Not only contending with unabating rain, which had fallen almost non-stop for the entire week, a heavy lightning storm approaching the Accor Stadium resulted in a near 50-minute break early in the second half.
This led to the televised sight of Lions players relaxing on comfy cushions in the changing rooms and the almost inevitable sight of Finn Russell on his mobile phone, something that exemplifies the current state of professionalism in modern sports.
Australia deserved to win this Test and arguably should have won the second Test in Melbourne the previous week (July 27). However, the Wallabies’ almost non-existent pre-tour preparation was clearly evident, with a one-off game against Fiji hardly ideal preparation, and why Australia lost the series.
In summarising the series, All Black legend John Kirwan was scathing in his criticism of Australia coach John Schmidt, describing the Wallabies as a development team.
Schmidt is set to leave his post once the Rugby Championship campaign concludes in October. The Wallabies will then have an Australian coach in charge once again when Les Kiss takes up the reigns. Their pride, despite the series loss, has been restored and young players are improving. Australian wing Max Jorgenson could easily have been the man of the tournament, for example.
Disproportionate
The Lions were poor in both the second and third Tests. The hype that surrounded their visit Down Under was quite disproportionate to their performances. Too much trumpet and mascot and not enough quality rugby. Far too often commentators’ comments exaggerated mediocrity.
The global game will not benefit if all we see is 5-meter ruck and drive pick-ups, something all too common during the series. It is tedious and frustrating. For a team comprising top international players from four competitive rugby-playing countries, it is a pathetic example of team play.
Pre-tour, the Wallabies scrum was ridiculed and identified as a go-forward area for the Lions. However, as the Lions scrum continually retreated, that myth disappeared.
Lions’ coach Andy Farrell will console himself in a series win. He also managed to get his son into the squad, off the bench and onto the field. What must Marcus Smith and Finn Smith be thinking?
On returning to the UK I doubt the Lions will be worthy of a visit to Downing Street for an audience with dignitaries, as the England women’s football team a week previous after their Euro 2025 success – however, if it generates votes, then who knows?
Looking forward, the rugby world will soon forget this tour and focus on more challenging tasks ahead for the Lions, courtesy of a tour of New Zealand in four years, then South Africa four years later.
Then there is the increasing clamour for a Lions tour of France, something that will no doubt ricochet from meeting to meeting at World Rugby level.
Finally there is the issue of “R360” being promoted by former England and Lions player Mike Tindall, a member of the British Royal family via marriage to Zara Phillips. Essentially a breakaway rugby circut, R360 is set to launch next year, backed financially by Saudi Arabia and promising bumper contracts, a globe-trotting itinerary and new revenue streams. Saudi money is increasingly beginning to flow into northern sporting coffers, with huge investment projects in football, golf, boxing and Formula One, so don’t be too quick to disregard a LIV-Golf type operation in the rugby world in due course.
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.