Wallaby boost for First Nations and Pasifika side
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Hulking prop Taniela Tupou and winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad on Thursday to bolster a First Nations and Pasifika side to face the British and Irish Lions next week.
Both players missed out on selection for the opening Test on Saturday against Andy Farrell’s tourists in Brisbane, freeing them up for the clash in Melbourne three days later.
They join the likes of Kurtley Beale and Rob Leota in a team hoping to avoid the fate of an under-prepared combined Australia-New Zealand side that was destroyed by the Lions 0-48 last weekend.
Four players who turned out for the AUNZ side at Adelaide Oval will back up in Melbourne – Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu and Kalani Thomas.
“Our mindset is more just thinking about ourselves. We’re not going to put too much emphasis on the opposition,” head coach Toutai Kefu, who played 60 times for Australia, told reporters earlier in the week.
“We know what they’re like. We’ve seen them. They could be hobbling into our game after the first Test, but we’re just focusing on what we have to do.”
First Nations and Pasifika squad:
Forwards: George Blake, Mesake Doge, Feao Fotuaika, Lington Ieli, Marley Pearce, Richie Asiata, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain, Mesake Vocevoce, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Taniela Tupou
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Harrison Goddard, Kalani Thomas, Kurtley Beale, Jack Debreczeni, David Feliuai, Lalakai Foketi, Isaac Henry, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jarrah McLeod, Andy Muirhead, Kye Oates, Triston Reilly
