The snub fuelling First Nations and Pasifika team in battle with Lions
Two weeks after starring for the Waratahs against the Lions in Sydney, breakaway Charlie Gamble will not be short of motivation when he faces the tourists again for the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Gamble was looking forward to packing down alongside his new NSW teammate Pete Samu, but the Lions have blocked the Wallaby from representing the invitational side on the grounds that he did not play Super Rugby this season. Samu signed for the Waratahs in May after starring for Bordeaux in France for the past two seasons.
Samu, who has been in camp with the First Nations and Pasifika XV squad, was given the option of returning to his family, but instead stayed to help the team prepare for the Lions clash.
“Obviously, I’m pretty disappointed that he’s not been allowed to play with us, and I know he’s very disappointed,” Gamble said. “We all want to be able to represent our families and our culture, and that’s definitely something he would have wanted to do.
“But it shows his personality to want to stick around with the boys to help us prepare, given the experience that he’s obviously bringing in after doing really well with Bordeaux. Just to have him around camp, it really lifts the spirits and brings a bit of confidence for the boys.”
The First Nations and Pasifika squad is coached by Wallabies great Toutai Kefu and assisted by Glen Ella and Tana Umaga.
Wallaby Pete Samu has been blocked from representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV by the LionsCredit: Getty
Gamble, whose mother hails from the small Tongan town of Neiafu, says each member of the squad has been encouraged to talk about their heritage and journey to professional rugby during the week.
“I’ve played against a lot of these boys, but haven’t gone to that deep level where you find out where their mum and dad have come from, or what their journey has been like growing up, and some of the struggles that they’ve gone through to be able to get to this position,” Gamble said.
“We all had similar stories. We didn’t come from the most wealthy backgrounds, and our parents did as much as they could to put each of us in a position where we could excel in our life ... so in that sense, we definitely connected a lot.”
The odds are stacked against the First Nations and Pasifika side due to their limited preparation together and given the ruthless manner in which the Lions took apart the more vaunted AUNZ side.
Kurtley Beale during the First Nations & Pasifika captain’s run.Credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, star prop Taniela Tupou said he is “at peace” if the Marvel Stadium clash is his last game in Australia.
Tupou, who was released from the Wallabies camp to play for the First Nations and Pasifika team, has signed a two-year deal to play for Racing 92 in France at the end of his current contract.
There is strong speculation Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt won’t call on overseas-bound players for the Rugby Championship, and there would then be no certainty around Tupou’s involvement in the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
“Look, I’m here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens,” Tupou said of his Test future.
Taniela Tupou runs with the ball during the First Nations & Pasifika captain’s run.Credit: Getty Images
“So if I’m back, I’m back and if not, I’m living life, I’m enjoying it. Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I’m at peace with it.”
The Lions, who named a strong team with Owen Farrell as captain, have spoken about going undefeated on their tour of Australia. But they’ve also called in five players just to play in this fixture, to protect Test stars.
Asked if the First Nations and Pasifika players felt like they being underestimated, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa said: “We know that, we know that very well, we know that they’re not really focused on us, and that’s okay.
“I guess we don’t really want to talk about it too much, we just want to show them what we’re made of and what we can do - what we’ve got essentially,” he said.
Paenga-Amosa said the side would need more than a free-flowing Barbarians-style approach to beat the Lions.
Gamble and his teammates watched the AUNZ team’s 48-point defeat in Adelaide and are motivated to put in a superior performance to create a legacy for the First Nations and Pasifika squad that could follow them on the Lions next tour of Australia.
“We’re not going out there just to make numbers up, he said. “You go to every game and you’re wanting to win, because otherwise, what’s the point? What’s the point of even taking the field?”
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.