Why the world needs a reverse Lions tour
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
Now if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
4 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
4 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
4 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to comments