James Lowe laughs off Aussie stadium announcer's trolling

Irish Examiner

5 hours ago

IRELAND's James Lowe says he's happy for the Aussie stadium announcer barbs to keep on coming so long as the Lions keep spanking the locals.
Lowe and Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu insisted the British and Irish Lions would 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.
Lowe, 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.
"Our former Aussie at No 14, Mack Hansen," the announcer declared on Saturday in front of a record Force crowd of more than 46,000.
''Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu. At No 11, the Kiwi now Irishman James Lowe, and at prop, the former SA schoolboy now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman."
LOWE BLOW: Lions wing James Lowe takes on Ben Donaldson during Saturday's 54-7 rout of the Western Force in Perth. Pic:Not that it had much of an affect on Ireland's New Zealand-born winger Lowe, who started for the Maori All Blacks against the Lions in 2017.
''Hopefully a few more Kiwis or Saffas play next week and we can keep the same gag going if we keep on getting the same result," the 32-year-old told BBC Sport.
"I've been slagged my whole life, my whole career, it doesn't matter where I go I seem to get slagged so they can say what they want.''
Schmidt apologised and said he was "sloppy" and meant no harm when he called the Lions midfield duo Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu the "southern hemisphere centre partnership".
He was then accused of mind games and pot-stirring by Lions head of performance David Nucifora.
Scotland captain Tuipulotu, who was born in Australia, also brushed aside the trolling, adding: "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."
'Tuipulotu finds feet again and hails world-class Ringrose and Russell'
Added Lowe: ''I knew I'd get a chance to put in a performance and personally I was very happy with how I went," Lowe adds. "I still remember sitting at home with my wife when your name comes up on the TV. To actually be here, feet on the ground in Australia and given the opportunity is a massive privilege.
''The amazing thing about this tour is these games make you hungrier for a Test spot. I'm competing with some world-class wingers in their own right so you've got to put your best forward.
"Obviously we can get better and we will get better over time but it's already something I'll be very proud of for the rest of my days.''
Tuipulotu emphasised the words "good humour" when brushing aside the jibes that he expected on his return Down Under.
"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."
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.
"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."