Andy Farrell has dismissed claims that the Wallabies are not strong enough opponents for the British & Irish Lions, calling such remarks "disrespectful" and warning against ending tours to Australia.
A victory in Saturday’s third Test in Sydney would seal the Lions' first unbeaten series since 1927 and make them the first squad since 1974 to avoid defeat on tour. The team has already made history by becoming the first touring side to win two consecutive series against the same opponent and are heavily favored to complete a 3-0 sweep.
Currently ranked sixth globally, the Wallabies narrowly missed leveling the series in Melbourne after falling short in the Brisbane opener. Most of the Lions’ warm-up matches were lopsided—aside from a narrow win against the First Nations & Pasifika XV—leading to debates over whether future tours should include Australia or shift to teams like France or Argentina.
Abdel Benazzi, vice-president of the French rugby federation, recently mentioned discussing a "new approach" with the Lions, though he emphasized it should not come at Australia’s expense. Former Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward and veteran player Brian Moore, however, have suggested exploring alternative opponents.
Australia’s coach, Joe Schmidt, opted not to field several key players in the warm-up fixtures, fueling further criticism. While the 2029 tour of New Zealand is nearly finalized, no agreement exists for future tours beyond that.
Lions captain Maro Itoje stated his preference to maintain the traditional fixture list, and Farrell echoed that sentiment: "Australia was never off the table. Every team has highs and lows, but a competitive nation like Australia will always bounce back."
He added, "Their performance last week didn’t surprise us, and we expect them to improve. Look at their upcoming schedule—they’ll be a formidable force, especially by the 2027 World Cup on home soil."
Farrell stressed the importance of finishing strongly: "We set out to win this series, and now we aim to deliver on our goal of a 3-0 result. It’s demanding, but we’re committed to achieving it."
Despite securing the series, Farrell made only two changes to the starting lineup for the final Test—Blair Kinghorn taking James Lowe’s spot on the wing and James Ryan joining the second row.
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