‘It’s the Australian way’: Touring Lions shrug off heritage jibes

The British and Irish Lions say they’re not miffed about being trolled by a ground announcer in Perth over the Southern Hemisphere-raised players in their touring squad, acknowledging that Australians love to “wind people up”.

The issue of Lions coach Andy Farrell selecting eight players who were raised in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - but now play for a Home Nations team - became thorny when several ex-Lions stars criticised the picks, and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt then flippantly referred to Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as a “southern hemisphere partnership”.

Ahead of the Lions clash with the Force at Optus Stadium on Saturday, the ground announcer pointed out the heritage of “our former Aussie, Mack Hansen”; “another former Aussie, Sione Tuipulotu” and “the Kiwi, now Irishman, James Lowe”. “Former SA schoolboy, now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman” was also mentioned.

It prompted another round of headlines in the UK, but Lions players say they’re not fazed.

“It’s the Australian way, isn’t it?” Lions captain Maro Itoje said. “It is what it is. That’s not even an issue. That’s a minor comment and something that we don’t really pay too much attention to. It neither spurs us on nor detracts us.”

Lowe and Tuipulotu said post-game they were used to the criticism about switching national allegiances, and Kiwi-raised halfback Jamison Gibson-Park had a similar take when asked on Monday if he was irked by the sledging.

Sione Tuipulotu played for the Junior Wallabies before moving to Scotland.Credit: Getty Images

“I don’t really care, man, honestly. I’m used to it at this stage, I’ve had a fair amount of it over my years with Ireland, so it is what it is, everybody’s entitled to their opinion and it’s fine,” Gibson-Park said.

“Aussies like to wind people up, it’s part of their background. It doesn’t bother me, honestly.”

Queensland coach Les Kiss, who was a long-serving defence coach with Ireland, said he didn’t expect the ground announcer to keep up the same routine at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, but said there may be some banter in the crowd.

“I’m not sure if anyone in an official capacity is going hard, that’s for sure,” Kiss said.

“Maybe at the Caxton after the game, come and join us, and we’ll see what we’re saying then.

“Look, I’ve coached a number of those boys that came across, Finlay Bealham when he was there early. And it’s not a light-hearted or an easy thing they do, it’s an opportunity, and that opportunity blossoms into what it does for Mack Hansen, Bundee, good on them, I reckon.

“This is a global game, and if you get opportunities in different ways, why not? But look, I think a lot of it’s tongue-in-cheek and having a bit of fun, and I think that’ll continue, as you say, with the way that the Aussies like to use our humour. I think most English, Welsh, Scots and Irish, they get it as well.”

Gibson-Park, who has returned from a glute injury that kept him out of the United Rugby Championship final for Leinster, said he was looking forward to playing alongside Russell, the freakish Scottish talent with the capacity to cut open opposition defence with a run, a pass or a kick.

“He plays a game with a smile on his face, doesn’t he?” Gibson-Park said. “

“It’s refreshing to see sometimes, but you guys don’t see him in the meeting rooms as well, so there is a serious side to him.

“But yeah, when he’s out there playing ball, it’s impressive to watch.”