Sione Tuipulotu addresses ‘the elephant in the room’ after four Lions trolled by stadium PA announcer in Perth
Lions' Sione Tuipulotu heads into contact against the Western Force
Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu has given his verdict on the trolling he received from the stadium announcer in Perth before the start of Saturday’s British and Irish Lions win over Western Force.
There has been plenty of commentary surrounding Andy Farrell’s decision to include eight players – including Tuipulotu – in his squad of 38 who were born and raised in either South Africa, Australia or New Zealand.
South African pair Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, Aussie trio Tuipulotu, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham and New Zealanders James Lowe, Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park are all qualified for their home unions through residency or family lineage.
Recently retired England scrum-half Danny Care claimed that “it doesn’t sit well with him, and legendary Lions skipper Willie John McBride added that he was “bothered” by the selection.
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt then stoked the debate further with his description of Aki and Tuipulotu as a “southern hemisphere centre partnership”.
“I don’t know how funny that gag is to everyone!”
This pre-tour provocation didn’t go unnoticed and the Optus Stadium tannoy announcer got in on the act this weekend, announcing Hansen, Tuipulotu, Lowe and Schoeman by the nation of their birth at the match with Western Force.
“Our former Aussie at No.14, Mack Hansen,” the announcer said before mentioning the three other foreign-born stars in the Lions’ starting XV. “Another Aussie at No.12, Sione Tuipulotu. At No.11, it’s the Kiwi now Irishman, James Lowe. At prop, the former SA schoolboy now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman.”
Tuipulotu was quizzed about the incident following the 54-7 win for the tourists and he brushed aside the jibe.
“I knew there would be some ‘good humour’ coming back home to Australia,” he admitted.
“These are all things we have got to take in our stride. To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don’t know how funny that gag is to everyone!
“I am loving my rugby playing for the Lions and I’m really passionate about it. Andy’s brought the group together so well.”
