Latest news with #FNP
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
First Nations and Pasifika Invitational side provides blueprint for Wallabies
If the Wallabies do lose the match, questions will need to be asked about how a hastily-assembled First Nations and Pasifika Invitational side could rattle the Lions, losing a 24-19 nailbiter, when Joe Schmidt's Test side couldn't. Schmidt has had over a year to prepare his squad so there are no excuses for not delivering when a team packed with players he discarded almost pulled off by showing a bit of ticker and bashing their opponents. The inquisitions can wait because for now, the most urgent conundrum facing the Wallabies is whether they are tough enough and brave enough to stand toe to toe with the Lions after they didn't answer the bell in last weekend's series opener in Brisbane. There were some mitigating circumstances – they missing some key players and were undercooked after playing just one lead-up match – but there's no cop outs this time. When you take away the smoke and mirrors, rugby remains a simple game that rewards courage as much as skill and the Wallabies need to be prepared to put their bodies on the line the way the FNP did. 'You need to take it to them, like head on,' the FNP captain Kurtley Beale said. 'There were patches there where we had the momentum and the Lions were kind of taking a backward step. 'These boys, they love physicality and playing rugby, and you need that physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off.' Beale's own frustration is different to many of the other FNP players who Schmidt shunned because he played in the Lions' last Test series in Australia. At 36, Beale was never in the frame to play a Test this time but a lot of his teammates were and that annoys him. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has more reason than most to feel duped because he's played three warm-up games against the Lions and caused them no end of trouble each time. Driven in part by his desire to prove the national selectors wrong, he's done more than anyone else to expose fault lines in the Lions with his powerful ball running and wrecking-ball defence. 'We play a combative game and there's going to be times when you dip in and out of the physical battle,' he said. 'There are times when we lost the battle. I got bashed a few times. 'But that comes natural to us, the physicality. We love those conditions. I think we put in a performance that we should be proud of.' Flanker Charlie Gamble, who was named man of the match despite being on the losing side, said the state and invitational sides had already shown the Lions were not unbeatable so it was now up to the Wallabies to finish the job. 'The Tahs and the Brumbies really showed that if you shut time and space down with their team that they create errors,' he said. 'They're not superhuman. They make errors and we showed that physically. 'It's in our First Nations and Pacific culture. We showed that if you can obviously put a couple bodies in there and hurt them a little bit, it definitely rattled them. 'I think the Wallabies can take a bit of that.' Gamble was another player unwanted by the Wallabies but ready to step up anytime, if he ever got the call from Schmidt. 'I won't stay awake,' he said. 'I'm always ready when it happens, if it happens. If it never happens, it is what it is … maybe one day, we'll see. 'If I do get an opportunity, then I'm just going to have to take it. It might never happen, but let's keep myself fit and see what happens.' Rugby Union The man at the centre of the most controversial call in Wallabies vs Lions history has admitted he was nervous of being penalised after watching a replay of his cleanout on Carlo Tizzano. Rugby Union Having blown an unassailable lead and the series against the Lions, the Wallabies now face a brutal reality check about their failing tactical approach, writes Julian Linden.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
FNPʼs new Raksha Bandhan film melds AI with emotion
FNP ( Ferns N Petals ), Indiaʼs gifting brand, has launched a first-of-its-kind Rakhi brand film created entirely using AI. Continuing the brandʼs thought 'Door ho ya paas, Rakhi banayein khaasˮ, the campaign captures the unshakable sibling bond in todayʼs globalised world — where sisters in Delhi can still surprise brothers in Dublin. Conceptualised with the agency Teen Bandar and voiced by Piyush Mishra, the 30-second film traces a heartwarming journey of brothers across continents receiving FNP Rakhi gifts — each becoming joyful on having their festivities made special. All visuals have been AI-generated with no physical shoot, portraying cross-continent setups with striking realism. What makes this effort truly innovative is the use of personalisation — with versions of the film that dynamically include the sender's or siblingʼs name in the voiceover, making each viewing feel intimate, tailored and deeply emotional, the press note shared with ETBrandEquity stated. Avi Kumar, chief marketing officer, FNP, said, 'With fiamilies more global than ever, we wanted to show that distance doesnʼt weaken the bond— especially on Rakhi. By using AI, weʼve reimagined how we tell this story while staying rooted in our core promise: delivering not just gifits, but emotions, on time and across the world. Itʼs a firesh fiormat, but the heart remains the same.ˮ Savio Joseph, co-founder, Teen Bandar, added, 'Partnering with FNP again was a joy. This time, we used AI to reinfiorce their global promise and bring alive a simple insight — that even across borders, a Rakhi can still fieel personal.ˮ Watch the video here:
Sydney Morning Herald
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
British and Irish Lions 2025: Kurtley Beale's advice to Wallabies after First Nations and Pasifika side almost produced historic upset
Kefu said the week was a joyous one of bringing many cultures together, and understanding the different – and shared – backgrounds. But he also said the team had been motivated by the treatment of Samu, who was selected for the team and trained early on, but had to withdraw after the Lions used their veto power to oppose him playing. Garry Ringrose of the British & Irish Lions charges upfield. Credit: Getty Images The agreement struck between RA and the Lions was Super Rugby players would be used in the FNP squad, and the Lions argued Samu didn't qualify given he has just returned from Bordeaux. RA argued Samu qualified given he has since joined the Waratahs. Samu, who has Tongan heritage and was raised in Melbourne, stayed with the squad and ran water last night at Marvel. A section of the crowd had Samu face masks. 'Pete was originally down to play number eight and he'd already trained a few sessions with us, so to see the way he was displaced, I think was pretty poor,' Kefu said. Pete Samu wearing the First Nations & Pasifika team kit. Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia 'Pete was fantastic, he got on with it, he was keen to hang around and help the boys prepare and the boys really felt for him.' Kefu said Samu would have a big difference to the strength of the FNP side. 'The young kid (Tuaina Taii Tualima) that took his spot, he's got a big future, but Pete Samu is an experienced campaigner,' Kefu said. 'He's hungry and motivated to get back into the Wallaby jersey. He would have been great for us.' Loading Asked if he felt disrespected by the Lions over the Samu situation, Kefu said it was a backhanded compliment. 'I think more respected because they didn't want him to play. So removing him would certainly de-power our team, so I thought they had a high level of respect for him.' Lions coach Andy Farrell, who had previously washed his hands of the Samu veto, said the side had expected an emotional response from the FNP team. 'Do you know what, it's all well and good talking that type of situation up but when the whistle goes, you're just into it and that's what you'd expect from those guys,' he said. 'They're passionate people, proud of who they're representing and they were certainly a handful, physically this evening so again, fair play to them.' Kefu said he would find a place for Salakaia-Loto and Taniela Tupou in the Wallabies squad after their powerhouse performances. All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Take it to them, head on': Veteran's advice to Wallabies after almost shocking Lions
Kurtley Beale said he hoped the Wallabies will be inspired by the combative tactics of the First Nations and Pasifika side in their narrow 24-19 loss to the Lions at Marvel Stadium, saying the way to beat the touring side is to 'take it to them, head on'. Beale's comments came as FNP coach Toutai Kefu said the side were motivated by the Lions vetoing the selection of Pete Samu, which Kefu labelled 'pretty poor' and he went on to say the former Wallaby back-rower would have made a potentially winning difference to the invitational side. The FNP team turned in an inspiring performance after being widely written off, and with most pundits and bookies expecting them to get beaten by a cricket score. But with just a week's training, the Kefu-coached team came within a whisker of handing the Lions their first loss of the tour. The FNP team trailed, and came back twice, in the first and second halves to get within a converted try of a victory, but ran out of time. The performance was inspired by an aggressive, in-your-face physicality by the FNP squad – led Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Charlie Gamble – which hugely unsettled the Lions. Asked post-game if that was the blueprint for the Wallabies to beat the Lions at the MCG on Saturday, Beale said: 'I think so; you need to take it to them, head on. There were some patches there where we had the momentum and the Lions were taking a back-foot step. 'It created opportunities for us. The boys, they love the physicality. I think playing rugby, you need physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off, and they bring that.' Beale was asked if he believed the Wallabies would have been inspired, and said: 'I hope so.'
Leader Live
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
British and Irish Lions lock Joe McCarthy in race to be fit for second Test
McCarthy limped off in the 27-19 triumph over the Wallabies in the first Test with the foot condition plantar fasciitis and has been unable to train since, making him a major doubt to be involved in the rematch at Melbourne Cricket Ground. With Thursday's training session before Andy Farrell names his team being the final opportunity to prove his fitness, the Ireland enforcer looks likely to miss out. Potentially signposting an adjustment to the pack to face Australia in the second Test, James Ryan and Jac Morgan were replaced early in the second half of Tuesday's 24-19 victory over the First Nations and Pasifika XV. If McCarthy is ruled out, Ollie Chessum could be drafted into the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje, creating a vacancy on the bench, while another option is to move Tadhg Beirne from flanker to lock. Should repositioning Beirne be Farrell's preferred choice, Morgan becomes a contender to make the matchday 23. Given the Lions bullied the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium, unenforced changes to the pack are unlikely. Of the four possible options to step in, two are injured and one has been repeatedly exposed in defence, with only the fourth offering Farrell room for manoeuvre. Mack Hansen missed the first Test because of a foot problem and has yet to train this week, placing his involvement on Saturday in grave doubt, while Darcy Graham is waiting for scan results after sustaining ankle ligament damage early in his Lions debut against FNP. Duhan van der Merwe, who was fortunate to be selected ahead of Graham in the original touring party, has been targeted by kickers all tour and his defensively frailties would be exploited by the Wallabies. The ace up Farrell's sleeve is Scotland's Blair Kinghorn, who made his comeback from a knee injury at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday and apart from throwing two intercept passes, proved himself ready for Test duty. Nominally a full-back, he is also a high quality option on the wing, the position he has filled most recently for his club Toulouse this season. Owen Farrell showed he is ready for a call-up to the bench in Melbourne if needed with a solid 80 minutes against FNP, Marcus Smith passed a head injury assessment and Garry Ringrose made a successful first appearance since being concussed against ACT Brumbies. In the midst of a schedule of three games in eight days, players have been given Wednesday off, but Farrell and his coaching assistants are to meet to finalise selection. A post shared by The British & Irish Lions (@britishandirishlions) 'I let everyone have their say, I play devil's advocate, we thrash it out and then we all agree,' Farrell said. 'There is all sorts that goes into it – performances, there's no doubt about that – but there is also what's right for this second game? Are a few changes going to freshen it up or do we go with the same guys? 'All that comes into the pot. It's whatever is best for the team and what do we need for a game at the MCG with over 90,000 people. It should be challenging.'
