Lions boss Andy Farrell accused the Waratahs of dirty tricks after his side’s unconvincing 21-10 win in Sydney – and warned there could be more to come from the Aussies. Farrell claimed the Tahs had deliberately soaked the pitch to blunt the Lions’ running game they are trying to perfect on this trip.
The hosts hit back claiming there had been a rainstorm in New South Wales on Tuesday when the Lions were in Brisbane preparing to play the Reds. But Farrell, who quizzed old pal and Waratahs assistant coach Mike Catt about the pitch, told his side to prepare for the worst from the Wallabies with the first Test just two weeks away.
Farrell said: “We know what is coming and we have got to be ready for anything and able to adapt. The pitch was very wet and I was asking Catty after the game and he was laughing.
“I mean, that’s good tactics from them, isn’t it? That the ball’s slippy, the breakdown’s ferocious enough and the line speed is high octane stuff as well from them. We’ve seen that done plenty of times.”
Lock Scott Cummings added: “It’s tricky because sometimes you force things. It’s an amazing stadium, but it was a bit wet, a bit boggy. But it’s up to us to deal with it because it might be pouring rain for that first Test. As a team we need to be better in that situation.”
But the Waratahs hit back with boss Dan McKellar saying: “I’d too much to think about to be worried about watering the pitch. Andy was probably sunning himself in Brisbane on Tuesday.”
And captain Hugh Sinclair added: “See the weather on Tuesday, that f****** sucked.”
Boss Farrell also revealed his son Owen is unlikely to be seen in action until next weekend, against an Invitation XV in Adelaide, and is set to miss the Brumbies game on Wednesday in Canberra.
Owen, who arrived on Friday as a replacement for Elliot Daly, was in the stands and got a mixed reception from the crowd when spotted on the big screen.
Boss Farrell said: “I would think Wednesday’s too soon as far as jet lag and protocols that you need to go through in regards to that. He’s probably trying to stay awake at this stage.”
Fly-half Farrell been off since May with concussion but his dad revealed he has no more medical tests to pass before playing. But Andy said: “There’s just a formality that he needs to go through with a phone call with someone.”