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'Can we campaign for the Lions to flip tour and go to South Africa?'
By Liam Heagney
A former England international has suggested that the British and Irish Lions should shelve their planned 2025 tour to Australia and instead visit South Africa. Speaking in the wake of last Saturday’s record trouncing for Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies away to Argentina, Andy Goode has claimed that Andy Farrell’s Lions should take next year’s trip to the home of the Springboks, the reigning back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions.
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Goode posed the question on The Rugby Pod following Dan Biggar’s suggestion that Australia’s second-half capitulation in Santa Fe reflected poorly on Wales given that Warren Gatland’s side lost a series 0-2 to the Wallabies in July. He is how the exchange unfolded:
Biggar: Australia, 67 points chucked on them which clearly doesn’t help Wales’ perspective looking at that after losing the series. Everyone was quite positive about Wales… so you think a bit of the positivity has been taken off of that. Wales probably doesn’t look as good with the Wallabies getting absolutely humped on Saturday night.
Goode: They were 20-3 up at the weekend and then got hosed 67-27.
Hamilton: I know there is loads going on. All I am saying is it’s a Lions year next year, how are Australia even doing anything against them? I don’t know. Maybe we can use this line, me calling them out, ‘There ain’t a chance!’
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Goode: Can we campaign for the Lions to flip the tour and go to South Africa, please?
Hamilton: You can’t!
Goode: If you want the Lions now at the end of this season and you’re picking anyone to play, it is South Africa.
While facing the Springboks would be an appetising prospect for Farrell’s Lions, a curious point made earlier in the show by Hamilton was how South Africa, despite their team’s current popularity, still struggles financially to monetise rugby.
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“One thing that is interesting, you look at the theatre around the game, some I believe in, some I don’t. Like the flyover, the fireworks, the smoke, the music, the theatre that they have created there is phenemonal but it’s crazy they are so uncommercially viable still,” he suggested.
“You look at the interest, it’s crazy, You have got the best athletes, you sell out the stadiums, you are back-to-back world champions, you are putting on games like that where everyone is watching and all the bards are full, rugby is a religion yet they can’t monetise it.”
The headline focuses on a jokey, throwaway line. The really interesting question is the one Andy Goode raised (assuming he’s right). I would love some in-depth analysis as to why, with a nation-wide interest which many other countries must envy, do they not make more money out of it.
Then again, in a country that is struggling financially, the answer may be quite straightforward.
This kind of talk is silly. What kind of precedent would this create?
Ireland will soon be asking to postpone the World Cup until they’re ready, or get a favourable draw.
Tickets have been sold, flight and accommodation booked and venues secured. It’s too late to change anything.
The BIL should enjoy their 100% unbeaten tour.
Plus - if you really wanted to kill Australian rugby…
A lions tour will hopefully convince a few more fans eyeballs on the game.
What a stupid article. NZ is next up after Aus so if it fell over it would go straight to NZ not SA.
I didn't read the article obviously but it was such a shame the SA tour got cancelled, maybe there is room to do something?
I'd love for 3 weeks to be in SA and the Lions come up against a Black, a White, and a coloured team each week. That would be a really nice way to give to each community a game to show their colours to touring Lions fans and each side would be competitive as well. Something different from playing the same teams they played without fans last time but where each still has strong support from the exact same people that would have otherwise supported their state side etc.
Just asking for a friend, but when was the Lions tour cancelled?
And are you suggesting South Africa should segregate into different teams of different race groups?
English and Welsh clubs are struggling financially, but South Africa’s ability to successfully monetise rugby is highlighted.
I might save this piece and remind Goode when the Aussies wallop the Lions next year. Great leaders can bring out the best in an average team. The converse is of course true. Farrell is an average coach with great players. Wales are rebuilding and Ireland and Scotland are ageing. I’m not sure the Lions can rely on England. Goode will eat his words- for sure.
If only aus could reach the lofty heights of ‘average’…!
lol! thanks for this..
Wonderful proposal. But it ain’t gonna happen, not a cats chance. Tickets sold, flights and hotels booked, so it would cost a fortune for fans to change. And the REAL reason the Lions still exist is to subsidise the SH nations with a little boost every so often. So Aus would not just roll over and let the Boks take their turn at the trough…
Whatever the proposal was it has to involve compensation. This is ultimately about the fans, and it's already getting to a slippery slope were fans are thinking of the Lions in the same manner is the administration does.
As soon as that devolves into the Lions team itself, or even it's oponents, it's time to can the idea of them as we know it.
A pipe dream worth having.. that Covid series deserved a full house.
Great idea, would be awesome to fill the stadiums and go back-to-back on a BIL tour, this time thankfully with no Gatland..