First Nations & Pasifika XV vs the Lions - Tue, Jul 22 @ 8:00 PM, Melbourne

[Strewthcobber]

Unfortunately our game has an awful record in terms of inclusion. Until it went professional it was virtually segregated, and Indigenous people have long memories. Apart from that, AFL and NRL are widespread in country areas.

Lloyd McDermott was the first Wallaby of the modern era, in 1962. The Ellas were the next.

There's a really interesting historical thread running through rugby union.

Lloyd Mcdermott refused to tour Arpartheid South Africa in 1963 because he wouldn't declare himself an 'honorary white' - (he never played for Australia again). The Wallaby 7 who did tour were so shocked by what they saw that they were driven to be part of the 1971 boycott of the SA tour.

As part of the protests, Wallaby Jim Boyce gave his traded Springbok jerseys to several Aboriginal activists, so they could wear them in response to SA Prime Minister's Vorsters comments that “A black man will never wear the Springbok jersey.”

“It was the perfect opportunity for a bit of political theatre on our part and it proved to be extraordinarily effective. Well the NSW Special Branch of Police who saw us automatically assumed that we'd stolen them, so they grabbed both of us, dragged us inside the motel and paraded the entire South African rugby team in front of us demanding to know which one of them that we'd stolen these football jerseys off. And these South African rugby players were absolutely furious.”

Following that successful protest, some of those activists would then go on to create the tent embassy in Canberra to protest Land Rights

 

[Spamnoodle]

Unfortunately our game has an awful record in terms of inclusion. Until it went professional it was virtually segregated, and Indigenous people have long memories. Apart from that, AFL and NRL are widespread in country areas.

Lloyd McDermott was the first Wallaby of the modern era, in 1962. The Ellas were the next.

Yep, no doubt there is much work to do.
But as the Kev Carmody- Paul Kelly song goes, little things like this can help make things grow.

 

[Tazzmania]

The Western Force are trying to do more in this space:

Article from September 2024:

Indigenous academy offer sees Pietsch taken by Force

An offer to create an Indigenous pathway program at the Western Force has triggered Dylan Pietsch to switch Super Rugby teams next year....

READ MORE

 

[Wilson]

No Pete Samu for this game, Lions have chucked a hissy fit:

Lions block Wallaby from playing in First Nations & Pasifika XV

Three weeks after requesting that Wallabies were released to Super Rugby teams to ensure a competitive buildup, the Lions have blocked Pete Samu from representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV next week.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Rob42]

No Pete Samu for this game, Lions have chucked a hissy fit:

Lions block Wallaby from playing in First Nations & Pasifika XV

Three weeks after requesting that Wallabies were released to Super Rugby teams to ensure a competitive buildup, the Lions have blocked Pete Samu from representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV next week.

www.smh.com.au

Are you kidding me? What a lame approach by the Lions - especially since they're specifically bringing in extra players for the game.

 

[Adam84]

So based the above pettiness from the Lions excluding Samu, and the news of Daugunu, Tupou and Loganimasi joining, I've done a rough lineup below. Takeaways are there's no clear fullback option, i think Muirhead is probably the most suited for this role though.

1. Marley Pearce
2. Brendan Paenga Amosa
3. Mesake Doge
4. Darcy Swain
5. Lukhan Salakai-Loto
6. Seru Uru
7. Charlie Gamble
8. Rob Leota
9. Harrison Goddard
10. Kurtley Beale
11. Triston Reilly
12. Isaac Henry
13. Filipo Daugunu
14. Ponipate Loganimasi
15. Andy Muirhead

16. George Blake
17. Richie Asiata
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Mesake Vocevoce
20. Tuaina Tualima
21. Kalani Thomas
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Lalakai Foketi

 

[Dan54]

Are you kidding me? What a lame approach by the Lions - especially since they're specifically bringing in extra players for the game.

Are they just trying to get publicity or something? This seems real bloody stupid to me, and not going to gain anything surely!

 

[Wilson]

So based the above pettiness from the Lions excluding Samu, and the news of Daugunu, Tupou and Loganimasi joining, I've done a rough lineup below. Takeaways are there's no clear fullback option, i think Muirhead is probably the most suited for this role though.

1. Marley Pearce
2. Brendan Paenga Amosa
3. Mesake Doge
4. Darcy Swain
5. Lukhan Salakai-Loto
6. Seru Uru
7. Charlie Gamble
8. Rob Leota
9. Harrison Goddard
10. Kurtley Beale
11. Triston Reilly
12. Isaac Henry
13. Filipo Daugunu
14. Ponipate Loganimasi
15. Andy Muirhead

16. George Blake
17. Richie Asiata
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Mesake Vocevoce
20. Tuaina Tualima
21. Kalani Thomas
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Lalakai Foketi

Almost certain they'll go Debreczeni staring 10 and Beale at 15. Cover gets a bit trickier, but it's probably Muirhead shifting to cover 15 and Beale or Henry for 10.

 

[Adam84]

yeah likely

 

[VassMan]

Almost certain they'll go Debreczeni staring 10 and Beale at 15. Cover gets a bit trickier, but it's probably Muirhead shifting to cover 15 and Beale or Henry for 10.

Drew Mitchell hinted at KB (Kurtley Beale) playing 10 on the KOKO podcast.

 

[Spamnoodle]

No Pete Samu for this game, Lions have chucked a hissy fit:

Lions block Wallaby from playing in First Nations & Pasifika XV

Three weeks after requesting that Wallabies were released to Super Rugby teams to ensure a competitive buildup, the Lions have blocked Pete Samu from representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV next week.

www.smh.com.au

Since when does a touring team dictate who can and can't be picked for the opposition? It's ludicrous!

 

[The Red Baron]

No Pete Samu for this game, Lions have chucked a hissy fit:

Lions block Wallaby from playing in First Nations & Pasifika XV

Three weeks after requesting that Wallabies were released to Super Rugby teams to ensure a competitive buildup, the Lions have blocked Pete Samu from representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV next week.

www.smh.com.au

Good to see the Lions management doing their best to uphold the belief that northern hemisphere rugby is chock full of bell-ends. That's a pissweak response from Sexton too. Samu played for the invitational XV for fuck's sakes, it's got nothing to do with the pre-agreed tour arrangements.

I hope they get pumped by the First Nations and Pasifika boys.

 

[Caputo]

Good to see the Lions management doing their best to uphold the belief that northern hemisphere rugby is chock full of bell-ends. That's a pissweak response from Sexton too. Samu played for the invitational XV for fuck's sakes, it's got nothing to do with the pre-agreed tour arrangements.

I hope they get pumped by the First Nations and Pasifika boys.

If not then someone Beale/Henry goes Duncan McRae

 

[The Red Baron]

If not then someone Beale/Henry goes Duncan McRae

While I don't openly advocate for violence on a rugby field, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the pasifika boys hit a little harder in this game than they usually would.

 

[Caputo]

While I don't openly advocate for violence on a rugby field, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the pasifika boys hit a little harder in this game than they usually would.

You are right. Mouth engaged without thinking.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Good to see the Lions management doing their best to uphold the belief that northern hemisphere rugby is chock full of bell-ends. That's a pissweak response from Sexton too. Samu played for the invitational XV for fuck's sakes, it's got nothing to do with the pre-agreed tour arrangements.

I hope they get pumped by the First Nations and Pasifika boys.

Play him anyways. What are they going to do about it

 

[The Red Baron]

That's a good question actually. Would the officials prevent him from taking the field? What would actually happen?

 

[Wilson]

That's a good question actually. Would the officials prevent him from taking the field? What would actually happen?

It's unlikely they'd be able to (or would even try to) prevent him taking the field, the issue is it would put RA in breach of contract, and they'd Lions organisation would look to sort it out in court later, with some sort of financial penalty for RA.

Much better to let the Lions play the villain here, they've massively overplayed their hand and even their own fans have started shitting on them for blocking him and the hypocrisy of the decision. The may well have a late change of heart and let him play, but that would be an admission of fault and wouldn't do much to reverse the damage they've done to their own standing.

 

[Strewthcobber]

That's a good question actually. Would the officials prevent him from taking the field? What would actually happen?

The Lions would argue Australia has breached it's agreement with the Lions Tour JV, and presumably could seek compensation.

It would never get to that, but the only regulations around appearing in this game are whatever is in the JV deal

 

[Strewthcobber]

Reports that the Lions have blocked other players from appearing in the game as well, for the same reasons, but Samu was already in camp, in Australia and signed for Super Rugby so RA thought he'd be accepted