The censorship driving a wedge in Lions tour, missing link returns as Ewen McKenzie rejoins the spotlight
It’s the biggest rugby tour in years but behind the scenes trouble is brewing amid accusations of censorship and lockouts. See details of the brewing feud.
The touring international press pack couldn’t have been more impressed with Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii’s relaxed approach to answering their questions because they’ve been locked in a behind the scenes battle just to get basic access to their own players.
Already accused of being paranoid and tone deaf to the role professional media plays in promoting the game, the Lions’ communication team have taken the draconian step of banning Australian journalists from being part of a WhatsApp group, where team officials provide up to date information about team announcements, injuries and press conferences.
There’s nothing sinister or unusual about teams sharing that sort of information for the media to publish, but the WhatsApp group has become a pitched battleground between the Lions and the fourth estate.
Now the management are turning the screws on their own media by blocking them from filming the first 15 minutes of training sessions, which is a standard practice for any team, and the Wallabies permit it.
But the Lions caught everyone by surprise when the following announcement popped up on the WhatsAapp group without any warning.
“Reminder that Vision will only be open to accredited photographers & TV broadcasters for capture.”
Confused by the extra restrictions, the travelling media began demanding answers in the WhatsApp chatroom that Aussie media can access.
“Why the change in that policy?” one reporter asked.
“Has there been an issue?” asked another.
“Where is your diving line with this new policy? Who are you classing as a “TV broadcaster” and a “photographer”?
“Who is welcome at your training vision access, and who is not?
“We would appreciate a more detailed explanation, as this closing of ranks is unprecedented for many of us.
“If it’s easier for everyone, maybe you could provide a list of those allowed in, and those of us who are blocked?
Facing a barrage of questions, the Lions communications responded with the following curt message that lit the fuse for another wave of complaints:
“Hi All. Access is focused on servicing accredited TV broadcasters & agency photographers. That is how we will be managing it going forward.”
The international media were not impressed.
“It might be easier if you can give us the list of who’s allowed in — to save embarrassment on the day,” one wrote back.
Others said: “When you say agency photographers? Are you stopping **** who lands tomorrow and I from covering these sessions?
“Was this outlined on the initial accreditation process? Ireland have not had an issue with multi media reporters at vision access in recent years.
“What’s to be gained by this? Seems totally unnecessary.
“Not sure why there’s been a move away from that to arm’s length approach. Why jeopardise goodwill before the Tests?
“Answers would be appreciated. Otherwise we’ll have to do this in person tomorrow which would be a waste of everyone’s time.”
Not only does the restrictions from the Lions’ management come at a time when rugby is crying out for all the publicity it can get but also while censorship in sports journalism is on the rise.
Last month, the Swiss-based International Sports Press Association (AIPS) issued a statement calling for an end to sporting teams and federations from trying to stifle independent journalism.
“We are being pushed into a sort of ghetto, where we’re expected to accept only what they give us, no questions asked,” AIPS wrote.
A number of senior British journalists tried to get an answer from the management outside of the WhatsApp chatroom and were reportedly given a bizarre explanation: ‘we’re not a touring team, we’re a high performance organisation.”
Ex-Wallabies coach McKenzie back after 11 years of silence
One of the most reclusive figures in Australian rugby has been convinced to come back into the public spotlight for the British & Irish Lions series.
Former Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who has barely been heard from since he resigned in 2014, will join Eddie Jones on a podcast dissecting the Wallabies vs. Lions series starting Friday.
McKenzie controversially departed his Wallabies role more than a decade ago following the Di Patston scandal that nearly saw Kurtley Beale sacked, only to have his contract upheld following a disciplinary hearing.
The sight of McKenzie announcing his shock resignation following the Bledisloe Cup match at Suncorp Stadium and walking off into the bowels of the venue remains one of the saddest moments in the game.
McKenzie, known as Link, has never spoken to mainstream media since.
He’s done a couple of podcasts, and made a rare public appearance a couple of years ago when he was given life membership of the Randwick Rugby Club, but has been a recluse on his Victorian farm while working as a town planner.
It is his history with Jones, who he played alongside in the front row at Randwick and then coached with at the Brumbies and Wallabies, that has played a role luring him back to speak about the great game of union.
But the host of the podcast Rugby Unity, veteran media identity David Pembroke, also has a long history with McKenzie and was the driving force behind his return.
“My relationship with Link goes back to the late 1980s when I was a reporter in Wollongong and he was a prop for NSW ‘B’ and I interviewed him after the game,” Pembroke told Rugby Confidential.
“I then covered the 1991 World Cup for the ABC and got to spend a lot more time with him.
“So we’ve known each other for a very long time. I had a thought about three weeks ago that it would be good to get Link alongside Eddie, back together, and get their thoughts on the Lions series.
“He listened to my proposal, went away, came back and said, ‘Sure’.”
We are told McKenzie and Jones will share some very strong views on how the Wallabies should play against the Lions. The Rugby Unity podcast will drop on Friday afternoon.
Itoje straight bats Wallabies captaincy dilemma
Lions skipper Maro Itoje quickly sidestepped a question about whether the Wallabies not having a settled captain could disrupt them.
While Itoje was announced as the Lions captain more than two months ago, and has had ample time to develop his leadership and communication with the touring group, Australia’s coach Joe Schmidt has kept the Wallabies captaincy a mystery.
That is clearly because the Wallabies hierarchy weren’t convinced that incumbent Harry Wilson was a certain starter, otherwise they surely would have announced him as the leader at the squad announcement last Friday.
The delay in naming a captain led to speculation that halfback Jake Gordon or prop Allan Alaalatoa could be handed the armband, although Wilson is expected to be unveiled as the skipper when the team is announced on Thursday afternoon.
But unlike the All Blacks and Springboks, who would never wait to reveal their skipper two days before a Lions Test match, Australia’s slow approach risks creating a vacuum of clear communication in key moment of games.
But Itoje was wise enough to throw fuel on that potential fire when asked what challenges the Wallabies skipper may face with such short preparation.
“I don’t know, I haven’t really given it that much thought,” Itoje smiled.
“They’ve got some experience in that squad. They have guys who have captaincy experience and have been around the block a little bit. I’m sure whoever they pick will be all right.”
Lions hooker’s favourite part of the world
Lions hooker Dan Sheehan was unimpressed when he first arrived in Perth, but this week revealed it was his favourite part of the tour so far.
“I would have said Perth was a bit dull because we were staying in the inner city but, I went down (to Cottesloe Beach) on the Thursday to meet my cousin and it was absolutely lovely,” Sheehan said.
He took a dip in the ocean, and was asked if he was concerned about sharks.
“Didn’t see any,” Sheehan said.
Easts cop coach’s fury
Defending Shute Shield champions Eastern Suburbs are six points clear at the top of the table after 13 wins and just one loss, but that’s not good enough for demanding coach Ben Batger.
Following their close 36-33 win over 10th placed Manly last week, having led 33-12 at halftime, Batger was far from impressed with his side’s switch off.
“It’s frustrating not being able to close out games when we’re on top, but there’s pride in how we stand up under pressure,” Batger said.
“That said, it’s time to lift, and it starts this weekend against the Two Blues, another team fighting to keep their season alive.”
Suaalii is already an old hand
For a young bloke, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is already an old hand when it comes to dealing with the media, having been the centre of attention since he was a schoolboy then again when he joined the NRL.
But the 21-year-old was visibly taken back when he came face-to-face with the scale of the international media pack following the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Sitting down next to veteran Wallabies lock Will Skelton, Suaalli was so shocked by all the rows of reporters and cameras and the dictaphones on the top table, that he tried to count how many were there before giving up and taking a photo on his own phone for prosperity.
“Geez, how many people are there?” he asked Skelton. “There must be 30 or 40.”
Skelton cheekily whispered back: “It’s different to the NRL.”
Suaalii openly admits he still misses rugby league but said one the reasons he switched codes was so he could experience playing on a bigger stage against the Lions and marquee events at the World Cup.
“That was probably the biggest carrot for myself,” he said.
“I always knew that I wanted to be a part of something so special that happens every 12 years. That’s probably the big thing coming across to play for the Waratahs and play for the Wallabies.”
Wallaby makes Super Rugby move
Wallabies’ halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa is defecting from the Western Force to Fijian Drua.
The 29-year-old, who was a bolter in Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad in 2023 and has played three Tests for Australia, will bolster the Drua’s backline next year.
Fines-Leleiwasa, who has Fijian heritage, departs the Force after two stints sandwiched between his time at the Brumbies from 2020-21.
It is another blow for the Force, after Wallabies winger Harry Potter made the decision to head east and join the Waratahs from next season.
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