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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bring on the Wallabies: First Nations & Pasifika XV challenge Australia after narrow Lions defeat
The First Nations & Pasifika XV have challenged the Wallabies to a showdown after pushing the British & Irish Lions close to their first Australian tour defeat in an impressive, spirited display in Melbourne on Tuesday night. Although the players – with a mix of Indigenous Australian, Cook Islander, Fijian, Māori, Samoan and Tongan backgrounds – came together in camp last week for the first time and were largely written off before the match, they dominated their opposition for long periods and had chances in the dying stages to level scores before falling 24-19. Backrower Rob Leota, who scored a 70th-minute try for the First Nations & Pasifika side to set up a grandstand finish in front of 30,000 fans at Marvel Stadium, said not only must the new outfit live on, they must be given a chance against Australia's national team. 'A lot of these boys are fringe Wallabies players and aspiring to try to get back in the squad,' he said. 'You see tonight man, when you're playing for your culture it brings something out of you,' Leota said. The Wallabies only played a single warm-up match against Fiji and were dominated in the physical opening stages of the first Test against the Lions on Saturday. First Nations & Pasifika flanker Charlie Gamble, the player of the match on Tuesday, echoed Leota's sentiment and said he and his team-mates would have something to prove against the first-choice Australian XV. 'The Wallabies only had the Fiji game [before the Lions series], why can't we be the warm-up to play the Lions?', he said. 'More games is only going to help them, right?' Gamble – who has Tongan background on his mother's side and grew up in New Zealand – was unlucky to miss out on the Wallabies squad for the Lions series. 'Us fringe players, who are trying to put our hand up as well [would be motivated], trying to show our potential,' he said. The performance was impressive given staff – including coach Toutai Kefu and assistants Tana Umaga, Sekope Kepu and Glen Ella – had barely a week's preparation with the players, and the Lions barred Pete Samu from playing because he hadn't played Super Rugby this year. 'The good thing about our cultures – and this is the Indigenous and the Pasifika – we value family, [it's] where tribe comes first,' Kefu said. 'So we find connecting's very easy for us, so we just build on that and reinforce that.' The players worked with a cultural adviser during the week and took part an ava ceremony, a Samoan tradition to mark important milestones, for the presentation of jerseys. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion In 2004, a combined Pacific Islands side played an Australian team featuring current Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and were defeated 29-14 in Adelaide. That team beat the Waratahs 68-21 the week before and went on to narrowly lose to New Zealand and South Africa. This year's First Nations & Pasifika concept was only created due to the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, and the need for Rugby Australia to provide another opponent for the Lions under the agreement governing the tour. Darug man and the side's captain, Kurtley Beale, said the next fixture could be a warm-up match for the Wallabies, or a game against the Māori All Blacks who are already regular opponents against international opposition. 'Whatever it is, I think bigger picture and I think it's definitely needed in our game,' he said. But Leota – who has Samoan background and is moving to France to play for Bayonne next season – was more explicit, saying the Wallabies would be 'the perfect match'. 'If it's a Test match or a warm-up match [to a Test series], it's just so important for this team to keep going, because tonight we showed what we can do.'
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Lions have to battle for win over First Nations and Pasifika team in Melbourne
The British and Irish Lions emerged from the toughest test of their Australia tour with an edgy 24-19 victory over First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. For the first time in seven matches Down Under there was a sense of jeopardy as scratch opponents comprising players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage threatened to cause an upset at Marvel Stadium. A 64th minute try by Duhan van der Merwe propelled the Lions 10 points clear in what appeared to be the decisive moment, but big-hitting FNP refused to concede and struck again through Rob Leota to set up a tense finish. The closing exchanges belonged to FNP, who replaced Melbourne Rebels after the Super Rugby franchise went into administration, and when they pinched a late line-out the Lions had to weather one last storm. Owen Farrell was captain for the first time in his four Lions tours and while he was solid enough, few players put their hands up for selection for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies. Jac Morgan and James Ryan were replaced early in the second half, suggesting they might be involved in the Melbourne Cricket Ground showdown in some capacity, but in performance terms all the stars wore white – and none more than their brilliant openside Charlie Gamble. If the Lions were lulled into a false sense of security by running in early tries through Jamie Osborne and Darcy Graham, they soon woke up. Graham, one of nine late call-ups in the matchday 23, experienced 16 eventful minutes after being presented with two-half chances, finishing an easier third and being on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle from Triston Reilly. Reilly was sin-binned and soon after Graham limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury. The Lions were too frantic and the tide turned quickly when Reilly – whose yellow card was not upgraded on review – picked off a poor pass by Blair Kinghorn to touch down. Van der Merwe's work in defence has been exposed all tour and his hesitation in dealing with a kick was the prelude to FNP drawing level when a series of forward drives ended with Seru Uru powering over. All the small wins were coming from the underdogs as they won a scrum penalty, defended their line manfully and then pickpocketed a Lions line-out. Seeking a reaction, Farrell barked 'let's go, let's go' at his players, but instead Kinghorn threw another loose pass and this time van der Merwe came to the rescue as FNP threatened to score. The Lions' conviction returned early in the second half and was evident as Farrell, Fin Smith and Kinghorn threw passes that provided Osborne with a simple run in. They continued to be met with thunderous defending but eventually struck for the fourth time with Farrell sending van der Merwe over. FNP were not done, however, as they advanced downfield to win a line-out through their determined harrying before Rob Leota found a way through. And the Lions were waiting for the final whistle to blow as they faced down a series of late attacks.
BreakingNews.ie
7 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Lions have to battle for win over First Nations and Pasifika team in Melbourne
The British and Irish Lions emerged from the toughest test of their Australia tour with an edgy 24-19 victory over First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. For the first time in seven matches Down Under there was a sense of jeopardy as scratch opponents comprising players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage threatened to cause an upset at Marvel Stadium. Advertisement A 64th minute try by Duhan van der Merwe propelled the Lions 10 points clear in what appeared to be the decisive moment, but big-hitting FNP refused to concede and struck again through Rob Leota to set up a tense finish. ...and breathe 😮💨 #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 22, 2025 The closing exchanges belonged to FNP, who replaced Melbourne Rebels after the Super Rugby franchise went into administration, and when they pinched a late line-out the Lions had to weather one last storm. Owen Farrell was captain for the first time in his four Lions tours and while he was solid enough, few players put their hands up for selection for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies. Jac Morgan and James Ryan were replaced early in the second half, suggesting they might be involved in the Melbourne Cricket Ground showdown in some capacity, but in performance terms all the stars wore white – and none more than their brilliant openside Charlie Gamble. Advertisement If the Lions were lulled into a false sense of security by running in early tries through Jamie Osborne and Darcy Graham, they soon woke up. Graham, one of nine late call-ups in the matchday 23, experienced 16 eventful minutes after being presented with two-half chances, finishing an easier third and being on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle from Triston Reilly. Reilly was sin-binned and soon after Graham limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Darcy Graham received treatment before leaving the field with an apparent ankle injury. Photo: PA. The Lions were too frantic and the tide turned quickly when Reilly – whose yellow card was not upgraded on review – picked off a poor pass by Blair Kinghorn to touch down. Advertisement Van der Merwe's work in defence has been exposed all tour and his hesitation in dealing with a kick was the prelude to FNP drawing level when a series of forward drives ended with Seru Uru powering over. All the small wins were coming from the underdogs as they won a scrum penalty, defended their line manfully and then pickpocketed a Lions line-out. Seeking a reaction, Farrell barked 'let's go, let's go' at his players, but instead Kinghorn threw another loose pass and this time van der Merwe came to the rescue as FNP threatened to score. The Lions' conviction returned early in the second half and was evident as Farrell, Fin Smith and Kinghorn threw passes that provided Osborne with a simple run in. Advertisement Jamie Osborne crossed for the tourists' third try at Marvel Stadium. Photo: David Davies/PA. They continued to be met with thunderous defending but eventually struck for the fourth time with Farrell sending van der Merwe over. FNP were not done, however, as they advanced downfield to win a line-out through their determined harrying before Rob Leota found a way through. And the Lions were waiting for the final whistle to blow as they faced down a series of late attacks.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Build-up as British and Irish Lions face First Nations & Pasifika XV
Update: Date: 10:10 BST Title: Team news - First Nations and Pasifika XV Content: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions (11:00 BST) With a combined 153 Australia caps, Kurtley Beale and Taniela Tupou are the big names in the First Nations and Pasifika XV. Flanker Charlie Gamble starts in the back row after impressing against the Lions for New South Wales Waratahs. He won four turnovers in that game and the Lions simply could not deal with his ground work. First Nations and Pasifika XV: Muirhead; Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu; Beale, Thomas; Ieli, Paenga-Amos, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Tualima. Replacements: Asiata, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, McLeod. Update: Date: 10:06 BST Title: Tupou aims to impress Schmidt Content: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions (11:00 BST) Kurtley Beale is one of only 15 indigenous Australians to have represented the Wallabies and is one of six indigenous players in the matchday 23, with the rest of the squad made up of players with Pacific Islands heritage. Tonga-born prop Taniela Tupou, who has 58 caps for Australia, starts and is the one to watch. The 29-year-old has struggled to reach his previous best form and has been released by Australia head coach Joe Schmidt to play the game. He also featured against the Lions for the New South Wales Waratahs. Could he force his way back into Test contention? Tupou has been open about his recent confidence struggles on the pitch. Not many props in world rugby live with the best version of Tupou, who has the nickname 'Tongan Thor', which sums up his size and power. Alex Mitchell knows that..... Update: Date: 10:03 BST Title: 'The red sea will be coming down all excited' - Beale Content: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions (11:00 BST) Veteran Wallaby Kurtley Beale captains the First Nations and Pasifika XV after overcoming a hamstring injury that ruled him out of facing the Lions for Western Force in the opening tour game. The 36-year-old played in all three Tests 12 years ago against the Lions and slipped when attempting to convert a match-winning penalty to win the first Test. "There are some classy players and some real talent. To lead them on to the park against the Lions is an absolute privilege and huge honour," Beale said. "We are hoping to get a really good healthy crowd. The red sea (of Lions fans) will be coming down all excited after the first Test win in Brisbane. It will be a wonderful occasion." Update: Date: 10:00 BST Title: The final game for many Content: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions (11:00 BST) It is the final midweek game of the Lions' tour of Australia. Andy Farrell has opted to rest his Test starters but there is still plenty to play for. Who can force their way into the matchday 23 on Saturday? How players will be playing their final game in a Lions shirt? This game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV is likely to bring plenty of talking points.
Canberra Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Canberra Times
'A lot to work on': scrappy Lions edge out Waratahs
The Lions needed 12 minutes to post their first points through a try to Huw Jones before the Welsh centre grabbed a second after the half-hour halftime margin would have been closer had the TMO not overturned a try to Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble 29 minutes in after lock Fergus Lee-Warner was ruled to have caused obstruction in the preceding lineout.
