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As has been documented, the All Blacks host France in 2025, and even though the French will likely get up to their usual tricks of not sending a full-strength squad, this will be a big series for New Zealand Rugby.
The All Blacks will be in their second year under a new coach, and they will be desperate to win that series having been well beaten by the Irish last year.
The travelling Lions’ supporter numbers will only be enhanced by the presence of former England coach Eddie Jones in the Wallaby dugout.Credit:Craig Golding
It is very hard to imagine Scott Robertson or Jamie Joseph — particularly the latter — signing off on a game that would expose half of his first-choice squad to injury a few weeks before the French arrive.
Eddie Jones might be more agreeable, given his understanding of the commercial challenges facing Rugby Australia, but even so he will have a burning desire to stick it up northern hemisphere rugby after the suits at Twickenham — nowhere to be seen after the French humiliation last weekend — turfed him out at the end of last year.
In fact, the Eddie versus the North narrative is another reason the tour doesn’t really need an artificial booster such as the Anzac game: it’s a strong enough tour as it is.
Jones should be negotiating a commission based on the number of Lions fans that travel to Australia — he’ll probably put a few thousands on plane seats with some well-chosen barbs over the next few years.
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The Pacific Islands team v Lions idea? Now, that one has some merit, In fact, it meshes with one of the most important pieces of rugby news this week.
Moana Pasifika, along with the Fijian Drua, will compete in the New Zealand Super Rugby under-20s competition starting this weekend (Australian sides conspicuous by their absence) and Moana have revealed that 10 of the 27-strong squad will come from the islands — five from Tonga and five from Samoa.
That’s real progress — the first signs of a genuine pathway to the islands, and if this continues Moana Pasifika have a chance of being sustainable. They have already recruited Miracle Faiilagi from Samoa and the No.6 looks like a gun. If they get another 10 or so like him they will start to do what the Drua did to the Crusaders last weekend. So, a game against the Lions would be another carrot to get their players into their systems.
The Anzac idea, however, lacks the same purpose. We would all know what it is for, but that doesn’t make it meaningful.
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