Lions channel Australian cricket great by forecasting 3-0 sweep of Wallabies

Rookie back-rower Henry Pollock has revealed the bullish mentality in the British and Irish Lions camp, saying they want to whitewash the Wallabies in the Test series, win all games on tour and become the best Lions team ever.

Channelling Australian cricket great Glenn McGrath’s baiting of England with his 5-0 Ashes forecast in 2005, Pollock gave an insight into the Lions’ confidence levels ahead of the first Test on Saturday by saying the British and Irish squad are aiming to beat the Wallabies 3-0.

The Lions flew into Brisbane on Sunday, but speaking after the Lions downed the AUNZ Invitation XV 48-0 in Adelaide, Pollock said the tourists had set a goal of being the best Lions team ever, and to win all three Tests against Australia. Since the 12-year tour cycle began in 1989, the Lions have never prevailed 3-0.

“Whether you’re playing or you’re not playing, we’re all just trying to strive to be the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win,” Pollock said.

“So if that’s playing or not playing, then I’ll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be. We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We’ve been talking about that loads and yeah, 3-0 is definitely on the table.”

The forecast is sure to be used as motivation by the written-off Wallabies.

Henry Pollock in action for the Lions against the AUNX XV.Credit: Getty Images

Where the Lions have largely stuck to a public script based on understatement and respect, Pollock appears to have said the quiet part out loud.

But the brash and skilful 20-year-old, who grabbed headlines in a perfectly timed surge to Lions selection, more confirmed a goal that others, including back-rower Ben Earl, have also hinted at.

“There’s a big thing that we’ve been speaking about, about being one of the best Lions teams ever,” Earl said last week.

The current Lions squad have set their sights on becoming the first touring team in history, dating back to 1888, to return home having won every game. The mighty 1974 team, containing Wales’ galaxy of stars, remained undefeated, but after winning 21 games in a row, they drew the fourth Test with the Springboks.

Mack Hansen of British & Irish Lions makes a break.Credit: Getty Images

The 2025 team’s claim would come with the caveat of having lost to Argentina in Dublin before they left, however.

The Lions’ first Test side will be named on Thursday, and it could contain two Australian-raised former Junior Wallabies in the starting side - winger Mack Hansen and inside centre Sione Tuipulotu.

Though he didn’t start in the stronger sides used against Queensland and the Brumbies, Hansen is admired by Lions coach Andy Farrell for his work rate and capacity to influence games.

And a concussion to Irish centre Garry Ringrose has lifted Tuipulotu’s chances, given his Scottish centre partner Huw Jones is favoured to take the No.13. The “Huwipulotu” partnership is well established and in-form, and it could see the Melbourne-raised Tuipulotu given the nod over Bundee Aki for.

Huw Jones of the British & Irish Lions celebrates with team mate Sione Tuipulotu.Credit: Getty Images

“I thought Hugh and Sione were very good so we’ve got a nice cover there,” Farrell said in Adelaide. “Obviously, we had a discussion to be had after this game anyway, so who knows which way we would have gone because it was true what we said about leaving it open.

“I know that people think that you’ve got a fixed mind after Wednesday’s game, but that’s not the truth so we’ll sit down and assess that game and then have a tough task in picking what’s going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first one.”

Asked if he looked at the Scottish duo as a pair, when it comes to selection, Farrell said: “No, honestly, we don’t.

“We look at what’s right for the team. I can’t remember ever looking at a sheet over the last three or four weeks and thinking that combination has to happen because of the country that it’s from. That doesn’t exist in the group and rightly so,” he said.

After the furore created early in the tour when Lions chief executive Ben Calveley warned Rugby Australia to release Wallabies to the Super Rugby sides, the Lions have won most games comfortably.

The Waratahs and Brumbies held the Lions to 11 and 12-point wins, respectively.

Asked if the tour games had been sufficiently testing to prepare the Lions for Test matches, Farrell said: “The games that we’ve had have been testing, and if we win with 50 points the competition is not strong enough, but then if somebody puts a tough performance on us, it’s us that’s not good enough.”

All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.