David Campese in brutal criticism of four Lions

Telegraph

5 days ago

Australia legend David Campese launched a scathing attack on four British and Irish Lions following the defeat to Argentina on Friday night in their first warm-up match.
Marcus Smith, Duhan van der Merwe, Jac Morgan and Tommy Freeman were all in the crosshairs in Campese's column for Planet Rugby, where he also said the Lions would get hammered 3-0 by Australia if they did not buck their ideas up.
Here, Telegraph Sport analyses his key criticisms and whether 'Campo' was right or wrong.
Marcus Smith
Then you have Marcus Smith at full-back. Yes, in attack he was threatening and he played a part in two of the Lions' tries, but, and it's a big but, Australia is the land of the physical, athletic full-back and the spiral bomb. That's what we do – we're brought up on Aussie Rules and the skills transfer.
The Lions simply cannot afford the luxury of Smith's defence at 15. He doesn't understand the positional requirements and he's simply too small and light to compete one to one. Yes, as an impact player or starting ten, he will do a great job, but as a starting full-back? Come on!
What we say: There is a lot going on here and it is perhaps worth adding a touch of nuance. It is completely understandable that Smith is still learning the positional requirements of full-back. Friday was only his eighth start there in his senior career to date. Defensively, he was not at fault for any of the Pumas' tries. For the first, Argentina outflanked a narrow front line because the Lions did not fold enough men around the ruck. For the second and third, the Pumas savaged the Lions in transition situations.
Campese is certainly correct that aerial duels are not a strength of Smith's, but I wonder whether these contests are so chaotic now after the crackdown on escort runners blocking off chasing wings – even Freddie Steward struggled in the Premiership final thanks to the commitment of Will Muir – that Farrell put more stock in the up-side of a secondary playmaker. It was Smith or Elliot Daly for that first game anyway, because neither Hugo Keenan nor Blair Kinghorn were available.
Farrell would never admit as much publicly, but I looked at the match against Argentina as an 80-minute audition for Smith to be a versatile, impactful replacement on a six-two bench. In that respect, the run-out was worthwhile for the reason Campese highlights himself: the proactivity Smith demonstrated when the Lions had possession.
Duhan van de Merwe
I simply can't understand how Duhan van der Merwe, a man of 6'5', fails under the high ball in the way he does. He's bloody massive yet managed only one from five in the air in a dismal display under the ball. Tommy Freeman worked hard- 15 carries and the most line breaks, but he was turned over four times- twice in the air and twice on the floor.
What we say: Van der Merwe did look vulnerable aerially on Friday night and, generally, it is not a strength of his - and the tweak to the law regarding escort runners has made it even harder for wings - but it is fair to reflect that he can do things that other wings can't and that it was his first appearance since March owing to ankle ligament damage. Certainly, however, the Scot did little to dampen the narrative surrounding James Lowe, and how he is odds-on to start the first Test on the left wing.
Jac Morgan
I had to check to be sure Jac Morgan was even playing, such was his lack of impact. Yes, he grabbed one good turnover, but when your openside spends 55 minutes on the pitch, makes four carries for six metres, and manages six tackles (one every nine minutes!) you wonder why he's failing to execute the basic roles of his position. He also failed to control anything around the drop zone, a key factor, and generally went missing in action in a woeful personal performanc e.
What we say: Harsh from Campo! Morgan might not have been ubiquitous and, certainly, he is now in a race against time to put pressure on his competitors for a Test berth but there were a couple of punchy carries and there was a notable jackal turnover amid the industriousness. Campo criticises Morgan's ball-carrying but is that really what you pick your openside for? The Welshman was not alone in looking a bit subdued at times on Friday night.
Tommy Freeman
Tommy Freeman worked hard — 15 carries and the most line breaks — but he was turned over four times — twice in the air and twice on the floor. That aerial battle — Rodrigo Isgro and Ignacio Mendy absolutely cleaned the Lions out at the contestables.
What we say: Is this like when cricketers seek out a star player for additional sledging? Freeman was not without fault. He threw one overeager offload to Smith in the first half. Much later, in the second period, he coughed up an Argentina clearance in the back-field under no pressure. However, the promise outweighed the errors by some margin.
Freeman roamed around the field to pick up touches, clearly settling into the role that the Lions coaches have asked of him. Sione Tuipulotu should have gathered an early offload from the rangy wing off the tail of a line-out and Freeman's work in the air was excellent. As good as the Pumas duo were, the Lions man reinforced his reputation as one of the best in this area. Campese might be clutching at straws, here, because Freeman still seems set for a big tour.