**Australian Rugby Icon Delivers Scathing Assessment of Lions after Shock Defeat, Broadcaster Issues Public Apology**
The rugby world is abuzz following a dramatic weekend on and off the pitch, with pointed criticism from a legendary Wallaby and a broadcaster forced into an unexpected apology. As preparations ramp up for next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour, recent events have cast doubt and drama onto some of rugby’s key protagonists.
Australian rugby great David Campese did not hold back in his assessment of the British and Irish Lions’ recent showing against Argentina. The fixture, held in Dublin, ended in a 24–28 defeat for Andy Farrell’s team, raising alarm bells about their readiness ahead of next season’s tour to Australia. In a pointed column, Campese spared few players from criticism and questioned their physicality, strategy, and individual performances. He forecast a tough future should these issues persist, starkly warning, “If they play like that, they’ll be steamrolled in Australia.”
The former Wallaby, revered for his 101 international caps and outspoken views, singled out several Lions players. Welsh flanker Jac Morgan, in particular, drew sharp remarks for his limited impact. Campese remarked that Morgan’s presence on the field was barely perceptible, claiming the backrower offered little in terms of carries and tackles, and labelling his 55-minute contribution as “missing in action.” In contrast, the likes of Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly were praised for bringing energy off the bench—though Campese insisted these flashes of brilliance did little to alleviate concerns over the Lions’ broader cohesion and lack of intensity.
Campese’s critique extended to the Lions’ failures under the high ball and at the breakdown—two areas of play he believes the Wallabies will be more than capable of exploiting next year. He pointed to Argentina’s Rodrigo Isgro as an example of aerial dominance, querying how a player of Duhan van der Merwe’s stature could struggle so markedly in these contests. The Lions’ inability to unsettle Argentina’s half-backs at the ruck further underscored, for Campese, a problematic lack of edge.
Selection decisions came under the microscope too, especially Farrell’s choice to start Marcus Smith at full-back. Campese described Smith’s deployment in that position as an unnecessary gamble that failed to pay off, suggesting the playmaker lacked both suitable experience and physicality for the role. The continued omission of Toulouse’s Jack Willis was another bone of contention, with Campese referencing Willis’ recent standout performance in France and bemoaning the Lions’ lack of aggression reminiscent of past tours.
Broader concerns about the standards expected from those who don the iconic Lions jumper permeated Campese’s commentary. He posed a rhetorical question about the presence of the famed Lions ‘bite’ and concluded with a dire warning: Unless standards rise, the tourists could be swept aside in Australia next year.
Off the pitch, frustrations were felt by supporters attempting to follow the action, as RugbyPass TV faced technical failures during the England v France broadcast. The outage prompted an apology from the platform, with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) stepping in to stream the match on YouTube. Both organisations issued statements expressing regret for the disruption, promising to make replays available and vowing improvements for future broadcasts. The match itself proved dramatic, with England losing narrowly 26-24.
On the same day, Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Playing for England for the first time since a serious shoulder injury, the winger was shown a red card for a high tackle on French fly-half Antoine Hastoy. Head coach Steve Borthwick expressed his empathy, revealing the young player was “gutted” by the incident as he now awaits the disciplinary process to determine his tour prospects.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Finn Russell shared that any lingering tensions with Irish legend Johnny Sexton—now working as the Lions’ kicking coach—have been set aside in the squad’s current environment. Previous rivalry has given way to mutual respect and cooperation, as Russell confirmed the pair quickly settled into a positive working relationship upon joining up for tour preparations. Their newfound camaraderie serves as a footnote to the shifting dynamics within the Lions camp, as they look to regroup after a tumultuous week.
As the Lions reflect on their recent setbacks, scrutiny continues to build ahead of next year’s challenging tour. For rugby supporters, the countdown is becoming ever more dramatic, with selection debates, player discipline, and technical hiccups all ensuring no shortage of talking points across the rugby world.