[old crust]

Let's not get too carried away. Rugby Union is very much a minority sport in Australia and not played or followed by many people. In the British Isles with a population probably five times that of Australia, it is played by millions at some stage of their lives. The Lions had five countries and many more professional players to select from. Even with all these advantages, they still had to recruit a Kiwi to coach them and rely on a Yank to get things under way with the first try.