Let the games commence!
Not the actual rugby matches, but the off-field shenanigans.
The British and Irish Lions have barely felt the warmth of the Aussie sun, yet they’re already igniting some off-field disputes.
And why not? Bring it on!
To recap briefly: On Monday, Lions CEO Ben Calveley issued what can be described as a… let’s call it a warning to Rugby Australia regarding a clause in their tour agreement that states, in his own words, “Test players must be freed to participate in fixtures leading up to that (Test) series.”
The British & Irish Lions squad making their entrance into Australia. Getty
This statement stirred up a frenzy in the UK media.
On Tuesday, Joe Schmidt responded to The Sydney Morning Herald by stating, “It’s not as straightforward as saying that every Wallaby from a state or club is required to be available for every match that the Lions attend.”
Schmidt continued by asserting that some players would indeed return to the Reds (to face the Lions on July 2) and the Waratahs (set to clash with the Lions on July 5, just a night before the Wallabies take on Fiji in Newcastle).
Being a man of his word, on Wednesday morning, Schmidt let Queenslanders Matt Faessler and Hunter Paisami go back to Ballymore.
This move coincided with a planned meeting between Calveley and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh in Perth to discuss the arrangements regarding Test players.
While the timing may seem coincidental—despite one UK journalist claiming it as a victory for Calveley—it’s likely that the release was pre-planned. Last Thursday, Schmidt had made it clear when announcing his squad that a player like Faessler could spend the early days in Wallabies camp before being released back to the Reds.
Lions supporters might take this as a win, but let’s not pretend to hold the moral high ground.
As Justin Harrison aptly pointed out on Stan Sport’s Inside Lion, Rugby Australia had sought to have an Australia A match included in the tour schedule, but the Lions declined the offer for fear that it may become a “fourth Test.”
They were likely haunted by the memory of their loss to Australia A, which featured Waugh and Harrison, back in 2001 in Gosford.
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Justin Harrison engages in some spirited banter with Martin Johnson. Stan
With the Melbourne Rebels now a thing of the past, Rugby Australia have replaced them with a ‘First Nations/Pasifika’ side. However, the Lions have rebuffed several line-up proposals for this fixture in Melbourne that falls between the first two tests, as they fear facing a team they might lose to. They actually have a say in the selection.
Speaking of rejections, let’s not overlook that the Lions also turned down a proposal to implement ‘golden point’ or extra time for the test series, to avoid a drawn outcome like the one seen in New Zealand in 2017.
Why wouldn’t you want to ensure a definitive winner? If the series ends up at 1-all, why not introduce extra time to determine the winner of the third test and the series in Sydney?
The northern hemisphere has always been a tad resistant to innovation and change.
Stirring the pot isn’t new for the Lions management.
Think back to the 2013 tour down under, where then-captain James Horwill was cited for ‘stomping’ after the first test in Brisbane. ‘Big Kev’ recounted the entire saga perfectly on Between Two Posts Extra last month.
After being cleared of gross misconduct, Horwill’s verdict was subsequently challenged and appealed by World Rugby. They appealed their own decision in a bid to have the Wallabies skipper suspended for the third test.
Fortunately, justice prevailed, and Horwill participated in all three Test matches, though he may have wished he sat out the final one in hindsight.
Going even further back to 2001, Lions greats Austin Healy and Matt Dawson were penning columns for UK newspapers during the tour.
Far from polite ‘day-in-the-life-of’ diaries, the English duo revealed their candid takes on Wallabies players—Healy branding Harrison as a ‘plod’, ‘plank’, and ‘ape’—while Dawson openly critiqued various aspects of the Lions’ tour, including then-coach Graham Henry.
The history of the Lions showcases they are no strangers to off-field controversies.
Whether this latest stir is a strategy to divert attention from an opening game defeat to Argentina—their first loss to the South Americans—remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: a loss to what is anticipated to be a formidable Western Force side on Saturday in Perth would put the spotlight on Andy Farrell, Calveley, and the Lions.
Some media outlets in the home nations have already strongly criticised the CEO’s comments, calling them an “embarrassing blunder.”
The drama and theatrics have kicked off, but the first whistle has yet to be blown.
Welcome to the Lions Tour. Hold on to your hats!
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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