Ollie Chessum, the stalwart of the British and Irish Lions, recently spilled the beans on the “worst bit” of their latest tour in Australia under Andy Farrell's leadership. Despite securing a 2-1 series win against the formidable Australians, Chessum highlighted an unexpected low point that left him and his teammates somewhat disenchanted.
The Lions' tour was marked by highs and lows, with Chessum taking the field in all three matches, including a pivotal start in Melbourne alongside Maro Itoje. However, the post-match dynamics following the series finale in Sydney struck a sour note. Chessum revealed on the podcast 'For The Love Of Rugby' that the lack of interaction between the two teams was disappointing.
"We finished the third match and the teams didn’t really mingle. We sort of kept ourselves to ourselves…"
Geoff Parling, now head coach at Leicester and former Wallabies assistant, also noted this, emphasizing the stark contrast to the usual camaraderie expected after such intense encounters.
Chessum's sentiment was echoed by Anthony Watson on the show, where he suggested that if any occasion warranted a joint celebration, it should be after the concluding Test of a Lions tour, though he generally opposed post-match formalities.
Back at Leicester, under Parling's fresh leadership, Chessum is navigating a rejuvenated squad environment. He was taken aback by a statistic thrown up in a team meeting, revealing the youthful average age of their squad.
"The average age of our squad now is 24. I’ve turned 25, so I am older than the average age of the squad,"
he noted, highlighting the transition phase the team is undergoing.
Despite Leicester’s shaky start to the season, Chessum praised Parling’s approach. He feels a strong connection to the club’s ethos through Parling, who understands the club intimately from his days as a player. As Leicester gears up to face reigning champions Bath at Welford Road, Chessum is optimistic about the team's prospects under the new regime.
Chessum’s insights reveal not just the highs of international rugby victories but also the nuanced challenges that come with shifting team dynamics and leadership, both on and off the field.
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Ollie Chessum, the stalwart of the British and Irish Lions, recently spilled the beans on the “worst bit” of their latest tour in Australia under Andy Farrell's leadership. Despite securing a 2-1 series win against the formidable Australians, Chessum highlighted an unexpected low point that left him and his teammates somewhat disenchanted.
The Lions' tour was marked by highs and lows, with Chessum taking the field in all three matches, including a pivotal start in Melbourne alongside Maro Itoje. However, the post-match dynamics following the series finale in Sydney struck a sour note. Chessum revealed on the podcast 'For The Love Of Rugby' that the lack of interaction between the two teams was disappointing.
"We finished the third match and the teams didn’t really mingle. We sort of kept ourselves to ourselves…"
Geoff Parling, now head coach at Leicester and former Wallabies assistant, also noted this, emphasizing the stark contrast to the usual camaraderie expected after such intense encounters.Chessum's sentiment was echoed by Anthony Watson on the show, where he suggested that if any occasion warranted a joint celebration, it should be after the concluding Test of a Lions tour, though he generally opposed post-match formalities.
Back at Leicester, under Parling's fresh leadership, Chessum is navigating a rejuvenated squad environment. He was taken aback by a statistic thrown up in a team meeting, revealing the youthful average age of their squad.
"The average age of our squad now is 24. I’ve turned 25, so I am older than the average age of the squad,"
he noted, highlighting the transition phase the team is undergoing.Despite Leicester’s shaky start to the season, Chessum praised Parling’s approach. He feels a strong connection to the club’s ethos through Parling, who understands the club intimately from his days as a player. As Leicester gears up to face reigning champions Bath at Welford Road, Chessum is optimistic about the team's prospects under the new regime.
Chessum’s insights reveal not just the highs of international rugby victories but also the nuanced challenges that come with shifting team dynamics and leadership, both on and off the field.