Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt angered the British & Irish Lions camp after describing their starting midfielders Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as a “southern-hemisphere centre pairing”.

The comment, made ahead of the match between the Lions and Argentina in Dublin on Friday night, drew attention to the squad’s 10 foreign-born players – including South Africans Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman, as well as Australia-raised Tuipulotu, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham.

Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth responded directly, defending the squad’s makeup and the players’ commitment.

“They are, to a man, incredibly proud to be here,” he told UK media. “It is not your background or how you have got here … it is what sort of player you are and what sort of man you are, and we have got great men and great players.”

TEAM: Lions start Duhan, bench Schoeman

Wigglesworth added that Schmidt may have made the remark to stir media attention and distract from the Lions’ preparations.

Several of the southern hemisphere-born players qualified through residency or ancestry, including Tuipulotu via his Scottish grandmother and Aki, Lowe and Gibson-Park through three-year residency.

Bundee Aki Cam 🎥 at today’s Captain’s Run in Dublin 🏟️#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/KJ6UZO6plv

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 19, 2025

Meanwhile, the Lions have rejected Rugby Australia’s proposal to introduce a golden-point rule for their three-Test series.

As in 2017 against the All Blacks, the series could end in a draw, with no provision for extra time.

Foreign-born 2025 Lions
Bundee Aki (New Zealand)
Finlay Bealham (Australia)
Jamison Gibson-Park (New Zealand)
Mack Hansen (Australia)
James Lowe (New Zealand)
Joe McCarthy (USA)
Pierre Schoeman (South Africa)
Marcus Smith (Philippines)
Sione Tuipulotu (Australia)
Duhan van der Merwe (South Africa)

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images