The Lions on tour: George Gregan's guide to the Australia team

From ‘Barnesy’ to ‘Cliffy’, there are plenty of colourful characters ready to do battle for the Aussies
21 June 2013

Full-back: Berrick Barnes
Nickname: Barnesy
Has featured a dodgy moustache and my only comment on that is I didn’t know he could grow one! He is a great utility player with loads of experience and is very good under pressure — that’s a real comfort for the coaches.

Wing: Israel Folau
Nickname: Izzy
You have to use BMT (Big Match Temperament) when you talk about this guy. He likes this arena in Brisbane having played some of his best rugby games there — although in a different code. He is so exciting and I can’t wait to see him action.

Centre: Adam Ashley-Cooper
Nickname: Coopy
Adam is Mr Versatile and Mr Reliable. His consistency is second to none in this Wallaby team and he will be a calming influence on all around him in the First Test.

Centre: Christian Leali’ifano
Nickname: Braz
Has shown great courage coming back from a horrific ankle dislocation and break and would have played for the Wallabies last year. He really has done well to battle back from that injury.

Wing: Digby Ioane
Nickname: Diggers
Will always back himself to run before he kicks the ball which makes him such a counter-attacking threat. He is a very dangerous broken field runner and has overcome recent injury to earn his start.

Outside-half: James O’Connor
Nickname: Rabbit
Has had some pretty unusual hairstyles this season but who am I to complain — I haven’t got any! This is a huge challenge for a wonderfully talented player who said he wanted this chance against the Lions and now it has arrived for him.

Scrum-half: Will Genia
Nickname: Sanchez
Eddie Jones called Will ‘The Dolphin’ but the boys have decided to be more formal and address him by his real first name, Sanchez (Will is his middle name). He is the little General, very dangerous and full of energy. He has a really strong winning drive which you need in any team.

Prop: Benn Robinson
Nickname: Fat Cat
One thing’s for sure, he will be have a big meal before the match. He loves his food and scrums and recently said he dreams of being in the scrum — he is a strange cat that Fat Cat!

Hooker: Stephen Moore
Nickname: Squeaky
Given that hookers tend to be a bit mad, he, like the Fat Cat, probably dreams about scrums — they are no doubt dream buddies. He is the tight five leader and a good man to have at your side.

Prop: Ben Alexander
Nickname: BA
He can play both sides of the scrum and unusually for a front-row forward has a knack of scoring tries. He will be up for the challenge posed by the Lions in the scrums and contact areas.

Lock: Kane Douglas
Nickname: Dougie
A big strapping country boy who is all arms and legs. Loves a collision and that is why I know he is going to thrive in this environment against a Lions pack that feels exactly the same way.

Lock: James Horwill (capt)
Nickname: BIG Kev
The captain is a great leader and the rest of the team follow his example. It is great to have Kev (don’t ask!) back in the Wallaby team and he will have a huge influence on this series — he loves playing on his home ground.

Flanker: Ben Mowen
Nickname: Benny
Benny is from the Brumbies and this selection is a reward for all that hard work. He’s a really good line-out operator and a mature individual and the longer he plays the more you will see why he is a natural born leader.

Flanker: Michael Hooper
Nickname: Hoops
He is a pleasure to work with and I am convinced that anyone who wears No7 has a lunatic gene in their make-up because of the places they put their bodies and the punishment they take.

No8: Wycliff Palu
Nickname: Cliffy
Cliffy is a true warrior and is the Wallabies go-forward guy, denting the line with ball in hand. He goes about his business in a very quiet but highly effective way.

George Gregan is an HSBC ambassador. HSBC is proud Principal Partner to the 2013 British & Irish Lions on their Tour to Australia. The Legendary Journey continues. Follow The Lions’ Legendary Journey at youtube.com/LionsHSBC

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