Don't know how funny that gag is – Sione Tuipulotu laughs off ‘Aussie' dig
Sione Tuipulotu insists the British and Irish Lions must continue to shrug off any provocation during their tour of Australia after their overseas-born contingent were attacked by the Tannoy announcer at Optus Stadium.
Tuipulotu, one of eight players in Andy Farrell's squad who were born, raised and educated in the southern hemisphere, was among those caught in the crosshairs before Saturday's 54-7 rout of Western Force.
'Another Aussie at number 12, Sione Tuipulotu,' was how the Scotland centre was introduced when the team was read out for the Lions' opening match on Australian soil.
Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Pierre Schoeman were also referenced by the nation of their birth rather than their adopted country, for whom they have qualified either through residency or family heritage.
It continued a theme from the hosts that began when Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt described Tuipulotu and New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki as a 'southern-hemisphere centre partnership' in the build-up to the defeat by Argentina in Dublin.
Tuipulotu emphasised the words 'good humour' when brushing aside the jibes that he expected on his return Down Under.
'I knew there would be some 'good humour' coming back home to Australia. These are all things we've got to take in our stride,' he said.
'To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don't know how funny that gag is to everyone!
'I'm loving my rugby playing for the Lions and I'm really passionate about it. Andy's brought the group together so well.'
The victory in Perth exposed several shortcomings such as a high penalty count and creaking set-piece, but there was also much to admire in the attacking exuberance that produced eight classy tries.
Tougher tests than the Force await on tour but combined with the evidence gathered from the Aviva Stadium eight days earlier, Farrell's Lions are clearly keen to keep the ball alive – and on this occasion the passes stuck.
Finn Russell was at the heart of onslaught in his first outing of the tour and the Scot's instinctive play drew approval from Farrell, who declared: 'He's ready to go. And that's good.'
Well done, dad 👍🫶 #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/5zluJoe5b2
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 28, 2025
Tuipulotu, who expects to be firing by the Test series as he continues his comeback from a significant ankle injury, said: 'We're taking ideas from all the nations.
'Obviously, the coaching style is very Ireland dominant and there are a lot of ideas that we're getting from the Irish coaches, but then those ideas are being sprinkled on.
'When Finn comes in, he plays his style. He plays to the structure of the team, but he's a very instinctive player and he wants to play what's directly in front of his face.
'There's a mixture there and that's what's going to make it hard to defend for opposition teams.
BEAUTY 🤩
Watch every match live on @SkySports. #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/AxziGEPOTD
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 28, 2025
'They're not necessarily defending a structure of play, they're defending a structure of play with really supreme individuals conducting it like Finn.
'Finn's a world-class number 10 and he's been here, been there, done that. He's come off a really good season after winning the Premiership with Bath and I thought him and Tomos Williams controlled the game really well.
'We're still growing, there's a lot of growth left in us but the identity at least, you could see how we try to play the game out there.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
Western Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Children's sporting activities cost parents £443 on average a year, survey finds
Parents with children who participate in organised sport say their offspring try an average of three sports a year, with football – played by 62% of children – the most popular, followed by swimming (42%), and dance (20%), the poll for payment provider Clearpay found. Hockey is the most expensive sport, with parents spending an average £460 a year for their child to participate. Dance (£395) and basketball (£372) are the next most expensive sports, followed by tennis (£359) and gymnastics (£350). On average, the biggest outgoings are on lessons and coaching (£81), specialist kit (£67) and footwear, including football boots and trainers (£66). The survey found 37% of parents said watching Wimbledon had inspired their children to pick up a tennis racquet for the first time (PA) Budgets also stretch to travel (£62), club memberships (£59) and equipment (£43). Despite the cost, almost two-thirds of parents (65%) say they place no financial limit on how much they will spend to support their child's sport. However the cost-of-living crisis has also had an impact, with more than half of parents (53%) saying it has limited the number of sports their child can try. More than one in five parents (21%) also admit they regret how much they have spent on sporting activities their children have since given up. The poll also found major events such as Wimbledon have motivated nearly a quarter of children (24%) to try a new sport, with 37% of parents reporting that watching the British tennis tournament inspired their children to pick up a racquet for the first time. Rich Bayer, UK country manager at Clearpay, said: 'Parents are committed to giving their children access to different sports, which inevitably comes with a price tag. 'Ultimately, this investment will hopefully create a generation of people with a lifelong love of sport and active lifestyles.' Opinium surveyed 2,000 parents with children aged between five and 17 between June 13 and 20.
Evening Standard
an hour ago
- Evening Standard
Children's sporting activities cost parents £443 on average a year, survey finds
The poll also found major events such as Wimbledon have motivated nearly a quarter of children (24%) to try a new sport, with 37% of parents reporting that watching the British tennis tournament inspired their children to pick up a racquet for the first time.
