Tongan Thor ready if it's au revoir to Australia
"Tongan Thor" was left out of the Wallabies squad for their opening Test loss against the tourists in Brisbane while his inclusion in the historic selection that will play at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night likely rules him out of the second Test at the MCG.
Captained by Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale and coached by Test great Toutai Kefu, the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika side are looking to cause a boilover against the unbeaten Lions, who have already taken a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Test series.
After a disappointing season with the NSW Waratahs, Tupou signed a two-year deal to play in France with the star-studded Racing 92 team putting in jeopardy any future Wallabies involvement beyond the Lions series.
Tupou has slipped behind Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson in the tighthead stocks and while he will rejoin the Wallabies training squad ahead of remaining two Tests, Tuesday's match might be his last on home soil.
"Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens," Tupou said of his Test future.
"So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it.
"Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it."
The 29-year-old, who was described as having potential to be the best tighthead in the world, was asked how he'd like to be remembered if his 58-Test career was over.
"They'll remember me how they want to remember me," he said.
Hooker Paenga-Amosa said he wanted to enjoy "one last ride" with his former Queensland teammate and good friend and said the playing group, representing First Nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Maori and Samoa, had got a boost by his inclusion.
"There's a buzz around having him back, him and Filipo Daugunu back in the camp as well ... it really excited a lot of us, you know, knowing that we get these two heavy hitters."
Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions twice, with the Western Force and the AUNZ outfit and acknowledged the mammoth task of taking down the tourists, who will be skippered by Owen Farrell.
"What I've learned is just to have a crack mate, you know, just everybody come together and let's just give it the best that we can for 80 minutes," he said.
"We know that they're not really focused on us, and that's OK ... we just want to show them what we're made of."
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Perth Now
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First Nations and Pasifika XV shock touring Lions
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3 hours ago
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British & Irish Lions vs First Nations & Pasifika XV LIVE updates: Test hopefuls put it all on the line at Marvel Stadium
Latest posts Latest posts 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. 6.56pm 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.
