Modern-day Lions seem to be tone deaf
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 07: (L-R) Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje and Conor Murray of the British & Irish Lions look dejected during the 3rd test match between the South Africa Springboks and the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
So the Lions itinerary is out for their 2025 Australia tour and, although there is much to commend it, yet again there is no room for a game against one of the Pacific Island teams, either en route or at a venue like Brisbane which is chockfull of Fijian and Tongan ex pats.
Indeed, a decent percentage of recent Wallaby squads claim Pacific Island heritage and if nothing else such a game would have constituted a nod of thanks from the Aussies.
No. Instead, along with the games against the five Super Rugby franchises, we have an irrelevant game against what is listed as an ANZAC team at the Adelaide Oval a week before the Tests start. The last ANZAC game in 1989, added purely as an earner, was a boring, instantly forgettable non-event. New Zealand offered up only three players and only one of them, Steve McDowell, was a current Test player. Despite being on the pop for most of the final week, the Lions won 19-15.
A full-on Test against Fiji in Brisbane would be a rugby occasion for the ages. There is talk of a tenth fixture being added as an opening fixture but that is likely to end up in Japan, a ten-hour flight from Sydney.
The modern-day Lions appear tone deaf on this matter, with Lions tours now increasingly seen as a financial vehicle to bolster the privileged host union every 12 years and for the home unions to make a few bob. Now in these straightened times it's difficult to argue against that except that commercially a big Test against one of the Pacific Islands would be just as attractive. It's simply a matter of choice.
I can't get a handle on the Lions thinking at all. They were founded as rugby pioneers, proudly going where no team had toured before and flying the flag for the game. Of course, in the early decades that mainly meant Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand but there were three tours to Argentina and visits to Uruguay, Canada, Sri Lanka, East Africa and yes – in 1977 – Fiji where they lost 25-21 to a vintage Fijian side.
It's in their DNA, the Lions could be such a power for good in a rugby world that is struggling to expand as it should. It should not be the preserve of the cosy club.
In admittedly difficult circumstances amid the Covid lockdown the 2021 series with South Africa was nonetheless a crushing let down and at times seemed the very antithesis of Lions rugby. The brand needs a reboot and introducing a full-on Test against the islands, preferably on their patch but at venues like Brisbane and Auckland if need be, was surely the way forward along with a visit to Argentina and Uruguay.
