Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald believes that Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies will win the British and Irish Lions series, but legendary winger Jeff Wilson strongly disagrees.
The Australian teams have impressed during Super Rugby Pacific this season, which Donald feels is a strong indication that they can knock over the famous invitational team, particularly after the Wallabies claimed morale-boosting wins in November.
Schmidt’s charges defeated England and Wales during the end-of-year tour and pushed Ireland all the way, but came undone against Scotland.
Ex-All Blacks weigh in on Lions series
Donald, who was in attendance for the Blues’ victory over the Western Force at the weekend, believes he saw enough quality on display to be confident about the Wallabies‘ chances.
“The Aussies will win the Lions series,” he boldly stated on the Breakdown show.
“They got some hope out of their spring tour [November internationals] that would have given them confidence.
“Let’s get specific here, their tight five will survive at set-piece time and athletically if they can get the game played at tempo and ball and play with big minutes, they will also have the ability to take it places I don’t think the Lions can go.
“They’ve got so much depth in the loose forwards, and midfielders everywhere. They’ve got a superstar [Joseph Suaalii] who’s getting better and better every time he turns out and after being live and watching the Force – who let’s be honest contribute very little historically to the Wallabies – we saw three or four footballers out there who would add huge amounts to the Wallabies team already in positions of great depth. Harry Potter, Carlo Tizzano, Ben Donaldson again and Nic White – we know his quality.
“There was enough there for me to go, ‘Tell you, what you sprinkle that on top of the Brumbies, Waratahs and Reds, there are some players there.’”
Asked if Australia could win 3-0, Donald replied: “Oh look I haven’t gone into numbers but they’re winning the series.”
“The Lions shouldn’t lose any series”
Fellow former All Black, Mils Muliaina, was convinced by the ex-playmaker’s prediction but felt that the Lions would have the edge at fly-half.
“I like what you’ve talked about, the problem they’ve got is the Lions haven’t named their team yet,” he said.
“I’m probably swaying towards patriotism because it’s the ANZAC but I like what he’s talking about, but I think they need a decent first-five.
“For the Wallabies, there hasn’t quite been someone that’s really unpredictable right now and I think that’s where they’re going to possibly struggle.
“I mean you look at the other side, Marcus Smith possibly stars for the Lions that would be and that’s a position where I think that the Lions may have one over Australia.”
But legendary winger Wilson was not having any of it as he feels that Andy Farrell’s squad will have too much quality in the front-five for the Wallabies.
He also feels that the Lions should be winning every series that they partake in given the teams they are able to draw players from before issuing a savage takedown on Wales.
“For starters, the Lions shouldn’t lose any series because they’re four international squads,” he said.
“Well, three international squads and whatever Wales can offer in terms of backup support crew, so they should come with a stacked team every single time they come on tour.
“There’s no doubt about it that they will be a beast, a beast of an organisation who will be well and truly prepared and well coached.
“You [Donald] didn’t mention one tight five player and the top five is where this series will be won and lost, it always is against the Lions because ultimately they’ll be well prepared, they’ll be well conditioned and they will be fit. So ultimately, I look at this and go you know what I can’t see right now a tight five for three Test matches [from Australia] that’s going to be able to hang with them three weeks in a row.”
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Can’t compete in the tight five
Still, Wilson thinks that the Wallabies could shock the Lions in the opening Test match, but he struggles to see how they can win the series.
“Week one I think they could maybe steal a Test match,” he continued.
“They could find a way to win one but for them as a tight five, numbers one through five and then 16 through 20 will need to be significant, they might explore the 6-2 bench which I think they should, to give themselves as much depth up front but this will be a beast of a squad up front and you will have to be very, very good.
“At the moment, I’m not sure I’m finding what they need out of a front row to compete.”
Donald replied: “I’ll give you one name, he’s one of my favourite players, in the world; [Angus] Bell jeez what a prop.”
But that was not enough to sway Wilson, who added: “Yeah he can play, you found a loosehead prop.
“At the moment find me a tighthead prop, are we still looking at James Slipper backing up at loosehead, is Allan Alaalatoa going to be the guy that holds up against some of these players who are coming out of Ireland who we know are outstanding.”