Latest news with #Larkham
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
I had a target on my back: Larkham on 2001 Lions series
Stephen Larkham played in three Rugby World Cups and multiple Bledisloe Cup encounters among his 102 Tests but the Wallabies great rates the 2001 British and Irish Lions series as the most brutal he's been involved in. The peerless Australian flyhalf was integral to the Wallabies' 2-1 series win, but it came at a cost with Larkham the primary target for the Lions' fierce defence. Now Brumbies coach and then their Super Rugby playmaker, Larkham's series came to an end in game two in Melbourne, where Australia levelled the series. After helping steer the Wallabies into the lead early in the second half by firing the pass that put Joe Roff through for his second try, the Lions ramped up the pressure on the No.10. His head was almost taken off by Lions skipper Martin Johnson before he was ironed out by centre Rob Henderson with a high shot that left him clutching his shoulder. Larkham soldiered on before he was flattened by another shoulder charge from bullocking Welsh No.8 Scott Quinnell, which ended his night in the 75th minute. One newspaper story at the time described it as "Bodyline tactics", referencing the England cricket team's aggressive bowling attack on their 1932-33 Ashes tour. The shoulder injury meant he was unable to play in the deciding Test in Sydney, with Elton Flatley taking over at 10 as Australia triumphed 29-23. "I certainly had a target on my back, they certainly ran down my channel," Larkham told AAP. "It was probably a plan to get into that channel, whether it was to get at me or not. "The second Test, that's where I busted my shoulder, and the first Test there was a few line breaks through that channel as well so they were definitely coming through there." The Wallabies entered that 2001 series as world champions but the Lions bared their teeth in the first Test in Brisbane in a commanding 29-13 win. Larkham said his team were shocked by the "ferocity and intensity" of the tourists through the series, rating it as more physical than his three World Cup campaigns. "Just like finals footy or Test match footy, where you've got your best players, and teams are evenly matched, it is extremely physical," he said. "That was certainly part of the series in 2001, no doubt about that, more so than the Bledisloes and the Rugby Championship or the World Cup. "When you look at the World Cup, you kind of get some easy opposition, whereas this is a three Test series against one of the best Test teams in the world. "The physicality was certainly something that was evident in those 2001 games for sure." Trailing 6-11 at halftime, Roff's two tries in Melbourne swung momentum in the home side's favour before they ground out a thrilling win in the last Test in Sydney. With a "golden army" of fans embracing the Wallabies, Larkham said the series was very special to be a part of. "That's sort of a golden period for Australian rugby as we were winning everything but we had to fight for that one," the now 51-year-old said. "We were behind the eight-ball after that first game, and we worked really hard at training, and sort of things started to click and certainly, by the third Test, the team was going really well. "You come out of that series and realised that it was very special to be part of it."
The Age
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘I'd prefer to beat these guys': Why Larkham is backing O'Connor to take on Lions
Brumbies coach and former Wallabies great Stephen Larkham says while investing in long term Australian five-eighths to replace the injured Noah Lolesio is understandable, veteran James O'Connor is a player who could help win a Test series right now. Larkham's Brumbies gave the British and Lions their toughest game so far in Australia on Wednesday night, going down by 12 points largely due to the control and vision of the Lions' world-class playmaker Finn Russell. Larkham got to watch Russell in action up close and understands the Wallabies need to carefully consider their options for a playmaker who can match the Scotland five-eighth. O'Connor is training in Brisbane and could provide the answer. 'The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years, and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win,' Larkham said. 'I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You've got Tom Lynagh, you've got Ben Donaldson, you've got Tane Edmed ... you've got guys around Australia who have been performing in Super Rugby. 'You've got James O'Connor, who was over with the Crusaders, and he was performing over there – there's options there ... Part of me would like to see development for the future in that space, but equally, I'd prefer to beat these guys [the Lions].' Larkham has been in close contact with Lolesio after the Wallabies five-eighth had successful neck surgery. Lolesio will now take time away from rugby to recuperate before a planned move to Japan. Given Larkham's wealth of playing experience for the Brumbies and Australia at five-eighth, the Brumbies coach says he would consider taking some of the defensive pressure of Lolesio, given his history of injury, including leaving the field in a neck brace twice this season: once for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday and against the Force in May with the Brumbies.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'd prefer to beat these guys': Why Larkham is backing O'Connor to take on Lions
Brumbies coach and former Wallabies great Stephen Larkham says while investing in long term Australian five-eighths to replace the injured Noah Lolesio is understandable, veteran James O'Connor is a player who could help win a Test series right now. Larkham's Brumbies gave the British and Lions their toughest game so far in Australia on Wednesday night, going down by 12 points largely due to the control and vision of the Lions' world-class playmaker Finn Russell. Larkham got to watch Russell in action up close and understands the Wallabies need to carefully consider their options for a playmaker who can match the Scotland five-eighth. O'Connor is training in Brisbane and could provide the answer. 'The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years, and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win,' Larkham said. 'I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You've got Tom Lynagh, you've got Ben Donaldson, you've got Tane Edmed ... you've got guys around Australia who have been performing in Super Rugby. 'You've got James O'Connor, who was over with the Crusaders, and he was performing over there – there's options there ... Part of me would like to see development for the future in that space, but equally, I'd prefer to beat these guys [the Lions].' Larkham has been in close contact with Lolesio after the Wallabies five-eighth had successful neck surgery. Lolesio will now take time away from rugby to recuperate before a planned move to Japan. Given Larkham's wealth of playing experience for the Brumbies and Australia at five-eighth, the Brumbies coach says he would consider taking some of the defensive pressure of Lolesio, given his history of injury, including leaving the field in a neck brace twice this season: once for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday and against the Force in May with the Brumbies.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Wallabies can take pointers from Brumbies' loss to Lions: Larkham
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox MELBOURNE - Pick an experienced flyhalf, mind Finn Russell and maybe cut down on contestable kicks. Such is Stephen Larkham's advice for the Wallabies to take down the British & Irish Lions. Larkham's ACT Brumbies fell 36-24 to the Lions in their tour match in Canberra on Wednesday but Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, watching in the crowd, will have been encouraged by the performance. Though starved of possession and playing without almost all of their Wallabies, the Brumbies produced four quality tries against Andy Farrell's Leinster-heavy team and foiled them repeatedly with breakdown turnovers. "The energy throughout the game from our guys was outstanding," Larkham told reporters. "Hopefully we've shown the Wallabies coaches and players some areas they can potentially target." As a former Wallabies flyhalf and coach, Larkham knows what it takes to beat the Lions. He was part of the Wallabies squad that topped the Lions 2-1 in 2001. Twelve years on, he was assistant coach to Brumbies boss Jake White when they took down Warren Gatland's Lions 14-12. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore What's next for PSP following its post-GE leadership shake-up? Singapore 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers Singapore NDP 2025: Diamond formations, 'multi-axis' fly-past to headline parade's aerial display Business New Career Health SG initiative launched to support both S'pore workers and employers Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's conviction of doctor who gave patients unapproved hormones On Wednesday, Larkham was full of praise for captain-scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, who set up tries with hand and foot, and kicked cleverly to defuse the Lions' attack. Larkham's first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio was never a chance to play having been drafted into Wallabies camp and the 25-year-old is now out of the Lions series after spinal surgery. That has left Schmidt with a choice of inexperienced flyhalves or calling up an old warrior like James O'Connor or Bernard Foley into his squad. Larkham suggested he would err on the side of experience if it was his decision. "You need a 9-10 combination who don't get fazed when the pressure comes on," he said. "There's options there. I think part of me would like to see development for the future in that space but equally I'd prefer to beat these guys." AREAS TO TARGET Assessing the Lions, Larkham felt the Brumbies had handled their number 10 Russell well enough, even if the Scotland pivot was instrumental in most of the Lions' five tries at Canberra Stadium. Still, he warned Russell would only get more comfortable as the tour went on. "He's a quality player, a class player. He's only going to get better the more he plays against Australian teams in these conditions," he added. Some things had not worked as well as Larkham had hoped, with the Lions sturdy under the high ball -- apart from the first minute when hooker Dan Sheehan was penalised for obstructing a player, opening the door for the Brumbies' first try. A short kick from a goal line drop-out on the cusp of halftime proved especially costly as it was turned over by the Lions who promptly scored a try. "We had a bit of a tactic there putting contestable kicks up and they handled them pretty well. So (Schmidt) might learn a little bit out of that," said Larkham. A slew of untimely injuries and a last-gasp win over Fiji have done little to inspire confidence in the Wallabies' chances against the Lions but Larkham was not buying into the gloom. He said Brumbies and Wallabies loose forward Rob Valetini, who was ruled out of the Fiji test with a calf problem, was a quick healer and would be an important player. While the Lions' scrum has mostly dominated Australia's provincial sides, Larkham said the Wallabies' Mike Cron was among the best scrum doctors going around. "Joe's very smart. The crew he's got with him are very smart and they'll identify some areas they can target." REUTERS
The Star
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Wallabies can take pointers from Brumbies' loss to Lions: Larkham
MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Pick an experienced flyhalf, mind Finn Russell and maybe cut down on contestable kicks. Such is Stephen Larkham's advice for the Wallabies to take down the British & Irish Lions. Larkham's ACT Brumbies fell 36-24 to the Lions in their tour match in Canberra on Wednesday but Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, watching in the crowd, will have been encouraged by the performance. Though starved of possession and playing without almost all of their Wallabies, the Brumbies produced four quality tries against Andy Farrell's Leinster-heavy team and foiled them repeatedly with breakdown turnovers. "The energy throughout the game from our guys was outstanding," Larkham told reporters. "Hopefully we've shown the Wallabies coaches and players some areas they can potentially target." As a former Wallabies flyhalf and coach, Larkham knows what it takes to beat the Lions. He was part of the Wallabies squad that topped the Lions 2-1 in 2001. Twelve years on, he was assistant coach to Brumbies boss Jake White when they took down Warren Gatland's Lions 14-12. On Wednesday, Larkham was full of praise for captain-scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, who set up tries with hand and foot, and kicked cleverly to defuse the Lions' attack. Larkham's first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio was never a chance to play having been drafted into Wallabies camp and the 25-year-old is now out of the Lions series after spinal surgery. That has left Schmidt with a choice of inexperienced flyhalves or calling up an old warrior like James O'Connor or Bernard Foley into his squad. Larkham suggested he would err on the side of experience if it was his decision. "You need a 9-10 combination who don't get fazed when the pressure comes on," he said. "There's options there. I think part of me would like to see development for the future in that space but equally I'd prefer to beat these guys." AREAS TO TARGET Assessing the Lions, Larkham felt the Brumbies had handled their number 10 Russell well enough, even if the Scotland pivot was instrumental in most of the Lions' five tries at Canberra Stadium. Still, he warned Russell would only get more comfortable as the tour went on. "He's a quality player, a class player. He's only going to get better the more he plays against Australian teams in these conditions," he added. Some things had not worked as well as Larkham had hoped, with the Lions sturdy under the high ball -- apart from the first minute when hooker Dan Sheehan was penalised for obstructing a player, opening the door for the Brumbies' first try. A short kick from a goal line drop-out on the cusp of halftime proved especially costly as it was turned over by the Lions who promptly scored a try. "We had a bit of a tactic there putting contestable kicks up and they handled them pretty well. So (Schmidt) might learn a little bit out of that," said Larkham. A slew of untimely injuries and a last-gasp win over Fiji have done little to inspire confidence in the Wallabies' chances against the Lions but Larkham was not buying into the gloom. He said Brumbies and Wallabies loose forward Rob Valetini, who was ruled out of the Fiji test with a calf problem, was a quick healer and would be an important player. While the Lions' scrum has mostly dominated Australia's provincial sides, Larkham said the Wallabies' Mike Cron was among the best scrum doctors going around. "Joe's very smart. The crew he's got with him are very smart and they'll identify some areas they can target." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
