Farrell dismisses 'insulting' idea of scrapping Lions tours to Australia

'Wallabies are a force to be reckoned with,' says coach as tourists aim for clean sweep

- Gerard Meagher

Andy Farrell has described suggestions the Wallabies are not worthy opponents of the British & Irish Lions as "insulting" and believes it would be a mistake to scrap tours of Australia.

The Lions can wrap up their first clean sweep since 1927 if they beat the Wallabies in tomorrow's third Test in Sydney and become the first Lions side to go unbeaten since 1974. The tourists have already made history by becoming the first side to clinch a second straight series win over the same opponents and are odds-on favourites to secure a 3-0 whitewash.

The Wallabies are languishing at sixth in the world rankings and although they came within 50 seconds of levelling the series in Melbourne were well beaten in the Brisbane opener. The six warm-up victories have been largely one-sided - the five-point win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV notwithstanding - raising questions as to whether the Lions should continue to tour Australia or seek different opponents, such as France or Argentina.