WARATAHS' WATERGATE AS FARRELL SAYS PITCH SUITED NSW

ANDY Farrell suggested the Allianz Stadium pitch had been deliberately watered to assist the New South Wales Waratahs as his British and Irish Lions toiled to an ugly 21-10 victory.

- DUNCAN BECH

The Lions produced comfortably their worst performance of the tour two weeks out from the first Test against the Wallabies with Huw Jones’ two tries and an important touch down by Alex Mitchell among the few highlights.

Sydney was hit by a “bomb cyclone” earlier in the week, leading to heavy rain and gale force winds, but Farrell suspected skulduggery from the Waratahs in an attempt to even up the game.

And a conversation with Mike Catt, one of Farrell’s coaching lieutenants with Ireland who is now in charge of the Waratahs’ attack, appeared to confirm his suspicions.

“The pitch was very wet and I was asking Mike Catt after the game and he was laughing,” head coach Farrell said.

“I mean, that’s good tactics from them isn’t it? The ball’s slippy, the breakdown’s ferocious enough and the line speed is high octane stuff as well from them.