British & Irish Lions vs First Nations & Pasifika XV LIVE updates: Test hopefuls put it all on the line at Marvel Stadium
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6.57pm
Beale to lead, Wallaby absent for historic Lions clash
Kurtley Beale will captain the First Nations and Pasifika side against the British and Irish Lions while Pete Samu's absence has been confirmed for the Marvel Stadium clash.
Beale, who has 96 Test caps, missed the Western Force's clash with the Lions due to a hamstring injury.
But the 36-year-old is set to lead the first-of-its-kind side in Melbourne on Tuesday, 12 years after featuring for the Wallabies on the Lions' last visit.
Fellow Test talents Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Lalakai Foketi and Filipo Daugunu are also set to suit up for the clash.
But Samu, the former Brumbies star who's set to return from France to Australian rugby with the NSW Waratahs next season, will not join them.
The versatile backrower featured in the AUNZ Invitational outfit earlier in the season and remains in Wallaby calculations amid a 15-Test calendar year.
But, citing 'rules and regulations' around the revised fixture that was created after the Melbourne Rebels were shut down last year, he was denied an encore by the Lions while he waits to team up with his next Super Rugby side, the Waratahs.
It's understood the revised pre-tour agreement allowed the Lions to have final say on who was selected for the clash.
The move comes after the Lions began the tour by calling out Rugby Australia for not releasing more Test talents to feature in tour games against the visitors.
Having come to grips with the setback, coach and 60-Test Wallabies great Toutai Kefu is keen to 'make history' against a Lions squad playing in between the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests.
'The team has a really nice feel to it, with a blend of not only youth and experience, but also cultures,' he said.
'It's an opportunity for the players involved to press their cases forward for higher honours, so everyone will be keen to make an impression.
'The Lions have shown how strong they are on this tour.
'No matter who plays, they will be very hard to beat, but we're not here to make up the numbers.
'We want to win this game and make history.'
First Nations and Pasifika: Lington Ieli, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Kalani Thomas, Kurtley Beale (c), Filipo Daugunu, David Feliuai, Lalakai Foketi, Triston Reilly, Andy Muirhead. Bench: Richie Asiata, Marley Pearce, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Rob Leota, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Jarrah McLeod.
Tonight's weather
The roof is on inside Marvel Stadium but it's quite chilly still but the cold wind hasn't made its way into the stadium.
6.54pm
Good evening
G'day everyone and welcome to our rugby live blog as the British & Irish Lions continue their 2025 tour with a clash against the First Nations & Pasifika team at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
It's a chilly Tuesday night in Melbourne but the action on the field should be at the highest level as players on both sides chase a place in Saturday's second Test between the Lions and the Wallabies at the MCG.
Kickoff is set for 8pm. Enjoy the evening to come.
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Sydney Morning Herald
32 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
British and Irish Lions 2025: Kurtley Beale's advice to Wallabies after First Nations and Pasifika side almost produced historic upset
Kefu said the week was a joyous one of bringing many cultures together, and understanding the different – and shared – backgrounds. But he also said the team had been motivated by the treatment of Samu, who was selected for the team and trained early on, but had to withdraw after the Lions used their veto power to oppose him playing. Garry Ringrose of the British & Irish Lions charges upfield. Credit: Getty Images The agreement struck between RA and the Lions was Super Rugby players would be used in the FNP squad, and the Lions argued Samu didn't qualify given he has just returned from Bordeaux. RA argued Samu qualified given he has since joined the Waratahs. Samu, who has Tongan heritage and was raised in Melbourne, stayed with the squad and ran water last night at Marvel. A section of the crowd had Samu face masks. 'Pete was originally down to play number eight and he'd already trained a few sessions with us, so to see the way he was displaced, I think was pretty poor,' Kefu said. Pete Samu wearing the First Nations & Pasifika team kit. Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia 'Pete was fantastic, he got on with it, he was keen to hang around and help the boys prepare and the boys really felt for him.' Kefu said Samu would have a big difference to the strength of the FNP side. 'The young kid (Tuaina Taii Tualima) that took his spot, he's got a big future, but Pete Samu is an experienced campaigner,' Kefu said. 'He's hungry and motivated to get back into the Wallaby jersey. He would have been great for us.' Loading Asked if he felt disrespected by the Lions over the Samu situation, Kefu said it was a backhanded compliment. 'I think more respected because they didn't want him to play. So removing him would certainly de-power our team, so I thought they had a high level of respect for him.' Lions coach Andy Farrell, who had previously washed his hands of the Samu veto, said the side had expected an emotional response from the FNP team. 'Do you know what, it's all well and good talking that type of situation up but when the whistle goes, you're just into it and that's what you'd expect from those guys,' he said. 'They're passionate people, proud of who they're representing and they were certainly a handful, physically this evening so again, fair play to them.' Kefu said he would find a place for Salakaia-Loto and Taniela Tupou in the Wallabies squad after their powerhouse performances. All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.
Sydney Morning Herald
33 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Take it to them, head on': Veteran's advice to Wallabies after almost shocking Lions
Kurtley Beale said he hoped the Wallabies will be inspired by the combative tactics of the First Nations and Pasifika side in their narrow 24-19 loss to the Lions at Marvel Stadium, saying the way to beat the touring side is to 'take it to them, head on'. Beale's comments came as FNP coach Toutai Kefu said the side were motivated by the Lions vetoing the selection of Pete Samu, which Kefu labelled 'pretty poor' and he went on to say the former Wallaby back-rower would have made a potentially winning difference to the invitational side. The FNP team turned in an inspiring performance after being widely written off, and with most pundits and bookies expecting them to get beaten by a cricket score. But with just a week's training, the Kefu-coached team came within a whisker of handing the Lions their first loss of the tour. The FNP team trailed, and came back twice, in the first and second halves to get within a converted try of a victory, but ran out of time. The performance was inspired by an aggressive, in-your-face physicality by the FNP squad – led Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Charlie Gamble – which hugely unsettled the Lions. Asked post-game if that was the blueprint for the Wallabies to beat the Lions at the MCG on Saturday, Beale said: 'I think so; you need to take it to them, head on. There were some patches there where we had the momentum and the Lions were taking a back-foot step. 'It created opportunities for us. The boys, they love the physicality. I think playing rugby, you need physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off, and they bring that.' Beale was asked if he believed the Wallabies would have been inspired, and said: 'I hope so.'
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Purest form of fighting': Mundine launches bare knuckle boxing in Australia
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