It’s odd how most Wallabies’ press conferences begin or finish with the point out of the British & Irish Lions, despite the fact that Australia are scheduled to play the Flying Fijians earlier than that.
Is it a case of disrespect or just a psychological ploy from Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, earlier than the Southern Hemisphere sides play one another in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6, 2025?
You see, World Rugby has gifted the Fijians tier-one standing — no matter which means. That’s not the remedy any top-tier nation receives when it embarks on a Take a look at marketing campaign at residence or on the highway. It poses some severe questions on whether or not World Rugby is merely performing diplomatic duties or selling Fiji to make the wounded Wallabies be ok with themselves.
Right here’s the catch, individuals. The Aussies aren’t a tier-one outfit and undoubtedly weren’t one below Eddie Jones through the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC). That shouldn’t take off the gloss from the Fijians’ don’t-argue 23-19 victory at Saint-Étienne, France, that had, considerably unceremoniously, left the Australians on the seat of their pants in pool play. The Fijians had progressed to the quarterfinals.
So, are the Wallabies a tier-one nation? They shouldn’t be. By which case, the Take a look at hosts needs to be speaking up their South Pacific Island neighbours with as a lot humility as one would count on of a tier-two workforce.
What can we make of the Lions? Hey, even earlier than that they had left their shores the money register tills at Rugby Australia would have began ringing to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. That’s all the time a given when the composite nationwide workforce leaves their shores, maybe giving their rivals an opportunity to lock their belts for an ego journey. One nation taking over the may of 4 can do this to anybody, particularly in the event that they prevail.
Conversely, Los Pumas beat the Lions 28-24 for the primary time in eight outings within the historical past of the 2 sides, albeit a warm-up match in Dublin on June 21.
However let’s be severe right here. What’s the Lions’ “Take a look at” standing? Ought to they even have one? The Argentines, in any case, had the Lions purring like pussycats. On the flip aspect, Lions’ head coach, Andy Farrell, regardless of reportedly blowing his gasket, might have handled the match towards the 2023 RWC semifinalists as a scrimmage to spice up the ticket gross sales in a continent the place rugby union isn’t a top-10 sport.
However that’s not the place it ends. If the Wallabies beat the Fijians on Sunday subsequent week, will they be again in top-tier rugger?
Not having to journey, the hosts have the luxurious of choosing a match-day 23 towards a “bodily” Fijians whereas exposing their chosen gamers, through their Tremendous Rugby Pacific (SRP) Aussie franchise sides, towards the Lions.
Don’t neglect, the Fijians had overwhelmed the Wallabies two years in the past for the primary time since 1954 — the latter an 18-16 victory in Sydney that had been shrouded in controversy. Fights had damaged out; the referee was warning either side; and the 33,000 crowd on the SCG (buzzing for that period) was “hooting” (ought to that be “booing”) the islanders.
Simply as Aussie followers can level a finger at Jones for the 2023 RWC, so did the 1954 journalists from each nations, enjoying the blame sport of why the hosts had misplaced or the islanders prevailed.
However all that eclipses the truth that the Wallabies had not “invited” the Fijians for seven years, after that ill-tempered 1954 Take a look at. Why didn’t Australia play Fiji once more after the 2023 RWC defeat within the following two years?
Wallabies pivot Ben Donaldson, among the many 10 survivors of the 2023 RWC squad, desires nothing greater than to maneuver on from that day.
LYON, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 24: Ben Donaldson of Australia makes a break through the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Australia at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Picture by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Photos)
“It wasn’t an incredible day for us or Australian rugby, however that’s prior to now now, and we simply look ahead,” Donaldson reportedly instructed the media scrum from his coaching camp this week.
Herein lies an incredible snapshot of how the Aussies really feel, not simply in the direction of Fiji however island nations. Something in need of successful towards them appears to be unthinkable.
For what it’s value, the Fijians have 15 Northern Hemisphere-based gamers of their combine. The burning query is whether or not head coach Mick Byrne, an Australian, can concoct a successful method towards his countrymen. Fijian predecessor Simon Raiwalui did in France. No stress, Byrne.
The tough actuality for Fiji is it has to earn its tier-one stripes by beating a top-four world rating nation, slightly than discovering consolation in World Rugby’s generosity. Then, solely then, will the islanders begin successful the respect they deserve.
Dropping the ball in Newcastle can be a setback for not simply Fiji however the different South Pacific Island nations.
Do this and so they’ll without end be making up numbers in rugby union.
