9 hours ago
Lions cheerleaders need some perspective
The British and Irish Lions is one of the strongest and wealthiest rugby brands on the planet. Founded on the mystique of long, distant and barely reported overseas tours, it remains a celebrated anomaly in the rugby calendar. From the height of Corinthian amateurism, it has accommodated rugby's move to professionalism with an uncredited ease but with this has come a change in atmosphere; the mystical has become the public. The unique scarceness has been replaced by the present penchant for presentation; all must be revealed. This tour already has, and will continue to be, well gassed (that means hyped, for older readers).
This was nowhere more apparent than around the Lions' opening fixture against Argentina last Friday in Dublin. With the entire Lions' royalty of past players and coaches featuring boldly in the build-up and in-match coverage, the narrow loss to the Pumas was somewhat deflating. It is said that every expectation is a disappointment waiting to happen and this highlights a challenge with covering the tour. There must be balance and not oscillation between celebrating tradition, and cloying sentimentality and cliché.
All concerned need to get a bit of perspective. I realise the current fad is for hyperbole and instant judgment but one missed tackle by Henry Pollock, which led to a brilliantly finished try for Argentina, does not mean Pollock has a weakness in that area. This has not played him out of contention for the Test squad any more than a later outstanding turnover has played him in. The problem for players and supporters comes from the fact there are so few games before the announcement of the first Test squad.
The PACE from Cordero ⚡️
Argentina hit back ‼️
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 20, 2025
How does coach Andy Farrell judge the merits of a player when he only gets to see them in two or three games before making his decision? The truth is that this is impossible, and this is why he will already have some idea of his preferred first Test squad. He and his selectors and coaches have been watching these players for a long time and are aware of their abilities and weaknesses. What they are seeking is confirmation of fitness and form and to receive definitive evidence that an untried combination does or does not work. When it comes to this, what separates great coaches from others, is understanding how to interpret successes and failures because both can be valuable.
With a limited number of opening games, Farrell has to try to give every player the impression they have been given at least one game where they play in a sufficiently experienced and talented starting XV to press their claims. Tour unity depends on players believing they have been treated fairly, even though the reality is that there must already be some presumptions within the coaching and selection teams.
Being realistic about the Argentina game means acknowledging the Pumas played very well and that their half-backs were outstanding. The timing of the Lions' set strike moves broke down under game pressure and as a team they were neither sufficiently physical nor patient at crucial times. The same players, who would have undoubtedly gone through the phases in their country's jersey, tried to pull off a magic play rather than hanging on to the ball.
Therein lies the problem for the players when it comes to making their case in so short a time. The instinct is to try and impress whenever the possibility arises, but with that comes errors. You are more likely to press a Test claim by doing your job solidly than attempting the improbable. In the maelstrom of a game, under the pressure to make an instant decision, that is difficult to always remember.
The firmest conclusions you could draw from the Argentina loss are that Ellis Genge confirmed his growing reputation as a scrummager and ball carrier, and that Marcus Smith can play at full-back but that is not his best position. Beyond that, not much should be asserted with confidence.
What is just as likely to exercise Farrell and his coaching and selection teams over the initial tour games are injuries. This is what sets tournament and tour coaching aside from domestic competitions. The ability to react to circumstance has been made progressively more acute and that is also why the Lions will have a sports regulation expert on hand to cover any disciplinary problems that arise.
The next few weeks are going to be full, if not overfull, of analysis and comment from every kind of media and this is where a note of caution should be sounded. We all want the Lions to succeed, but this should not be at the expense of objectivity. Punditry and colour-commentary needs to be detached. These are not cheerleading roles.
