Rugby News: 'It sucked' - Wright owns late error, Tupou revival a 'scary prospect ', Levis re-sign with Sevens

Wallabies winger Tom Wright has owned up to his role in France’s winning try but says the team has been more focussed on what they did right in the one-point loss on Sunday.

French winger Damian Penaud seized the decisive try in the corner after stepping Wright and going through Jock Campbell on his way to the try line.

Wright said he had “owned” the defensive error while the team review revealed plenty of positives to take from the Paris match.

“It sucked for the group, sucked for me and Jock but I’ve just got to own that moment,” Wright said.

“The team review, we didn’t just look at the last try and think how shit was that game, we looked at the first 75-odd minutes and what we did really well.”

The Australians face Italy this week and Wright said the Wallabies were adamant they would not underrate the weakest of the Six Nations teams. Australia have never lost to Italy in 18 Tests.

“The main messaging is around that we respect Italy and keep out the outside noise … around what could be perceived as an easy game for us on this tour, or the easiest,” Wright said.

Tom Wright bursts past  Damian Penaud for the 95-metre try. Later the tables would be turned. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

“It’s about making sure that we as a squad front up this week – it’s very easy to get up when you’re playing France or Ireland, the top two teams in the world, so we need to make sure we put the same emphasis on playing well and preparing the same way against Italy.

 “We know Italy are going to be no slouch this weekend, especially at home and it’s a new environment for a lot of guys.

“It’s certainly been a focus point for us, making sure that we show up, especially coming after a performance that we were proud of.”

The Australian team will be announced on Thursday and heavy rotation is expected with coach Dave Rennie saying he was aiming to play his top line up against Ireland a week later.

Jake Gordon has revealed he will be the starting No.9, while other fringe candidates are expected to play a role.

Campbell, who along with Wright played a hand in the Wallabies’ stunning 95-metre try for Lalakai Foketi, would be hopeful of more game time.

“It’s been well-publicised around how underrated he’s (Campbell) been and he’s waited for his opportunity for a really long time,” Wright said.

“To see him front up on one of biggest stages in the world, he didn’t shy away from the occasion, executing our game plan.

“There’s been a merry-go-round of guys go through there (fullback), me included, and Jock is cool, calm and collected and extremely well liked by the group. You saw in his performance, not a lot rattles him.”

Campbell was involved twice in the move for Foketi’s try while Wright’s burst left the French defence in chaos.

Wright said it owed a debt to the coaching staff.

“That’s the confidence that we get given. It’s the sort of football that Dave and Dan [McKellar] and [Scott Wisemantel] drive.

“Dave came out and addressed it in terms of we wanted to make sure that we played without fear in front of 80,000 in France.

“It could have been a daunting task for any guy. I was absolutely not shying away from being nervous and looking forward to the occasion and if you let it overawe you and you go into your shell a little bit, maybe the game unfolds a little different for us.

“But the confidence that they gave us, we saw in that moment for La’s try we were able to play a brand of footy that we’re proud of.”

Scary prospect – Taniela’s return to form

After a difficult 2022, Taniela Tupou returned to near his top form against France.

Reserve prop Tom Robertson spoke of the boost the team got watching Tupou dominate in the opening scrum of the match to force a penalty.

“He’s one of a kind – he’s 135 kilos and it’s as tall as I am,” said Robertson.

“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever played with – he’s a different beast. The way he went about his work on the weekend, he came out, he was relaxed, you could see a smile on his face in that first five minutes.

“That’s when you know Taniela’s playing his best footy when he’s relaxed, when he’s enjoying himself. And you saw that first scrum – that was impressive sitting on the bench watching that.

“I’m so happy he’s back to playing his best footy and he’s a scary prospect for the rest of the tour.”

Lawes ruled out of autumn series

Eddie Jones says Courtney Lawes’ health is top priority after revealing the England captain will play no part in the autumn series because of his ongoing concussion issues.

Lawes, who lead England to a 2-1 series win in Australia, has made only one appearance this season because of the concussion sustained in a club game on September 24.

The Lions forward is still symptomatic as he progresses through the return to play protocol.

“There’s no movement with Courtney at the moment,” England head coach Jones said.

“Initially I kept in touch with Courtney but given that he needs some rest now rather than feeling like he has to rush to come back, we are allowing it to take its natural course.

“We are in communication with his medical staff but we are letting him rest and come back. We’re hopeful that he will be back for the Six Nations and ready to go.

“I’m worried about his health at this time – that he gets back to 100 per cent health. But these things have a natural course – some heal quicker than others.

“If it takes a little bit of time, the most important thing is his health and he’ll get back to playing rugby when he’s ready.”

With Lawes out, Owen Farrell will continue to lead England, who lost to Argentina last weekend.

“Maybe our focus wasn’t tight enough on the Argentina game,” Jones said.

“When I reflect on the game, we’d been looking at a number of long-term strategies that we’re trying to employ to get ourselves set for the World Cup.

“We looked at times like we lacked a bit of energy, particularly in our attack. Maybe we’re just overthinking a bit. That’s entirely my fault.”

England have lost five of their nine Tests this year and face Japan next up before games against the All Blacks and Springboks.

The Japanese recently took New Zealand down to the wire, and beat Australia A 52-48.

“I want us to be angry and play with a certain sort of anger. In a lot of ways I’m really pleased with how we played against Argentina, even though it wasn’t good enough,” Jones said.

“We dominated territory and possession, but we just weren’t good enough at converting that pressure into points.

“To do that, we need to be a bit more aggressive and assertive in the way that we attack. I’ve got no doubt that we will do that against Japan.

“I want the anger to be under control, obviously. We know Japan always have a fast start – they always want to come out in the first 20 minutes, score early and set the tempo of the game – and we have to meet fire with fire early.”

Mo’unga’s ‘love’ for Russell

After being snubbed for Scotland’s autumn series squad Finn Russell has won a repreive from coach Gregor Townsend and is likely to play a role against the All Blacks on the weekend.

Kiwi star flyhalf Richie Mo’unga played club rugby against Russell in Christchurch, and said he remained a big fan.

“I love Finn. The last couple of years he’s been my favourite 10 in the world,” Mo’unga said.

“He’s someone that can play all types of games; his kicking, running, passing. Having met him early on when he was in Christchurch – we played against each other in club level.

“He put on a show all year. We were a long way from Murrayfield – out in the wops in Christchurch. When he arrived I knew the sky was the limit but to see his confidence and flair grow that separates him from any other 10. We go way back a long way so to see him become the player he is now is awesome.

“Some people have a style that I admire more than others and he’s probably one you don’t have to say too much his highlight reel speaks for itself. He has a lot of tools in his tool box that he can pull out at any time in the game. He’s a smooth customer; balanced and composed. Scotland will benefit hugely from having him around.”

Russsell was left out of the original squad for form reasons, with Townsend putting Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings and Ross Thompson ahead of him.

Hastings was injured against Fiji paving the way for Russell’s return.

“I hadn’t heard from Gregor since before the summer so I wasn’t too surprised,’ Russell said of his original snub.

“It is what it is. It’s rugby, I suppose. I’ll see how it goes this weekend against the All Blacks. If I’m in the (match-day) squad or not I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. I haven’t been in the squad for a while so I’m not sure what the vibe is.”

In the same interview with the Daily Mail, Russell added he had hardly spoken to Townsend since the Six Nations.

“We’re alright, I suppose. He’ll have had his reasons so I’m not looking into it too much,” Russell said.

“There is no point me worrying about anything like that. I can’t control what happens with Scotland. There is not much I can do about the Scotland squad or who Gregor picks. That’s not my job. My job is to keep playing well in France. I’m happy doing it so I’ve kept that going. I’m not a coach and I’m not the one picking the team thankfully. I’ll get back into camp and worry about that then.

“I’m pretty chilled, to be honest. I haven’t been in since the Six Nations so I don’t know how the environment is going to be and how it’s all going. It will be easy enough to get up to speed on the rugby side. I’ve been playing long enough.”

Levi sisters chasing gold

AAP reports Rugby Australia has secured two of its biggest drawcards for a Paris gold medal tilt.

Sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi signed extensions on Wednesday to remain with Australia’s rugby sevens program until at least the 2024 Games, shutting the door on a potential return to AFLW.

That was where the Gold Coast pair both announced their talents to begin their professional sporting careers.

But, after being lured away on Rugby Australia contracts, their roles in the triple-crown success of Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team this year have catapulted them to new heights.

Eldest sister Maddison, 20, emerged as one of the side’s new stars to rejuvenate them after a limp defence of Rio’s Olympic gold in Tokyo last year.

Named rookie of the year at this year’s World Series title run, Levi also scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final win and combined with sister Teagan, 19, on the way to Commonwealth Games gold.

“The dynamic duo entertain both on and off the field, and form a lethal combination,” coach Tim Walsh said.

“They have so much untapped potential – I’m excited to see how they develop over the next two years.”

Their commitment is a win for rugby given the lure of vastly expanded AFLW and NRLW in recent seasons.

But they’ve emerged as fierce advocates for the code and now have their sights set on Paris’s 2024 campaign.

“I’m really excited; we’ve grown so much together over the past season and there’s so much more to come,” Maddison Levi said.

“The experiences that the sevens provide for us are second to none.

“To be able to set our sights on the Olympics is unbelievably special … travel around the world and compete in incredible locations for six months of the year is so surreal – I just can’t believe I get to do this as my job.”