Australian rugby’s human headline David Campese has ruffled a few northern feathers with his outlandish comments on the British and Irish Lions tour, and former Lion Ben Kay has taken the bait.
While the number of Aussies who still take Campo seriously is ever dwindling, the legendary Wallaby has found a platform on Planet Rugby, where he gave a grave assessment of the Lions’ hopes on their tour Down Under in the wake of their rusty loss to Argentina.
“I realise that this is the first time that many of these Lions have played together, but put bluntly, if they perform like they did in Dublin during the Test series, they’ll be toast Down Under, and I’d go so far as to say they’ll lose 3-0 unless they can fix a few things and fix them quickly,” wrote Campo.
Kay, writing on RugbyPass, wasn’t having it, and took Campo’s views as further indication that Australian rugby pundits are clueless about certain aspects of northern hemisphere rugby.
“There’s always mind games being played through the media on any tour, or in any big tournament, but I always felt it was more jousting between coaches trying to gain the upper hand psychologically,” wrote Kay.
STAN’S EX-WALLABY PUNDITS ALL PREDICT THE SAME SERIES SCORELINE
“Jibes being played through the press are water off a duck’s back to most players. They prefer to do their talking on the pitch.
“It will surprise no Lions supporter that Campo is already winding things up 35 years after he was part of a losing Wallaby side, saying the Lions will lose the series 3-0.
“Hold on, they were just a disallowed try away from beating the world’s No 5-ranked side, who had already beaten the All Blacks, South Africa, and ahem, the Wallabies in the last 12 months!
“Of course, you expect hype and shots fired from both camps, but I do get the feeling Aussie pundits have no idea how much the game has changed in the Northern Hemisphere. They’ll be falling back on old stereotypes, about the Lions’ ‘big pack’ and ‘playing 10-man rugby’, because inherently they believe that’s what our game is based on. They’ll expect Australia to play a running game, but I have never seen a Lions team play as much rugby in their first match as they did against Los Pumas.”
Farrell’s Force pick causing confusion
The Lions kick off their Australian commitments against Western Force in Perth on Saturday night (8pm AEST) and one of Andy Farrell’s decisions has everyone second-guessing.
Farrell left tour captain Maro Itoje out of the game, which now leaves him having to balance the England lock’s appearances ahead of the Tests.
Itoje has played an astonishing 61 matches in the past two seasons – the most of any of the Lions touring locks.
“Where is Maro Itoje? Again, many assumed he would be asked to back up, having led the side in Dublin eight days previously. The Lions captain would traditionally lead out the side for the opening game of the tour, and now he is out of sync in terms of his inclusion in the “Saturday side” that usually forms the backbone of the Test side as the tour progresses,” noted Gavin Mairs in the UK Telegraph.
“Does he start now against the Queensland Reds in the next game on Wednesday? If he is not involved at all, then it would mean he would not have had a game for more than two weeks when he captains the side against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney – only a fortnight before the first Test.
“The Lions confirmed that he is fully fit, although perhaps his heavy load this season has been taken into account. Either way, it would be a surprise if he is not involved in some form against the Queensland Reds.”
Farrell said Itoje wasn’t injured and the decision was “just a matter of giving people a chance”
“We have got a lot of good second-rows and Maro is a team player, he knows people have to get going and people have to show their hand as well. That competition will make him and the rest of the players fight a little bit harder,” Farrell told reporters.
British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje, left, and Head Coach Andy Farrell after the British & Irish Lions Squad and Captain announcement for the 2025 Tour of Australia at Indigo at The O2 in London, England. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“The immediate assumption in Perth was that not selecting Itoje for this weekend’s Force game complicates matters for Farrell because it knocks his captain out of sync with the Saturday team building towards the Tests; hence the opening question at the press conference being: “Where’s Maro?,” wrote Alex Lowe in The Times.
“There is no direct precedent for the Lions resting the captain this early in a tour. Sam Warburton missed games early in 2013 and 2017 but he was struggling with injuries on both occasions. Alun Wyn Jones dislocated a shoulder in the opening game four years ago.
“In 2009, Paul O’Connell played in the first two Saturday games, backed-up on the Wednesday for his third appearance and then had ten days off before the first Test against South Africa.
“So, Itoje could come on to the bench against the Reds on Wednesday, or miss that game too, and then return to the starting XV for the NSW Waratahs next Saturday. But that is to assume that Farrell needs him back on the Saturday beat.”
Former England coach Clive Woodward was also surprised by Farrell’s call.
“After the defeat by Argentina, I’d have thought it would have been important to give Lions skipper Maro Itoje the chance to get off to a winning start in Australia,” Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail.
“I’m surprised he’s not in the team to face Western Force. If I was in Andy Farrell’s shoes, I’d have started the England captain in Perth on Saturday.
“I have a saying that it’s easy to make these sorts of comments from the green seats. As head coach, Farrell will have his reasoning on selection. And it’s not necessarily a bad decision to not involve Itoje.
“However, I’m sure the second row would like to play. Even without Itoje, the Lions have named a strong 23 for their first game Down Under.
“I expect Farrell’s side to win and win well. And that’s why I think Itoje would want to be part of it.
“If the Lions had beaten Argentina, I wouldn’t be saying this. Captaining the team for the first time would have been a hugely proud moment for Itoje, as well as for all the players who were making Lions debuts.
“That’s why I’m sure it would have been a huge disappointment to have lost the game.
“As captain of the Lions, you’re the main person driving team meetings and the messaging throughout the week. Itoje is clearly very good at that.
“He’s been an exceptional captain for England since taking over from Jamie George. But any leader wants to put their stamp on the team.
“That’s why I’d have allowed him the chance to continue to do that against Western Force.
“Even the best players, who have seen and done it all, benefit from the confidence a win provides and Itoje falls into that bracket.”
Pollock given a shot at No.8
There was plenty of focus on Lions young gun Henry Pollock after Farrell named the team to face the Force.
At the end of the Six Nations, Henry Pollock’s England captain Maro Itoje joked that the 20-year-old had been a “pest” behind the scenes, while Pollock got involved in a confrontation playing for Northampton in their Champions Cup loss to Bordeaux.
“He’s not been a pest, definitely not,’ said Farrell, after announcing his 23 to play in Perth.
“He’s been great. You can see that he’s hungry to learn and that he’s got a real point of difference.
“He wants to make a difference the whole time. But he also understands what parts of his game he needs to improve. He’s got a great attitude.
Henry Pollock of British & Irish Lions during the Lions 1888 Cup match between the British & Irish Lions and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“He doesn’t think he’s got it all, far from that. You want people with confidence and belief, that helps when he takes the field.
“He’s certainly not over-awed! I love that. You want these kids to be themselves.
“You don’t want a kid to go under the radar and in three weeks’ time just settle into a side.
“You pick him for a reason. He’s a Lion just like the eldest player.
“His character is infectious to everyone. He’s a great lad.”
Farrell is aware that the visiting press pack is trying to “hype him up.”
“Honestly, he’s just another player like everyone else and that’s how he wants to be,” added Farrell.
“His point of difference is his ability to see things quickly and act upon that and his line running, for example, is pretty good.
“His awareness of space and how sharp he is in his mind and his athletic abilities are up there with the other lads in the squad.”
Mack Hansen, meanwhile, gave a teammate’s insight, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“He’s a great fella, he really is,” said the Aussie-born winger. “People say he does things for the camera and all that, but from getting to know him I think, that’s just him.
‘He just loves it. He’s living his dream. So, I don’t think it’s fake by any means.
“He’s just loving being here. He’s 20 years old. Who would have thought…? He’s been good. He’s just been himself. That’s the main message that Faz gives everyone. ‘Just be yourself’. He’s doing that.”
