Beale injury blow but hopeful for historic Lions clash
NEWS: While his likely captain Kurtley Beale is in doubt with a hamstring injury, First Nations and Pasifika coach Toutai Kefu is savouring the chance to have another crack at the British & Irish Lions 24 years after the last.
For the first time, a selection of Indigenous and Pasifika players will square off against the tourists in Melbourne on Tuesday, July 22, in between the first and second Tests.
It’s the same venue where, in 2001, Kefu’s Wallabies snatched a famous victory before lifting the trophy with a win in the third Test in Sydney.
“There were a couple of moments in that Test in particular where we probably swung the whole series back our way, and if it wasn’t for those, we probably wouldn’t have won the series,” said the former No.8 as he scoped out the arena.
The Lions have only lost two tour matches in Australia – to Australia A in 2001 and to the ACT Brumbies in 2013 – and Kefu said another victory would be special.
“That’s a great motivator for these boys, and if we can put a really good performance and get a good result, that’s the best way to represent our people,” he said.
“It’s a bloody wonderful occasion to be playing together and representing a whole host of cultures and families against probably the most iconic Barbarian team in the world.”
Indigenous star Beale was one of five players unveiled; however, the 95-Test veteran later pulled out of the Western Force’s clash with the Lions on Saturday night – although Kefu believed it wasn’t serious.
“I heard it’s just a slight hamstring twinge, so I don’t know much about it, but hopefully he’ll be right in three, four weeks,” he said.
“He’s our most experienced player, played the Lions before, a huge number of Test caps and Super caps, so he’ll definitely add some experience to our squad.”
Three back-rowers in Queensland’s Seru Uru, and NSW Waratahs pair Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble were name,d as well as Brumbies speedster Andy Muirhead.
The selection of Uru means the Fijian-born back-rower-cum-lock is unlikely to feature for the Wallabies after making his Test debut last year.
He was on track to add to that number before suffering an MCL injury playing for the Queensland Reds which stalled his Super Rugby Pacific season.
“I watched him (Uru) play club last week and he’s going to play again this week and in the Reds game so he’s a little bit behind the eight-ball with his fitness, but these games will hopefully sharpen him up,” said Kefu, who coached Tonga for seven years and now has a role in Japan.
A proud Barunggam man who was part of the Australia A set-up last year, Muirhead will also take on the Lions with the Brumbies on July 9 in Canberra.
“To be able to play them (Lions) once in your career is quite special so there’s a small group of us who get to play them twice in the one month,” said Muirhead, who joined Kefu in unveiling the team jersey.
“It’s huge for us … as soon as they announced this it was very exciting for so many cultures to come together so quite lucky as a playing group to get the opportunity.”
Kefu will be joined in the coaching box by Wallabies legends Sekope Kepu and Glen Ella, as well as All Blacks great Tana Umaga, while the remainder of the squad will be announced early next month.
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