Former British and Irish Lions boss Clive Woodward has delivered a dressing down to Australia despite their competitive performance in Saturday’s second Test of the 2025 series.
Comfortably beaten in the series opener in Brisbane, the Wallabies played much better in the rematch in Melbourne and would have levelled the series had Hugo Keenan not scored the winning try for the Lions in the final minute.
Woodward, who coached the Lions in 2005, commended Joe Schmidt’s side for making a fight of it at the MCG, but he still stuck the boot in and alleged that serious questions must be asked before the tourists consider agreeing to return to Australia in 2037 following the 2029 and 2033 trips to New Zealand and South Africa.
The standard of opposition the Lions played Down Under this weekend left much to be desired, in the opinion of Woodward, and he insisted consideration must be given to staging the tour somewhere else in 12 years when the Aussies are next due to play hosts.
‘Badly underdone…’
Writing in his latest Sportsmail column, Woodward, who guided England to 2003 Rugby World Cup glory in Australia, said: “I do think Australia have serious questions to answer.
“Last autumn, they looked much more like their old selves. Their performance to beat England at Twickenham was excellent. But to me, they have looked badly underdone until Saturday’s game where they really gave us all a brilliant 80 minutes to watch.
“The Lions comes around every 12 years, and it’s so important Australia go out and try and create a performance in every game which they should be proud of.
“Australia only played one warm-up match, inching past Fiji. Why did they not play more as a team before the Lions Test series? Why weren’t more of their Test players released to their domestic employers for the provincial matches with the Lions?
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“These are questions only Schmidt, as Australia coach, and Rugby Australia bosses will have the answers too. To a certain extent, they are not the concern of the Lions. But this will still be something that has to be fixed if Australia are to keep the honour of hosting the Lions…
“I’m sure that when it comes to analysing this tour in the months to come, the men in suits at the Lions will discuss the fact Australia provided weak opposition across the board, with the exception of Test No.2.
“That is not good for the Wallabies at a time when there is much talk about the Lions broadening their horizons with potential tours of Argentina or France.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see the Lions face France. Given rugby’s appeal there, it would be a truly magnificent occasion. Whether it is possible or not, I don’t know, but it’s something that would really add to the Lions brand.”
Reflecting on the Lions’ 29-26 series-clinching win, Woodward singled out skipper Maro Itoje. “I’m very, very pleased especially for Maro Itoje. He joins Martin Johnson and Sam Warburton as successful Lions Test captains in the professional era.
“It was a brilliant sporting occasion at the MCG. To have a Lions Test played at such an iconic venue in front of a crowd of nearly 100,000 shows that the appeal of the Lions – and rugby as a whole – continues to exist.”