The British & Irish Lions are heading to Australia having lost to Argentina in their opening game
Share this @internewscast.com

Gathered around a lengthy table at the Victoria Park bar in Perth, some coaches from the Western Force are passionately discussing what a Southern Hemisphere XV team might look like, combining the top players from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

A British and Irish Lions tour always ignites excitement, and spearheaded by General Manager Chris Goodman, who is the brother of Lions coach Andrew, they focus intensely on who should be the top choice for the number 9 position.

“Your glass is empty!” notes one of the Western Force coaches, highlighting how this tour contrasts starkly with the 2021 series in South Africa, during the pandemic lockdown when all interviews were virtual via Zoom. Here’s to the enduring spirit of live tours!

Their team looks something like this…

1 Tamaiti Williams 2 Julian Montoya 3 Tyrel Lomax 4 Darcy Swain 5 Eben Etzebeth 6 Pablo Matera 7 Pieter Steph du Toit 8 Ardie Savea 9 Cam Roigard 10 Richie Mounga 11 Cheslin Kolbe 12 Damien De Allende 13 Joseph Suaalii 14 Sevu Reece 15 Will Jordan

Fair to say that not everyone agrees on the selection but it is all hypothetical. Only Andy Farrell has the opportunity to pick his dream team for real and they arrive in Perth just after sunset on Sunday evening.

The British & Irish Lions are heading to Australia having lost to Argentina in their opening game

The British & Irish Lions are heading to Australia having lost to Argentina in their opening game 

Andy Farrell's side will face Western Force in their second match and first on Australian soil

Andy Farrell’s side will face Western Force in their second match and first on Australian soil 

The defeat by Argentina was an early wake-up call for Farrell's side in Dublin on Friday

The defeat by Argentina was an early wake-up call for Farrell’s side in Dublin on Friday

The touring side will touch down with wounded pride following Friday night’s defeat by Argentina, ready for a loaded schedule of warm-up games against provincial teams desperate to land a famous upset. First up: Western Force.

‘I wished my brother well on our family group chat before the Argentina game but I said I hope it goes to s*** this week!’ says Goodman, over a pint of Swan Draught.

‘They’ll be hurting a bit after losing in Dublin but we want to really show them what we’ve got. They’re going to have a few things to prove on the first game of tour, people putting their hand up for Test selection. But don’t forget Argentina have beaten South Africa, New Zealand and France in the last 12 months. The Lions will only get stronger as the tour goes on so we’ll give it a red-hot crack.

‘The boys are fizzing to have a crack against some of the best players in the world. There’s no doubt the Lions have got some great talent in there.’

The locals are expecting Farrell to field an entirely different XV at the Optus Stadium, with title-winners from Bath and Leinster in line for their first hit-out. The reality is that Australia’s provincial teams will not be fielding their best Wallabies – they have all been withheld by Joe Schmidt – so there could be some heavy drubbings along the way.

The Wallabies are ranked eighth in the world and the Lions should be aiming for a whitewash if they find a way to clear up the errors that littered their performance on Friday night.

‘Faz set out the aim for us to win every single game,’ revealed a disappointed Bundee Aki before the Lions boarded their flight. ‘To not come out with the result that we wanted in the first game, look, it’s just got to be one of those things where we learn quickly. A group of 38/40 players, to be able to pick from four different countries, you’ve obviously got to make sure you perform.’

Test jerseys are up for grabs. The likes of Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Dan Sheehan, Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park all benefited through their absence on Friday night and they are front-runners for selection in rugby’s most prestigious series.

Western Force are led by General Manager Chris Goodman (brother of Lions coach Andrew)

Chris Goodman says he has been in contact with Lions' Andrew (pictured) recently

Western Force are led by General Manager Chris Goodman (left), brother of Lions coach Andrew, (right)

The touring side will touch down with wounded pride following Friday's defeat by Argentina

The touring side will touch down with wounded pride following Friday’s defeat by Argentina 

Blair Kinghorn is among front-runners for selection and will join up late with the group

Blair Kinghorn is among front-runners for selection and will join up late with the group 

The sea of red will flood south and the Lions will need them in hostile territory

The sea of red will flood south and the Lions will need them in hostile territory 

Travelling fans are guaranteed a warm reception but the welcome will not extend to the players on the pitch. The star-studded team will have a target on their heads and they are expected to deliver.

Any notion that they will be playing on fast-tracks has been dispelled by this weekend’s weather, with the banks of the Swan River close to overflowing and palm leaves scattered across the road after storms on Friday night.

‘The pitches should be alright,’ reassures Goodman. ‘It normally gets like this for about a month in the winter. They’ve played quite a bit of sport on the Optus pitch this week. They had State of Origin Wednesday, the Fremantle Dockers on Thursday. It holds up pretty well.

‘I hope it turns into a beautiful Perth day so and the sun cooks them! We’re used to training in 40-degree weather in summer and playing in about 35. I’m really hoping Perth turns it on next week and the sun comes out.

‘The forecast is good and the city’s starting to come to life. You don’t realise how many expats you have here until you bring something big here like the Lions. 

‘It’s awesome for the Western Force to be able to play them first up. For us, it’s a once in a career opportunity. It’s 12 years until the next one comes here so you’ve got to make the most of it.’

Across the bar from Goodman and his mates, a local in a Lions shirt watches the Super Rugby final on the big screens. 

He too will be at the Optus Stadium next weekend, with 40,000 tickets sold so far. The sea of red will rise slowly over the coming weeks and the Lions are expected to ride a wave of victory.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Is Your Sunscreen Safe? Key Insights Amid Australia’s SPF Ratings Controversy

Australia is currently facing a sunscreen dilemma, as the Therapeutic Goods Administration…
Commonwealth Bank customers have been left unable to check their balances.

Commonwealth Bank Suffers Significant Disruption as Online Banking Services Crash

Commonwealth Bank is experiencing a significant outage, leaving some customers unable to…
Global Sumud Flotilla

Australian Activists Detained Following Israeli Navy’s Interception of Gaza Aid Flotilla

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) stated that it is…
Brisbane temperature

Record-breaking October heat expected for Australian capital

Queensland’s capital is set to swelter under its hottest October day in…

Renowned Scientist and Conservationist Jane Goodall Passes Away at 91

Key Points Goodall revolutionized wildlife research, sparking public interest in her cherished…
Adelaide's Dry Creek Wetlands crash

“Truck Drivers Save Man from Burning Car: ‘He Owes Us a Beer.'”

A brave truck driver recounted the moment he and a coworker stepped…
US President Donald Trump keeps posting what appears to be an AI-generated video of a man in a sombrero and moustache — but why?

Why is Trump frequently sharing this misleading video of a man in a sombrero and mustache?

US President Donald Trump keeps posting what appears to be an AI-generated…
Measles morbillivirus structure - 3d rendered image. Abstract background.

Measles Case Confirmed in Sydney: List of Exposure Locations Disclosed

Residents of Sydney’s Northern Beaches have been warned to be on high…

Albanese Applauds PNG’s Agreement on Historic Defense Deal

The Pukpuk treaty, named after the local word for crocodile, includes a…

“Controversy Ignites Over the Lost Dogs Home’s Decision to Euthanize Puppies”

Victoria’s Lost Dogs Home has stood by its decision to euthanise a…
Fashion magazine Elle UK has been slammed for supposedly 'snubbing' Blackpink star Rosé

Top Fashion Magazine Criticized for Overlooking Blackpink Member Amid Paris Fashion Week Drama Involving Zoë Kravitz, Hailey Bieber, and Charli XCX

Fashion magazine Elle UK has been slammed for apparently ‘snubbing’ Blackpink star Rosé.…
Children found alive beneath rubble of collapsed Indonesian school

Children Rescued Alive from Rubble of Collapsed Indonesian School

Indonesian rescue teams are frantically searching for scores of young students buried…