Lions tell Joe Schmidt: You must play Wallabies in warm-ups

Telegraph

4 hours ago

The Lions have warned Australia head coach Joe Schmidt not to breach their pre-tour agreement by withholding his Wallabies from the tourists' warm-up games against the Super Rugby franchises.
Schmidt has previously indicated that he is 'very keen to safeguard' his leading 25 players heading into the three-Test series that starts on July 19. Indications are that the Western Force will be able to call upon a contingent of their Australian internationals including Nic White, Darcy Swain and Nick Champion de Crespigny. Wallabies Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson, however, have been withheld from the fixture at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions' pre-tour agreement with Rugby Australia stipulates that the Super Rugby franchises must be at full strength for the warm-up games. After the Force, the Lions play the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and chief executive Ben Calveley and chair Ieuan Evans issued pointed reminders that the Lions are expecting a high level of competition in those fixtures.
'We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend, and that's what we're looking for,' Calveley said. 'We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to that Test series against the Wallabies. The agreement is very clear; it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation.
'It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just for a performance stand-point – the players do want to test themselves and build towards the Test series - but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters who are all expecting competitive fixtures, and for the rugby loving public. That would be their expectation as well.'
That warning was echoed by Evans, the former Wales winger, who said: 'I think what's clear is that we are an elite sporting touring team and we need to be challenged and tested in our preparations towards the Tests.'
Four years ago, the Lions averaged more than 50 points in their four warm-up matches against the South African provinces. However as Calveley pointed out, South Africa were unable to release any of their Springbok internationals because of Covid restrictions, which is not an excuse that Rugby Australia can fall upon.
'Last time around, although it was baked into the agreement, that had to all be slightly changed because of Covid,' Calveley said. 'You couldn't have players coming out of one camp, i.e the Springboks camp, and then into the Sharks, or whoever it might have been, and then back into the Springbok camp. You saw the impact of that with the competitive nature of some of those games leading into the Test series, they could have been slightly tighter.
'We'll play the game at the weekend, and will carry on having discussions with Phil Waugh and their executive team and will take that step by step. We are encouraged that we'll see a strong side competing at the Optus. We're clear that in the agreement it says that Test players do have to be released. We'll move into the game at the weekend, and what comes after that we'll deal with in time.'
The Lions' touring agreement only extends to New Zealand in 2029 and while Calveley says that they are not currently planning to breakaway from their traditional schedule, he says he would be 'excited' by the concept of touring a country like France. 'We're open, we're flexible but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure,' Calveley said. 'You can certainly understand why people would get excited about that sort of concept (going to France). We would as well. What's not to like about some of those wonderful clubs you could play against and some of those wonderful venues….and in the summer time as well, it would be really interesting.'
The Lions lost to Argentina in Dublin in the first warm-up match before they flew to Australia and Calveley suggested that opening curtain-raiser could happen in the United States in 2029. 'The kinds of countries we've talked about would include North America, everybody in rugby is interested in breaking through in that market,' Calveley said. 'Japan we played against for a reason. The same with Argentina. There have been discussions with France. So there are lots of different options. I think what's encouraging for us is that whatever country you speak to, they are interested in having a relationship with the Lions, whether that's in their country or on UK or Irish soil.'