Dual international Lote Tuqiri says rugby officials have erred by leaving Zac Lomax out of Australia A’s side to play the United States and believes fellow code-hopper Mark Nawaqanitawase has shown courage by considering a switch to Italy or Fiji for the World Cup.
asserted
Nawaqanitawase → say → Cup
“I like the fact he’s got the balls to stand on 10 toes and do what he’s doing,” Tuqiri said of Nawaqanitawase.
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Tuqiri → like → Nawaqanitawase
If anyone knows how Nawaqanitawase is feeling, it’s Tuqiri.
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it → know → ?
Tuqiri played three Tests for Fiji in 2000, before switching allegiances to the Kangaroos.
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Tuqiri → play → Kangaroos
And after a successful stint in rugby union finished in 2009, the winger played another four Tests for the Kangaroos in 2010 before returning to Fiji in 2014.
“There’s a calling for it,” he said.
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he → finish → it
“I know it’s hard to fathom when you’ve played in a different jersey.
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you → know → jersey
It’s more so the pride it gives you; it makes you puff out your chest.
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you → ’ → chest
“Whether it’s now, whether it’s down the track, it’s going to happen.”
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it → ’ → track
Nawaqanitawase’s decision not to immediately pledge his allegiance to the Wallabies has caused a stir, including among former players.
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decision → pledge → players
“As a proud Wallaby and a proud Australian, I want people that want to play for our country to play for our country,” 103-Test Wallaby Matt Giteau said on the KOKO podcast.
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Giteau → want → podcast
Tuqiri said he understood the mixed sentiment toward Nawaqanitawase’s decision to not yet reveal his intentions.
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he → say → intentions
“He hasn’t made up his mind yet, has he?
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he → make → mind
He should be given the time to do that,” Tuqiri said.
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Tuqiri → give → that
Although Rugby Australia are keen on selecting him for the Wallabies, former coach Joe Schmidt didn’t pick him in mid-2024 after he signed with the Sydney Roosters.
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he → select → Roosters
Nawaqanitawase was eventually selected for Australia’s Olympic Sevens side, but the earlier decision to leave him out caused a stir.
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decision → select → stir
Meanwhile, NRL boss Peter V’landys has showered Nawaqanitawase with praise, making it clear he wants to lure him back after his two-year deal with the Wild Knights in Japan.
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he → shower → Japan
Tuqiri said he thought Rugby Australia needed to do more to put their arms around players, even when players chose to leave Super Rugby.
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players → say → Rugby
“I don’t think we do enough,” he said.
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he → think → enough
“I reckon he’s probably got a bad taste in his mouth from the last time he put on the rugby jersey.
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he → reckon → jersey
I couldn’t believe when he wasn’t getting picked for the Tahs.
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he → believe → Tahs
I know he was young, but I was gobsmacked that he wasn’t in the 23 at times.”
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he → know → times
With Nawaqanitawase’s Wallabies future not clear, Tuqiri said he was surprised former NSW Blues Origin flyer Lomax wasn’t more in the frame for the Wallabies.
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Lomax → say → Wallabies
“You’d think you’d give him a crack,” Tuqiri said.
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Tuqiri → think → crack
Lomax, who will join the PNG Chiefs in 2028, was a late addition to the Australia A squad last week but wasn’t picked for the first of two matches starting in Nashville on Sunday against the Eagles.
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who → join → Eagles
Instead, Stephen Larkham selected Wallaby Dylan Pietsch and rising Queenslander flyer Tim Ryan on the wing.
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Larkham → select → wing
Lomax scored twice for the Force across seven matches for the Super Rugby side, but a groin issue kept him out of the frame for the home international season.
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issue → score → season
Tuqiri said he had been impressed by Lomax’s initial move into the XV-man game and couldn’t understand why he wasn’t starting for Australia A.
“You can’t give away Test jerseys, but Australia A is a mechanism to test players out,” he said.
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he → say → players
“It’s a development team and this guy’s a part of your development.
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guy → ’ → development
“And as every athlete knows, you learn the most on the field, not training.
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you → know → field
It’s the wins and losses and how you navigate yourself on game day.
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you → ’ → day
“I think you start him on the wing.
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you → think → wing
I don’t think you do a Suaalii (Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii) and put him in 13 or whatever.
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you → think → 13
“You’ve only got him for 12 months.
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You → get → months
We’ve got to pick your best team and you’ve got to give him a chance to put his hand up because you know what he can offer.”
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he → get → what
Meanwhile, Australia A prop Tom Robertson said the touring party was enjoying the “once in a lifetime opportunity” to play in Nashville, but were eager to impress to push for Test selection, especially with the World Cup less than 12 months away.
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party → say → Cup
“It definitely adds another layer of importance and meaning to the tour,” he said.
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he → add → tour
The USA will host the 2031 World Cup and World Rugby is intent on bringing as many games to the continent as possible to build momentum.
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Rugby → host → momentum
Asked whether their arrival had been recognised by locals, Robertson, the 39-Test Wallaby, said they had been copping plenty of questions around protection equipment.
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they → ask → equipment
They either say rugby or wrestling when you get in the elevators and going down the streets,” he said.
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he → say → streets
“Normally there’s a bit of laughter when you tell them it’s rugby not wrestling.
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it → ’ → them
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
