Les Kiss addresses recurring jibe being leveled at Lions tourists

Jokes about the British and Irish Lions’ eligibility haven’t stuck according to laid back captain Maro Itoje, who has laughed off the expectation of more to come as the “Australian way”.

Ten players in Andy Farrell’s squad, including Australian-born trio Finlay Bealham, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen, were born outside England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

They have qualified either through family or long-term residency, with Hansen and Tuipulotu Australian under-20 teammates and Super Rugby graduates before their moves.

Banter was thrown in Saturday’s clash with the Western Force in Perth, with the Optus Stadium ground announcer quick to reference the tourist’s foreign roots.

Centre Bundee Aki and No.9 Jamison Gibson-Park were born in New Zealand but now star for Ireland and will feature in a strong Lions team against the Reds.

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“As long as they play a bit of Taylor Swift I’ll be happy,” Reds coach Les Kiss quipped when asked if he expects more jibes over the Suncorp Stadium speakers.

“I don’t think we’ll be getting into that space.”

Kiss, a former Queensland and Australian rugby league winger, earnt his rugby coaching stripes in a two-decade stint that included success with the Ireland Test team as well as Irish and English clubs.

“I’ve coached a number of those boys. Finlay Bealham was there early,” Kiss said of the prop, who moved to Ireland as an 18-year-old.

“It’s not a light-hearted, easy thing to do.

“It’s an opportunity. To Mack Hansen, Bundee, I say, ‘good on them’.

“You get opportunities in different ways. A lot (of banter) is tongue and cheek and have a bit of fun, and that will continue.

“The way Aussies like to use our humour – I think the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish, they get it.”

Reds and Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler agreed.

“It could feel like an away game, we might need it,” he laughed.

“But I think Aussie fans dance on that line quite well.

“When the Lions tour, new and old rugby fans come out of the works and see how good international rugby is.

“There’ll be a fair bit of chat if you go to Caxton Street, a bit of to-and-fro.”

Lions captain Itoje, who watched from the stands in Perth, is on the same page.

“It’s the Australian way, isn’t it?” he smiled.

“They love their sport. Rugby’s a little different on a Lions tour. You can feel the atmosphere. It’s heightened in comparison to when we were here with England.

“As the tour goes on, the atmosphere will build and build and build.

“It’s just a sports-loving country; aggressive competitors, a little bit chirpy.”