Latest news with #WillGenia
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Win the first Test, win the series
Ex-Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia joined the Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week and gave his prediction for the Test series."I look at that Lions team on paper and I think – what a team," said Genia."There are world-class players all across it but I do give us a chance. I think we have some athletes in our team that can really challenge this Lions team and if we can create some time and space for them we can get in the game."Whoever wins the first Test will win the series because you gain confidence and rhythm for the remaining games.""Australia win 2-1. We win the first and third Tests."
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'2013 was the greatest experience of my career'
We spent a very enjoyable hour this morning with Australia great Will Genia, who started all three Tests against the Lions in reflects on that series and looks ahead to what is coming up in the next few weeks. He reckons whoever wins the first Test will win the series, and says an Australia victory will turbo-charge the atmosphere in the country ahead of the second Test at the 100,000 seater Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 110-cap Wallaby has some sage advice for rookie 10 Tom Lynagh and explains what Australia need to do to upset the odds on Saturday. You can hear from Genia on the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which will be out from around 9am on Thursday.
ABC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
British and Irish Lions not worried about external noise ahead of first match in Australia
British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell is not afraid to give his own players a bake, but the former England forward is doing his best to steer clear of any war of words with Australian rugby. The Lions kick off their Australian tour on Saturday night when they take on the Western Force in front of more than 40,000 fans at Perth Stadium. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia this July and August. Farrell was scathing of his team in the wake of their shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week, saying the error-laden effort was unacceptable. But he is keeping his powder dry when it comes to any external pot shots or controversies that fall outside of his inner sanctum. This week, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley sent a stern warning to Rugby Australia that it would be breaking an agreement if it did not release a strong cohort of Wallabies for the various tour games. Farrell did not bite when asked about the issue. "For me, I've got enough on my plate making sure that we deal with ourselves, certainly at this period of the early stages of the tour," Farrell said. "I understand your question, but I'll allow the powers that be who know all the answers to the what-ifs [to deal with it] and get on with it." When former Wallabies captain Will Genia launched a grenade by claiming Joe Schmidt's Australian team has "better athletes" than the Lions, Farrell was at his Zen best in taming the waters. "You would expect Will to say that. He's always going to back his own countrymen," Farrell said. "If he didn't, that'd be a story, wouldn't it? "It's going to be constant … people backing their own, and that's how it should be. "He knows the Australian players better than me, because he's probably played with most of them, so he's obviously very impressed by them. "But I suppose he's not been in our camp, either. So it's very hard to judge, isn't it, unless you've been in both sides." One thing Farrell was willing to talk up was the challenge of taking on the Force, who will boast Wallaby squad members Ben Donaldson, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic White and Dylan Pietsch. "The side's a great side," Farrell said. "It's full of plenty of Australians that are in the here-and-now, and people who have ambitions to be future Australian Test players." Irish and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan, who will captain the side against the Force in what will also mark his Lions debut, is also expecting a big challenge. "I think it's important to know where the opposition's mindset is and how they approach a game that only comes around every 12 years, like the Western Force," Sheehan said. "I'm sure they'll be 150 per cent of what they usually are, and they'll be flying into it. "You mightn't have seen it in tapes of what they're able to produce, but I'm sure that bit of extra hunger can produce some powerful things. "They would have been eyeing this game up since they probably first stepped into that Western Force change-room … but I don't want them to think that they're going to be hungrier than us." Farrell has named five Lions debutants in his starting XV against the Force: Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van Der Flier. Four more players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench. AAP
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I have enough on my plate': Lions won't take the bait
British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell isn't afraid to give his own players a bake, but the former England forward is doing his best to steer well clear of any war of words with Australian rugby. The Lions kick off their Australian tour on Saturday night when they take on the Western Force in front of more than 40,000 fans at Perth's Optus Stadium. Farrell was scathing of his team in the wake of their shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week, saying the error-laden effort was simply unacceptable. But he is keeping his powder dry when it comes to any external pot shots or controversies that fall outside of his inner sanctum. This week, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley sent a stern warning to Rugby Australia that it would be breaking an agreement if it didn't release a strong cohort of Wallabies for the various tour games. Farrell didn't bite when asked about the issue. "For me, I've got enough on my plate making sure that we deal with ourselves, certainly at this period of the early stages of the tour," Farrell said. "I understand your question, but I'll allow the powers that be who know all the answers to the what-ifs (to deal with it) and get on with it." And when former Wallabies captain Will Genia launched a grenade by claiming Joe Schmidt's Australian team has "better athletes" than the Lions, Farrell was at his Zen best in taming the waters. "You would expect Will to say that. He's always going to back his own countrymen," Farrell said. "If he didn't, that'd be a story, wouldn't it? "It's going to be constant ... people backing their own, and that's how it should be. "He knows the Australian players better than me, because he's probably played with most of them, so he's obviously very impressed by them. "But I suppose he's not been in our camp, either. So it's very hard to judge, isn't it, unless you've been in both sides." Making new pals on the golf course 🦘⛳️#Lions2025 @bundeeaki12 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 26, 2025 One thing Farrell was willing to talk up was the challenge of taking on the Force, who will boast Wallaby squad members Ben Donaldson, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic White and Dylan Pietsch. "The side's a great side," Farrell said. "It's full of plenty of Australians that are in the here-and-now, and people who have ambitions to be future Australian Test players." Irish and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan, who will captain the side against the Force in what will also mark his Lions debut, is also expecting a big challenge. "I think it's important to know where the opposition's mindset is and how they approach a game that only comes around every 12 years, like the Western Force," Sheehan said. "I'm sure they'll be 150 per cent of what they usually are, and they'll be flying into it. "You mightn't have seen it in tapes of what they're able to produce, but I'm sure that bit of extra hunger can produce some powerful things. "They would have been eyeing this game up since they probably first stepped into that Western Force change-room ..., but I don't want them to think that they're going to be hungrier than us." Farrell has named five Lions debutants in his starting XV against the Force: Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van Der Flier. Four more players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench. The Force will be without former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale, who injured his hamstring at training.
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37
Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."
