Why the world needs a reverse Lions tour
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There’s nothing like a British & Irish Lions tour. Since 1888 the so-called Home Nations have set forth to conquer the Antipodes, Argentina and Southern Africa. It’s a rich narrative, one filled with stirring speeches, heroic deeds and a 39.47% winning record across 38 series against the Rugby Championship sides.
Critics will call it an anachronism, an out-dated concept born in an imperial and amateur age. Those critics be damned. Rugby is undoubtedly a richer sport for it. Not convinced? Pieter-Steph du Toit, winner of two World Cups, said beating the Lions series was on par with lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
Jim Telfer, a veteran of two tours as a coach, likened the challenge to climbing Mount Everest. Sam Warburton, a double Six Nations grand-slam champion, said that taking part was the “pinnacle of any player’s career”. There really is nothing else like it.
But what if there was something else? Something that could match the prestige and appeal of a Lions tour and begin to write its own storied tale? What if there was a way that the rugby gods and those who fund them could find a way of gathering the might of the southern hemisphere and unleash it upon Europe every four years?
It would certainly add value. Test rugby demands context and beyond the Rugby Championship and Six Nations there is little of it outside of World Cups and Lions tours. Mid-year series have been reduced to two-Test morsels to accommodate developing nations and end of year tours, now dubbed the Autumn Nations Series to give those games a fabricated gravitas, have lost some of their sheen.
The Springboks and All Blacks have recognised this waning across the board which is why they’re considering playing each other more often. An injection of something new is needed and a Lions-esque tour in the opposite direction would shake up rugby’s landscape.
But when would it take place? The World Cup is sacrosanct and can’t be moved from its four-year cycle. The same applies for the Lions tour which means this new series would have to slot in either side of the World Cup. It couldn’t go in the year before. The 18 month run-in towards the World Cup is paramount for coaches who are fine-tuning their squads.
Which means it would have to go in just after; 2028 if we were to get going as soon as possible.
With respect to Ireland’s impending victory, the Six Nations championship immediately after a World Cup is arguably the most forgettable. Even Antoine Dupont couldn’t be bothered with this one. Ditto for the Rugby Championship. No Springboks fan will care one bit if South Africa don’t claim the title and All Blacks supporters will find little consolation in a triumphant campaign. But a homogenous tour of Europe, one that might compel players to stave off retirement for another 12 months to take part in something unique? Now that has marketability written all over it.
So, who would they play? Because there are six teams in the aptly named Six Nations, touring them individually wouldn’t do. That would mean, for example, a visit to England every 24 years. So, in order to make this work, European sides would have to share the load and each play two Tests against the tourists and provide a domestic team for a midweek clash.
As members of the oldest rivalry on the planet, Scotland and England can join forces. Wales and Ireland could unite under a Celtic banner while France and Italy, as representatives of the European mainland, could play together. Remember, this does not mean that these nations would play as one team. Instead they’d play two Tests each against the four-headed beast from the south.
Here’s how that might look: Glasgow Warriors could get us going with a midweek game before a historic first-ever Test at Celtic Park. Edinburgh would have a dip the week after with Murrayfield closing out the Scotland leg of the tour. Next a composite northern England team – coached, of course, by Steve Diamond – would play on the Wednesday night ahead of the first Test against Steve Borthwick’s men at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
The circus would move south where a Saracens-laden southern England team would provide one final tune-up before the final Test at Twickenham.
Four Tests. Two host nations. One epic month.
Four years later it would be the turn of Wales and Ireland and four years after that we’d head to Italy and France. Some challenges would be easier than others but that is true already for Lions tours. Does anyone actually think that Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies have a chance next year?
The team’s colours would comprise the four representatives with light blue, black, gold and bottle green all mashed together in a Harlequins-style kit. Given there are just two apex predators found at all four locations, the name of this team can be decided by a binary referendum. Are they the Southern Hemisphere Sharks or the Southern Hemisphere Falcons? Personally I prefer the Falcons.
Of course this would create a logistical headache for those tasked with organising the thing. Where would they train before the tour? Would the South African government insist on racially motivated selection targets? Would enough fans from Argentina turn up? Would any All Black loose forward provide the requisite protection for Nic White?
Then there’s the small matter of convincing national boards to relinquish their income. If Siya Kolisi, Beauden Barrett, Rob Valetini and Julian Montoya are in France and Italy, that means all Home Nations would have to make do with a diluted end to the year. This could provide a chance for the Pacific Island Nations, as well as a handful of tier-two teams to fill the gap and raise their standard. But there’d be no doubt certain unions would take a financial hit. Universal buy-in would be required to get this off the ground and that’s only after we’ve agreed on how the revenue will be distributed.
With all those caveats I have no doubt that this would be an incredible addition to the rugby ecosystem. Do I think it will happen? No, of course not. The calendar is already stacked and wedging in something so monstrously complex could cause the game to tear apart at the seams. But, if some administrative genius out there is reading this and likes the idea, it’s all yours.
TEAM SELECTION
Following Warren Gatland’s lead, I’ve selected a squad of 37 with a starting match-day 23 named for the opening Test. A few All Blacks who aren’t technically eligible for New Zealand duty have been included, but those who have formally retired, such as Aaron Smith, aren’t part of the mix.
As the reigning world champions and the number one side in the world, the Springboks dominate with Kolisi captaining the side and Rassie Erasmus taking over as head coach.
Southern Hemisphere Falcons:
15: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
14: Will Jordan (New Zealand)
13: Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
12: Samu Kerevi (Australia)
11: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
10: Richie Mo’Unga (New Zealand)
9: Faf de Klerk (South Africa)
1: Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)
2: Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
3: Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
5: Scott Barrett (New Zealand)
6: Siya Kolisi – captain (South Africa)
7: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
8: Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
16: Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
17: Ethan de Groot (New Zealand)
18: Taniela Tupou (Australia)
19: Franco Mostert (South Africa)
20: Rob Valetini (Australia)
21: Finlay Christie (New Zealand)
22: Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)
23: Damian Willemse (South Africa)
Reserves:
Hooker: Julian Montoya (Argentina); Bongi Mbonambi (South Africa)
Prop: Ox Nche (South Africa); Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand)
Second-row: Will Skelton (Australia); RG Snyman (South Africa), Tomas Lavanini (Argentina)
Back-row: Pablo Matera (Argentina); Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
Scrum-half: Nic White (Australia)
Fly-half: Handre Pollard (South Africa)
Centre: Rieko Ioane (New Zealand); Damian de Allende (South Africa)
Utility back: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand).
Head coach: Rassie Erasmus.
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments