Force in Saturday night's 54-7 loss to the British and Irish Lions in front of 46,656 fans at Optus Stadium.
The Force's scrum was widely tipped to be humbled against the Lions.
But powered by Robertson's efforts, the Force's scrum stood firm all night, and was arguably the better of the two teams.
Robertson has notched 31 caps for the Wallabies since making his debut in 2016, and his selection in the squad for next Sunday's Test against Fiji in Newcastle shows he's now well and truly back in the frame.
Getting a gig to feature in the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions would be a dream come true.
"It would mean the world," Robertson said.
"You know, I haven't played a Test since 2022, and that's the highlight of your career.
"I would give my left testicle to do it again.
"Just to be in the squad is an honour, and to push for a gig in that 23 would be unreal.
"I came close last year being in the squad for a bit, but I had a few injuries and didn't make the 23.
"It would be an unreal experience to play a Test against the Lions."
Robertson said there were definitely moments he doubted he would ever feature for the Wallabies again.
"I did my ACL in 2023 and took a year off, went over to Oxford," he said.
"It was great fun. And I sort of got away from rugby, but I think that was the best thing for me. I really got that drive back.
"When I was away, there were definitely moments there where I didn't know if I'd come back to professional rugby, but I'm very glad I did.
"I feel like I've got that spark back."
Another Force player who boosted his chances of a Wallabies recall was Dylan Pietsch, who was the standout performer against the Lions on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old produced a series of dazzling runs in the first half in what was just his second match back from a serious quad injury.
"I did a 25cm grade-three tear in my quad," Pietsch revealed of the injury.
"It was pretty big, it was in the first three minutes of the Highlanders game (in round eight), when I went to take off and it just ripped."
Pietsch returned for the Force's final game of the season, and credits the team's physiotherapist, "Magic" Mike Neil, for having him in tip-top shape.
"I just feel smooth," Pietsch said.
"Throughout the back end of last year, and then going into the start of this year, I was kind of fighting for a lot of things.
"Like my joints weren't really going that well.
"Just to be able to not have to worry about that, and get to the speed and the agility that I want to be at is pretty cool."
So just how desperate is prop Tom Robertson to play for the Wallabies again?
"I would give up my left testicle," the Western Force veteran says without hesitation.
It's been three years since Robertson last pulled on the Wallabies gold.
Since then, he has ruptured his ACL, spent a year-long study sabbatical at Oxford as part of his path to becoming a doctor, and fell back in love with rugby again.
Robertson produced a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign this year to win the Nathan Sharpe Medal as the Western Force's player of the season.
The 30-year-old further bolstered his Wallabies hopes with a strong display for the Force in Saturday night's 54-7 loss to the British and Irish Lions in front of 46,656 fans at Optus Stadium.
The Force's scrum was widely tipped to be humbled against the Lions.
But powered by Robertson's efforts, the Force's scrum stood firm all night, and was arguably the better of the two teams.
Robertson has notched 31 caps for the Wallabies since making his debut in 2016, and his selection in the squad for next Sunday's Test against Fiji in Newcastle shows he's now well and truly back in the frame.
Getting a gig to feature in the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions would be a dream come true.
"It would mean the world," Robertson said.
"You know, I haven't played a Test since 2022, and that's the highlight of your career.
"I would give my left testicle to do it again.
"Just to be in the squad is an honour, and to push for a gig in that 23 would be unreal.
"I came close last year being in the squad for a bit, but I had a few injuries and didn't make the 23.
"It would be an unreal experience to play a Test against the Lions."
Robertson said there were definitely moments he doubted he would ever feature for the Wallabies again.
"I did my ACL in 2023 and took a year off, went over to Oxford," he said.
"It was great fun. And I sort of got away from rugby, but I think that was the best thing for me. I really got that drive back.
"When I was away, there were definitely moments there where I didn't know if I'd come back to professional rugby, but I'm very glad I did.
"I feel like I've got that spark back."
Another Force player who boosted his chances of a Wallabies recall was Dylan Pietsch, who was the standout performer against the Lions on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old produced a series of dazzling runs in the first half in what was just his second match back from a serious quad injury.
"I did a 25cm grade-three tear in my quad," Pietsch revealed of the injury.
"It was pretty big, it was in the first three minutes of the Highlanders game (in round eight), when I went to take off and it just ripped."
Pietsch returned for the Force's final game of the season, and credits the team's physiotherapist, "Magic" Mike Neil, for having him in tip-top shape.
"I just feel smooth," Pietsch said.
"Throughout the back end of last year, and then going into the start of this year, I was kind of fighting for a lot of things.
"Like my joints weren't really going that well.
"Just to be able to not have to worry about that, and get to the speed and the agility that I want to be at is pretty cool."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Pom you want to hate will be a star for Lions
Eddie Jones' Japan XV side were smashed 53-20 by the Māori All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday, an ominous side before Japan's two-Test series against Wales starts next weekend. Former Reds No 10 Sam Greene made his first start for Japan after becoming eligible and enjoyed a bright first half, but Japan's defence was poor in the second half and the Māori ran in a total of nine tries. The problems that were evident for Japan in Jones' first year in charge last year were still there on Saturday, and unless they can find a few more gears physically they will be in trouble against the Welsh, despite the Six Nations side's own form woes. Jones didn't play his big guns against the Māori, but it was still a poor display in front of a healthy home crowd against a side with eight debutants and just one week of preparation. Meanwhile, the Springboks hammered a reasonable-looking Barbarians side 54-7 in Cape Town with a performance of pace and power. Watch out New Zealand, these Springboks are coming for that Eden Park winning streak. Wallabies can already start preparing for this backline Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Mack Hansen will start the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, with only the fullback position looking particularly contestable between Elliot Daly, Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan. Loading It was clear in Perth that the Irish contingent are understandably more comfortable with coach Andy Farrell's style of play, with No 13 Ringrose the key man defensively with his line speed. Schmidt won't mind that tactic, particularly with Len Ikitau or Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii good enough or strong enough to take the hit from Ringrose and get the ball wider or beat him with footwork. The defensive issues that prevented Lowe from being an All Black also pop up sporadically, so there will be opportunities for the Wallabies if they are good enough. On the flipside, Russell's quick hands were a joy to watch in Perth - he really does belong among the elite in the terms of the deception he can offer at the line.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
The Pom you want to hate will be a star for Lions
Eddie Jones' Japan XV side were smashed 53-20 by the Māori All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday, an ominous side before Japan's two-Test series against Wales starts next weekend. Former Reds No 10 Sam Greene made his first start for Japan after becoming eligible and enjoyed a bright first half, but Japan's defence was poor in the second half and the Māori ran in a total of nine tries. The problems that were evident for Japan in Jones' first year in charge last year were still there on Saturday, and unless they can find a few more gears physically they will be in trouble against the Welsh, despite the Six Nations side's own form woes. Jones didn't play his big guns against the Māori, but it was still a poor display in front of a healthy home crowd against a side with eight debutants and just one week of preparation. Meanwhile, the Springboks hammered a reasonable-looking Barbarians side 54-7 in Cape Town with a performance of pace and power. Watch out New Zealand, these Springboks are coming for that Eden Park winning streak. Wallabies can already start preparing for this backline Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Mack Hansen will start the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, with only the fullback position looking particularly contestable between Elliot Daly, Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan. Loading It was clear in Perth that the Irish contingent are understandably more comfortable with coach Andy Farrell's style of play, with No 13 Ringrose the key man defensively with his line speed. Schmidt won't mind that tactic, particularly with Len Ikitau or Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii good enough or strong enough to take the hit from Ringrose and get the ball wider or beat him with footwork. The defensive issues that prevented Lowe from being an All Black also pop up sporadically, so there will be opportunities for the Wallabies if they are good enough. On the flipside, Russell's quick hands were a joy to watch in Perth - he really does belong among the elite in the terms of the deception he can offer at the line.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions roar and crack half-century in tour opener
Go to latest Lions overpower Force 54–7 to launch Australian tour in style By Jonathan Drennan The British and Irish Lions have made the perfect start to their Australian tour, brushing off jet lag and last Saturday's surprise loss to Argentina to beat the Force 54–7 in Perth. During the first half, rugby fans in Perth were briefly allowed to dream the impossible: a win against the Lions was possible. The Force played fearless running rugby that stunned some of the best players in the world, with wingers Mac Grealy and Dylan Pietsch starring under the lights at Optus Stadium. Prop Tom Robertson also shut down Ireland's famed tighthead Tadhg Furlong in the scrum. After the game, Force coach Simon Cron revealed that tighthead prop Oli Hoskins had broken his little toe on his second day of training, but had insisted on playing through the pain in his final game of professional rugby in front of his home crowd. Before kickoff, betting shops were willing to pay $17 on a Force win and by the final siren, it was clear why the bookmaker very rarely loses. Eight tries for the Lions to the Force's one was as conclusive as it gets. After a stuttering opening forty minutes where the Lions scrambled into the changing rooms grateful to be 21-7 in front, they then showed their vast potential and made their mark in Australia. In the second half, the offloading game that the Lions had frequently failed to execute in their shock defeat against the Pumas in Dublin found its perfect rhythm. The chief tormentor of the Force's exhausted defence was Canberra-raised Mack Hansen, helping the Lions to score five unanswered tries. Hansen has a tattoo of his Lions coach Andy Farrell on his leg as part of a bet for winning the Six Nations two years ago, and the former Great Britain rugby league legend singled out his winger for special praise, despite his international teammate Joe McCarthy being awarded player of the match. 'The player of the game by a country mile was Mack Hansen,' Farrell said. 'Back and forward, full length of the field, fighting for his team on his own. That's what a Lion should 100% do for his teammates.' The Lions scored the first try of the game within just 90 seconds, a perfectly timed cross field kick found the skipper Dan Sheehan, who played a perfect pass to his Ireland winger James Lowe, who immediately threw an offload for the hooker to finish. Three minutes later, through brute force, the Force climbed off the canvas and captain Nic White burrowed over, 12 years after cruelly missing the Lions tour through a shoulder injury. The Force had shocked the Lions with relentless physicality and expansive play, with Pietsch desperate to impress and succeeding through the game, giving Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plenty to think about ahead of the Test series. The Force turned down two early penalty kicks in front of the posts, deciding to go to the corner both times; ultimately, their lack of pragmatism against some of the world's best players was brutally punished. Henry Pollock had played just 31 minutes of Test rugby for England and announced himself onto the Lions tour with a brilliant break, waiting before eventually getting hauled down by rookie five-eighth Alex Harford and popping up a pass to create a simple run in for Welsh halfback Tomos Williams. After so much good work, the Force came brutally unstuck after expecting Finn Russell to kick for the corner, shuffling back with their backs turned, instead the Scottish playmaker spotted the wide open gap, tapped and sprinted half the field, before popping it up to his full back Elliot Daly to dive over for the third try of the night three minutes before half-time. Although the Lions had been starved of the possession they may have expected to enjoy before the game, when they were eventually found opportunities, they were ruthless. The Force's brave early resistance started to falter dramatically as the Lions turned up their physicality through Irish second-rower McCarthy. Six minutes into the second half Sam Carter dropped the ball deep in the Lions' half, the men in red surged 80 metres starting with Mack Hansen before a swift pass to his Irish teammate James Lowe who eventually carved through the Force defence to beautifully offload the ball to his halfback Williams who got his second of the night. Williams' two tries were countered by a nasty hamstring strain that was getting iced in the changing rooms after the game, and could lead the Lions to call on Scotland's Ben White. Five minutes later, Hansen again caused havoc, finding space and sending through another Irishman Garry Ringrose, for a try. McCarthy added another after Pollock's smart chip and chase punished the exhausted Force defence. Daly's second try of the night with nine minutes left was completely unopposed; the English fullback almost jogged sheepishly to dot the ball down under the posts. Replacement halfback Alex Mitchell scored on the siren to end the game at 52-7 and make the Force's blistering start a distant memory. Twelve years ago, Lions cruised to a 52-point victory over the Force at the old Subiaco Oval. In the new, gleaming surrounds of Optus Stadium on Saturday evening, the scoreboard read marginally better, but it highlighted the scale of the task the Wallabies will face against this Lions team. The Lions will now travel to Brisbane, where they have a short turnaround and will face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday at an almost sold-out Suncorp Stadium. 'They're (the Reds) a good side, I think we can all see that, they play the game in all sorts of ways,' Farrell said. 'It's not just one way, but they're very good up front, good at playing the tight game in all sorts of different conditions, but they can play expansive rugby as well. That'll be a real tough test for us on Wednesday, but it's something that we expect from the quality side.' yesterday 10.31pm Last thoughts, some key stats and a sign off .... As the Force and Lions players swap jerseys on Optus Stadium - and an impressive crowd of 46,000 goes home - Force coach Simon Cron has revealed prop Ollie Hoskins played the game with a painful injury after breaking his toe at his first training session last week. Hoskins only came out of a recent retirement last week to make up numbers for the Force. That's a brave effort. The major takeaway for the Force tonight? Pietsch was excellent and we probably expected that. But there is always one unheralded player to stand up against the Lions and tonight that was Mac Grealy. Do yourself a favour: keep an eye on that name. Grealy's was the sort of performance that could see the former Queensland Red win a Wallabies squad call-up in coming weeks and months. Okay, so I am gonna sign off with the live coverage, and let's do that with a look at the final stats. The one that jumps on this list is 23 offloads for the Lions. Their transition attack was exceptional. Good evening, thanks for being with us. Keep an eye out for JD's follow-up reporting from Perth, and I will be heading up to Brisbane for the Reds-Lions clash on Wednesday night. Can't wait. yesterday 10.07pm Pollock: 'I love big occasions' Young Henry Pollock has been grabbed by the Stan crew, and you get the sense that won't be the last time. The flashy no.8 from Northhampton had a superb night out, setting up a try and being a constant presence as a ball runner. He also got in a cheeky stink with Nick Champion de Crespigny. We'll be seeing a lot more of him. 'We just enjoyed it. We had a bad result against Argentina but we spoke about bouncing back and doing what we do best and hopefully we showed that,' Pollock said. 'It's been a whirlwind so far. I am just trying to take it in my stride. I love big occasions and I love pressure. I am just pumped to be here. It was a fun game and we just enjoyed it.'
