BRISBANE -- Ireland great and British and Irish Lions assistant Jonny Sexton has defended the "rules and regulations" that have prevented Pete Samu from playing in next week's First Nations-Pasifika game, as a little extra spice was added to the first Test in Brisbane.
As the countdown to the series opener between the Wallabies and Lions neared its final 24 hours, news broke earlier Friday that the tourists had blocked returned Wallabies back-rower Pete Samu from playing on Tuesday night.
First reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Lions are understood to have leaned on the pre-tour agreement that gave them the right to refuse any player they wished for the First Nations-Pasifika outfit that was added in place of the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels.
The decision appears curious, given they were adamant that Wallabies players be released to their Super Rugby franchises for the tour games, so too the fact that Samu had already played in last week's AUNZ Invitational XV that was thumped 48-0 by the Lions.
Asked about the decision on Friday afternoon, Sexton, who was a part of the victorious Lions squad from 2013, defended the "rules and regulations" that had been drawn up pre-tour.
"The Lions have blocked him (Samu)? I don't know if the Lions have blocked him, I think it's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour," Sexton said.
The Irishman added that the visitors were solely focused on Saturday's clash with the Wallabies and that Tuesday's fixture would "look after itself."
"The players have played against Pete already on this tour, but it's not for me to talk about really," Sexton replied when asked if he had a problem with Samu playing.
"I'm here to talk about the game tomorrow and as a playing group, as a coaching group, I don't think we're that fussed either way to be honest."
Samu earlier this year signed a two-year deal with the Waratahs and Wallabies, making him immediately eligible for Test rugby and consideration by Australia coach Joe Schmidt.
But the Kiwi has not brought him into the squad just yet - Samu's Bordeaux-Begles were beaten Top 14 finalists at the end of June - though he is likely to figure later in the year in the Rugby Championship, particularly if as expected Schmidt farewells departing players Langi Gleeson and Tom Hooper.
But the Lions' denial of Samu's inclusion on Tuesday night is hard to fathom, particularly given they have not made a similar call on another established Wallaby in Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who was easily the AUNZ XV's best player in Adelaide last weekend.
Wallabies great Toutai Kefu and First Nations-Pasifika head coach Toutai Kefu told the Herald he was stunned by the tourists' decision.
"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," Kefu told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"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."