Nut job: ‘I’d give my left testicle to play Lions’

5 days ago 11

In the aftermath of the Force’s 54-7 defeat to the Lions in Perth, it was immediately clear just how much facing the world’s most famous touring team had meant to the home side.

Tighthead prop Oli Hoskins had broken his toe in training and played through pain to pack down against the Lions. On the other side of the scrum, teammate Tom Robertson was willing to make an even bigger sacrifice to get another shot at the tourists in the Test series for the Wallabies.

“It would mean the world, I haven’t played a Test since 2022 (against Wales) and it’s the whole lot of your career rugby-wise and it’s a very special thing to do.

“I’d give my left testicle to do it again, but we’ll see how we go,” Robertson said.

Robertson played all 14 of his Super Rugby games at tighthead prop for the Force this season, being voted the team’s player of the year at the end of the season.

Against the Lions, the prop played in his secondary position of loosehead prop and outplayed Ireland’s world-class tighthead Tadhg Furlong in the scrum at Optus Stadium.

Robertson’s performance against the Lions and his strong season mark a unique comeback for the prop who suffered an ACL injury in 2023 and took a sabbatical at Oxford University last year, completing a Masters in Public Policy, to go with his Bachelor of Medical Science, Master of Public Health and a Master of Philosophy-Medicine.

Tom Robertson of the Force against the Lions in Perth

Robertson is now back in the Wallabies squad and his ability to play both sides of the scrum and play longer minutes could see him put pressure on Taniela Tupou for a spot in the Wallabies matchday squad against Fiji next Sunday.

“Just to be in the squad is an honour and to try and push for a gig in that 23 (man squad) would be unreal,” Robertson said.

“ I’d come close last year, being in the squad for a bit and then had a few injuries and didn’t make the 23 so it would be an unreal experience to play for a Test against the Lions.

“I had a year off, went over to Oxford and it was great fun and I got away from rugby, but I think that was the best thing for me and really got that drive back.

“When I was away there were definitely moments there where I didn’t know if I’d come back to professional rugby but I’m very glad I did and I feel like I got that spark back.”

Winger Dylan Pietsch had a similarly impressed for the Force, recovering from a horror run of injuries that started with a calf injury in the Wallabies’ famous win against England last November. The man who replaced him, Max Jorgensen, wrote himself into history by scoring the winning try.

Against the Lions, Pietsch played fearless running rugby and hopes to add to his six caps for the Wallabies.

“Any time that you get to play for the Wallabies is a big thing and I want to play as many games as I can,” Pietsch said.

“So if it’s against the Lions, if it’s against anyone, I just want to play for the Wallabies and five minutes, two minutes, I don’t care where I am, I’ll play prop if I have to but as long as I’m there that’s what I’m striving to do, is just to play as many games as I can for my country.”

Asked if he would make the ultimate sacrifice like Robertson, Pietsch joked: “I don’t have kids yet.”

All matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.

Follow all the action of the British and Irish Lions tour with news and analysis from Australia’s best rugby writers. Sign up here to receive special Rolling Maul editions of our Sport newsletter.