'The biggest thing': Unique 'ego' problem crack tourists must overcome

Managing the egos of one international sports team is difficult enough.

Alpha personalities who have risen to the top of their game by being ultra-competitive beasts who hate losing to a teammate in a game of cards, let alone a selection battle.

Now try jamming the best rugby players from four nations - and fierce, historical rivals - into a single team room and team sheet.

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That's the unique challenge for the British and Irish Lions as coach Andy Farrell sets about the tricky selection and man management challenges across nine tour games in Australia.

The Lions squad - who lost to Argentina in Dublin before flying out and play the Western Force in Perth on Saturday - consists of 16 players from Ireland, 13 from England, seven from Scotland and two from Wales.

Eight Lions were born in the southern hemisphere - three each in Australia and New Zealand and two from South Africa.

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All 38 are highly paid rock stars at their clubs.

Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott was on Wednesday asked about that challenge - and what it would be like to play in a southern hemisphere equivalent composite side.

"The biggest thing would be dealing with egos, I think, from across those different countries," McDermott said.

NEW PODCAST! The British and Irish Lions are swamped by fans on arrival in Perth and the Wallabies get down to business in Sydney

"But, you've seen in the past, they obviously have a strong culture and because of how well not only known the players are, but also the team is, they have a duty to perform. And I think they buy into that massively. So, I haven't actually played them yet, but, you know, as we saw on the weekend, they'll be disappointed with that result.

"But, they've got reinforcements coming back and we'll see exactly how they bounce back against the force and then a couple of days later against the Reds, that'll be a true sign of what they're about this year."

England captain Maro Itoje was handed the Lions leadership by Farrell, who also coaches Ireland.

Itoje was an obvious appointment but it was also a smart political decision made easier by a cruel injury to Ireland skipper Caelan Doris that ruled him out of the tour.

Farrell fielded nine England players in the starting XV that was rolled by the Pumas.

He is expected to give more of his Ireland stars a run against the Force and will unveil the team on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Wallabies five-eighth Ben Donaldson admitted he would have loved to have played for the Force against the Lions if given the opportunity.

The Wallabies have released five players for Saturday's opening match against the Western Force - Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White.

But the other four Force players - Donaldson, Harry Potter, Carlo Tizzano and Jeremy Williams - are instead training with the Wallabies in Sydney to prepare for the July 6 Test against Fiji in Newcastle.

"Any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said.

"I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus, in Perth. It would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. We started really well and then kind of a frustrating and disappointing way to finish the season.

"So even to play in front of the fans just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year - yeah, it would have been awesome.

"But again, it's kind of out of our control. So I'll be pretty keen to park up when we're up in Newcastle and put it on the TV and watch the boys go to work."

Donaldson is competing with Noah Lolesio and Tom Lynagh for the No.10 jersey against Fiji and the Lions.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt stuck with that trio instead of calling in an old gun for hire like James O'Connor or Bernard Foley.

"We can't use the excuse that we're young anymore because we've been here for a fair few years, so really trying to have that voice in the squad. It's been really good," Donaldson said.

"We're all quite close mates in the squad as well, so we do a lot of extras together, watch the footage together and stuff.

"So whoever does get that job at the end of the day, they'll be ready to go."