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Johnny Sexton responds to Pete Samu accusation levelled at Lions
By Ian Cameron at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Johnny Sexton has pushed back on claims that the British & Irish Lions sensationally blocked Pete Samu from featuring for the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Tuesday’s midweek fixture in Melbourne, following a fiery accusation from the invitational side’s head coach Toutai Kefu.
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A report from Jonathan Drennan in the Sydney Morning Herald has claimed the Lions had intervened to prevent the Wallabies-capped Samu from lining up for the First Nations and Pasifika side, with Kefu saying the back-row was “absolutely gutted” at the late withdrawal and suggesting the tourists were spooked by the opposition’s strength.
Samu, who played in France last season with Bordeaux, hasn’t played Super Rugby in 2025, which has apparently made him ineligible to play against the famous touring side.
But speaking on the eve of the Lions’ first Test against Australia in Brisbane, Lions kicking coach Sexton insisted the decision wasn’t one the Lions had any say over, and pushed back on the notion that the Lions themselves had scuppered Samu’s inclusion.
“The Lions have blocked him (Samu)? I don’t know if the Lions have blocked him,” Sexton said. “I think it’s more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour.”
Pressed on whether he would have an issue with Samu turning out midweek, Sexton kept it diplomatic: “The players have played against Pete already on this tour, but it’s not for me to talk about really. As a playing group, as a coaching group, I don’t think we’re that fussed either way to be honest.”
Kefu, meanwhile, didn’t hold back, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: “I’m absolutely gutted. I still can’t believe that they would do it, complain about it. I suppose it is what it is, but it’s extra motivation for our boys,” the former Wallaby said.
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“We’re a team that’s just been put together. We’re facing a massive challenge as it is, so he (Samu) would have definitely strengthened us, there’s no doubt about that. They must have been worried we were going to win. I don’t know why they would do it.”
If the Lions did complain about Samu’s inclusion, it appears to contradict an earlier warning by CEO Ben Calverley, who demanded that the Wallabies free players up to play the Lions in the pre-Test games.
“We’ll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that’s what we’re looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series,” Calveley said back in June.
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“The agreement is very clear – it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation.”
Speaking following the captain’s run, Sexton also responded to suggestions that the Wallabies have tried to keep the Lions “undercooked” by keeping their Test players away from the touring side. The Lions have not yet faced any of the Wallabies’ big hitters prior to the first Test, with Joe Schmidt opting to keep his front-liners in camp, despite the Lions demanding Wallabies be released to their Super Rugby franchises for the warm-up matches.
“Maybe that was the intention. I’m not sure, you’d have to ask them that,” said Sexton. “They’ve [the Wallabies] been in camp the last few weeks getting ready for us. They had a game against Fiji a couple of weeks ago that they’ll have learned from. It’s not like they’re totally underdone.
“We’ll see tomorrow. You can talk about all the different ifs and buts and permutations but ultimately, once you step on the pitch tomorrow, no one really knows till you get on with the game.”