Back to news
Wallabies Tupou and Daugunu released for midweek game; NZ and France ring changes
@Source: the42.ie
Advertisement
League of Ireland
Horse Racing
TV Listings
GAA Fixtures
The Video Review
Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture
Rugby Weekly Extra
Dive into all the news and analysis 3 times a week
The Football Family
Weekly insights from the week’s big talking points
Advertisement
More Stories
Taniela Tupou and Tadhg Furlong after the Waratahs faced the Lions.Billy Stickland/INPHO
Wallabies Tupou and Daugunu released for midweek game; NZ and France ring changes
Rabah Slimani and Joshua Brennan will start for Les Bleus in Hamilton.
10.22am, 17 Jul 2025
Share options
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
Viewcomments
Send Tip or Correction
Embed this post
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Email “Wallabies Tupou and Daugunu released for midweek game; NZ and France ring changes”.
Recipient's Email
Feedback on “Wallabies Tupou and Daugunu released for midweek game; NZ and France ring changes”.
Your Feedback
Your Email (optional)
Report a Comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment.
Please give full details of the problem with the comment...
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
before taking part.
Leave a Comment
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel.
Racism or Hate speech
An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs.
Trolling or Off-topic
An attempt to derail the discussion.
Inappropriate language
Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs.
Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts.
Please provide additional information
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
Leave a commentcancel
Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user
View our policy
⚠️ Duplicate comment
Post Comment
have your say
Or create a free account to join the discussion
News in 60 seconds
Freeoff we go
Pádraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
FreePodcastThe 42 GAA Weekly
Hurling's great rivalry reaches final destination: All-Ireland final preview
Leinster remove stars from badge on new home and alternate jerseys
FreeSummer League
CJ Fulton makes Irish basketball history as he features for NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves
FreeFarewell
Kieran Donaghy steps away from Armagh setup after 'five incredible years'
Van der Flier unlucky to miss out as Lions pick Curry at 7
Murray Kinsella
Reports from Brisbane
FreeCONFIRMED
Farrell includes eight Irish players in Lions team for first Test
As it happened
Linfield v Shelbourne, Champions League
FreeCONFIRMED
Farrell includes eight Irish players in Lions team for first Test
End of an era
Two-time Kerry All-Ireland winner Tommy Walsh retires from Gaelic Football
Tour de France
'I’ve lost a few years of life today': Ben Healy retains Tour de France yellow jersey
more from us
Investigates
Daft.ie Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
TG4 Entertainment Magazine
Money Diaries
The Journal TV
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
About FactCheck
Our Network
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
more from us
TV Listings
GAA Fixtures
The Video Review
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
Our Network
The Journal
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
© 2025 Journal Media Ltd
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
Switch to Desktop
Switch to Mobile
The 42 supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie
Report an error, omission or problem:
Your Email (optional)
Create Email Alert
Create an email alert based on the current article
Email Address
One email every morning
As soon as new articles come online
Sign in or create
a free account
To continue reading create a free account
Or sign into an existing account
Related News
23 Jun, 2025
CCTV footage shows explosion at Tehran's . . .
21 Jul, 2025
Palestinian Foreign Ministry Welcomes In . . .
20 Jun, 2025
How to watch England vs India: TV channe . . .
20 Jul, 2025
Gaza's deadliest day of war for Palestin . . .
22 Mar, 2025
Armed robbers ransack new Olympic presid . . .
19 Jun, 2025
Parma name Arsenal assistant coach Cuest . . .
14 Mar, 2025
ANSA 2024 nominees revealed
25 Jul, 2025
The 5 at 5: Friday