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The last time the British and Irish Lions toured here, 2001, Australian teams won three contests: the last two Tests and the Australia A game.
The Lions won all the other matches – they beat Western Australia, a Queensland Presidents XV, the Reds, the Waratahs, a NSW Country side and the Brumbies who went down by two points.
In these six ‘junior’ games, the Lions ran up 358 points, almost a third of them coming from the Western Australia match, but this was before serious rugby had come to that part of the world.
The Lions gave up a total of 79 points. However, I think the margins will be a lot thinner this time.
The Lions open their tour in Perth against the Force, then take on the Reds at Suncorp. Four days later, they go up against a combined NSW/Queensland Country side in Newcastle, followed by the Tahs game in Sydney, and the Brumbies match in Canberra.
Two days after this the first Test takes place. After the last of the provincial games, against the Rebels, we come to the final two internationals.
Although it’s impossible to know at this stage who’ll make the Wallaby squad, the 25 names already chosen give us a guide as to which players won’t be available for their home side.
As of this moment, only Cummins and maybe McMeniman will be missing from the Force, but the Reds will be without a whole raft of talent, although it appears the team will include Quade Cooper.
There willl be quite a bunch missing from the Tahs and Brumbies too, and I invite Roarers to name candidates for all three of these teams to face the invaders.
I doubt the Lions will be defeated in any of these junior games, but by the time June 22 rolls around there’s little doubt the visitors will be bruised, battered and missing a little skin.
I’m not suggesting there’ll be thuggery – nobody will get mugged like Brian O’Driscoll was in New Zealand – but a number of guys will be determined to show Robbie Deans that he made a mistake overlooking them and will be breathing fire.
And as all these local teams will want to turn it on in front of their home crowd, the tackling and the cleanouts promise to be thunderous.
To win two Tests, Warren Gatland’s going to have to put out his best side. But with six proud teams doing legitimate damage, he could lose the series on a TKO.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.