Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has firmly opposed the demands from the British and Irish Lions to release all of Australia's top players to their Super Rugby teams for warm-up games. Schmidt labeled such a move as 'counter-productive', emphasizing the need to protect key players from potential injuries and ensure they are in peak condition for the upcoming Test series.

The Lions' Perspective

Lions chief executive Ben Calveley reiterated that the agreement is clear: Australia should make their top players available for the warm-up fixtures. The Lions are set to face Western Force this Saturday in Perth, marking the start of their Australian tour. Five Wallabies players have been released to Western Force for this match.

Upcoming Fixtures

The Lions' tour schedule includes matches against:

• Queensland Reds on 2 July
• NSW Waratahs on 5 July
• ACT Brumbies on 9 July

The first Test against Australia is scheduled for 19 July in Brisbane.

Schmidt's Strategy

Schmidt has been focused on maintaining a core group of 25 players for the Wallabies' only warm-up game against Fiji on 6 July. Key players like Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau, who play for Waratahs and Brumbies respectively, are unlikely to feature for both their franchises and the national team.

Historical Context

In 2017, New Zealand's top players, including Rieko Ioane and Sonny Bill Williams, participated in warm-up games against the Lions and also played in the Test series. However, Schmidt is cautious, drawing parallels to the 2021 scenario where Covid restrictions prevented South African players from playing for their clubs before the Lions series.

Final Thoughts

Schmidt concluded, 'The ambition is to have the highest-quality players available, but it's not practical to play all the same players every week. We need to balance player fitness and game readiness.'

The Lions' second Test is on 26 July at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the final Test on 2 August in Sydney.