Latest news with #DanMcKellar
CNA
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Tupou gets chance to stake claim for Lions series with Waratahs
SYDNEY :The Wallabies thought they had a tighthead prop for a generation when Taniela Tupou packed his bags and headed to Australia to join his brother after completing his education in New Zealand. This weekend, however, he will not be facing Fiji in Australia's only warm-up for the British and Irish Lions test series but instead taking on the tourists in a New South Wales Waratahs shirt. The 29-year-old was released by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on Monday in the wake of a Super Rugby season for the Waratahs which, by his own admission, was well below par. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was grateful for his return and is hoping Tupou on Saturday can show the form which has earned him 58 test caps since his debut against Scotland in 2017. "(I want him) to go out there in set piece first and foremost, back that up with physicality and show the ability to repeat it," McKellar, a former prop himself, said after naming his team on Thursday. "They are the three things I talk to tight forwards about every day. I want him to be really good around the scrum, lineout, maul and then impose himself on the game as we know he can do with ball in hand and without it." Schmidt would no doubt echo those hopes as he prepares a nation which has never been blessed with huge stocks of front-row talent for three tests against the Lions, who lack nothing in that regard. Nicknamed "Tongan Thor" as a rampaging schoolboy forward in New Zealand, Tupou's best moments in a gold shirt earned him one of Rugby Australia's most lucrative contracts, which is reported to earn him A$1 million ($657,300) a year. Injury curtailed his 2023 World Cup but he was close to his powerful best as recently as the end of last year when Australia beat England at Twickenham and ran Ireland close in Dublin. A Tupou intercept in the latter match is still etched in the memory of Andy Farrell, who was finishing up with the Irish before his Lions sabbatical that day. "He's very disruptive, to say the least, and good at what he does," the Lions coach said on Thursday. "Ireland played against him last year and we saw the pace that he had, he went straight up the middle of the field there. He's not just a disruptive scrummager, he's certainly got power and pace on both sides of the ball." Schmidt will name a fresh squad for the Lions test series next Friday and Tupou's performance on Saturday night at Sydney Football Stadium could go a long way to deciding if he is in it. ($1 = 1.5214 Australian dollars)
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Free-scoring Lions can be beaten insists Waratahs coach McKellar
Taniela Tupou (C) has been released from the Wallabies camp to play for NSW Waratahs against the British and Irish Lions (Saeed KHAN) NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Thursday that beating the British and Irish Lions was "doable", but admitted the scale of the challenge for his under-strength team was daunting. The chances of an upset in Sydney appear slim, with the tourists racking up 16 tries and 106 points across their opening two tour wins against Western Force and Queensland Reds. Advertisement "We are not playing Super Rugby or anything else. We are playing a high-quality Test team. But they've got two arms and two legs, and you just have to put them under pressure," McKellar said. "The Force and the Reds, they have done that ... being able to do it and sustain it for long periods of time is the challenge. "But as has been proven in the past, it's certainly doable. You just have to be very good." While wing Andrew Kellaway and prop Taniela Tupou have been released from Australia's training camp for the match, the Waratahs are without several key players who remain with the Wallabies ahead of a Test on Sunday against Fiji. Advertisement They include dynamic wing Joseph Suallii, scrum-half Jake Gordon, prop Angus Bell and hooker David Porecki. McKellar said set-piece dominance could be a key weapon for the Waratahs. "Dominant set-piece is a big part of what we do," he said. "Ideally, we can get dominance at scrum time, because off the back of that you get field position, you are in the penalty count, and you game just flows from there. "We've worked incredibly hard over the last month since Super Rugby finished for us," he added. "I want to see a transfer of that and put a performance on that we can hang our hat on." Advertisement Long-serving back-row forward Hugh Sinclair will captain the side in what will be the last game of his professional career. One-Test Wallaby wing Darby Lancaster is included, while former Australia lock Matt Philip will make his Waratahs debut from the bench after returning from a stint in Japan. NSW Waratahs (15-1): Lawson Creighton; Andrew Kellaway, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Darby Lancaster; Jack Bowen, Teddy Wilson; Hugh Sinclair (capt), Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota; Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner; Taniela Tupou, Ethan Dobbins, Tom Lambert Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O'Donnell mp/dh
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
How ruthless Michael Cheika transformed Leicester in less than a season
When casting the final judgment on Leicester's performance across the regular season, the cold, hard facts are inescapable. A second-placed finish, a first home semi-final since the Tigers' last title win in 2022, 15 tries more than last season and the league's joint-top try-scorer. But, as ever with England's biggest club, the devil is in the detail. For as much as this season has been one of rare success for Leicester, it has been one of almost inexplicable wackiness, too. Think back to the sudden departure of previous head coach Dan McKellar and the swift arrival of the acclaimed Australian Michael Cheika; think back to his stadium ban after one match of the Premiership season; a hiding against Bristol at home; a complete implosion away at Toulouse. Add in the saga to find Cheika's replacement as head coach, and a yet-to-be-announced fly-half successor to Handré Pollard, and it has been nothing if not eventful at Oval Park and Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Of course, the Tigers have won nothing yet. And a club of such stature would never admit that anything other than silverware in the cabinet would rank as a success. But when you compare eighth with second, with an attendance of more than 20,000 expected at Welford Road on Saturday, it would be unfair to judge Cheika's sole season in the East Midlands as anything other than triumphant no matter the result against Sale. The Australian, from the pits of panic, has put the club back on the straight and narrow. Cheika targets slipping standards Cheika was announced as the replacement for his compatriot, McKellar, in late June last year after a season in which the Tigers finished eighth in the Premiership table. McKellar had been hamstrung by the lack of an attack coach but his services were dispensed with after Leicester's standards had slipped. According to captain Julián Montoya, it was standards and mentality which Cheika looked to address from the off. 'The relationship he has with the players, how much he cares about it,' says Montoya, who was coached by Cheika during the Australian's stint as Argentina coach between 2022 and 2023. 'His training is unbelievable. He has a lot of experience; the standards he's brought, the mentality he's brought. He is one of the best coaches in the world and we are very lucky to have been coached by him. 'But I couldn't just say one thing. He's a brilliant, world-class coach – and a brilliant guy.' Cheika himself added: 'From the very start, we needed to re-establish the way things were done – from a preparation point of view and, maybe, the expectations, I suppose.' The emphasis on standards and expectations worked, as Leicester won five of their opening six league matches under Cheika, including a dramatic last-play triumph over Exeter on the opening Premiership weekend – a win which also led to the 58-year-old receiving a ban for some verbal wrangling with the independent match-day doctor. Reffell's Winning Try (v Exeter Chiefs) — Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) October 1, 2024 It was all looking tickety-boo for Leicester under Cheika. The Australian had redeveloped a toughness and stubbornness – that indefinable quality of being difficult to beat – in his side that the Tigers had been missing since the days of Steve Borthwick and Richard Wigglesworth. Cheika was trusting his instincts and embracing the potential of youth – Joe Heyes, Jack van Poortvliet, Joe Woodward and Emeka Ilione have all either nailed down starting spots or emerged as Test-class players this season – while the addition of Peter Hewat as attack coach was proving a shrewd acquisition by the Tigers. Leicester's attacking play, at times, has been dashing; and it is no coincidence that Ollie Hassell-Collins finished as joint top try-scorer in the Premiership. But then came two sobering defeats. Bad defeats threaten to derail season The first by Bristol at home, where the Tigers shipped 54 points at Welford Road – and 40 in the first half. Less than a month later came the most chastening of all, as Leicester were obliterated 80-12 by Toulouse in the south of France. Cheika stopped short of describing that match as a turning point in the season, but there was a 'certain reckoning' about it. 'For myself, you cannot go past the Toulouse game,' Cheika said. ''All right, there are some things which I really need to attend to here.' For myself as well – as a coach. That hadn't happened to me before, so I wanted to take something from it. I made some adjustments there but it is a building process along the way, about laying down foundations which will help us when we're under the pump to get us through. 'It felt like it was something which gave me insight into things which I really needed to concentrate on in the short term.' What Cheika concentrated on was defence, with the Australian making an immediate change to his coaching team. Matt Everard, the club's popular former flanker and now head coach of newly rebooted Worcester, was replaced by David Kidwell, who coached the Pumas' defence under Cheika. The move came as a prime example of Cheika identifying something which was not to his liking and, for better or worse, acting ruthlessly to make sure it was. There was also the mid-season arrival of Newcastle flyer Adam Radwan, who has been a revelation since making his Tigers debut in January. Eight tries in eight games 🔥 Adam Radwan cannot stop scoring 💨 #GallagherPrem | #LEIvSAL — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 9, 2025 Ruthless mid-season changes pay-off Cheika's changes led to a reaction from the players. No one – surely not even Cheika himself – saw the 33-0 victory at Northampton at the end of March coming. Then came the most impressive three-match stint of Cheika's tenure to date, as Leicester vanquished Bristol at Ashton Gate – avenging their December shellacking – demolished Harlequins at Welford Road, and overcame a George Ford-inspired Sale in one of the Premiership games of the season so far. There was also the public reveal of Cheika, ever the motivator, ever the savant, using a club flag as a symbolic semaphore to motivate his troops. That @LeicesterTigers mystery flag 🚩 @Sarraelgan does her best but Head Coach Michael Cheika is giving nothing away… 🤔 — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 20, 2025 It worked. Leicester's purple patch meant that, come the final day and the hosting of Newcastle, the Tigers virtually had a home semi-final sewn up with a match to spare. That, allied to the announcement that former lock Geoff Parling will return to the club as head coach next season, and the probable arrival of an international fly-half, and a wave of optimism engulfed Welford Road, after a season in which the Tigers suffered one of their darkest ever on-field days. Despite the turnaround and adulation from fans, Cheika would not entertain any chatter about this season having already been a success or, even, of leaving a legacy at Welford Road. 'One year is not enough to leave any type of legacy whatsoever,' Cheika said. 'The relationships that I've been able to build between players, fans and the club has been respectful and enjoyable. 'I'd like the fans to think that I was one of them – even if it was just for one year. That's not easy because I have been the enemy here before – [from an] international and club point of view. 'The obvious is to try and win that trophy. We have to try and do every thing we can to do that – that's the best thing we can do to build the future of the club. Play well, one step at a time, this weekend – that's it, it's pretty much a final there and then.' Cheika might not believe he has done enough to earn a Leicester legacy, but two matches will be the difference between him either perhaps being proven right, or him having no choice in the matter at all.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The harsh truth about Australian rugby
The end of the regular season means it's time for some uncomfortable truths. Despite the perceived performance benefits of cutting the Rebels, the four remaining Australian sides have actually won fewer games against the Kiwis this year. They have won seven this year compared to nine last year, with the discrepancy explained by both the Reds and Brumbies flipping from a 3-2 trans-Tasman winning record in 2024 to a 2-3 losing one. While the early-season narrative was one of Australian improvement, it quietly flipped about two-thirds of the way through the competition, and the last win against a New Zealand team was the Reds' victory against the Blues in round 11. It's an obvious concern on the eve of the British and Lions series. Two-tier Super has a problem The win-loss record outline above is part of a much broader problem. The top six finishers this year are effectively the same top six teams from the past four years of Super Rugby Pacific. In fact, in the competition's history (beginning in 2022) only eight teams have finished in the top six, the Waratahs sneaking in twice (6th in 2023 and 6th in 2022) and the Highlanders sneaking in once (6th in 2024). It's a competition with bedded-in haves and have-nots, as the points differential from this year highlights again. The big six all have positive points differentials, and the rest have deeply negative ones, with the Highlanders the 'best' at minus 90. This is one reason why this column has been sympathetic towards Dan McKellar at the Waratahs this year. He's walked into a job in the current have-nots, and Super Rugby's lack of player movement makes upward mobility very hard to achieve. Wallabies form team of the week James Slipper (Brumbies) Richie Asiata (Reds) Zane Nonggorr (Reds) Tom Hooper (Brumbies) Fergus Lee-Warner (Waratahs) Joe Brial (Reds) Fraser McReight (Reds) Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) Teddy Wilson (Waratahs) Tom Lynagh (Reds) Tim Ryan (Reds) Hunter Paisami (Reds) Josh Flook (Reds) Lachie Anderson (Reds) - Player of the week Tom Wright (Brumbies) The Brumbies' missing drop goal There were six minutes left when Crusaders winger Sevu Reece knocked the ball on against the Brumbies on Saturday - that's a lot of rugby left in such a seesawing game. While the failure to spot the knock-on was clearly a mistake, it's an exaggeration to say it decided the game. Even if we enter the alternative universe of the knock-on being spotted, the Brumbies would have a defensive scrum with five-plus minutes to run down - the Crusaders would get another crack at winning the game. A bigger factor in the outcome was the Brumbies' aversion to the drop goal option in the final seconds, despite being in the perfect position - about 15m out, in the centre of the field, with front-foot ball. Noah Lolesio had to go back into the pocket and call the drop-goal. Suaalii v Tuipulotu is on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's scheduled return from his jaw injury is encouraging news, and his old mate Sione Tuipulotu is very much getting ready for their much-anticipated reunion during the Lions series. Tuipulotu was excellent for Glasgow against the Stormers in a URC quarter final over the weekend, making one outstanding second-half break. He showed no signs of the pectoral muscle injury that cast a cloud over his Lions participation earlier in the year. He must be a strong contender to start the first test in the Lions No 12 jersey, especially if Scotland's Finn Russell is the No 10.
The Age
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The harsh truth about Australian rugby
The end of the regular season means it's time for some uncomfortable truths. Despite the perceived performance benefits of cutting the Rebels, the four remaining Australian sides have actually won fewer games against the Kiwis this year. They have won seven this year compared to nine last year, with the discrepancy explained by both the Reds and Brumbies flipping from a 3-2 trans-Tasman winning record in 2024 to a 2-3 losing one. While the early-season narrative was one of Australian improvement, it quietly flipped about two-thirds of the way through the competition, and the last win against a New Zealand team was the Reds' victory against the Blues in round 11. It's an obvious concern on the eve of the British and Lions series. Two-tier Super has a problem The win-loss record outline above is part of a much broader problem. The top six finishers this year are effectively the same top six teams from the past four years of Super Rugby Pacific. In fact, in the competition's history (beginning in 2022) only eight teams have finished in the top six, the Waratahs sneaking in twice (6th in 2023 and 6th in 2022) and the Highlanders sneaking in once (6th in 2024). It's a competition with bedded-in haves and have-nots, as the points differential from this year highlights again. The big six all have positive points differentials, and the rest have deeply negative ones, with the Highlanders the 'best' at minus 90. This is one reason why this column has been sympathetic towards Dan McKellar at the Waratahs this year. He's walked into a job in the current have-nots, and Super Rugby's lack of player movement makes upward mobility very hard to achieve. Wallabies form team of the week James Slipper (Brumbies) Richie Asiata (Reds) Zane Nonggorr (Reds) Tom Hooper (Brumbies) Fergus Lee-Warner (Waratahs) Joe Brial (Reds) Fraser McReight (Reds) Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) Teddy Wilson (Waratahs) Tom Lynagh (Reds) Tim Ryan (Reds) Hunter Paisami (Reds) Josh Flook (Reds) Lachie Anderson (Reds) - Player of the week Tom Wright (Brumbies) The Brumbies' missing drop goal There were six minutes left when Crusaders winger Sevu Reece knocked the ball on against the Brumbies on Saturday - that's a lot of rugby left in such a seesawing game. While the failure to spot the knock-on was clearly a mistake, it's an exaggeration to say it decided the game. Even if we enter the alternative universe of the knock-on being spotted, the Brumbies would have a defensive scrum with five-plus minutes to run down - the Crusaders would get another crack at winning the game. A bigger factor in the outcome was the Brumbies' aversion to the drop goal option in the final seconds, despite being in the perfect position - about 15m out, in the centre of the field, with front-foot ball. Noah Lolesio had to go back into the pocket and call the drop-goal. Suaalii v Tuipulotu is on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's scheduled return from his jaw injury is encouraging news, and his old mate Sione Tuipulotu is very much getting ready for their much-anticipated reunion during the Lions series. Tuipulotu was excellent for Glasgow against the Stormers in a URC quarter final over the weekend, making one outstanding second-half break. He showed no signs of the pectoral muscle injury that cast a cloud over his Lions participation earlier in the year. He must be a strong contender to start the first test in the Lions No 12 jersey, especially if Scotland's Finn Russell is the No 10.
