MATT Williams reckons the Irish rugby public have grown “arrogant” and warned the Lions “could get beaten” as a result.
Since it is the Wallabies lying in wait for the all-star squad, there is an air of this summer’s three Tests being a straightforward task compared to taking on New Zealand or South Africa.
Aussie Williams feels this general sense could negatively impact how the Lions perform[/caption]
Matt Williams sends a warning… don’t underestimate the Wallabies!
“Keep it going guys, because you’ll get beaten!”
Off The Ball Breakfast LIVE 7.30am w/ @UPMCinIreland | #GetBackInAction#Lions pic.twitter.com/t6hJwQS2u1
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 17, 2025
But sporting history is littered with countless examples of upsets occurring with it only afterwards that the favourites admit complacency seeped in from fans and media alike.
Regular Virgin Media pundit Williams feels there could be another example of this in the pipeline given how this tour is being framed as a relative doddle compared to previous ones.
Though he acknowledged his rugby union in his nation remains at a low ebb, he told Off the Ball Breakfast: “Yep 100% there’s a tone of it’s only Australia.”
With a wry grin, he then added: “Keep it going guys because you’ll get beaten!
“I’ve been involved with Irish rugby for 25 years and I’ve never seen Irish rugby become so arrogant.
“We’ve seen the English be arrogant for a long, long time – 800 years even! But I’ve never seen Irish rugby like this.
“Think back to November and all of the talk was ‘Awh we should’ve beaten New Zealand, they’ve lost their aura’.
“And of course New Zealand ended up smacking our bums.”
The former Leinster and Ulster head coach then hailed the improvement Joe Schmidt has brought about since taking over the Wallabies in 2024.
Williams emphasized: “What Joe is trying to is reignite an Australian way of playing. Our voice and how we go about things, which is unique in the world.
“We lost that voice for so long and Joe deserves a lot of credit for bringing that back.”
In total there are 16 Irish players in the Lions squad. Farrell’s charges begin their 10-game slate against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow before heading Down Under.
Yesterday saw him name his starting XV for the 8pm kick-off.
The headline item from it was that Tadhg Furlong looks set to be handed a chance to prove his fitness, albeit off the bench.
The prop has not played since Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton because of a calf injury.
IRISH EYES
He is joined in the replacements by Rónan Kelleher, the only other Leinster player involved because they were involved in the URC final win over Bulls at the weekend, in which the hooker came off the bench.
There are still three Irish players in the starting XV with 2021 tourists Bundee Aki of Connacht and Munster’s Tadhg Beirne included, along with Bealham.
Aki and Bealham’s provincial teammate Mack Hansen is also included among the replacements.
Farrell has not included any Bath representatives with the side involved in the Premiership final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
Lions: M Smith (England), Freeman (England), Tuipulotu (Scotland), Aki (Ireland), van der Merwe (Scotland), F Smith (England), Mitchell (England), Genge (England), Cowan-Dickie (England), Bealham (Ireland), Itoje (England), Beirne (Ireland), Curry (England), Morgan (Wales), Earl (England).
Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).test
