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Dual international Lote Tuqiri says rugby officials have erred by leaving Zac Lomax out of Australia A\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the fact he\u2019s got the balls to stand on 10 toes and do what he\u2019s doing,\u201d Tuqiri said of Nawaqanitawase.<\/p>\n
![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792808292_270_85dc36fcebbe948114aeeca057fd327fdafa5bda.jpeg\")
Mark Nawaqanitawase says he hasn\u2019t made up his mind on who he wants to play for at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.Getty Images<\/p>\n
If anyone knows how Nawaqanitawase is feeling, it\u2019s Tuqiri.<\/p>\n
Tuqiri played three Tests for Fiji in 2000, before switching allegiances to the Kangaroos.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a calling for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"Lote](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/b6c7f623b2acfabe2a8fb2473190929fe8721e4f.jpeg\")
Lote Tuqiri played for Australia and Fiji in rugby league, as well as well as two World Cups for the Wallabies.Tim Clayton<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s hard to fathom when you\u2019ve played in a different jersey. It\u2019s more so the pride it gives you; it makes you puff out your chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s now, whether it\u2019s down the track, it\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another perspective Nawaqanitawase\u2019s decision not to immediately pledge his allegiance to the Wallabies has caused a stir, including among former players.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a proud Wallaby and a proud Australian, I want people that want to play for our country to play for our country,\u201d 103-Test Wallaby Matt Giteau said on the KOKO podcast.<\/p>\n Tuqiri said he understood the mixed sentiment toward Nawaqanitawase\u2019s decision to not yet reveal his intentions.<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t made up his mind yet, has he? He should be given the time to do that,\u201d Tuqiri said.<\/p>\n Although Rugby Australia are keen on selecting him for the Wallabies, former coach Joe Schmidt didn\u2019t pick him in mid-2024 after he signed with the Sydney Roosters.<\/p>\n Nawaqanitawase was eventually selected for Australia\u2019s Olympic Sevens side, but the earlier decision to leave him out caused a stir.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, NRL boss Peter V\u2019landys has showered Nawaqanitawase with praise<\/a>, making it clear he wants to lure him back after his two-year deal with the Wild Knights in Japan.<\/p>\n Tuqiri said he thought Rugby Australia needed to do more to put their arms around players, even when players chose to leave Super Rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we do enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon he\u2019s probably got a bad taste in his mouth from the last time he put on the rugby jersey. I couldn\u2019t believe when he wasn\u2019t getting picked for the Tahs. I was like, \u2018Why is this kid on the bench?\u2019 I know he was young, but I was gobsmacked that he wasn\u2019t in the 23 at times.\u201d<\/p>\n With Nawaqanitawase\u2019s Wallabies future not clear, Tuqiri said he was surprised former NSW Blues Origin flyer Lomax wasn\u2019t more in the frame for the Wallabies.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d think you\u2019d give him a crack,\u201d Tuqiri said. \u201cBut just from an outside looking in, just give him a go.\u201d<\/p>\n Lomax, who will join the PNG Chiefs in 2028, was a late addition to the Australia A squad last week but wasn\u2019t picked for the first of two matches starting in Nashville on Sunday against the Eagles.<\/p>\n Instead, Stephen Larkham selected Wallaby Dylan Pietsch and rising Queenslander flyer Tim Ryan on the wing.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tuqiri said he had been impressed by Lomax\u2019s initial move into the XV-man game and couldn\u2019t understand why he wasn\u2019t starting for Australia A.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t give away Test jerseys, but Australia A is a mechanism to test players out,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a development team and this guy\u2019s a part of your development.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as every athlete knows, you learn the most on the field, not training. It\u2019s the wins and losses and how you navigate yourself on game day.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you start him on the wing. I don\u2019t think you do a Suaalii (Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii) and put him in 13 or whatever.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve only got him for 12 months. We\u2019ve got to pick your best team and you\u2019ve got to give him a chance to put his hand up because you know what he can offer.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Australia A prop Tom Robertson said the touring party was enjoying the \u201conce in a lifetime opportunity\u201d to play in Nashville, but were eager to impress to push for Test selection, especially with the World Cup less than 12 months away.<\/p>\n \u201cIt definitely adds another layer of importance and meaning to the tour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, definitely. They either say rugby or wrestling when you get in the elevators and going down the streets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNormally there\u2019s a bit of laughter when you tell them it\u2019s rugby not wrestling. They\u2019re getting into their rugby. Nashville\u2019s definitely trying to push the rugby scene here ahead of the World Cup, which is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/795b525dd0224faaabc4f02287ef27720217a429.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/73fb1f2f884f5eca22f71807d2054f3f6ba42c3b.jpeg\")
Mark Nawaqanitawase in action for the Waratahs in 2023.Getty<\/p>\n![\"Zac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/6e96b6797dafb7926649db7219ee98578d2a303d.jpeg\")
Zac Lomax has made a promising start to his rugby career at the Western Force. Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Lote](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/48a7c1e48c45c4ae44d98698e39661cfc76db5cd.jpeg\")
Lote Tuqiri says Zac Lomax (L) needs to play on the wing for Australia A, and not in the centres like fellow league recruit, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (right).Getty Images<\/p>\n