Try GOLD - Free
Improving Wallabies will test Lions, says Roff
The Straits Times
|October 30, 2024
SYDNEY - World Cup-winning winger Joe Roff, who played an instrumental role in Australia's series victory over the British and Irish Lions in 2001, is convinced the Wallabies will be competitive when the tourists return in July.
-
Australia, knocked out of the 2023 World Cup in the pool stage, are ranked 10th in the world as they head off on their end-of-season tour this week, a far cry from the world champions who came from a Test down to beat the Lions 23 years ago.
Roff, who triggered the 2001 comeback with two tries in the second Test and is now president of Rugby Australia, said he could already see the impact of Joe Schmidt's work with the team despite the loss of five of their six Rugby Championship Tests.
"You cannot forget the Rugby Championship was against three of the four semi-finalists at the Rugby World Cup. We were playing against the top teams," he said at the launch of the Wallabies kit for the Lions series on Oct 29.
This story is from the October 30, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Clean tech can scale up with state support, blended finance: Panel
Such technologies are on the rise across Asean as countries seek to reduce emissions
4 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Nearly 700 more children fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals
The Indonesian authorities are investigating food poisoning cases involving nearly 700 children in Yogyakarta province this week, after students ate meals prepared under President Prabowo Subianto’s key free school meal programme, an official said.
1 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Lim Boon Heng takes 'ultimate responsibility' on failed Allianz-Income union
He and NTUC Enterprise board admit that the offer could have been managed better
3 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
TNP merges with Stomp
Refreshed website aims to better resonate with younger audience, attract new readers
3 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Malaysia considers live monitoring of school CCTV footage by police
Malaysia's Home Ministry is considering a proposal to link school CCTV systems to the police to enable real-time monitoring and enhance security.
1 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Trump asks Pentagon to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons
He says it is necessary to keep up with rivals; Russia and China criticise move
2 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Over 350,000 have registered for QR code system at JB checkpoints
More than 350,000 people have registered for the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) to use QR code lanes at the Johor-Singapore border.
1 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Dutch far-right Freedom Party suffers shock reversal in polls
Results show tight race, with centrist liberal rival likely to form next govt
4 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Manpower Perm Sec Ng Chee Khern to retire; changes to other posts
Manpower Permanent Secretary Ng Chee Khern will retire on Dec], marking an end to 41 years in the public service during a career filled with distinction.
2 mins
October 31, 2025
The Straits Times
Steps inside 420 electric buses being lowered after seniors' feedback
The steps inside 420 new electric buses are being lowered after elderly passengers flagged the difficulty of navigating them to get to seating areas.
2 mins
October 31, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size

