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First Nations and Pasifika team show Wallabies how to stand up to the British and Irish Lions
First Nations and Pasifika team show Wallabies how to stand up to the British and Irish Lions

News.com.au

time25-07-2025

  • Sport
  • News.com.au

First Nations and Pasifika team show Wallabies how to stand up to the British and Irish Lions

Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson says his side has been delivered a 'blueprint' on how to 'dominate' the British and Irish Lions by the First Nations and Pasifika XV. Despite being beaten 24-19 by the Lions on Tuesday night at Marvel Stadium, the First Nations and Pasifika outfit had the tourists on the back foot, mainly through some stinging defence and physicality. Wilson said it was a performance the FNP team should be 'proud' of, and an effort and style that the Wallabies needed to replicated against the Lions at the MCG on Saturday night. Australia, beaten 27-19 by the Lions in Brisbane last Saturday, must win this weekend to keep the three-Test series alive. 'A lot of us were there watching (at Marvel Stadium) and just seeing the way (First Nations and) Pasifika went after them, the line speed, the big hits in defence, it was a great blueprint about how to really try and physically dominate them (the Lions),' Wilson said. 'It was awesome to see those boys. They obviously had a great week together. They connected and then went out there and did a performance which they should be so proud of.' Helping the Wallabies' bid to be more physical than they were at Suncorp Stadium will be the presence of imposing forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who were sidelined last weekend with calf injuries. 'You get a lot of confidence when you have two people with their experience and their presence come into your side … and they're two real leaders in the group, and having them back in such a big match is really exciting for us,' Wilson said. He said fellow back-rower Valetini would be particularly inspired playing in his hometown of Melbourne. ''Bobby' loves playing for Australia. He's missed two games this year, (and) he hasn't missed many over the last five or six years, so he's really excited,' Wilson said. 'He's had a really good week of prep, his body's looking good, and I know he loves playing here in Melbourne, so he'll be fired up.' Playing in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG will also inspire the entire Wallabies squad. 'It's super special. For Australian sport, there's no bigger stadium,' Wilson said. 'You grow up here watching Boxing Day Tests, the AFL grand finals … it's always sold out, packed. 'It doesn't get much better than that, so I guess the feeling of probably running out here in front of 90,000-plus people is truly special, and hopefully we can go out there and put a good performance in.' Wilson said the 'pressure' was on both teams despite it only being a must-win affair for the Wallabies. 'They want to wrap up the series and we want to keep the series alive, so there's no doubting there's a lot on the line for both teams and that's something that really excites you, playing professional sport,' he said.

Wilson's MCG dream finally realised
Wilson's MCG dream finally realised

The Age

time25-07-2025

  • Sport
  • The Age

Wilson's MCG dream finally realised

As far as cricket tragics go in the Wallabies squad, there are none greater than captain Harry Wilson. It is fitting that the man who once belted a 35-ball century at school, grew up playing with three-Test opener Nathan McSweeney, and faced Marnus Labuschagne ahead of a Springboks Test last year, will lead Australia out at the MCG this weekend for the biggest rugby match of his life. Until Wednesday, Wilson had never set foot on the iconic ground. His only memory was a family visit 15 years ago to the ground's museum. But on Saturday, he'll captain the Wallabies in front of more than 90,000 fans, desperate to keep the series alive in a must-win second Test against the British and Irish Lions. 'You grow up watching the Boxing Day Tests and AFL grand finals. They're always sold out and packed. It doesn't get much better than that,' Wilson said on Friday at the Wallabies captain's run. 'The feeling of running out here in front of 90,000 plus people is truly special. Hopefully, we go out there and put in a good performance.' The last time the Wallabies played at the MCG, against the All Blacks in 2023, Wilson wasn't in the squad. Allan Alaalatoa, who captained the side that day, has his own cricket link — named after Australian legend Allan Border. On Friday, Wilson admitted he was still finding his bearings. 'Even just walking out of the change rooms, I had no idea where to go,' Wilson said. 'Walking out on a massive oval like this, you do pinch yourself. It's something we definitely will have to take in and enjoy the moment because you don't always get to play in special venues like this.' When the Wallabies run out, it'll be seven months to the day since Sam Konstas lit up the MCG during the Boxing Day Test with a flurry of ramp shots against Indian pace bowling star Jasprit Bumrah.

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