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‘It's insulting': Farrell dismisses doubts over Australia as future Lions hosts

‘It's insulting': Farrell dismisses doubts over Australia as future Lions hosts

The Age21 hours ago
With a Test series whitewash in his sights, British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell is emphatic that Australia should remain a touring venue for the invitational side.
Farrell's side has won all eight games since arriving in Australia and can make it nine from nine with victory in the third Test in Sydney on Saturday. But he said the idea the Wallabies weren't worthy opponents for his team was 'insulting'.
'I don't think [touring Australia] was ever off the agenda,' Farrell said. 'Every single team, country, province, has their ups and downs, but Australia, the sporting nation they are, are always going to come back We've had a blast [in Australia] and to me it's insulting to even talk about it in that type of way.'
Speaking at Friday's captain run in Sydney, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson defended the strength of opposition faced by the Lions over the past six weeks.
'There's always somebody who's going to be negative about anything which is good for rugby, and this has been an unbelievable series,' Wilson said.
'Just for Australian rugby, for UK rugby, it's been unbelievable and everyone's loved being a part of it and anyone here who's been a part of it all couldn't say a negative word about it.
'There's always someone trying to tear something down but once in every 12 years, I know as an Australian, it's been an unbelievable series to be a part of and I know every Australian has loved being a part of it.'
The Lions and Rugby Australia share all commercial and government revenue, ticket revenue and broadcast revenue under a joint-venture organisational structure.
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