Latest news with #JamesHorwill
Perth Now
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Lions brace for backlash after Lynagh baptism of fire
British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell reckons his men are in a "fantastic place" with room to improve as they brace for the Wallabies to do the same in a must-win Melbourne Test for the hosts. The Lions were dominant early in their Brisbane opener, leading 24-5 before the Wallabies managed two late tries and came close to scoring at least two more in a 27-19 Saturday result. The Lions will play a First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday in Melbourne before attempting to seal the series at the MCG on Saturday. Twelve years ago the Lions were in the same place before James Horwill's Wallabies forced a Sydney decider with an emotional 16-15 win. "We know what's coming and we know what happened in the second half," Farrell, an assistant on the 2013 tour, said. "So we roll on to the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013. "When an Australian team comes desperate it's difficult to handle ... but we expect more of ourselves as well. "It'll mean the world to them. We need to make sure we're ready for them." The Wallabies, who conceded for the final time in the 42nd minute, will take some momentum to Victoria and also be boosted by the availability of key pair Rob Valetini and Will Skelton. Their physicality was missed in a one-sided first half before the Wallabies' bench also gave Joe Schmidt something to ponder, scrumhalf Tate McDermott and flanker Carlo Tizzano both scoring tries. McDermott entered the fray just as Queensland Reds teammate and flyhalf Tom Lynagh departed. Lynagh, 22 and boasting just three caps off the bench before Saturday, copped plenty of attention in an examination of the highest order. On the stroke of half time he was hammered in mid-air while taking a bomb, before dusting himself off and continuing. With two Lions Test and back-to-back games in South Africa in the next five weeks it gets no easier for the man parachuted in to replace the injured Noah Lolesio. "For Tom when it was so hard to get access, he was forever reacting, not a lot of front foot ball," Schmidt said. "There's no way he lacks for courage. Made tackles, carried when called on, kicked pretty well. "Very good from him."
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
A Wallabies great fell 23 minutes short of a Lions shock. This is his game plan
Twelve years after he fell 23 minutes shy of inspiring a historic triumph, Wallabies great James Horwill issued a stunning declaration. 'The Wallabies can get the job done,' he told this masthead, on the eve of the British and Irish Lions series. 'If we keep our guys on the park and fit, I'm very confident we can get the job done.' Horwill, the last man to captain the nation into a Lions series, was left to lament a three-try, 10-minute burst from the 57th minute in the third Test that buried their hopes in 2013. He recalls the missed penalty goal after the siren at Suncorp Stadium which sealed their opening Test defeat, after Christian Lealiifano was concussed early and Berrick Barnes and Pat McCabe were also forced off with injuries. And while the Wallabies would bounce back in a one-point thriller in Melbourne, a boilover was not to be. Yet even without injured stars Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, Horwill was adamant the current group could complete the task. How the Wallabies can get the edge While the Lions have gone unbeaten from their five tour encounters thus far, Horwill has seen chinks in their armour. Despite a host of Wallabies not partaking, the Brumbies and Waratahs went toe-to-toe with their juggernaut rivals, winning a combined 14 turnovers to three. 'The Tahs showed that a bit of line speed [can pressure the Lions], and probably the disruption of the breakdown that both teams targeted quite aggressively,' Horwill said. 'I'm sure Joe Schmidt's been looking at that going 'maybe there's an opportunity there for us'. When you've got guys like Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano, they are out-and-out ball hawks. Loading 'The Brumbies had a very similar game – a lot of disruption to their flow, a lot driven from that defensive breakdown disrupted the flow and pattern the Lions wanted to play. 'No doubt [Lions coach] Andy Farrell and his assistants have kept a lot of stuff up their sleeve ... but the Wallabies have a bit of vision to work with.' The Wallabies still need to convert that pressure into points, but Horwill believed even in a 52-12 defeat, the Reds proved it can be done when daring to throw caution to the wind. A grubber from halfback Kalani Thomas was scooped up by centre Josh Flook to score, while prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen's try came on the back of short passes at the line from inside their own half to generate field position. The guile of fullback Tom Wright, aerial threat of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, audacious X-factor of Len Ikitau, and ruck speed of Tate McDermott will all be key strike weapons to utilise. 'They [the Reds] started well and showed when they hold the ball in phase play in their 22 they were able to create concerns, and throw things up that were a little bit different,' Horwill said. 'It took the Lions out of their comfort zone. That's something the Wallabies have to look at.' The captain and the warrior Horwill still cannot fathom how his former teammate, James Slipper, continues to pack down in the scrum after 140 Tests. But the Wallabies most-capped player will have a role to play beyond his physical prowess. Harry Wilson will captain in the greatest challenge of his career – an incredible resurgence from the star No.8, who was left out of the 2023 World Cup squad under Eddie Jones. Even after suffering broken arms in consecutive seasons since, the relentless ball-runner has become Schmidt's most influential figure. 'He has always been a barometer who gets the guys on the front foot. He's growing and maturing as an individual and understanding what it takes to get the best out of his body,' Horwill said. Loading 'The way he's bounced back is unique, [and] he seems to perform better with the leadership.' Where Horwill had Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander in support, Slipper – who joins George Smith as the only Wallabies to play in back-to-back series – will be that for Wilson. But the 25-year-old's long-standing connection with flanker Fraser McReight – praised by McDermott as 'a real strength of ours' for their support play and interchange of passing – looms as a point-of-difference to break the Lions apart. 'They haven't only played at Reds level but from lower down through the years, so having that sixth sense is great for both of them to know where they are,' Horwill said. 'Having combinations like that, if you're under pressure and under stress, you've got to understand sometimes you don't need to communicate, you can't communicate, you just know guys are there.' Is Lynagh ready for this stage? It would have been a moment of heartbreak for incumbent five-eighth Lolesio when he was ruled out of the series, having undergone neck surgery after being stretched off in Australia's clash with Fiji. It has thrown Tom Lynagh into the furnace, where he will create the first father-son pairing to challenge the Lions after his father, Michael, did the same in 1989. At 22, and coming off a finger injury, it is an almighty task for a man who has fought expectations of his famous surname. But while his four Test caps to date have come off the bench, Horwill has seen enough to suggest he was ready – if he and his teammates embraced the forthcoming pressure. 'Tommy's got a very cool head on his shoulders. He's got a very good kicking game – his out of hand kicking has been very strong – and I'm confident he's got the ability to get the job done,' Horwill said. 'It's clear there's going to be some intent, there's going to be some traffic in his way. He can deal with it. 'It's a big atmosphere, but the focus and the process has got to be the same.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
A Wallabies great fell 23 minutes short of a Lions shock. This is his game plan
Twelve years after he fell 23 minutes shy of inspiring a historic triumph, Wallabies great James Horwill issued a stunning declaration. 'The Wallabies can get the job done,' he told this masthead, on the eve of the British and Irish Lions series. 'If we keep our guys on the park and fit, I'm very confident we can get the job done.' Horwill, the last man to captain the nation into a Lions series, was left to lament a three-try, 10-minute burst from the 57th minute in the third Test that buried their hopes in 2013. He recalls the missed penalty goal after the siren at Suncorp Stadium which sealed their opening Test defeat, after Christian Lealiifano was concussed early and Berrick Barnes and Pat McCabe were also forced off with injuries. And while the Wallabies would bounce back in a one-point thriller in Melbourne, a boilover was not to be. Yet even without injured stars Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, Horwill was adamant the current group could complete the task. How the Wallabies can get the edge While the Lions have gone unbeaten from their five tour encounters thus far, Horwill has seen chinks in their armour. Despite a host of Wallabies not partaking, the Brumbies and Waratahs went toe-to-toe with their juggernaut rivals, winning a combined 14 turnovers to three. 'The Tahs showed that a bit of line speed [can pressure the Lions], and probably the disruption of the breakdown that both teams targeted quite aggressively,' Horwill said. 'I'm sure Joe Schmidt's been looking at that going 'maybe there's an opportunity there for us'. When you've got guys like Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano, they are out-and-out ball hawks. Loading 'The Brumbies had a very similar game – a lot of disruption to their flow, a lot driven from that defensive breakdown disrupted the flow and pattern the Lions wanted to play. 'No doubt [Lions coach] Andy Farrell and his assistants have kept a lot of stuff up their sleeve ... but the Wallabies have a bit of vision to work with.' The Wallabies still need to convert that pressure into points, but Horwill believed even in a 52-12 defeat, the Reds proved it can be done when daring to throw caution to the wind. A grubber from halfback Kalani Thomas was scooped up by centre Josh Flook to score, while prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen's try came on the back of short passes at the line from inside their own half to generate field position. The guile of fullback Tom Wright, aerial threat of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, audacious X-factor of Len Ikitau, and ruck speed of Tate McDermott will all be key strike weapons to utilise. 'They [the Reds] started well and showed when they hold the ball in phase play in their 22 they were able to create concerns, and throw things up that were a little bit different,' Horwill said. 'It took the Lions out of their comfort zone. That's something the Wallabies have to look at.' The captain and the warrior Horwill still cannot fathom how his former teammate, James Slipper, continues to pack down in the scrum after 140 Tests. But the Wallabies most-capped player will have a role to play beyond his physical prowess. Harry Wilson will captain in the greatest challenge of his career – an incredible resurgence from the star No.8, who was left out of the 2023 World Cup squad under Eddie Jones. Even after suffering broken arms in consecutive seasons since, the relentless ball-runner has become Schmidt's most influential figure. 'He has always been a barometer who gets the guys on the front foot. He's growing and maturing as an individual and understanding what it takes to get the best out of his body,' Horwill said. Loading 'The way he's bounced back is unique, [and] he seems to perform better with the leadership.' Where Horwill had Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander in support, Slipper – who joins George Smith as the only Wallabies to play in back-to-back series – will be that for Wilson. But the 25-year-old's long-standing connection with flanker Fraser McReight – praised by McDermott as 'a real strength of ours' for their support play and interchange of passing – looms as a point-of-difference to break the Lions apart. 'They haven't only played at Reds level but from lower down through the years, so having that sixth sense is great for both of them to know where they are,' Horwill said. 'Having combinations like that, if you're under pressure and under stress, you've got to understand sometimes you don't need to communicate, you can't communicate, you just know guys are there.' Is Lynagh ready for this stage? It would have been a moment of heartbreak for incumbent five-eighth Lolesio when he was ruled out of the series, having undergone neck surgery after being stretched off in Australia's clash with Fiji. It has thrown Tom Lynagh into the furnace, where he will create the first father-son pairing to challenge the Lions after his father, Michael, did the same in 1989. At 22, and coming off a finger injury, it is an almighty task for a man who has fought expectations of his famous surname. But while his four Test caps to date have come off the bench, Horwill has seen enough to suggest he was ready – if he and his teammates embraced the forthcoming pressure. 'Tommy's got a very cool head on his shoulders. He's got a very good kicking game – his out of hand kicking has been very strong – and I'm confident he's got the ability to get the job done,' Horwill said. 'It's clear there's going to be some intent, there's going to be some traffic in his way. He can deal with it. 'It's a big atmosphere, but the focus and the process has got to be the same.
Wales Online
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as five All Blacks picked to topple Lions and Farrell warned upset is coming
Today's rugby news as five All Blacks picked to topple Lions and Farrell warned upset is coming The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond Former Wallaby James Horwill (Image:for Rugby Australia ) Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, July 2. Five All Blacks to face Lions The British and Irish Lions will face five All Blacks in one of the most anticipated matches of the tour, it has been confirmed. Andy Farrell's men are slated to play a combined Australia and New Zealand team on Saturday, July 12, with some huge names now being officially announced. Shannon Frizell, Shaun Stevenson, David Havili, Folau Fakatava and Ngani Laumape are all now confirmed to be taking part. Talented Blues prop Joshua Fusitu'a is also included. The identities of the Australian players are yet to be revealed with Joe Schmidt still trying to work out which players he will definitely want to be part of his Test squad for the series that begins a week later. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. 'There is plenty of excitement about this fixture, and that's been demonstrated by the number of quality international players eager to be involved,' said Rugby Australia Director of High Performance, Peter Horne. 'We are delighted with the quality of the New Zealand contingent announced today and look forward to naming more players as the squad comes together. Article continues below 'We want this team to entertain the big Adelaide crowd and provide the Lions with a tough contest as they head into their three-Test series with the Wallabies. 'The last time the Lions played a combined Australia-New Zealand side, it went right down to the wire – and we're hoping to deliver another competitive contest.' The squad will assemble in Adelaide this coming weekend to prepare for the match, which will likely be the Lions' sternest test before the main event begins. Lions warned of shock upset Former Australia captain James Horwill believes the Lions are in for a big shock against Wallabies, no matter what the bookmakers say. The tourists are big favourites to win the Test series, which begins on July 19, but Horwill, who was Australia captain against the Lions 12 years ago, believes the underrated Wallabies have the size, pace and X-factor to cause a major upset. "The expectation of our national team is that they win and win regularly," Horwill told the BBC. "We want some good performances and I'm hopeful and confident that the Wallabies can get the job done. "Depending on how [Wallaby head coach] Joe Schmidt goes with selection, I think we might have size in the back five [second and back rows]. "In Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson we have two genuine world-class eights. "I think Fraser McReight will be the starting number seven and he is a difference maker for us. "He's an out-and-out fetcher but also is that link between the forwards and the backs. "On the northern hemisphere tour last year, the only game McReight didn't play was the defeat against Scotland and Australia just didn't have the same flow, understanding or functionality. "He's a key player for us." Tour will help unfamiliar squad learn to play 'the Irish way' Assistant coach Denis Leamy feels the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal will help the new members of the squad soon settle into 'playing the Irish way'. With 16 Ireland players involved with the British and Irish Lions and regular skipper Caelan Doris sidelined, Munster scrum-half Craig Casey will lead a youthful squad into the two Tests. Ireland tackle Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday, then take on Portugal a week later in Lisbon. With Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and some of his assistants away leading the Lions in Australia, forwards coach Paul O'Connell is in temporary charge of the team. Munster defence coach Leamy – who is supporting O'Connell along with Mike Prendergast and Colm Tucker – feels the two Test matches offer the perfect opportunity for the uncapped players to make a lasting impression. 'It is about implementing old and new into the Irish gameplan and playing the Irish way, seeing how players do in this environment and how they can produce big efforts and big performances,' Leamy said at a press conference in Dublin. 'It is about building that catalogue of experience with those players and giving them a feel of what Test rugby looks like. 'Obviously we are missing a big chunk of the players who have gone to Australia with the Lions, but it is a great opportunity for the boys coming in to show what they can do. Article continues below 'It will be very, very similar if not the same (as under Farrell), so that is the plan.'
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The Wallabies can beat the Lions, here's how
James Horwill has a theory that the Sea of Red, certainly by the third Test, gets a bit salty."The Lions fans aren't the best at blending in," says Horwill, who skippered the Wallabies on the Lions' last visit in 2013."Some of them I don't think bought anything else apart from a Lions jersey last time."They're probably packing light, saving on the airfare - not paying for checked luggage for a three-week vacation."The arrival of the Lions and their supporters, along with 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups and the 2032 Olympic Sevens, has been pegged as a 'golden runway' of events to get union on the up Down really achieve lift-off though Australia needs winning Wallabies."The expectation of our national team is that they win and win regularly," Horwill explained."We want some good performances and I'm hopeful and confident that the Wallabies can get the job done." The bookies are less confident - the Lions are heavy favourites. But Horwill sees areas where they can be exposed."Depending on how [Wallaby head coach] Joe Schmidt goes with selection, I think we might have size in the back five [second and back rows]," he contrast, the Lions have plenty of back-row options, but their squad prioritises mobility, speed and athleticism over heavy-duty gain-line ball meanwhile, has called up 6ft 8in lock Will Skelton, whose 22-stone frame comes at defences at a surprising likes the balance the hosts have struck."In Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson we have two genuine world-class eights," he said"I think Fraser McReight will be the starting number seven and he is a difference maker for us."He's an out-and-out fetcher but also is that link between the forwards and the backs."On the northern hemisphere tour last year, the only game McReight didn't play was the defeat against Scotland and Australia just didn't have the same flow, understanding or functionality."He's a key player for us." Jake Gordon or Nic White may start at scrum-half, but Horwill says Tate McDermott could be a star turn as the tourists tire in the final quarter."Tate has had an excellent Super Rugby season. He is probably the best nine in the country, but his ability to attack teams with his feet might come into play as a replacement," says Horwill."You could play a gameplan to tire out the Lions and then bring on Tate in the last 20 to 30 minutes to attack those fringes and pick off the defenders around the ruck, which he does so well."When Australia beat England at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium in November, McDermott's dart set up a first-half try for captain Wilson. The last time the Lions toured Australia, Israel Folau, playing his first game of international rugby, scored two tries in Australia's narrow first-Test defeat."Izzy was the most naturally freaky sort of athlete that I've ever played with," says Horwill."Wherever we put him around the field, someone would have to mark his aerial threat - sometimes double mark him - and that would then create opportunities for others."Izzy just made everything look so easy, he moved and jumped so effortlessly for a big guy and Joseph's got a lot of that about him."Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - Australia's 6ft 5in big-money import from rugby league - was inspired by Folau as a boy, and the 21-year-old has shown similar aerial the Lions looking unconvincing in the battle for the skies against Argentina and struggling to regain kick-offs against Western Force, he will be chasing and leaping hard."Wherever Joseph is you are going to see defenders bunching around that area - maybe there's an opportunity to kick elsewhere and get a bit of ascendancy," says all the interest in England flanker Henry Pollock's supersonic ascent to the upper reaches, Australia have their own Toole was part of the Australian sevens team that finished fourth in the Olympics in Paris a year ago, but 11 tries in the Brumbies' 16-game run to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals have given him a shot of stepping on to the biggest stage in the XV-man Max Jorgensen, the 20-year-old son of former Wallaby Peter Jorgensen, is back from an ankle injury in time to contend on the wing as well."The one thing you have got in Australia's back three is genuine pace," says Horwill."Corey Toole has got real gas and he has certainly bulked up a lot over the past year. He barged over Damian McKenzie to score against the Chiefs in that Super Rugby semi-final - if he does get an opportunity he is really exciting."Jorgensen is the sort of prodigious talent we've been building around."He has been a little bit unlucky with injuries, and just needs to get some some time in the saddle playing a bit of rugby." This will be the first series since 2013 that Horwill has watched from the southern hemisphere after he followed a stint at Harlequins with a degree at Cambridge University."I just probably didn't appreciate how big it was - the enormity and the importance of it to the fans, and the importance of selection to the players," said Horwill."Football's number one, it's everywhere, but for this period, the Lions is on the front and back pages."I was living In Putney in London and for that first Test against New Zealand in 2017, I walked along the street at 8am and every pub in Putney was red."Horwill will be playing host to his own Lions tourist this year. Wales centre Jamie Roberts, who scored the final try as the Lions ran away with the third deciding Test 12 years ago, was at Quins with Horwill."It's funny how the world works," says Horwill."That third Test is probably the only in my international career that I would like to have back for another run at it."Back then, in 2013, we probably never thought we'd be playing together, let alone become quite good friends."He was a great guy to have around at Quins and more importantly been been a good mate since."I'm looking forward to seeing him and his family when they come out here over the summer."
