'We've got better athletes': Genia's taunt to Lions

Perth Now

7 hours ago

Former Wallabies captain Will Genia has lobbed a grenade into the Lions den, claiming Joe Schmidt's Australian team has "better athletes" than the British and Irish tourists who just might blow open the showpiece series.
While acknowledging Andy Farrel boasts some electrifying talent in his Lions squad, Genia reckons the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Tom Wright and Rob Valetini have the potential to swing the three-Test extravaganza the Wallabies' way.
Genia was vice-captain when the then-second-ranked Wallabies lost the last home series 2-1 in 2013.
Despite Schmidt's side having slumped to world No.8, Genia is convinced the Wallabies' class of 2025 can win the series - if they produce the right style of rugby.
"I do, and maybe that's just me being foolish because of my heart," the champion halfback told AAP from his Papua New Guinea base.
"We're building nicely. I know it's a Lions tour and it's prestigious and everyone's going to be excited enough for it, but it also comes off the back of a long season for those guys, whereas we're fresh. So I'm not saying that will play a factor, but it just might.
"They might just be a little tired and, if we can hang in there and be competitive and make it a bit loose and make them work a bit harder to earn their points and open the game up so that we can suit our athletes, you can plant the seeds of doubt over the course of the series."
Genia believes the key to upsetting the Lions is playing at a high-octane tempo.
"If you look at the Lions team, it looks like they've picked a team that's going to want to attack and use the ball," he said.
"The backs they've chosen are electric. They've got players with great flare like Finn Russell, Alex Mitchell.
"Then you've got guys on the edge who can finish like (Duhan) van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn. So they look like a really attacking team.
"Then their back row as well, there's a sense of dynamism about them where they're good carriers in the loose, but they've also picked mobile guys like they want to use the ball and play with pace.
"Individually, though, we've got better athletes.
"If you look at some of the guys in our team, like Tom Wright, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, you've got guys like Angus Bell, Rob Valentini, if we can play the game at pace and make it a bit loose, I think we can create one on ones for those guys.
"I think athletically, in some areas, we're a little bit better."
Genia believes the biggest challenge for the Wallabies will be trying to break the Lions' rhythm.
"Because they've got such a balanced squad where they can play an attacking style," he said.
"We know the northern hemisphere teams are very good at playing pragmatic football where they don't play a lot of footy in their half. They put kick pressure on the high balls, they're really good at the set piece.
"So if we can find a way to break up that point-to-point rugby and make it a bit loose and open, I think it will suit the guys that we have and it will give us a better opportunity."
The Lions open their Australian tour against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday, with the first Test being staged in Brisbane on July 19.