First Nations & Pasifika XV player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025

The First Nations & Pasifika XV have fallen short of what would’ve been an incredible upset win over the British & Irish Lions, losing 24-19 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

95-Test veteran Kurtley Beale headlined a star-studded First Nations & Pasifika [FNP] side, with current Wallabies Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu also made available.

Rob Leota scored a decisive try inside the last 10 minutes, making it a five-point game, but the highly-favoured Lions hung on for a thrilling win.

SA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Rian Oberholzer chats to @king365ed about the system that creates world champions

SA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Rian Oberholzer chats to @king365ed about the system that creates world champions

Here’s how the FNP rated:

1. Lington Ieli – 7/10
The FNP definitely won the scrum battle during the first 40, and loosehead Lington Ieli deserves an honourable mention for that effort. Ieli got the better of Ireland’s Finlay Bealham repeatedly, which included a scrum penalty midway through the half. While Ieli was kept fairly quiet in general play, the prop’s efforts at the set-piece should be celebrated.

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 6
After a solid performance for the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide, Brandon Paenga-Amosa was given another opportunity to face the Lions with the FNP. Much like that performance at Adelaide Oval, ‘BPA’ was impressive at the set-piece and deserves plaudits for that.

Paenga-Amosa was perfect from a handful of throws during the opening 40, but the Wallaby did go missing in general play for extended periods. Without doing anything spectacular or especially notable in attack or defence, this goes down as an average performance.

3. Taniela Tupou – 6
Released from Wallabies camp, Taniela Tupou had another chance to take on the Lions in a tour match, having suited up for the Waratahs earlier this month. There’s no doubt the FNP had some ascendancy at scrum time during the first term, and Tupou deserves credit for that.

Tupou was otherwise solid-enough around the park, but it probably won’t see the prop return to the Test arena during the Lions Series – barring injuries. The Wallaby was up there with the best for tackles complete but was fairly non-existent in attack and around the breakdown.

4. Darcy Swain – 6
There were long periods where it genuinely didn’t seem that Darcy Swain was on the field. Swain worked hard, as always, but just wasn’t able to make a noticeable impact. The Australian international made an above-average number of tackles but was quiet in attack.

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 8
After a stellar performance for the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto had another opportunity to show Wallabies coaches what they’re missing, named to start for the FNP alongside Darcy Swain.

Salakaia-Loto was a general at the set-piece, and the lock had a real presence around the field. For a majority of the match, Salakaia-Loto was right up there with the best for total carries, and the second-rower also finished in double digits for tackles complete.

Another statement made.

6. Seru Uru – 8
Seru Uru had a night to remember against the Lions, scoring a try and generally wreaking havoc at the set-piece. After Triston Reilly’s try midway through the first, Uru crashed over soon after for a popular five-pointer that helped level the score.

Uru had a few takes at the lineout on FNP’s throw, and the backrower also put plenty of pressure on the Lions at the set-piece. Having picked off a Jamie George throw in the 40^th minute, it was in many ways a complete performance from the Wallaby.

7. Charlie Gamble – 8.5
Charlie Gamble is ready for the big time.

After standing out as the Waratahs’ best against the Lions earlier this month, Gamble was one of the first five players announced for the FNP side. Gamble was fairly absent in attack but it was a different story in defence, leading the tackle count. The openside flanker was also busy around the breakdown, having helped force a penalty around the ruck in the first term.

Named Player of the Match.

8. Tuaina Taii Tualima – 7.5
After an impressive performance for the Brumbies against the Lions, Tuaina Taii Tualima is one of the many players in this FNP who got a second shot at the tourists. Taii Tualima was a workaholic in this fixture, especially in defence. The No. 8 was up there with Charlie Gamble as the two most prolific tacklers by the one-hour mark, and he was good enough in attack too.

9. Kalani Thomas – 6
Young scrum-half Kalani Thomas got to play the Lions three times during their tour Down Under, which included selections in two invitational sides. Thomas came off the bench for the AUNZ Invitational XV and was named to start for the FNP.

Thomas’s growth throughout those appearances for the Queensland Reds, AUNZ and FNP was noticeable. While Thomas looked both rushed and unnerved when facing the Lions in Brisbane with the Reds, the No. 9 was better on Saturday. Thomas helped guide the team around the park, kicked well, but it wasn’t a standout performance by any means.

10. Kurtley Beale – 6
Kurtley Beale represented the Wallabies in the Lions Series 12 years ago, and the 95-Test fly-half joined a rare club on Saturday by facing the tourists in a second tour. Beale captained the FNP, wearing the No.10 jersey as the chief game-driver. That said, injuries early on prompted some changes, with Jack Debreczeni stepping up as the new first receiver.

Beale converted two tries from three attempts, and got plenty of purchase on the ball when either exiting from inside FNP’s half or kicking for touch. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, with Beale missing two tackles – equal first along with a few others.

11. Triston Reilly – 7.5
It was an eventful start to the match for Triston Reilly. Reilly went from zero to hero quite quickly against the Lions. Reilly was shown a yellow card about five minutes into the match, having caught Darcy Graham high while making a try-saving tackle.

After sitting down for 10, Reilly returned and it didn’t take the winger long to make an impact on the scoreboard. The NSW Waratahs flyer picked off a Blair Kinghorn pass to score the FNP’s first-ever try. That was the highlight from a fairly good performance.

Reilly had some other strong carries, was solid under the high ball, and had one unforgettable hit on the defensive side of the ball – you could almost feel the impact from the stands. It was a game of two halves though, as Reilly was a lot quieter during the second term.

12. David Feliuai – 6
David Feliuai ran bravely at the Lions’ defensive line almost more than anyone else during the first half, with the inside centre used as a crash ball option several times. By half-time, Feliuai had run the ball six times which was equal-third out of any player.

Unfortunately, Feliuai underwent a HIA during the break and didn’t return to the contest. This was Feliuai’s second match against the Lions, having started for the Brumbies at Canberra’s GIO Stadium earlier this month.

13. Lalakai Foketi – 5
Lalakai Foketi was kept very quiet against the Lions while playing for the Waratahs a couple of weeks ago, and it was the same case on Saturday. Foketi was absent really – with David Feliuai the busier of the two midfielders in attack. The former Wallaby only made four tackles too, but defended at 100 per cent accuracy.

14. Filipo Daugunu – N/A
Filipo Daugunu was released from the Wallabies squad to play in this historic fixture at Marvel Stadium. Unfortunately, Daugunu walked off the field for a HIA about 10 minutes in and didn’t return. Daugunu hadn’t carried the ball once by that stage, but had made two tackles.

15. Andy Muirhead – 6
Andy Muirhead started the match at fullback before shifting to the wing, with Filipo Daugunu leaving the contest in the 10^th minute. Muirhead didn’t get many opportunities to make some noise against the Lions, but the outside back tried to make the most of them – running for the most metres out of any FNP player by the 70^th minute.

That said it was another unusually quiet night for Muirhead, who failed to make an impact while playing for the Brumbies earlier this month. Muirhead had a chip kick go into touch on the full inside the first 20 minutes, and didn’t trouble the Lions too much overall.

Replacements

16. Richie Asiata – 6
17. Marley Pearce – 6
18. Mesake Doge – 6.5
19. Mesake Vocevoce – 5
20. Rob Leota – 7
21. Harrison Goddard – 6
22. Jack Debreczeni – 7.5
23. Jarrah McLeod – 6.5