How British and Irish Lions are playing into Wallabies' hands
SPOTLIGHT: James Horwill thinks the British and Irish Lions’ plans to play running rugby could bite them in Australia.
The towering lock was captain of a Wallabies team ranked No.2 in the world that lost 1-2 the last time the tourists visited in 2013.
Ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19, Australia are now ranked eighth in the world, narrowly ahead of Fiji, Italy and Georgia.
The third-ranked Irish boast 15 players in the squad but, with question marks over the Wallabies’ scrum and line-out, Horwill thinks that could ironically play into the Wallabies’ hands.
“We can win it,” he told AAP.
“They haven’t picked as big a side in the back row that they could have.
“That gives you an idea they want to move the ball more, which we’re seeing in Ireland lately.”
Wales’ three-time Lions loose forward Taulupe Faletau, outstanding Englishman Jack Willis, big-bodied No.8 Tom Willis and 205cm lock Adam Beard were among the noteworthy omissions.
Coach Andy Farrell has instead included 20-year-old Henry Pollock, the compact Jac Morgan and versatile Ben Earl among his back row options.
Farrell will also leave son and veteran playmaker Owen at home, preferring England pair Marcus and Fin Smith and Scottish co-captain Finn Russell as his No.10s.
“All of their ball players want to play; they’re not your traditional kick-first No.10s,” he said.
“That’s another indication of their intent.
“Then probably [Irish scrumhalf] Jamison Gibson-Park in the No.9, he’s a huge chance to start and he wants to run the ball.
“So you’ll see a bit more ball movement than we’ve seen from Northern Hemisphere sides in the past.”
It comes as Schmidt prepares to name his squad this week and the Lions prepare for a one-off Dublin Test against Argentina on Friday before jetting to Australia.
The tour includes five lead-in games before the first of three Tests, beginning in Perth against the Western Force on June 28.
A sea of red is expected to follow them around the country, Lions fans hungry for action after none travelled on their last tour of South Africa during COVID-19 restrictions.
“It’s a big occasion, you’re not going to be able to be in the city and not know it’s on,” Horwill said.
“In 2013 we were front and back page of the paper every day of that tour.
“There’s a big opportunity there. We can see some new heroes built.”
