Nic White has laid down the gauntlet to the British and Irish Lions, declaring Super Rugby sides are on a mission to soften them up before they face the Wallabies.
The Western Force scrum-half didn’t mince words ahead of Saturday’s clash with Andy Farrell’s touring side in Perth – live on Sky Sports – the Lions’ first outing on Australian soil.
“If we can bash a couple of their blokes on the way in and bruise them and make them a bit sore by the time they get to the Wallabies then job done as far as the Super Rugby sides are concerned,” White said.
The 35-year-old is relishing the chance to finally face the Lions having missed out through injury in 2013.
White, who has been capped 71 times by the Wallabies, remains in contention to feature in the three-Test series against the Lions and he is savouring every moment.
Western Force are tasked with ‘bruising’ the Lions before they face the Wallabies, says Nic White
“It’s proper spine-tingling stuff,” he added.
“Don’t get injured, that’s just been going through my mind. Twelve years ago I got injured and missed that opportunity, and it’s been in the back of my mind for a long time now.
“To get the opportunity to play against the Lions is unreal. It’s a real dream come true, words don’t really do it justice.”
Wallabies international White hopeful of facing Lions in three-Test series
The British and Irish Lions accepted White’s challenge, with scrum coach John Fogarty embracing the physical aspects of rugby while keeping focus on pride and performance.
“Any time you get into a game of rugby you expect to bash someone and get bashed,” Fogarty said.
“We’re excited to play, we’re excited to represent everyone at home. How good is this stadium, it’s such a cool place to play and that’s what we’re excited to do-to show the best of ourselves tomorrow.”
Hansen urges caution when Lions face Force
Mack Hansen knows what is awaiting the Lions in Perth on Saturday after watching the Brumbies’ famous upset of the tourists on their last visit to Australia.
Hansen starts on the right wing against Western Force at Optus Stadium where he will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle.
The 27-year-old was born and raised in Canberra and began his career playing for the most successful of Australia’s Super Rugby franchises before joining Connacht in 2021.
Mack Hansen has witnessed first hand just what awaits the Lions in their tour games in Australia
Selection for Ireland the following year was made possible through his Irish mother and 28 caps later he is on tour with the elite of British and Irish rugby, recalling a cautionary tale from 2013.
“I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,” he said.
“We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don’t expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they’d been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it.
“They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there’s still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams.
Tadhg Furlong discusses the importance of ‘feeling’ in the scrum for British & Irish Lions and the captaincy of Dan Sheehan ahead of their Western Force test.
“None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it’s not just us that want to win.
“We want to win every game but the Force aren’t saying ‘all right boys, let’s go out and lose by 40’. They’ll be coming out thinking ‘we can cause an upset’. They’ve only got one game, then they’re on holiday.
“There will be this, then they’ll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I’m sure they’re going to give it their all.
“When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we’re here, it will take its toll on us, but that’s a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting.”
What’s next for the Lions?
Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer.
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
The Lions’ warm-up games start against Western Force in Perth on June 28 ahead of further matches against Queensland Reds in Brisbane (July 2), the Waratahs in Sydney (July 5), the Brumbies in Canberra (July 9), an Invitational Australia & New Zealand side in Adelaide (July 12) and the Rebels in Melbourne (July 22).
That game will take place after the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19, with the second Test at the MCG in Melbourne on July 26 and the final Test in the Accor Stadium in Sydney on August 2. Stream the British and Irish Lions with no contract
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Bruno Henrique recebe multa e pode jogar pelo Flamengo na Libertadores
Bruno Henrique está liberado para enfrentar o Racing (crédito: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo)Bruno Henrique recebeu apenas advertência e multa pelos gestos obscenos em direção à torcida do Estudiantes. Com a decisão da Unidade Disciplinar da Conmebol desta segunda-feira, 13 de outubro, o atacante do Flamengo poderá enfrentar o Racing, no Maracanã, pela partida de ida da semifinal da Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEApesar de o jogador, que é reserva com o técnico Filipe Luís, não estar suspenso, o Rubro-Negro vai recorrer contra a multa de 25 mil dólares (cerca de R$ 136 mil).Bruno Henrique se desculpou por gestos obscenosNa audiência que aconteceu na última sexta-feira (10), Bruno Henrique participou de maneira virtual e afirmou que teve uma “reação impensada” diante do clima hostil. Ele ainda alegou que não foi quem começou com as provocações e citou objetos arremessados em direção a ele e […]
Sorry, NFL: Chiefs Still Look Like Best Team in Professional Football
The Kansas City Chiefs are back to .500, improving to 3-3 after defeating the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. And, apparently, the win was enough for Colin Cowherd to declare that Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs have regained their throne as the NFL's top team."Everybody's worst nightmare is now official: The Kansas City Chiefs, once again, are the best team in professional football," Cowherd said on Monday's "The Herd." "First three weeks, Mahomes was wobbly, and they were averaging 20 points per game. In their last three games, they're averaging 32 points per game along with that defense and those special teams.""Sorry, NFL, they did it again."Sunday's 30-17 victory was arguably the Chiefs' most impressive of the year, decisively taking down a team that was widely considered to be the best in the league entering Week 6. The Chiefs […]
Jets WR Garrett Wilson hyperextended knee in loss to Broncos, will miss a ‘couple of weeks’
Though he appears to have avoided major injury, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is still expected to miss “a couple of weeks” with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.Wilson hyperextended his knee and will now be sidelined for the near future after the team’s 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London on Sunday. An MRI on Monday confirmed the injury, which reportedly happened on the team’s second-to-last offensive play in the loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Wilson landed awkwardly after an incomplete pass, and then missed the last play of the game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Get more Jets news: New York team feed]A specific timeline for his return isn’t known. The Jets are set to take on the Carolina Panthers next on Sunday, and then they’ll travel to the Cincinnati Bengals the following week before their bye. According to […]
Commanders vs. Bears prediction, odds, start time: 2025 Week 6 Monday Night Football picks from proven model
The Chicago Bears (2-2) visit the Washington Commanders (3-2) in the NFL Week 6 finale on 'Monday Night Football.' The Bears are coming out of their Week 5 bye looking for another victory after winning each of their last two games. They visit a Commanders team that upset the Los Angeles Chargers in a 27-10 road win their last time out. Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin/knee) are both out for Washington, while running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) and receiver Deebo Samuel (heel) are questionable, though Samuel is reportedly set to play.Kickoff from Northwest Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Washington is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Bears vs. Commanders odds, and the over/under for total points scored is 49.5. Before making any Commanders vs. Bears picks, be sure to see what the SportsLine projection model has […]
NFL suspends Brian Branch without pay for initiating postgame brawl between Lions, Chiefs
Brian Branch has been suspended by the NFL for one game without pay for his actions following the Lions' loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night. The Lions' Pro Bowl defensive back initiated a fight between the two teams immediately following the Chiefs' 30-17 win when he punched Kansas City wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. Branch, who will miss the Lions' upcoming home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Monday Night Football," stands to lose $76,624 for one one-game suspension. He is planning to appeal said suspension, according to NFL Media. Branch attributed his actions postgame to building frustration with Smith-Schuster during Sunday night's game. "I did a real childish thing," Branch said. "I'm tired of people doing stuff in between plays and refs don't catch it. They be trying to bully me out there. I shouldn't have did it, it was childish." Lions […]
What Does Brian Callahan’s Firing Mean for Cam Ward’s Development with Titans?
Cam Ward didn’t have much stability in his college football days. The No. 1 pick had three different offensive playcallers in his last three seasons at Washington State (2022-23) and Miami (2024). That’s on top of the challenges acclimating to different coaching staffs and teammates at three programs in a five-year span. So in August, when asked about what it could mean for him to finally have stability in the NFL, the Titans rookie quarterback said it would "unlock everything.""You see the best quarterbacks out there," Ward said during training camp. "Tom Brady? He had stability. Lamar [Jackson]? He had stability. Pat [Mahomes]? He had stability. I just think that a lot of guys who have stability in the NFL can succeed at a faster rate, but can also succeed long term. I just think that’s what we need in Tennessee."That's […]
Related
Bruno Henrique recebe multa e pode jogar pelo Flamengo na Libertadores
Bruno Henrique está liberado para enfrentar o Racing (crédito: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo)Bruno Henrique recebeu apenas advertência e multa pelos gestos obscenos em direção à torcida do Estudiantes. Com a decisão da Unidade Disciplinar da Conmebol desta segunda-feira, 13 de outubro, o atacante do Flamengo poderá enfrentar o Racing, no Maracanã, pela partida de ida da semifinal da Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEApesar de o jogador, que é reserva com o técnico Filipe Luís, não estar suspenso, o Rubro-Negro vai recorrer contra a multa de 25 mil dólares (cerca de R$ 136 mil).Bruno Henrique se desculpou por gestos obscenosNa audiência que aconteceu na última sexta-feira (10), Bruno Henrique participou de maneira virtual e afirmou que teve uma “reação impensada” diante do clima hostil. Ele ainda alegou que não foi quem começou com as provocações e citou objetos arremessados em direção a ele e […]
Sorry, NFL: Chiefs Still Look Like Best Team in Professional Football
The Kansas City Chiefs are back to .500, improving to 3-3 after defeating the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. And, apparently, the win was enough for Colin Cowherd to declare that Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs have regained their throne as the NFL's top team."Everybody's worst nightmare is now official: The Kansas City Chiefs, once again, are the best team in professional football," Cowherd said on Monday's "The Herd." "First three weeks, Mahomes was wobbly, and they were averaging 20 points per game. In their last three games, they're averaging 32 points per game along with that defense and those special teams.""Sorry, NFL, they did it again."Sunday's 30-17 victory was arguably the Chiefs' most impressive of the year, decisively taking down a team that was widely considered to be the best in the league entering Week 6. The Chiefs […]
Jets WR Garrett Wilson hyperextended knee in loss to Broncos, will miss a ‘couple of weeks’
Though he appears to have avoided major injury, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is still expected to miss “a couple of weeks” with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.Wilson hyperextended his knee and will now be sidelined for the near future after the team’s 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London on Sunday. An MRI on Monday confirmed the injury, which reportedly happened on the team’s second-to-last offensive play in the loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Wilson landed awkwardly after an incomplete pass, and then missed the last play of the game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Get more Jets news: New York team feed]A specific timeline for his return isn’t known. The Jets are set to take on the Carolina Panthers next on Sunday, and then they’ll travel to the Cincinnati Bengals the following week before their bye. According to […]
Commanders vs. Bears prediction, odds, start time: 2025 Week 6 Monday Night Football picks from proven model
The Chicago Bears (2-2) visit the Washington Commanders (3-2) in the NFL Week 6 finale on 'Monday Night Football.' The Bears are coming out of their Week 5 bye looking for another victory after winning each of their last two games. They visit a Commanders team that upset the Los Angeles Chargers in a 27-10 road win their last time out. Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin/knee) are both out for Washington, while running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) and receiver Deebo Samuel (heel) are questionable, though Samuel is reportedly set to play.Kickoff from Northwest Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Washington is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Bears vs. Commanders odds, and the over/under for total points scored is 49.5. Before making any Commanders vs. Bears picks, be sure to see what the SportsLine projection model has […]
NFL suspends Brian Branch without pay for initiating postgame brawl between Lions, Chiefs
Brian Branch has been suspended by the NFL for one game without pay for his actions following the Lions' loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night. The Lions' Pro Bowl defensive back initiated a fight between the two teams immediately following the Chiefs' 30-17 win when he punched Kansas City wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. Branch, who will miss the Lions' upcoming home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Monday Night Football," stands to lose $76,624 for one one-game suspension. He is planning to appeal said suspension, according to NFL Media. Branch attributed his actions postgame to building frustration with Smith-Schuster during Sunday night's game. "I did a real childish thing," Branch said. "I'm tired of people doing stuff in between plays and refs don't catch it. They be trying to bully me out there. I shouldn't have did it, it was childish." Lions […]
What Does Brian Callahan’s Firing Mean for Cam Ward’s Development with Titans?
Cam Ward didn’t have much stability in his college football days. The No. 1 pick had three different offensive playcallers in his last three seasons at Washington State (2022-23) and Miami (2024). That’s on top of the challenges acclimating to different coaching staffs and teammates at three programs in a five-year span. So in August, when asked about what it could mean for him to finally have stability in the NFL, the Titans rookie quarterback said it would "unlock everything.""You see the best quarterbacks out there," Ward said during training camp. "Tom Brady? He had stability. Lamar [Jackson]? He had stability. Pat [Mahomes]? He had stability. I just think that a lot of guys who have stability in the NFL can succeed at a faster rate, but can also succeed long term. I just think that’s what we need in Tennessee."That's […]
Be the first to leave a comment