When Michael Hooper withdrew less than 48 hours before the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship opener in Argentina, it shocked the world.
An outpouring of support was issued across the globe from Will Carling to Karmichael Hunt, as it was revealed that Hooper’s “mindset” was not right and he would miss the Test and fly home.
Yet for those closer to the situation, it was not as surprising.
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Wallabies bag late, late bonus point try | 00:43
Hooper has been pushed to the point of breaking for some time, with few others afforded time in the saddle in his position despite the emergence of talented players like Fraser McReight.
Instead, with precious victories and coaching living by results, the Wallabies – and Super Rugby franchises, perhaps with the exception of the Brumbies and recently the Waratahs – have rolled out their premier players for fear of failure.
A talismanic leader, Hooper had not only been holding the Wallabies together on and off the field for years, he had been putting his head in few places dare go.
The second youngest Wallabies captain of all time, Hooper was the youngest player of all time to play 100 Tests.
Last year, he surpassed George Gregan’s (59) record of Tests captained last year, and he is just 18 shy of the 1999 World Cup-winner’s national record of 139.
Michael Hooper withdrew less than 48 hours before the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship opener. (Photo by May Bailey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
All this at the tender age of 30, where he has been handed the captaincy by the past three Wallabies coaches after first being capped by another, Robbie Deans, in 2012.
At some point, age, or at least the sheer minutes he had spent on the playing field, he was going to catch up with him.
Of Hooper’s 121 Tests, he has started in 115 of them and gone the full distance in 95 of those Tests. He has missed just 11 Tests, including the weekend’s 41-26 victory over Michael Cheika’s Argentina, since his debut against Scotland off the bench in Newcastle.
By comparison, Richie McCaw, who started in 141 of his 148 Tests, missed 37 Tests during his decorated career.
Interestingly, in the four years before he retired following the World Cup final in 2015, McCaw started 44 of 45 Tests during the period but only played the full 80 minutes in 33 of those Tests.
But, as age, his durability and the weight of captaining the All Blacks for so many years caught up to him, he missed nine Tests during that golden period.
New Zealand Rugby also afforded him a sabbatical in late 2012 and saw him make his comeback in mid-2013. He didn’t play, but rather cooled his heels.
In May, Hooper laughed off suggestions he could make it through to the home World Cup in 2027 by saying he was more likely to be having a “beer” in the stands at that point.
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But it’s not just the home World Cup that feels like an eternity away for Hooper, it’s the 2025 British and Irish Lions series and, indeed, next year’s World Cup too.
It’s believed after years bouncing back up on a Sunday, the heavy knocks are starting to take their toll.
Recently, Hooper played in Brisbane against England despite being struck down by the flu during the week.
When he copped an early hit after being bounced by Ellis Genge, there was an element of concern around whether he had taken another head knock.
A week later, with the Wallabies’ injury toll stretching to double figures, he backed up for the series decider despite having a crook back.
Earlier in the year, Hooper copped a high tackle from a replacement Crusaders forward, which drew a red card, and he spent two weeks on the sidelines.
Privately the Waratahs and Australian officials were filthy because the culprit, Hamish Dalzell, had also been penalized for a high shot moments earlier that didn’t earn any further punishment.
Concussion is something Hooper is particularly cognizant of.
It’s also understood the Wallabies are being belted on the training field.
It is unclear when Hooper will next play. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Numerous sources, including at Rugby Australia, have also raised questions about the strength and conditioning methods being used under Dean Benton.
Questions have arisen after a number of players have suffered injuries at training in recent months.
There is a belief that the current group needs to be whipped into shape because they are not up to Test match standards.
For now Hooper, who arrived back in Australia on Sunday, is expected to rest and spend time with his family.
No timeframe has been given when the No.7 will next play.
Sources believe he will miss the home Tests against the Springboks.
Fortunately the Wallabies have discovered they can play without Hooper and succeed.
But they might have learned too that humans are not machines.
Langley will take command of the US Africa Command, which oversees the nation’s military presence in Africa, in a change of command ceremony at its Germany headquarters on Monday.
Speaking after the ceremony at Marine Barracks in Washington, DC, Langley said he was “humbled and honored for the opportunity to take on the stewardship of command of AFRICOM” as a four-star general.
“But the milestone and what it means to the Corps is quite essential. Not just because the mark in history, but what it will affect going forward, especially for those younger across society who want to aspire and look at the Marine Corps as an opportunity ,” I added.
Langley was nominated by President Joe Biden for promotion in June. The US Senate confirmed his promotion of him to four-star general by a voice vote earlier this week.
In remarks during Saturday’s ceremony, Langley paid homage to “those who have gone before,” recognizing Frederick C. Branch, the first commissioned Black Marine, and the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans to enlist in the Marines who trained at a segregated facility in Montford Point, North Carolina.
He also spoke of the importance of diversity in the military to “maintain a decisive advantage over our strategic competitors.”
The Marine Corps had refused to recruit African Americans and other minorities until a 1941 executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that “forced the Corps, despite objections from its leadership,” to start recruiting Black Marines the following year.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and has served with the Marine Corps since 1985.
He has commanded at every level and served in multiple continents, being deployed to countries such as Japan and Afghanistan over the course of his career.
He most recently served as commander of the US Marine Corps Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command and as commanding general of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic.
CNN’s Jacquelyne Germain and Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
Things went from bad to worse for Carlton on Sunday in the second quarter against the Brisbane Lions.
Being blown off the park as they found themselves down 38-2, the Blues needed a spark and skipper Patrick Cripps tried to deliver it.
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A long kick down the line from Adam Cerra was punched high into the air by Brisbane’s Daniel Rich and Lions teammate Callum Ah Chee camped himself underneath it.
As the ball came down, Cripps came in at a hundred miles an hour and launched off the deck and flattened Ah Chee with a nasty hip and shoulder.
The impact of the hit left Ah Chee flat on the Gabba surface as several Lions teammates remonstrated with Cripps.
Medical staff rushed to Ah Chee’s side and he remained hunched over on his hands and knees before he was able to get back to his feet and under his own power make his way off the ground.
To make matters even worse for Cripps and his upcoming date with the Match Review Panel, Ah Chee was subbed out of the game with concussion, Mitch Robinson took his place.
Cripps was sixth favorite for the 2022 Brownlow Medal on TAB markets, but his name will surely contain an asterisk on the AFL’s night of nights.
“He’s much more likely to be suspended than not. The AFL’s bottom line is if you choose to bump, you’re responsible for the fallout,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy during the halftime show.
“This is a textbook case. He jumps off the ground, it’s not a marking contest, he doesn’t really contest the ball, he braces rather than reaches for the ball.
“Ah Chee is subbed out so it is absolutely medium impact, potentially even high impact.”
Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard was rubbed out earlier in the year for a strikingly similar hit on GWS’ Daniel Lloyd that resulted in him missing two weeks.
“It’s a tough one to watch,” former Carlton star Eddie Betts said on Fox Footy.
Carlton’s place in the finals is on the line, currently sitting seventh on the ladder one game clear of the ninth placed St Kilda.
They finish the season with games against the reigning premiers Melbourne and the running-hot Collingwood.
Failing to win any and they could find themselves standing on the outside looking in and having to secure a win without their inspirational skipper could prove to be mission impossible.
Richard Marles isn’t the only Labor frontbencher doing the half rounds this morning.
Health Minister Mark Butler was on the ABC’s RN Breakfast earlier, explaining why it took a while for Australia to announce it had acquired monkeypox vaccines.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler. Credit:alex ellinghausen
More than 20,000 monkeypox vaccines (from a total of 450,000 secured doses) will arrive in Australia in the next few days.
“These were highly difficult to get hold of, as you [can] imagine,” Butler said.
“Monkeypox has only ever really been endemic in countries in Africa. And in the last 13 weeks we’ve seen it spread to 76 other countries, particularly in North America, and the UK and Europe. But we have 58 cases here in Australia as well.
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“So there’s been a burst of activity by governments to get their hands on the newest third-generation vaccine, which is the one we’ve got hold of. We’re now only one of a very small list of countries that has supplies coming to us in 2022.
“We’ve been talking for weeks now with state governments about how they’d roll them out.”
The health minister added that another 100,000 doses would arrive in Australia in the “next couple of months”.
Linda Verraster cannot imagine why elected officials in San Clemente would spend time debating abortion.
The coastal Orange County city has no hospitals or clinics that perform abortions, and it has no power to stop residents from seeking the procedure elsewhere. There are other issues that need attention, Verraster says, like homelessness and affordable housing.
Still, a debate about abortion has been consuming the city and putting it in the spotlight, after Councilman Steve Knoblock proposed that it become a “sanctuary for life,” which would make it an abortion-free zone after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. . Wade.
Knoblock’s proposal, which is largely symbolic, has upset residents across the political spectrum, including some of his conservative colleagues as well as abortion rights supporters like Verraster.
On Saturday, the council will consider whether to remove the proposal from its Aug. 16 meeting agenda.
“It’s so far out of their lane that it seems so ridiculous they would bring up something so divisive,” said Verraster, 68, a registered nurse and Democrat who has lived in San Clemente for nearly three decades.
The vibe of Orange County’s southernmost city, with its Spanish-style architecture and famous surf culture, is one of a laid-back beach town.
San Clemente also has an enduring reputation as a conservative bastion, even as much of Orange County has become more politically diverse.
Last year, the San Clemente council declared it a “Second Amendment Freedom City.”
A busy summer day at the beach south of the San Clemente pier on Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
But Knoblock’s proposal, a draft of which was made public last week, was a bridge too far—even for some abortion opponents. It states that life begins at conception and opposes the establishment of clinics that provide abortions.
Councilmembers have been flooded with emails from residents perplexed by the document’s religious bent and angered that their government is weighing in on what many see as a personal health issue. Some residents plan to hold a rally next week near the San Clemente pier to air their concerns.
No matter what happens in San Clemente, the right to an abortion in heavily Democratic California will continue to be protected by state officials.
“This is really an exercise in chest pounding,” Fran Sdao, 69, told a Mission Viejo resident. “We live in California. This means nothing in California. This is just a waste of paper.”
In an interview with The Times, Knoblock said that zoning and permitting could be possible tools to keep abortion clinics out of the city.
Knoblock said he wants to send a message to the rest of California that “we think life is important, and we think 60 million unborn babies that have been killed in the womb is a sad thing and shouldn’t be continued.”
Knoblock has a history of proposals that many see as outside the purview of local government.
In 2008, I suggested that the council declare support for Proposition 8, a statewide ballot measure that would have banned same-sex marriage. He failed to gain enough buy-in from his colleagues.
That same year, Knoblock successfully advocated to have the phrase “In God We Trust” placed on the city’s logo.
Knoblock’s stance on abortion is at odds with the majority of Californians — and Orange County residents — who support access to the procedure.
Among likely voters in the state, 76% said they did not want Roe vs. Wade overturned, according to a poll this year by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Support lagged just slightly in Orange County, with 69% of likely voters opposed to overturning the nearly 50-year-old constitutional precedent.
A Planned Parenthood clinic in Mission Viejo — the closest one to San Clemente — had more than 22,000 medical visits last year. It is unclear how many of those visits were abortions, though the organization said the procedure amounts to a fraction of the services it provides.
“This resolution is an example of an extreme politician that serves on the council basically attempting to push a personal agenda not reflecting the views of their constituents,” said Robert Armenta, senior vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties .
Knoblock’s colleagues on the San Clemente City Council, which is majority Republican, described his proposal as overreach.
Councilwoman Kathy Ward called the proposal “ludicrous,” saying in an email to The Times that she does not “take up issues that are not city issues.”
Councilwoman Laura Ferguson said she believes in a woman’s right to choose, with certain limitations, and believes the council should focus on more pressing issues, like homelessness and pension liabilities.
Mayor Gene James, who is opposed to abortion, said he was initially in favor of a council resolution expressing support for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But he said he was “appalled” and “embarrassed” after reading the specifics that Knoblock drafted.
Ward, Ferguson and James are all Republicans.
“The fact that he was delving into issues of medicine, where none of us are qualified to opine on that, is disturbing,” James said. “California is a state where abortion is legal, and there’s nothing the San Clemente City Council can do about that, regardless of whether we’re pro-life or pro-choice.”
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan, a Democrat who is running for state Assembly, said Knoblock’s efforts to ban abortion are “extreme and completely out of step with our community’s basic values.”
Cheri Lyon, who has lived in San Clemente for 15 years, said she was horrified that Knoblock’s resolution blurred the line between church and state.
The resolution states that its intention is to “not only protect life, but also to honor God, who gives life.” It continues that “we believe that life is God-ordained and God is the author and finisher of every life.”
“I read it and was like, ‘What is happening here?’” said Lyon, 46, who favors abortion rights. “It’s not even filled with an argument that it should be a state issue. It was all about God and preserving life. why [Knoblock] thinks this is something the citizens of San Clemente want is very perplexing to me.”
Lyon said she’s thankful to live in a state whose government has affirmed the right to an abortion but is concerned about what Knoblock’s resolution signals about the future of her city.
Residents and tourists walk along Avenida Del Mar on Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
San Clemente’s registered voters are about 44% Republican, 28% Democratic and 21% no party.
The city’s support for conservative candidates and causes dates back decades.
In the 1970s, Richard Nixon sought post-Watergate refuge in his beachfront mansion in San Clemente, known as the “Western White House.”
In 2020, San Clemente was the setting for a public mask burning at the pier led by Alan Hostetter, a resident later criminally charged for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Knoblock and Hostetter shared the stage at a Donald Trump rally in the city in 2020.
American flags and banners celebrating the US Marine Corps pepper homes across San Clemente, which is roughly 20 miles north of Camp Pendleton.
These days, lawn signs for liberal candidates, as well as gay and transgender pride flags, also appear in the city with more regularity.
LG’s new short-throw projectors are as impressive as they are convenient.
I’ve spent the past fortnight watching and playing everything I could on the company’s new CineBeam projector and if it wasn’t for a critical missing connection and its performance in daylight, I’d be tempted to replace my living room TV with one.
That being said, the technology doesn’t come cheap.
LG’s CineBeam projector and backlit Magic Remote. (Nine)
Setting up LG’s short throw projector is insanely easy.
Plug in the power cord, connect to WiFi and you’re done.
Depending on the distance between it and your wall, the CineBeam will throw up a picture between 80 and 120 inches in size.
There’s no automatic ‘key-stoning’ to straighten that image but you can manually adjust things in the settings or – as I did – take the easiest option and make sure the projector is straight…
Even against a wall, the CineBeam’s 4K image is undeniably impressive.
We gleefully rewatched Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and guess who on a night away at the Peninsula.
The CineBeam’s image – like all projectors – isn’t as vibrant in day light. (Nine)
Most people wouldn’t dream of transporting a 120 inch screen but that proved no problem at all with a short throw projector like LG’s CineBeam.
LG has built in sensors that automatically adjust the projector’s brightness and colors depending on the content you’re watching and the darkness of the room it’s being used in but, like all projectors, the CineBeam’s picture suffers significantly in daylight.
Watching Collingwood play Port Adelaide with sun streaming through our living room windows was far from ideal, especially compared to the colour, contrast and clarity of my Samsung QLED which I had running side-by-side.
Closing the blinds obviously helps but that’s not an ideal solution in spaces being shared by multiple people or families.
The better news is that LG’s CineBeam 4K UHD Laser UST Projector handles down-lights incredibly well.
Lasers project the image at an extreme angle. (Nine)
I had no issues booting up my PlayStation 5 and playing through stray, returnal and games of Rocket League while my wife kept the lights on so she could read.
Other reviewers have criticized the lag they measured on the CineBeam while gaming, and while 50+ milliseconds certainly isn’t as responsive as the C2 OLED I recently reviewedI never felt like it was compromising my experience – even during some embarrassingly heated battles in the new Super Mario Strikers game on Nintendo Switch.
There’s 3 HDMI ports but no aerial connection. (Nine)
There are three HDMI ports on the back of LG’s short-throw projector plus two standard USB ports, an optical digital audio out port and a LAN port for a wired internet connection.
You may have noticed that I didn’t say there was a place to plug in a TV aerial.
It’s absence is immediately reinforced when you first turn on the CineBeam, as a pop-up informs you it needs a set top box to tune into Free-to-Air channels.
Being able to download apps like 9Now helps alleviate that to some degree but I was shocked to discover there was no option to install Kayo natively on LG’s CineBeam.
Thankfully I was able to rewatch Jamie Elliott’s match winner over and over again via the app on my PS5, but it’s disappointing that the projector isn’t a one-stop-shop for footy fans.
Speaking of software, the projector wasn’t able to read or display our wedding pictures inside a folder on a USB.
They’re JPG files that opened on LG’s C2 and my Samsung QLED just fine – and on the CineBeam when they weren’t contained in a folder – so I’m not sure why a folder is tripping the system up.
The CineBeam had no issues playing our wedding video off the same USB and ultimately, on a big screen like this, that’s what matters most.
Short throw projectors are the future for anyone wanting a big screen experience with minimal fuss.
I can’t say enough for the look and the convenience of placing projectors like LG’s on a TV unit (or dining room table like I have).
There’s no need to screw anything into a ceiling or wall and as a result, it’s perfectly portable.
My mind has been racing with ideas of using a projector like it in the background of future videos or for presentations; without the risk of blocking the picture.
Its minimalist design is suited for modern entertainment units. (Nine)
That extreme angle does have its flaws.
Light bleeds over the sharp edges of the bright white PS5 logo and into the black background when starting up the console.
It’s also worth noting that LG’s CineBeam 4K UHD Laser UST Projector hums away at a decent volume.
You can hear it from a few meters away in a quiet room but like most of the projector’s flaws, it’s quickly forgotten once something is playing on screen.
Whether or not it’s the right projector for you depends on where you want to set it up, what you want to watch and what accessories you have to play with.
But the convenience it offers coupled with LG’s slick interface and image quality makes the CineBeam 4K UHD Laser UST Projector hard to ignore.
LG loaned 9News.com.au a CineBeam 4K UHD Laser UST Projector for the purpose of this review.
Dave Rennie’s team is full of character. That much is certain.
The Wallabies have once again won a Test they had every right not to.
After losing their best back Samu Kerevi, they lost their consistent hooker Dave Porecki throughout the week and their talismanic captain Michael Hooper 24 hours out from kick off.
Then, compounding the issues, they lost their quarterback and most experienced back Quade Cooper, who was forced off and might not play for the Wallabies again. This was a devastating blow, and his loss from him could be felt hardest next year if, indeed, the extraordinary playmaker does not recover in time to play at his third World Cup.
Making their 41-26 come-from-behind victory all the more extraordinary was that they trailed 19-10 at half-time and 26-17 midway through the second half.
Yet on the back of a fabulous second half, where the Wallabies went back to basics and did a number of Argentina’s set-piece, particularly at the maul (well done Dan McKellar), but the Wallabies won and earned a bonus point with the last play of the game.
Players like Jed Holloway and Fraser McReight, who were quiet in the first-half and gave penalties away too, had second halves to remember as they played their role in doing it for ‘Hoops’.
Here are our player ratings from the 15-point win, which saw the Wallabies move to the top of The Rugby Championship standings.
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The Wallabies celebrate after defeating Argentina in Mendoza. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
Tom Wright- 8
There’s something beautiful about watching Wright play in the outside backs. He’s such a gifted runner and playmaker that he looks like he could do something with every touch of the ball.
Importantly the mistakes have largely been cut out and the Brumbies back should be named in the No.15 jersey again after an excellent first start in the role.
Wright’s running play was again a feature and was first on display at the 24th minute.
Later, in the 43rd minute, he combined spectacularly with Cooper from a quick lineout, dummied, ran and sent Jordan Petaia away and got the ball back before slinging it back in the field where Holloway almost scored.
His clearing kick in the 55th minute, however, was something to learn from. Kicking has to be done with purpose and rather than see the man open and unmarked in the middle of the field, Wright under pressure smashed it down field and Argentina countered and scored. It was excellent running rugby, but Wright was gassed on the other side of the field as his efforts were in vain.
Regardless, this was a good first-up showing from the new fullback.
Jordan Petaia – 7
Did little wrong, but was a little quiet – in large part because of the new, clunky combinations at 9-10-12.
But Petaia scored after running a good line off Cooper.
His slips catch, break and kick to a barnstorming Nick Frost in the 84th minute also set-up the Wallabies’ bonus point fifth try.
Physically Petaia stood up to the test, too.
Len Ikitau – 6.5
Strong on either side of the ball, Ikitau showed up in lights when he scored.
But before then he had a couple of good runs, including a flick out the back door to the ever-impressive Rob Valetini, and defensively was strong.
Wallabies bag late, late bonus point try | 00:43
Hunter Paisami – 7
In the absence of Kerevi, Paisami had a reasonable showing.
The chunkiness of the backline at times became from the new combinations, as well as the change from Cooper to Reece Hodge.
But Paisami regularly challenged the line, including his last second linebreak and pinpoint pass to Ikitau to score.
Earlier, in the sixth minute, he overtracked in defense when Pablo Matera scored but that was because his forwards had left a gaping hole around the ruck near their own goal line/A couple of good show and goes late in the second half.
Marika Koroibete – 6.5
Busy as always and showing a good awareness of the laws of the game (clear release and go), Koroibete hardly put a foot wrong against Argentina.
He did, however, get pinged for an extra roll in the 30th minute, but that was likely in an attempt to buy some more time for his teammates after Wright’s inside ball.
Quade Cooper suffered a devastating injury against Argentina in his comeback match. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Quad Cooper – 6.5
Forced off in the 48th minute due to a severe Achilles injury, Cooper’s season is over in the most devastating circumstances.
There was the good: his beautiful ball to Petaia to score, the linebreak through the middle and the twinkle feet.
There was the bad: the offload in contact in the opening minute after Nic White’s box kick was charged down.
But there was also voice, direction and purpose in what was his first game in months.
Cooper showed some physicality in defense too, while he was pinged at the breakdown once, but he was engaged and ever present.
Nick White – 6.5
Charged down in the opening minute, it looked like it could be a long day early for the Wallabies.
White’s kicking game was a feature and twice the halfback managed to get incredible angle from his clearing kicks past halfway.
Rob Valetini – 9
The engine behind the Wallabies’ win, Valetini was everywhere.
Valetini was strong carrying and regularly powered the Wallabies over the advantage line.
It started from the outset too, with storming runs in the eighth minute, which allowed Cooper to slot an early three points.
Some poor hands in the 25th minute hurt, but otherwise Valetini was the Wallabies’ best ball-runner.
Australia’s Rob Valetini (C) was one of the Wallabies’ best. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
Fraser McReight – 7.5
Stepping in at the last moment for Hooper, McReight showed how capable he is in his first Test start.
After a frustrating first-half, which included not being passed the ball after Cooper’s linebreak and was pinged at the breakdown for side entry, McReight had a second half to remember.
He scored a try from a lineout move and regularly got his hands on the ball, too. Physicality McReight stood up.
From a balance perspective, McReight seemed to compliment Valetini and Jed Holloway very well.
Jed Holloway – 6
By his own admission, Holloway had an unfortunate first half but got better as the game went on.
He was pinged a couple of times for penalties – jumping across the lineout in the fifth minute, hick tackle in 36rd and landing on the lifter in the 40th – even though the latter was unfortunate and he won the ball.
But Holloway’s second half was excellent and included some incredible hands on the deck, dragging McReight over the try line and some physicality in defense too.
Matt Philip – 6.5
A strong lineout steal in the 31st minute, Philip’s lineout work was strong.
His missed tackle on Marcos Kremer in the 51st minute came back not to haunt him fortunately, as the Pumas No.10 dropped it cold with the line in sight.
Darcy Swain and Fraser McReight had days to remember at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on August 06, 2022 in Mendoza. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Darcy Swain – 9.5
The Wallaby’s best game.
Swain was brilliant at the lineout, in the maul, in contact, and even allowed space to open up for Cooper to run into.
The returning lock even got on the ball in the 17th minute to win a breakdown penalty.
Allan Alaalatoa – 6
Penalized once again the scrum for walking the scrum around
Alaalatoa managed some grunt and put the foundations in place for Tupou to then explode into.
Folau Fainga’a enjoyed his best performance in the Wallabies jersey. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Folau Fainga’a – 9
The Force-bound hooker doesn’t always get a rap for his lineout work, but Fainga’a’s throw was excellent all day and his attention to detail was evident.
The Wallabies’ lineout was a weapon and Fainga’a was at the epicenter of it, scoring a try, contributing to a penalty try and another to McReight.
James Slipper – 7.5
The Wallabies captain didn’t necessarily take the game by storm, but he gets another point for his leadership and ability to keep the squad focused following Hooper’s late withdrawal.
The scrum largely operated well with him on, while defensively he was strong.
Slipper’s decision making on when to take the points and when to go to the lineout also paid off.
James Slipper receives The Puma Trophy after winning The Rugby Championship against the Argentina Pumas at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on August 06, 2022 in Mendoza. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
BOOK
Lachlan Lonergan – N/A
Came on late in the 72nd minute, Lonergan was busy and did little wrong.
Matt Gibbon – N/A
On debut, Gibbon replaced Slipper at the death.
He was pinged for in the 75th minute at the scrum.
Taniela Tupou – 7.5
A couple of brilliant runs in defense and some great scrummaging, Tupou had a massive influence on the game after coming after 53 minutes.
Nick Frost – 6.5
A real player for the future What about the pace to reel in Petaia’s kick in the 85th minute?
Rob Leota – N/A
Another to come on late. Leota had a strong carry.
Pete Samu – 6
Played his part in the second half as the Wallabies made the most of their momentum.
Jake Gordon – N/A
Gordon came on in the final 10 minutes but got away with a flat ball to Paisami, who sent Ikitau in.
Reece Hodge – 7.5
Kicked his goals, was composed with and without the ball. Job done.
But did the forward pass to Koroibete in the 67th minute show his playmaker shortcomings? His body shape of him was interesting to observe.
Either way, Hodge once again showed how important he is to the Wallabies squad.
Reeves said even if the letters prompted just 30 people to rent their houses long-term, it would be worthwhile.
He said the council had no power to compel property owners, but he hoped the letters, to go out in the coming weeks, would appeal to their sense of community obligation.
The problem is particularly severe on the Bass Coast, which includes Phillip Island, with more than 10,000 properties vacant on census night, accounting for just over 39 per cent of the total.
Bass Coast Shire chief executive Ali Wastie said there was plenty of housing in the municipality, but many people either leased houses on short-stay sites or left them completely vacant.
She also hoped the letters would encourage non-resident property owners in the shire to act in the interests of the local community.
“They may not be aware that businesses can’t get staff because there’s no housing for them to live in,” she said.
Bass Coast ratepayers are expected to receive the letters next week. The letters will ask property owners to put their homes on the rental market for 12 to 24 months.
“There are many reasons houses remain unoccupied, including a switch from permanent rental to short-term rentals, but this potential under-utilisation presents a housing opportunity,” the letter says. “Our communities will not thrive unless they can sustain a permanent population.”
Gippsland Lakes Complete Health chief executive Anne-Maree Kaser moved to Lakes Entrance last year and struggled to find a rental property.
“Here I am a professional woman, good income, great history,” she says. “I couldn’t even get a look-in.”
After three months, she found a house to rent through a colleague, but that agreement ends in December and Kaser dreads having to find another place to live.
Anne-Maree Kaser struggled to find a rental property when she moved to Lakes Entrance despite earning a good income.Credit:Paul Jeffers
In Lakes Entrance and surrounding areas, almost 24 per cent of private dwellings were unoccupied on census night, equating to almost 1450 properties.
Kaser said her service desperately needed more allied health professionals and general practitioners. But several times, she said, great candidates were unable to take the jobs because they could not find anywhere to live.
She said other regional health services were reporting similar problems.
Many businesses along the main drag of Lakes Entrance are short-staffed and some have notices plastered in their windows seeking workers.
Matt O’Donnell, who owns the café, convention center and catering business Albert & Co, said he was about 15 workers short.
Matt O’Donnell has had to restrict operating hours because his hospitality business is short-staffed. Credit:eddie jim
O’Donnell has slashed operating hours due to staff shortages. He has advertised for staff in Melbourne and interstate – and even considered finding accommodation for workers himself.
“But there’s nowhere around here we could do that,” he said.
Local hairdressing salon manager Jacqui McInnes said she could easily hire another two hairdressers but could not find workers.
“I don’t know why,” she said.
McInnes said the town remained popular with tourists, but businesses could not meet the demand.
Lakes Entrance hair salon manager Jacqui McInnes said she could easily hire another two workers. Credit:eddie jim
“At Christmas when the town’s full, these businesses are closing at 7 o’clock at night.”
Tourism industry groups have asked the state government to follow the lead of other states and cap the number of days owners can lease their properties on short-stay sites, in an effort to encourage more long-term rentals.
The state government confirmed it would review short-stay accommodation laws and investigate whether the regulations needed further amendments.
Elders Lakes Main Entrance Rachael Newman said her real estate agency received at least two “walk-ins” every day, in addition to phone calls with people seeking rental properties.
Newman said houses that did become available were snapped up quickly and rent typically started at $380 a week.
The latest Domain data revealed rents have soared by up to 20 per cent in some regional towns over the past year.
And census figures showed that 36.2 per cent of renters in Lakes Entrance were making rental payments greater than 30 per cent of their household income, putting them in rental stress.
Newman has worked in local real estate for nine years and said the relatively affordable rental market had vanished as “desperate” buyers pounced on properties during the depths of lockdown.
Business operators and real estate agents say they have never seen the rental market so tight in Lakes Entrance. Credit:eddie jim
“Now we’re seeing people who purchased holiday homes less than 12 months later not using them,” she said. “A lot of them are sitting vacant.”
This week, Airbnb country manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon said the company wanted to grow the “tourism pie” for everyone by making travel more accessible, arguing additional tourists meant more money for businesses that would help them hire local workers.
“Short-term rentals also provide a way for everyday people to stay afloat and combat rising costs of living and growing mortgage repayments,” she said.
The Surf Coast Shire has asked the state government to introduce a statewide scheme to provide incentives for second property and holiday home owners to rent their houses to long-term tenants.
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The White House is seeking to build momentum from a Kansas ballot measure on abortion where a surprisingly large majority voted to protect abortion rights.
The vote has energized supporters of abortion rights, who see the decisive outcome in a red state as a sign the majority of voters oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. wade decision.
President Biden issued his second executive order on abortion the day after the vote, while Vice President Harris met with reproductive rights advocates. The two also touted the Kansas news at fundraisers directly following the vote, which they are eying as a potential game changer in terms of how voters are feeling ahead of November.
“It’s smart for Democrats and the White House to lean in on the threat and urgency of abortion bans across the country, do everything they can to stop bans and expand access to abortion, and start communicating that directly to voters,” said Xochitl Hinojosa, former communications director at the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Nearly 60 percent of voters in Kansas on Tuesday rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have given the state legislature more power to regulate access to abortion. That marked the first time Americans were asked to weigh in on abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Biden’s executive order signed on Wednesday directs the Department of Health and Human Services to consider working with states to use Medicaid waivers to pay expenses for women who cross state lines to receive abortions.
“Something happened and it’s worth exploring and it’s got a lot of potential. It definitely put the wind in people sails on the Democratic side,” said Ivan Zapien, a lobbyist and former DNC official. “I’m assuming that every Democratic candidate is waking up every morning at this point, reminding people that this November, a woman’s right to choose is on the ballot and that they’re on the right side of that.”
Harris, during a meeting with state legislators and local leaders on reproductive rights in Boston on Thursday, applauded the organizers in Kansas for their work to sink the ballot measure. After her meeting with her, she went to a DNC finance event in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., to fundraise.
“Because they organized, and they spoke volumes, they said we trust the women to make decisions about their lives, and they said this is not a partisan issue,” Harris said. “The vote that occurred in Kansas also made clear what we all know: The majority of Americans agree with this principle.”
Her trip is one of several recent visits to states to meet with local leaders and reproductive rights advocates. Harris also agreed to Latina legislators at the White House on Friday to discuss protecting reproductive rights in their states. She opened the meeting by saying that “the people of Kansas made clear to support and trust women to make decisions about their own body.”
The White House has been looking ahead to November, calling on voters to elect pro-choice candidates who would codify Roe. They are now arguing that Kansas showed the messaging worked.
“Kansans turned out to challenge views that would move the country backward — with fewer rights and politicians invading our most personal decisions — and they won. In the wake of Dobbs, the president predicted people would turn out in record numbers to reclaim rights stolen from them. And they did,” Alexandra LaManna, White House assistant press secretary, told The Hill.
Sawyer Hackett, a senior communications strategist for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, stressed that it would be a mistake for Democrats not to emphasize ahead of November that the vote in Kansas may have marked a political shift.
“I think the politics of this issue has shifted dramatically in such a way that it’s just not only an issue that motivates Democrats … but it’s also an issue that motivates independents,” he said. “I would be a huge mistake for the Democratic party, for President Biden, not to be hitting this issue every single day on the campaign trail.”
Hinojosa argued that Democrats have to message on other successes, but abortion should be at the forefront.
“This won’t stop Democrats from messaging on a strong economy and all their accomplishments, but they can and must do both,” said Hinojosa, now a managing director at Bully Pulpit Interactive.
Biden had some big political wins this week on top of the vote in Kansas.
The president announced a drone strike that killed al Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, Congress passed a measure to fund research for veterans impacted by toxic substances, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) struck a deal with Majority Leader Charles Schumer (DN.Y.) to back a sweeping climate and tax bill.
A strong July jobs report capped off the week, defying predictions of a slowdown. It showed that the US added 528,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent.
Biden’s recent wins come as he has faced tough approval ratings amid high inflation and fears that the US economy is heading for a recession. The White House’s initial response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade was also criticized for being flat-footed, and progressives have argued the messaging was too slow or ineffective.
Biden announced his first executive actions to protect access to abortion medication two weeks after the Supreme Court ruling.
“A lot of Democrats were frustrated by the White House response to both the leaked opinion and then the announcement of the opinion. Both in message and in strategy, it felt like they were caught flat-footed. Now it seems like they’ve picked up the pace,” said Hackett.
He said he’d like to see Biden and Democrats travel to red states where Republicans are targeting abortion rights.
“I’d like to see them keep this on voters’ minds going into the November,” he added. “It seems like they’re taking the hint, so that’s good news.”
Zapien argued that in the aftermath of the Kansas vote, Democrats will be full steam ahead on keeping abortion access top of minds for voters.
“Right after the decision, I think everybody was in a wait and see sort of mode,” he said. “But I think after Kansas, everybody woke up and said, like, ‘we have evidence. Let’s go for it.’”
The Knights have put their horror week behind them to escape with a 14-10 win over the Tigers, despite a second half fightback from the home side at Campbelltown Stadium.
A galvanized Knights outfit ran amok in the first half, shooting out a three-try lead thanks to a double to Enari Tuala and another to Tex Hoy.
But the Tigers came out of the half time break fired up and tried to Brent Naden and Asu Kepaoa set up a grandstand finish.
But the Knights were able to hang on and end their four-game losing streak… and finally move on from a dramatic week following the David Klemmer saga.
“It seems to have galvanized them, they’ve come with great energy,” Fox League analyst Michael Ennis said of the Knights’ attitude.
MATCH CENTER: Tigers vs Knights live score, video, stats
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61ST MINUTE
The momentum had well and truly swung in the Tigers’ favor after Asu Kepaoa scored to bring his side within four points of the Knights after being completely carved up in the first half.
52ND MINUTE
The Tigers finally got on the board through Brent Naden but it wouldn’t have been possible without Adam Doueihi’s boot. Doueihi put a giant bomb up that Dominic Young let bounce and Naden was there to snatch it and score. Doueihi converted to shorten the scoreline to 14-6.
30TH MINUTE
Star hooker Jayden Brailey took off before the Tigers’ markers were set and sent Tex Hoy over. Hoy converted to extend the Knights’ lead to 14-nil.
The easy try sparked Fox League’s Michael Ennis to take aim at the Tigers’ “turnstile” defense.
17TH MINUTE
Enari Tuala got his second of the day to extend his side’s lead with Jake Clifford and Bradman Best having a hand in the lead-up.
“Finally playing like Adam O’Brien has been telling us they’ve been training,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith said.
5TH MINUTE
Jake Clifford set up Enari Tuala for the first try of the afternoon with a long grubber kick for the winger to dive on.
“Terrific kick, set up perfectly,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith said.
MATCH PREVIEW
The Wests Tigers will chase back-to-back wins for just the second time this season when they take on the Knights at Campbelltown Stadium in the final game of Round 21.
The Knights got the bragging rights last time these two teams faced off but a lot has changed since then.
Both are languishing near the bottom of the table, but the Tigers are coming off an inspiring win over the Broncos last week, while the Knights have lost four consecutive games — and are coming off a dramatic few days for the club.
The Knights will be without David Klemmer after the star prop was stood down from selection due to disciplinary reasons in a storyline that has since blown up in the club’s face.
Jacob Saifiti takes Klemmer’s place in the starting pack, while star center Bradman Best makes a welcome return from a thumb injury.
For the Tigers, Jackson Hastings is out for the season, opening the door for young gun Fonua Pole to start at lock.
Filling Pole’s spot on the bench is 27-year-old debutant Tom Freebairn — captain of the Western Suburbs Magpies’ NSW Cup side.
A win for the Tigers will see them leapfrog the Knights on the ladder and move further away from the wooden spoon. But if the Knights get a much-needed win, they will jump to 13th, ahead of the Warriors.
TEAMS
Tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. James Tamou 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Alex Seyfarth 12 Kelma Tuilagi 13. Fonua Pole 14. Zane Musgrove 15. Austin Dias 16. Thomas Freebairn 17. Tyrone Peachey. Replacement player: 18. Junior Tupou
knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13 Mitchell Barnett 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Mathew Croker. Replacement player: 18. Jack Johns
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