There should be a degree of ambivalence about the value of this Fiji Test, even though it has become coaching orthodoxy that these hit-outs are invaluable (Robbie Deans sought a similar lead-in Test before the 2013 Lions series but was denied, according to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity).
If you look back again to 2017, the All Blacks also had a Test before the Lions series – but what they learnt from a 78-0 romp against Samoa a week out from the first Lions Test is open to debate.
Sonny Bill Williams played against the Lions for the Blues in a tour match before starring in the first Test.Credit: Getty Images
In fact, you could strongly argue that the Crusaders’ All Blacks players took much more out of their loss to the Lions the week before, and a lot of those Crusaders players fronted as the All Blacks beat the Lions 30-15 in the first Test.
Similarly, Sonny Bill Williams, who played a tour game for the Blues against the Lions, played a major hand in the All Blacks’ first Test victory.
In 2021, the Springboks played a final hit-out against Georgia two weeks before the opening Test of the Lions series. They thumped Georgia, and presumably felt this was excellent preparation, but promptly went on to lose the first Test.
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As mentioned above, the proximity of the Brumbies’ tour game against the Lions and the first Test exempts their players from this conversation. But top-line Wallabies at the Waratahs, Reds and Force should be bang in the mix for those tour games. It is hard to see the likes of Taniela Tupou, Tom Lynagh and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii being anything but enriched from the experience.
Yes, you would be cutting into their Wallabies training time a little, but not in a major way and not to the extent that is going to affect the outcome of the series.
Rugby players are rugby players: they want to play in those big games where the accelerated development occurs, notwithstanding that a lot of these blokes are deeply wedded to their state colours regardless of their Wallabies commitments.
