British and Irish Lions Legend Willie John McBride Warns of Tough Australia Tour
The British and Irish Lions’ upcoming tour of Australia will be "tougher than people expect", according to legendary captain Willie John McBride. Speaking ahead of the squad announcement, McBride, who led the famous ‘invincibles’ tour of South Africa in 1974, believes the Lions will face a stern test against the Wallabies.
The Lions’ coach, Andy Farrell, is set to name his squad for the tour later on Thursday, with England’s Maro Itoje expected to be named as captain. Farrell has been tasked with leading the team to victory in the three Test matches against Australia, who have improved significantly under the guidance of Joe Schmidt.
"It’s not an easy one," McBride told the BBC. "Joe Schmidt is there and he has been rebuilding the Australian team." Despite the Lions travelling to Australia as favourites, McBride warns that this tag holds little value unless it is backed up on the pitch. "They will go Down Under as favourites, but that does not mean anything unless they can perform on the pitch," he added.
McBride, a five-time Lions tourist, believes Farrell has done a superb job with Ireland and is confident he can replicate this success in Australia. "Andy Farrell has done a superb job for Ireland," McBride said. "He has done it with his feet on the ground and done it calmly. He has built up a terrific squad and I think he will do the same thing for the Lions." The 84-year-old McBride also praised Farrell’s ability to adapt to new challenges, saying, "To go to the other side of the world and sort out a team is quite a job in the short distance that they have."
Farrell’s appointment as Lions coach was seen as a coup, given his success with Ireland, where he has won two Six Nations titles. McBride believes Farrell is a strong "figurehead" to lead the tour, citing his good eye for the game and ability to develop the team. "He has had time to look at what players he has and see what type of game he wants to play," McBride added. "He has a good coaching team as well. Along with the captain and the rest of the coaches, he pulls it all together."
The Lions’ tour of Australia is set to be a significant challenge, particularly given the Wallabies’ recent resurgence. After slipping down the world rankings, Australia have improved under Schmidt’s guidance, and McBride believes they will provide a stern test for the Lions. "The Australian team has been rebuilding, and Joe Schmidt has been doing a good job," McBride said. "It’s going to be a tough tour, but I think the Lions have got the talent and the team to do well."
This article is based on an interview with Willie John McBride, as reported by the BBC. The original article can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cj45kzq7px1o.
