The British and Ireland Lions have driven their Australian tour to an ideal start, slamming Western strength 54-7.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies continue to prepare for a one-off test with Fiji.
Sam Bruce looks into both camps ahead of the hot predictive test series.
The joke is kidding, the big question is how Australia will let them go
There are already many created in a naturalised cohort of British and Ireland lions, including athletes born in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Then on Saturday night, the ground announcer at Optus Stadium was delighted to mention two Australian-born lions who were faced with “our former Australian, Mac Hansen, No. 14… Another Australian, Sionetuy Protou, No. 12.” The sled might be worn a bit thin, but that’s another bit of a whimsical joke. However, individuals like the announcer mentioned above also need to be reminded to see their backyard.
But the big pain for Australian rugby anyway is how Tuipulotu and Hansen were allowed to leave in the first place. It is also a complete embarrassment for Australian rugby and the path of talent that they are not only Scotland and Ireland, but now lions. What’s more, Tuipulotu isn’t like he was in a powerhouse like Brumbies, Reds, or a low-performing Waratah. He was taken to a front post of rugby in Melbourne, where Australia was not swimming exactly with talent. Hansen’s loss is a bit understandable considering Brunby was quite resourced on his external back. However, he has also shopped for other franchises and never received an offer to give him the cause of knocking back on Ireland’s Konacht progress.
Rugby Australia has the head of Peter Horn at least recently, so we hope that similar talent losses in the future will be in fewer numbers. The idiom of “You can’t keep them all” also weighs on it, but Twiproto and Hansen are now on tour in the red and both are sure to grasp in the Test series against Wallaby, and Australian rugby fans should be unpleasantly changing in their seats, even if they giggle at the announcer’s anti at the same time.
Pollock looks like a front endured by Super Rugby – not in English
Outside American superstar Ilona Maher, young Lions tourist Henry Pollock is undoubtedly the biggest name in rugby. The 20-year-old British exploded into the scene during the Northern winter, earning a Six Nations debut and some sensational Northampton performances in the European Champions Cup final. Then on Saturday night in Perth, Pollock carved Western forces, setting up one attempt, and then finished with a stat sheet for 13 runs of 74 metres.
Pollock was great against the Force. Ironically, he does so much with the loose forward mold of Australia. It’s still not known if he holds the starting spot for the Test series, but he’s a clear asset to Lions coach Andy Farrell given his energy and skill set, and the fact that he can play beyond the backrow.
Schmidt shows his tupou after Robertson’s scrum masterclass
Taniela Tupou will be playing Waratta with the Sydney Lions this weekend after being released from Newcastle’s Australian camp. This is a decision welcomed by Waratus coach Dan McKellar, so too are the 40,000 or so spectators who should be preparing to be blown up at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. The Force Team, which strolled around with the Lions for 40 minutes over the weekend, was far stronger than one NSW trotted in advance this week.
Prop Tom Robertson was at the centre of the force’s resistance after taking the famous Lions Prop Tad Furlong to school. The way the hosts were not awarded a first half penalty for their set piece advantage is a question that only Ben O’Keefe can answer. What made Robertson’s performance even more impressive was the fact that he spent the entire Super Rugby season at Tight Head, not the first jersey he wore on Saturday night. This is the same versatility as the veteran Wallabies favors James Slippers, giving Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt another front row option he probably didn’t think he had.
Is there a world where Robertson and slippers fill the prop spot on the Lions bench behind rusty starters Angus Bell and Alan Arratoa? absolutely. But Schmidt also needs a tupoe to somehow find a good 50-minute hit against the Lions on Saturday night.
Piecchu resumes lion vulnerability and reveals the opportunity of suaalii
Along with Robertson, winger Dylan Pietchu was another distinct standout in the army against the Lions in Perth. The former Sevens Flyer played Spur Little Super Rugby this season after toreating his quad, but whenever he freely shredded tackles and touched the ball was truly a handful for tourists.
Another area where Pietchu created a headache for Farrell and his Lions coaching team was on the restart. This is the realm of strength for Australia’s Star Recruit, former Roosters centre Joseph Oakso Suariy, who showed his aviation talent, debuting in November last year with his stunning Test – professional rugby full stop. Piecchi’s eye-catching performance was never lost in Schmidt. Having jumpers on either side of the field during reboot would be a real bonus for the Wallabies.
The Reds are approaching the Lions as a solid pre-test challenge.
The Lions’ next mission to play the Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday night will be their toughest hit before facing the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium two and a half weeks later. Queen’s Lander today will name a team that can have as many as seven capped Wallaby players.
Farrell will also name the Lions team later on Monday, but his challenge is much tougher given that he will have to consider Saturday’s game against Waratah again in a few days. Does the Lions coach seem to run through the stronger side of Sydney, even with the knowledge that NSW is not close to the same strength as Queensland? He doesn’t want to underestimate Red, so they can enter the contest much deeper than the managed force – and Queensland coach Les Kiss is desperate to show his coaching insight and highlight his ascension to the Wallabies’ work.