Latest news with #FilipoDaugunu
The 42
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Wallabies Tupou and Daugunu released for midweek game; NZ and France ring changes
PROP TANIELA TUPOU and winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad on Thursday to bolster a First Nations and Pasifika side to face the British and Irish Lions next week. Both players missed out on selection for the opening Test on Saturday against Andy Farrell's tourists in Brisbane, freeing them up for the clash in Melbourne three days later. They join the likes of Kurtley Beale and Rob Leota in a team hoping to avoid the fate of an under-prepared combined Australia-New Zealand side that was destroyed by the Lions 48-0 last weekend. Four players who turned out for the AUNZ side at Adelaide Oval will back up in Melbourne — Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu and Kalani Thomas. 'Our mindset is more just thinking about ourselves. We're not going to put too much emphasis on the opposition,' head coach Toutai Kefu, who played 60 times for Australia, told reporters earlier in the week. 'We know what they're like. We've seen them. They could be hobbling into our game after the first Test, but we're just focusing on what we have to do.' First Nations and Pasifika squad: Forwards: George Blake, Mesake Doge, Feao Fotuaika, Lington Ieli, Marley Pearce, Richie Asiata, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain, Mesake Vocevoce, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Taniela Tupou Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Harrison Goddard, Kalani Thomas, Kurtley Beale, Jack Debreczeni, David Feliuai, Lalakai Foketi, Isaac Henry, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jarrah McLeod, Andy Muirhead, Kye Oates, Triston Reilly Meanwhile, New Zealand and France overhauled their teams Thursday ahead of a third and final Test which both sides are viewing as a chance to build for the future. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he will 'trust the young fellas' to complete a series sweep after making 10 starting changes for Saturday's match in Hamilton. French counterpart Fabien Galthié unveiled eight starting changes from the side hammered 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington. Advertisement Galthié recalled six players to the starting side who were involved in the tight 31-27 first Test loss in Dunedin but omitted in Wellington. Among them are veteran midfield back Gael Fickou — restored as captain — as well as Leinster's Rabah Slimani and impressive back-row forwards Mickael Guillard and Alexandre Fischer. Leinster's Rabah Slimani with the URC trophy. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Joshua Brennan, son of former Toulouse and Ireland player Trevor Brennan, starts at eight. Galthié chose to leave most of his first-choice personnel at home, travelling with a tour party featuring 22 uncapped players and numerous fringe Test contenders. 'This is the best possible team,' he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test. 'It's a difficult time for the team, we hear what's being said. It's part of the game but our determination is redoubled.' Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthié's 23-man match-day squad in Hamilton making his first appearance of the tour. Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and wing Theo Attissogbe will have started in all three Tests while seven players won't have taken to the playing field at all. Robertson stayed true to his pre-series pledge to give game time to all of his squad's players, with hooker Brodie McAlister poised to make his Test debut from the bench and fullback Ruben Love running out for a first start. Love and McAlister are among eight players in the 23 who played no part in the first two Tests Only wing Rieko Ioane is retained from last week's starting back line, with Robertson keen to assess a host of new faces as he builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. 'When the chances come up, you can't not play them, you've got to get them out there,' Robertson said. 'It's the ability to trust the young fellas, set them up to be successful and off you go.' Robertson took comfort that three of the promoted starting players — prop Tyrel Lomax, fly-half Damian McKenzie and midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown — have all played more than 50 Tests. McKenzie replaces 136-Test veteran Beauden Barrett, who suffered a hand injury at training which requires a scan. Ardie Savea is captain for a second straight match in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who injured a calf muscle in the first Test. New Zealand: (15-9): Ruben Love; Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima. (1-8): Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Tyrel Lomax; Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland; Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson. Replacements: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papali'i, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Noah Hotham, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Will Jordan. France: (15-9): Leo Barre; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou (capt), Gabin Villiere; Antoine Hastoy, Nolann Le Garrec. (1-8): Baptiste Erdocio, Pierre Bourgarit, Rabah Slimani; Hugo Auradou, Matthias Halagahu; Alexandre Fischer, Mickael Guillard, Joshua Brennan. Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Paul Mallez, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Killian Tixeront, Pierre Bochaton, Thibault Daubagna, Emilien Gailleton. – © AFP 2025
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies Tupou, Daugunu added to Pasifika squad for Lions clash
Hulking prop Taniela Tupou and winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad Thursday to bolster a First Nations and Pasifika side to face the British and Irish Lions next week. Both players missed out on selection for the opening Test on Saturday against Andy Farrell's tourists in Brisbane, freeing them up for the clash in Melbourne three days later. They join the likes of Kurtley Beale and Rob Leota in a team hoping to avoid the fate of an under-prepared combined Australia-New Zealand side that was destroyed by the Lions 48-0 last weekend. Four players who turned out for the AUNZ side at Adelaide Oval will back up in Melbourne -- Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu and Kalani Thomas. "Our mindset is more just thinking about ourselves. We're not going to put too much emphasis on the opposition," head coach Toutai Kefu, who played 60 times for Australia, told reporters earlier in the week. "We know what they're like. We've seen them. They could be hobbling into our game after the first Test, but we're just focusing on what we have to do." First Nations and Pasifika squad: Forwards: George Blake, Mesake Doge, Feao Fotuaika, Lington Ieli, Marley Pearce, Richie Asiata, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain, Mesake Vocevoce, Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Taniela Tupou Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Harrison Goddard, Kalani Thomas, Kurtley Beale, Jack Debreczeni, David Feliuai, Lalakai Foketi, Isaac Henry, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jarrah McLeod, Andy Muirhead, Kye Oates, Triston Reilly mp/dh
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Red's historic four-try half dents Drua on finals eve
A historic four-try first half from winger Lachie Anderson ensured no hiccups for the Queensland Reds against the Fijian Drua in a soggy Super Rugby Pacific finals warm-up. Anderson scored three times inside 10 minutes while the Drua were a man down in the first half, then added another before the main break to set a new mark for the Reds in a 52-5 Saturday win. He's only the third Australian to score four tries in a Super Rugby game, after Joe Roff in 1996 and Drew Mitchell in 2010. The man is UNSTOPPABLE 🥵What a performance from Lachie Anderson!#SuperRugbyPacific #REDvDRU — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 31, 2025 Most were handed to Anderson on a platter, especially a neat cross-field kick from clinical flyhalf Tom Lynagh for his fourth. But the haul was just reward for a fine season from the former rugby sevens and Melbourne Rebels recruit. Anderson did his best to keep his starting berth for Friday's sudden death quarterfinal in Christchurch against the Crusaders, a match-up that had already been locked in before the fifth-placed Reds took the field on Saturday. Test centre Josh Flook also scored in his confident return from a long-term hamstring injury, but the red-hot Filipo Daugunu will surely start in the centres or on a wing next week after coming off the bench on Saturday night and scoring a late try. Joe Brial completed the rout with a try on the full-time siren. There were concerns for Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson though, who returned from a fractured arm last week but left the field later in the second half on Saturday seemingly in pain. The Suva-based Drua won four games on home soil, including their clash with the Reds, but weren't able to muster a victory on the road as they finished second-last in their fourth campaign. They had themselves to blame after an encouraging start, with Iosefa Masi yellow carded for up-ending Jock Campbell in the ruck and then Etonia Waqa binned in the second half for taking out Tim Ryan's legs in the air. Haereiti Hetet scored their sole try while hooker Tevita Ikanivere, in his 50th game for the fledgling Drua, was denied from a trick play from the lineout. He charged through two would-be tacklers only to be sent into touch by a flying Lynagh, who again showed defensive grit to go with offensive flourish.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Why Wallabies star spurned overseas move to remain for World Cup
There was a moment when Wallabies star Filipo Daugunu sensed his time to experience an overseas adventure was nigh, as he contemplated taking his talents to France and exposing himself to a new brand of rugby. But those visions have been put on the backburner until at least the end of 2027. Now the 30-year-old outside back hopes to don the gold jumper for this year's British and Irish Lions series, and contest the World Cup on home soil, signing a two-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds. 'The baby's on the way in two months' time, my wife is happy to stay too and that was one of the reasons for me to stay in Australia,' Daugunu said. 'Brisbane is like home for me, so with the baby on the way, for her to be born here, I'm happy and can't wait. Loading 'That was one of the reasons for me to stay, for her to be born here and not in France.' Daugunu's retention continues a strong week of signings at Ballymore, with forward Joe Brial – who has been filling the void left by the injured Harry Wilson (arm) – signing for 2026. Daugunu told this masthead before the Super Rugby season launched his decision on where he signed long-term would come down to how highly he was considered in the Wallabies' fold.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Wallabies star spurned overseas move to remain for World Cup
There was a moment when Wallabies star Filipo Daugunu sensed his time to experience an overseas adventure was nigh, as he contemplated taking his talents to France and exposing himself to a new brand of rugby. But those visions have been put on the backburner until at least the end of 2027. Now the 30-year-old outside back hopes to don the gold jumper for this year's British and Irish Lions series, and contest the World Cup on home soil, signing a two-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds. 'The baby's on the way in two months' time, my wife is happy to stay too and that was one of the reasons for me to stay in Australia,' Daugunu said. 'Brisbane is like home for me, so with the baby on the way, for her to be born here, I'm happy and can't wait. Loading 'That was one of the reasons for me to stay, for her to be born here and not in France.' Daugunu's retention continues a strong week of signings at Ballymore, with forward Joe Brial – who has been filling the void left by the injured Harry Wilson (arm) – signing for 2026. Daugunu told this masthead before the Super Rugby season launched his decision on where he signed long-term would come down to how highly he was considered in the Wallabies' fold.
