Lions legend John Bentley has an interesting take on whitewash talk

John Bentley is backing the current British and Irish Lions to achieve a historic 3-0 whitewash against Australia, a feat that eluded him on the famous 1997 tour of South Africa, where Martin Johnson’s battered and bruised men came up short in the final Test.

Bentley, who is in Sydney for the third Test of the 2025 tour, is part of Lions folklore having scored one of the greatest tries in the team’s history, running 70 metres past numerous would-be tacklers before diving over the try line against Gauteng Lions.

His outstanding form on the tour won him a place in the second and third Tests of a monumental series that saw the 1995 Rugby World Cup holders tamed by a Lions side given little hope of success when they flew out of Heathrow.

Now, Maro Itoje’s men stand on the brink of making history as the first Lions squad in the professional era to win a Test series 3-0 to back up their pre-tour claims they would become the greatest version of the most famous touring team in the world.

A first whitewash, since they beat Australia 3-0 in 1906, would be a headline-grabbing achievement, but debate will rage over who is the greatest Lions team, with the 1971 series winners in New Zealand, the unbeaten 1974 Lions in South Africa, who drew the last of their four Tests and the 1997 Lions, having strong claims.

“I do think this Lions team can make it 3-0. They looked nervous in Melbourne, and the Wallabies will be very disappointed because they expected to win the game with the improved performance they put in,” Bentley said.

“This will be the first-ever whitewash by the Lions, and I don’t mind hearing the current squad saying they want to be the best, which shows you their confidence rather than arrogance. I like to hear that kind of thing from us rather than the Aussies.”

The former England and Lions wing told RugbyPass that despite the raucous celebrations in Durban after Jerry Guscott’s drop goal had beaten the Springboks 18-15 to clinch the 1997 series 2-0, the Lions had been confident heading to Ellis Park in Johannesburg for the final Test, which they lost 35-16.

Injuries forced head coach Ian Geechan to change a winning team with Tony Underwood replacing Alan Tait, Neil Back and Rob Wainwright came into the back row for Richard Hil and Tim Rodber, Mike Catt took over from Gregor Townsend at No.10, with Mark Regan coming in at hooker for the inspirational Keith Wood, whose remarkable touch finder had set up the position for Guscott’s drop goal.

Bentley, who also played league for Great Britain, said: “I remember everything about that build-up to the third Test in 1997, and it was a horrendous week because we had accomplished our goal of winning the series when nobody had given us a hope, but then we had to focus on the game.

“I remember we stayed at a hotel that was like Colditz, and I could only think they thought we were going to be 2-0 down or one apiece at that stage because there were no distractions. We wanted to be in Sun City partying!

“It was a way of focusing everyone’s attention, but it was a long, tough week, and a few of the team had dropped out through injury, so five changes were made.

“We had a couple of days off from training and I don’t think it was as intense as the beginning of the tour, but we all wanted to win that third game. The attitude was it was another game to play and I don’t feel it was a case of “a game too far”, and while we lost our second game of the tour, the lads were focused on, hopefully, 3-0, but it wasn’t to be.”

He added: “The dressing room in Ellis Park wasn’t that different from Durban because we had won the series 2-1 against the Springboks. Yes, it was a bit flat, but the next day we all went for a drink together in Sandton, and it was only the second time we had done that as a whole squad – the first was in Weybridge just before we flew out to South Africa. There was disappointment that we had lost that third Test, together with the realisation that we had won the series. “

The team building ability of Andy Farrell, like Bentley a dual code international, has been key to the current unbeaten tour and selection for the final Test will be crucial if a first whitewash is to be achieved. “This squad seems very united and will be confident of completing the whitewash. Andy seems to have a nice gift for getting the best out of the players.”