Pete Samu snub fuel to the fire for First Nations Pasifika in historic clash with British & Irish Lions

The players won’t talk about it, but the Lions’ decision to block Pete Samu from representing First Nations Pasifika will add plenty fuel to the fire when they clash on Tuesday night.

Already denied the use of one of their best players then presented with a weakened opponent missing its stars, the First Nations Pasifika rugby team has all the motivation it needs to stick it to the British & Irish Lions when they lock horns in Melbourne on Tuesday.

With the match scheduled between the first and second Tests against the Wallabies, the Lions’ best players will watch the game from the stands, giving their second-stringers a hit out.

That has come as no surprise to the First Nations Pasifika players, who are used to being treated as easybeats by the Home Nations, but it has given them some extra incentive.

“We know that. We know they’re not really focused on us, and that’s okay,” First Nations Pasifika hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa said.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa during the First Nations & Pasifika captain's run. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t really want to talk about it too much. We just want to show them that we’ve made all we can do and all we’ve got, essentially.”

The Lions had already infuriated the First Nations Pasifika players by blocking the selection of newly signed Waratahs recruit Pete Samu because he hadn’t played in Super Rugby this season.

Samu had played against the Lions with the AUNZ Invitational team in Adelaide but the petty decision to exclude him from Tuesday’s game has not been well received.

In a show of solidarity, Samu has remained with the team to help them train, which Paenga-Amosa said showed how seriously the locals were treating the fixture.

“It just shows the connection in this team,” he said.

“And also how good the food is and how good the kava tastes.

“We are quite close, this group, on field and off field, so we’ve been having a lot of fun this week so I bet that’s why Peter hung around.”

Pete Samu played for the AUNZ XV but was blocked from representing the First Nations Pasifika side. Picture: Getty Images

Paenga-Amosa also knows how big a challenge his makeshift side faces against the Lions but said his players were ready to give it everything to represent their cultures, but without resorting to reckless rugby.

“For us it’s a special occasion. We get to show who we are,” he said.

“There’s quite a bit of emotion that’s going into it. Obviously we don’t want to buy into too much of it but I think emotion can be a good thing.

“It’s tough, it’s not easy, but it is special, and there’s going to be high emotions, but what I’ve learned is just to have a crack.

“We know that the Lions are a very good team, well-drilled squads so I think it’s going to take a bit more than Barbarian’s mindset or Barbarians style footy to beat these guys.”

The First Nations Pasifika side will be captained by Kurtley Beale, who played for the Wallabies against the Lions in 2013, while prop Taniela Tupou was a late addition after missing selection for last weekend’s first Test.

Tupou has signed to play club rugby in France next year so is unsure whether this will be last professional match in Australia.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” he said.

“I might have, might have not played my last game.

“Hopefully I will play again, if not, then I’ll appreciate it.”

Originally published as Pete Samu snub fuel to the fire for First Nations Pasifika in historic clash with British & Irish Lions