Wallabies hooker Brandon Panega-Amosa is savouring his return to the gold jersey as he looks to show off his growth from his European stint.
Panega-Amosa left Australia in 2021 for French club Montpellier and instantly delivered them a Top 14 title.
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As he experienced a new life and team meetings in a foreign language, the 28-year-old always desired to return to Australia and add to his 14 Test caps.
“I always wanted to come back home after a bit of time overseas. When I went to France, it was always only for a stint to experience,” he told reporters.
“As soon as Joe (Schmidt) reached out to me, I thought 100% I’d love to come back and it just so happened the Force were keen to take me on and get me on board.
“I was really excited to come back. I enjoyed my time overseas, it was great but it was good to be back in camp speaking English in team meetings which is nice.
“It’s been great being around the lads again…It’s been a great environment since being back.”
Paenga-Amosa showed his growth with a strong performance off the bench that included a powerful break right after Hunter Paisami’s try to get Australia back on the attack.
"It's been a while since I played my last game, so I was just trying to focus on my role more than actually focus on the excitement around it," he admits.
" I was very stoked to be out there... I just focueds on my role and trying to get back out there and just do what I can to try and represent the jersey the best that I can."
Whilst the result didn’t go the way the Sydnersider had hoped, the opportunity to represent Australia once again meant the world to the hooker.
“It was amazing and really cool to hear the crowd roar and see the Aussies get around us and for us to give them a reason," he added.
“I just hope the performance we put on as a team made the Australian public and the Wallabies fans proud.
“It was really special.”
