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Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Suaalii plays down simmering feud with Lions rival
Wallabies gun Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has avoided throwing fuel on the fire ahead of a possible spicy rematch with British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu in Saturday's opening Test in Brisbane The star league recruit and the Melbourne-raised Scotland captain had to be separated in a skirmish in their first meeting at Murrayfield last November. Suaalii laid a massive tackle on his opposite but then stayed down after injuring his arm. Tuipulotu then sledged the rookie Wallaby, who jumped back to his feet and fired back, warning "I will see you next time" before departing the field for treatment on his wrist. Since then 28-year-old Tuipulotu was cautioned by Wallabies analyst Eoin Toolan, who he knows from his Melbourne Rebels days, to stop talking about the incident as Suaalii was "raring to go". With Tuipulotu favoured to start against the Wallabies, Suaalii downplayed hostilities between the pair. "I feel like there's been a lot of talk around that moment but at the end of the day it's just a game of footy," the 21-year-old said on Monday. in Brisbane. "I'm a big believer that whatever's said on the field stays on the field. "I'm just focused on what I can do for the team, that's it. I'm not going to speak on it, to be fair. "I always focus on myself first before I put my energy into someone else, and obviously fans want to see a rivalry and all that but at the end of the day, it's a team sport and I'm just trying to do the best for the team." While Suaalii was reticent to bait his rival, his Wallabies teammate Will Skelton happily chimed in that he could see some fireworks happening at Suncorp Stadium. "Yeah, that's what you want, no?" the giant lock said. "You want our 12s going against their 12s, you want our 13s going against their 13s - I think no matter what, it's going to be a physical battle and we're up for the challenge." Suaalii rated his involvement in the Lions series above his sole State of Origin experience, and said it was the major incentive for his code switch. "Yeah, that was probably the biggest carrot for myself," he said. "These are the biggest games, they happen every 12 years, so that was probably the biggest thing coming across. "I was nine, I remember watching it in my house, all the young kids sitting on the floor and I just remember being real close to the TV, watching it. "Something so special as a kid sparks you to do something great in your life so to be a part of the squad, it's amazing." Suaalii's stand-out memory of the 2013 series, which Australia lost, was the dramatic Test debut of another code-hopper Israel Folau, who scored two tries in the opening match. "He did kill it in that 2013 series and that was a big reason it was a dream of mine to play the Lions, because I remember watching him, Kurtley Beale, all these different players do their thing in the game and it sparked something for myself," he said.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Suaalii plays down simmering feud with Lions rival
Wallabies gun Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has avoided throwing fuel on the fire ahead of a possible spicy rematch with British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu in Saturday's opening Test in Brisbane The star league recruit and the Melbourne-raised Scotland captain had to be separated in a skirmish in their first meeting at Murrayfield last November. Suaalii laid a massive tackle on his opposite but then stayed down after injuring his arm. Tuipulotu then sledged the rookie Wallaby, who jumped back to his feet and fired back, warning "I will see you next time" before departing the field for treatment on his wrist. Since then 28-year-old Tuipulotu was cautioned by Wallabies analyst Eoin Toolan, who he knows from his Melbourne Rebels days, to stop talking about the incident as Suaalii was "raring to go". With Tuipulotu favoured to start against the Wallabies, Suaalii downplayed hostilities between the pair. "I feel like there's been a lot of talk around that moment but at the end of the day it's just a game of footy," the 21-year-old said on Monday. in Brisbane. "I'm a big believer that whatever's said on the field stays on the field. "I'm just focused on what I can do for the team, that's it. I'm not going to speak on it, to be fair. "I always focus on myself first before I put my energy into someone else, and obviously fans want to see a rivalry and all that but at the end of the day, it's a team sport and I'm just trying to do the best for the team." While Suaalii was reticent to bait his rival, his Wallabies teammate Will Skelton happily chimed in that he could see some fireworks happening at Suncorp Stadium. "Yeah, that's what you want, no?" the giant lock said. "You want our 12s going against their 12s, you want our 13s going against their 13s - I think no matter what, it's going to be a physical battle and we're up for the challenge." Suaalii rated his involvement in the Lions series above his sole State of Origin experience, and said it was the major incentive for his code switch. "Yeah, that was probably the biggest carrot for myself," he said. "These are the biggest games, they happen every 12 years, so that was probably the biggest thing coming across. "I was nine, I remember watching it in my house, all the young kids sitting on the floor and I just remember being real close to the TV, watching it. "Something so special as a kid sparks you to do something great in your life so to be a part of the squad, it's amazing." Suaalii's stand-out memory of the 2013 series, which Australia lost, was the dramatic Test debut of another code-hopper Israel Folau, who scored two tries in the opening match. "He did kill it in that 2013 series and that was a big reason it was a dream of mine to play the Lions, because I remember watching him, Kurtley Beale, all these different players do their thing in the game and it sparked something for myself," he said.
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Lions channel Australian cricket great by forecasting 3-0 sweep of Wallabies
'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about, about being one of the best Lions teams ever,' Earl said last week. The current Lions squad have set their sights on becoming the first touring team in history, dating back to 1888, to return home having won every game. The mighty 1974 team, containing Wales' galaxy of stars, remained undefeated, but after winning 21 games in a row, they drew the fourth Test with the All Blacks. The 2025 team's claim would come with the caveat of having lost to Argentina in Dublin before they left, however. The Lions' first Test side will be named on Thursday, and it could contain two Australian-raised former Junior Wallabies in the starting side - winger Mack Hansen and inside centre Sione Tuipulotu. Though he didn't start in the stronger sides used against Queensland and the Brumbies, Hansen is admired by Lions coach Andy Farrell for his work rate and capacity to influence games. And a concussion to Irish centre Garry Ringrose has lifted Tuipulotu's chances, given his Scottish centre partner Huw Jones is favoured to take the No.13. The 'Huwipulotu' partnership is well established and in-form, and it could see the Melbourne-raised Tuipulotu given the nod over Bundee Aki for. 'I thought Hugh and Sione were very good so we've got a nice cover there,' Farrell said in Adelaide. 'Obviously, we had a discussion to be had after this game anyway, so who knows which way we would have gone because it was true what we said about leaving it open. 'I know that people think that you've got a fixed mind after Wednesday's game, but that's not the truth so we'll sit down and assess that game and then have a tough task in picking what's going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first one.' Asked if he looked at the Scottish duo as a pair, when it comes to selection, Farrell said: 'No, honestly, we don't. 'We look at what's right for the team. I can't remember ever looking at a sheet over the last three or four weeks and thinking that combination has to happen because of the country that it's from. That doesn't exist in the group and rightly so,' he said. After the furore created early in the tour when Lions chief executive Ben Calveley warned Rugby Australia to release Wallabies to the Super Rugby sides, the Lions have won most games comfortably. The Waratahs and Brumbies held the Lions to 11 and 12-point wins, respectively. Loading Asked if the tour games had been sufficiently testing to prepare the Lions for Test matches, Farrell said: 'The games that we've had have been testing, and if we win with 50 points the competition is not strong enough, but then if somebody puts a tough performance on us, it's us that's not good enough.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions channel Australian cricket great by forecasting 3-0 sweep of Wallabies
'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about, about being one of the best Lions teams ever,' Earl said last week. The current Lions squad have set their sights on becoming the first touring team in history, dating back to 1888, to return home having won every game. The mighty 1974 team, containing Wales' galaxy of stars, remained undefeated, but after winning 21 games in a row, they drew the fourth Test with the All Blacks. The 2025 team's claim would come with the caveat of having lost to Argentina in Dublin before they left, however. The Lions' first Test side will be named on Thursday, and it could contain two Australian-raised former Junior Wallabies in the starting side - winger Mack Hansen and inside centre Sione Tuipulotu. Though he didn't start in the stronger sides used against Queensland and the Brumbies, Hansen is admired by Lions coach Andy Farrell for his work rate and capacity to influence games. And a concussion to Irish centre Garry Ringrose has lifted Tuipulotu's chances, given his Scottish centre partner Huw Jones is favoured to take the No.13. The 'Huwipulotu' partnership is well established and in-form, and it could see the Melbourne-raised Tuipulotu given the nod over Bundee Aki for. 'I thought Hugh and Sione were very good so we've got a nice cover there,' Farrell said in Adelaide. 'Obviously, we had a discussion to be had after this game anyway, so who knows which way we would have gone because it was true what we said about leaving it open. 'I know that people think that you've got a fixed mind after Wednesday's game, but that's not the truth so we'll sit down and assess that game and then have a tough task in picking what's going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first one.' Asked if he looked at the Scottish duo as a pair, when it comes to selection, Farrell said: 'No, honestly, we don't. 'We look at what's right for the team. I can't remember ever looking at a sheet over the last three or four weeks and thinking that combination has to happen because of the country that it's from. That doesn't exist in the group and rightly so,' he said. After the furore created early in the tour when Lions chief executive Ben Calveley warned Rugby Australia to release Wallabies to the Super Rugby sides, the Lions have won most games comfortably. The Waratahs and Brumbies held the Lions to 11 and 12-point wins, respectively. Loading Asked if the tour games had been sufficiently testing to prepare the Lions for Test matches, Farrell said: 'The games that we've had have been testing, and if we win with 50 points the competition is not strong enough, but then if somebody puts a tough performance on us, it's us that's not good enough.'
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tuipulotu and Suaalii set for re-match after two Aussies named in Lions squad
The stage has been set for a feisty re-match between Sione Tuipulotu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in July after the Melbourne-raised Scotland captain was named in the British and Irish Lions squad. Tuipulotu and former Brumby-turned-Ireland winger Mack Hansen became the seventh and eighth Australian-raised players to be selected as Lions on Thursday night at a grandiose team naming event in London. With coach Andy Farrell watching on at the 02 Arena, his 37-man squad was read out by Wales legend and Lions chairman Iuean Evans. The squad – which will be captained by England lock Maro Itoje – will next month embark on a nine-game tour of Australia, which is preceded by a clash with Argentina in Dublin. Players discovered the news of their Lions selections as they gathered at the clubs, with tradition dictating they don't get a phone call with the news beforehand. Ireland had the most players selected with 15, followed by England (13), Scotland (8) and Wales, who paid a price for their recent slump with just two players. That equalled the smallest ever representation, after Ireland in 1993 and Scotland in 2009 and 2017. The squad contained plenty of surprises, after months of speculation. There was no Owen Farrell and Ireland captain Caelen Doris was also left out after picking up a shoulder injury. Twenty-year-old Henry Pollock, who only has one Test cap for England, was the bolter of the squad after turning in storming for Northhampton. Marcus Smith and Elliot Daly also made the cut, but there were no spots for contenders Jamie George, Sam Prendergast, Dewi Lake, Jack Willis and George Ford. Aussie Lions
