Rugby's biggest wind-up merchant: I'm ready to bash the Lions
Twelve years ago, White came into the corresponding Lions series as the Wallabies' back-up scrum-half behind Will Genia only to suffer a broken shoulder. 'I was definitely crushed at the time, but even then I don't think I realised quite how big it was,' White said. Hence White resolved to stay in Australia for a second crack of the whip against the Lions even with an opportunity to go back to Exeter.
'After 2023, I had a decision to make whether to go overseas or stick around and I had been overseas and done a fair bit but was still kicking myself about missing out in 2013,' White said. 'I thought it is only 18 months away. I was very aware of where I am at in my career and it would be hard going to keep these young bucks at bay. To still be involved is huge. I know where I am at in the Wallabies with the three nines. Your boys are lucky that they get to have a crack at it every four years. Twelve years is a long time. It is so much bigger than a World Cup. For some people it doesn't come in their career.'
That was part of the reason that White asked Schmidt to release him from the Wallabies camp to play for Western Force in the Lions' first match on Australian soil. 'I said to Joe, 'I don't want to miss out on playing them again, if I get a chance I am desperate to run out against them whoever it is for',' White said.
The Lions will already be smarting from their 28-24 loss to Argentina on Friday night in Dublin and White says the Force are intent on giving the tourists a physical tune-up before the Test series starts against the Wallabies on July 19.
'It is a game we are taking very seriously and an opportunity for us to put out on the field the type of footie the fans want to see and that might challenge the Lions,' White said. 'Hundred per cent there is also the opportunity to bruise them. Every Super Rugby side is part of the wider Australian rugby side and if we can bash a couple of their blokes on the way in and bruise them and make them a bit sore by the time they get to the Wallabies then job done as far as the Super Rugby sides are concerned.'
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The Guardian
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Daily Mirror
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North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
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Joe Schmidt rejects Lions' demands to release Australia stars for tour games
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