Paisami hunting a Test recall and a Bundee encore
The Queensland Reds No.12 was immense in the opening stages of Wednesday clash with the tourists, his barging runs and clever kicking helping the hosts to a 12-7 lead.
But the Lions stirred, their defence stiffening and attack clicking in a 52-12 win that followed a 54-7 defeat of the Western Force on Saturday.
He lined up against Irish star Aki who, like Samoa-born Paisami, grew up in Auckland.
Aki, 35, left the Chiefs for Connacht in 2014 and has been in Ireland ever since.
The pair were deep in conversation post-game, catching up for the first time since squaring off on the 2022 Spring Tour.
"I'm a big fan of Bundee," Paisami, who moved to Melbourne as a teenager, said.
"He's been in the game for years and what he's done ... it's always special, always a good challenge to face him.
"I was living in Auckland, watching the Chiefs ... his journey from the Chiefs to where he is now; I've always been a fan."
Paisami, 27, exited Wallabies camp ahead of Sunday's Test against Fiji to instead face the Lions and will return on Thursday to submit his 'homework' to coach Joe Schmidt.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shape as the likely midfield pairing against Fiji but Paisami, who has 31 caps, gave Schmidt plenty to ponder.
"For me, coming back to where I love and am happy, it's at Ballymore. So for me it was a bonus," he said of playing for the Reds instead of potentially earning a cap against Fiji.
"For sure (I want to play for the Wallabies against the Lions) and that game there, I got a good taste.
"Joe will be asking questions, where I felt the pressure from.
"So I'll do my homework so when those questions come I know how to answer them.
"Joe's just asking me to be myself. Try and bring that same energy from here."
Reds coach Les Kiss, who will take over from Schmidt at the Wallabies later next year, said he "expected nothing less from Hunter".
"Both of them (Aki and Paisami) were relishing the contest and Hunter was quality," he said.
"Got us on the front foot. that's how we created the momentum. ... he was pretty good."
Lions skipper Maro Itoje, rested against the Force, celebrated his first game in charge with a try while No.7 Jac Morgan was a deserving man of the match.
The Lions will shift camp to Sydney ahead of Saturday's clash with the NSW Waratahs, coach Andy Farrell confident he has enough depth at fullback after Elliot Daly (forearm) was sent for scans in Brisbane.
The tourists have already lost star Welsh halfback Tomos Williams for the series with a hamstring complaint while Hugo Keenan (illness) was a late withdrawal but is expected to be fit to face the Waratahs.
Hunter Paisami hopes it's not the last he'll see of Bundee Aki as the Wallabies wrecking ball dusts himself off from a Lions mauling and returns to camp.
The Queensland Reds No.12 was immense in the opening stages of Wednesday clash with the tourists, his barging runs and clever kicking helping the hosts to a 12-7 lead.
But the Lions stirred, their defence stiffening and attack clicking in a 52-12 win that followed a 54-7 defeat of the Western Force on Saturday.
He lined up against Irish star Aki who, like Samoa-born Paisami, grew up in Auckland.
Aki, 35, left the Chiefs for Connacht in 2014 and has been in Ireland ever since.
The pair were deep in conversation post-game, catching up for the first time since squaring off on the 2022 Spring Tour.
"I'm a big fan of Bundee," Paisami, who moved to Melbourne as a teenager, said.
"He's been in the game for years and what he's done ... it's always special, always a good challenge to face him.
"I was living in Auckland, watching the Chiefs ... his journey from the Chiefs to where he is now; I've always been a fan."
Paisami, 27, exited Wallabies camp ahead of Sunday's Test against Fiji to instead face the Lions and will return on Thursday to submit his 'homework' to coach Joe Schmidt.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shape as the likely midfield pairing against Fiji but Paisami, who has 31 caps, gave Schmidt plenty to ponder.
"For me, coming back to where I love and am happy, it's at Ballymore. So for me it was a bonus," he said of playing for the Reds instead of potentially earning a cap against Fiji.
"For sure (I want to play for the Wallabies against the Lions) and that game there, I got a good taste.
"Joe will be asking questions, where I felt the pressure from.
"So I'll do my homework so when those questions come I know how to answer them.
"Joe's just asking me to be myself. Try and bring that same energy from here."
Reds coach Les Kiss, who will take over from Schmidt at the Wallabies later next year, said he "expected nothing less from Hunter".
"Both of them (Aki and Paisami) were relishing the contest and Hunter was quality," he said.
"Got us on the front foot. that's how we created the momentum. ... he was pretty good."
Lions skipper Maro Itoje, rested against the Force, celebrated his first game in charge with a try while No.7 Jac Morgan was a deserving man of the match.
The Lions will shift camp to Sydney ahead of Saturday's clash with the NSW Waratahs, coach Andy Farrell confident he has enough depth at fullback after Elliot Daly (forearm) was sent for scans in Brisbane.
The tourists have already lost star Welsh halfback Tomos Williams for the series with a hamstring complaint while Hugo Keenan (illness) was a late withdrawal but is expected to be fit to face the Waratahs.
Hunter Paisami hopes it's not the last he'll see of Bundee Aki as the Wallabies wrecking ball dusts himself off from a Lions mauling and returns to camp.
The Queensland Reds No.12 was immense in the opening stages of Wednesday clash with the tourists, his barging runs and clever kicking helping the hosts to a 12-7 lead.
But the Lions stirred, their defence stiffening and attack clicking in a 52-12 win that followed a 54-7 defeat of the Western Force on Saturday.
He lined up against Irish star Aki who, like Samoa-born Paisami, grew up in Auckland.
Aki, 35, left the Chiefs for Connacht in 2014 and has been in Ireland ever since.
The pair were deep in conversation post-game, catching up for the first time since squaring off on the 2022 Spring Tour.
"I'm a big fan of Bundee," Paisami, who moved to Melbourne as a teenager, said.
"He's been in the game for years and what he's done ... it's always special, always a good challenge to face him.
"I was living in Auckland, watching the Chiefs ... his journey from the Chiefs to where he is now; I've always been a fan."
Paisami, 27, exited Wallabies camp ahead of Sunday's Test against Fiji to instead face the Lions and will return on Thursday to submit his 'homework' to coach Joe Schmidt.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shape as the likely midfield pairing against Fiji but Paisami, who has 31 caps, gave Schmidt plenty to ponder.
"For me, coming back to where I love and am happy, it's at Ballymore. So for me it was a bonus," he said of playing for the Reds instead of potentially earning a cap against Fiji.
"For sure (I want to play for the Wallabies against the Lions) and that game there, I got a good taste.
"Joe will be asking questions, where I felt the pressure from.
"So I'll do my homework so when those questions come I know how to answer them.
"Joe's just asking me to be myself. Try and bring that same energy from here."
Reds coach Les Kiss, who will take over from Schmidt at the Wallabies later next year, said he "expected nothing less from Hunter".
"Both of them (Aki and Paisami) were relishing the contest and Hunter was quality," he said.
"Got us on the front foot. that's how we created the momentum. ... he was pretty good."
Lions skipper Maro Itoje, rested against the Force, celebrated his first game in charge with a try while No.7 Jac Morgan was a deserving man of the match.
The Lions will shift camp to Sydney ahead of Saturday's clash with the NSW Waratahs, coach Andy Farrell confident he has enough depth at fullback after Elliot Daly (forearm) was sent for scans in Brisbane.
The tourists have already lost star Welsh halfback Tomos Williams for the series with a hamstring complaint while Hugo Keenan (illness) was a late withdrawal but is expected to be fit to face the Waratahs.
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
No stopping Zorko as Lions 'legend' status awaits
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Zorko and Charlie Cameron (250 games) will celebrate milestones this weekend and Lester doesn't think they'll have that issue. "You'd like to think this close to finals, that won't be the case," he said. "Certainly at the Gabba, we've probably had some pretty average performances, but now we know we've got to play well." Ryan Lester expects Dayne Zorko to surge past the Brisbane Lions legends he'll soon join as the evergreen energiser's remarkable AFL career enters rare air. The 36-year-old will play his 300th AFL game on Sunday when the Lions look to book a top-four finish with victory over Hawthorn at the Gabba. Zorko will join Alastair Lynch (308), Marcus Ashcroft (318), Simon Black (322) and Kevin Murray (333) on an exclusive list of those to play 300 games for the Brisbane Lions or their Bears and Fitzroy predecessors. Another season would likely see him pass all but Murray. "He doesn't look like stopping anytime soon," long-time teammate and brother-in-law Ryan Lester said on Tuesday. "He does it his way, which is why he's such a good player. He's got a lot of self belief, and you need it in this game." The oldest person to make an All-Australian side in last year's premiership campaign has again been influential as an attacking weapon out of the Lions' backline. His transition to the back six is a move Lester partly credits to a career resurgence that's seen him play 60-straight games since there were question marks over his future in 2023. Zorko's achievements are more extraordinary considering he was overlooked in four draft years, traded from Gold Coast to Brisbane to debut as a 23-year-old. "He's going to go down as one of the legends of the club," Lester, the only current Lion to arrive at the club before Zorko, said. 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"I just think it's it's a great outlet for me and Zork to chat about the club." Brisbane will finish second or third if they beat the Hawks while the visitors can also make the top four with a win at the Gabba, where the Lions (15-6-1) are an uncharacteristic 6-4 this season. Lester admitted they "probably haven't turned up mentally" in those losses. Zorko and Charlie Cameron (250 games) will celebrate milestones this weekend and Lester doesn't think they'll have that issue. "You'd like to think this close to finals, that won't be the case," he said. "Certainly at the Gabba, we've probably had some pretty average performances, but now we know we've got to play well." Ryan Lester expects Dayne Zorko to surge past the Brisbane Lions legends he'll soon join as the evergreen energiser's remarkable AFL career enters rare air. The 36-year-old will play his 300th AFL game on Sunday when the Lions look to book a top-four finish with victory over Hawthorn at the Gabba. Zorko will join Alastair Lynch (308), Marcus Ashcroft (318), Simon Black (322) and Kevin Murray (333) on an exclusive list of those to play 300 games for the Brisbane Lions or their Bears and Fitzroy predecessors. Another season would likely see him pass all but Murray. "He doesn't look like stopping anytime soon," long-time teammate and brother-in-law Ryan Lester said on Tuesday. "He does it his way, which is why he's such a good player. He's got a lot of self belief, and you need it in this game." The oldest person to make an All-Australian side in last year's premiership campaign has again been influential as an attacking weapon out of the Lions' backline. His transition to the back six is a move Lester partly credits to a career resurgence that's seen him play 60-straight games since there were question marks over his future in 2023. 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Sydney Morning Herald
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It also boosted the Wallabies' world ranking in a major way, with the 16-point win harvesting three valuable ranking points. Loading The Wallabies need to finish the year in the top six to get a top seeding for their home World Cup. That way, you avoid having one of the very big boys in your pool, and likely avoid major teams in the early finals, too. The Wallabies are still ranked sixth, but the win over the Boks turned a narrow margin ahead of Argentina into a big buffer. And get this - if the Wallabies beat SA again with the same margin, they can even leapfrog the Boks into third this weekend Nick Frost is world-class The giant Brumby was demoted on the spring tour last year because the Wallabies coaches wanted more edge and physicality from him. Frost has vastly improved his contact strength and a thumping one-on-one shot on Eben Etzebeth in the second half spoke volumes. Throw in the fact Frost is arguably the best lineout forward in the game, and the 206cm giant is shaping as a vital World Cup weapon. Schmidt is a mind-gamer It was an historic win, but it didn't stop Joe Schmidt going hard on the mind games straight after the Wallabies win, saying he felt the team had been lucky and the scoreboard didn't reflect the contest against a Boks side who'll be fired up next week in Cape Town. It would be interesting to hear if the language used in the dressing rooms was the same. You'd doubt it. Hot takes may burn There was no shortage of pundits and columnists keeping a low profile on Sunday, or audibly beeping as they swiftly reversed their views. Scepticism about a Wallabies win was understandable, but the scalding hot take of one RugbyPass columnist – titled The Wallabies have no chance against the Springboks – ended up particularly egg-on-facey. 'Let's be honest: if the Springboks don't pulverise the Wallabies at Ellis Park, it's a major upset. Ellis Park doesn't deal in fairy tales. The altitude is unforgiving, the Boks are unrelenting, and history is unyielding. This is the double world champions against the sixth-best team in the world. How good are the Wallabies? We're about to find out. Keep an ear out for the audible thunk as they come back down to earth.' We heard a thunk, alright. Are the Wallabies hoodoo gurus? This Wallabies side is quietly ticking off some hoodoos and records. The win at Twickenham was the first against England there since 2016, the Wales' win was a record, and victory over the Lions at Accor was the first win at Sydney Olympic Park in a decade. The win in Newcastle was a first, too. The breakthrough win at Ellis Park now means the longest drought at a regular venue is Eden Park, at 39 years. The Wallabies play the All Blacks at Eden Park next month. That is all. Just leaving it there. Fraser McReight is the world's best no.7 As far as a pure openside fetcher goes, it's hard to find anyone as good in the world game as Fraser McReight. His performance against the Boks continued a remarkable tradition of No.7s in gold, and his and names sits comfortably with Poidevin, Wilson, Waugh, Smith, Pocock and Hooper. Discipline is key As recently as three years ago, the Wallabies' discipline was the worst of any tier-one nation. They routinely conceded 12-13 penalties a game and lost at least one man to the sin-bin each game. Loading It pointed to a team that struggled for belief and was more often on the back foot than the front. That has changed dramatically under Schmidt and his obsession with strong fundamentals, particularly in the carry-clean. The Wallabies conceded just four penalties at Ellis Park, and have now gone seven straight Tests without a card; the longest since 2017. Depth is developing The Wallabies' depth has been a problem in recent years, but it is worth noting Schmidt's side claimed back-to-back wins against the British and Irish Lions and the Springboks without star forwards Rob Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa, their first two choices for the No.10 jersey and the first-choice No.9. And with a couple of hookers missing as well. Giteau law demise timely The recent strong form of Tom Hooper, Taniela Tupou and Langi Gleeson – who are all heading overseas at the end of 2025 – has shown there is wisdom in discarding a hard-and-fast mentality around the Giteau law, and overseas-bound players in general. Hooper and Gleeson were not involved in the first Wallabies camp this year, but both have grown incredibly this season and need to be involved in the Test squad as often as possible through to 2027.
