@Windows97 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
This tour is starting to look like a hideous blood-bath for the Aussies, a lack of top flight talent and an interium coach against a Lions team flying high on confidence it could get nasty quick in the test series.
Yeah, Israel isn't very popular at the moment I guess. I can't see how psytrance is either. Not a good combo.
More recycling of players, some will be playing BIL for a third time. I thought there might be some NZ-based PI players as this squad looks weak.
@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Yeah back row and centres too close to call. With the former I think (hope) that balance is the deciding factor. Happy with Conan at 7 but the not quite the same need for a big munter at 6. So I’d Conan is at 8 I’d be tempted to go with Curry at 6 and Morgan at 7. If he goes with Earl at 8 then Chessum at 6. Bierne has shown he’s a lock, not a 6. Either way Pollock on the bench.
Midfield could be any combination of the Irish and Scottish guys. Two Scots probably in better form and have the combo with Russell but Farrell might favour his players. Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo, and we know that Russell is better than Prendergast so not sure how the maths works...
On displayed form I can't see how Aki is in contention.
Because Farrell
I think that is the real big downside of selecting a current Home Unions coach to lead the Lions. There's the issue of going along with the guys you know best, feelings of bias and then what happened to Henry in 2001. He'd done well in building up the self confidence in the Wales camp from a fairly low point and then in not picking many of them for the test side, screwed that over in a flash.
Of course the issue is, if not one of the Home Union coaches, then who? Ideally you need someone that really "gets" the Lions and is absorbed into the ethos, but you can't keep picking Ian McGeechan.
@Catogrande duh. Clive.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think that is the real big downside of selecting a current Home Unions coach to lead the Lions. There's the issue of going along with the guys you know best, feelings of bias and then what happened to Henry in 2001. He'd done well in building up the self confidence in the Wales camp from a fairly low point and then in not picking many of them for the test side, screwed that over in a flash.
Of course the issue is, if not one of the Home Union coaches, then who? Ideally you need someone that really "gets" the Lions and is absorbed into the ethos, but you can't keep picking Ian McGeechan.
What's Jim Telfer up to ?
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande duh. Clive.
You're right. There's no substitute for experience.
Farrell will obviously select the Irish team and fill in a few gaps. Choosing so many Irish replacement players (a third choice TH Prop FFS) is not a good look.
@Bovidae said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Farrell will obviously select the Irish team and fill in a few gaps. Choosing so many Irish replacement players (a third choice TH Prop FFS) is not a good look.
If he does that, he could lose the unloseable tour.
I sort of feel sorry for these guys. Yes they will be Lions but then again not really. Brought in to pad out the dirt trackers in a nothing game against scratch opposition purely because they are geographically convenient (OK Darcy aside who was unlucky in the first place), is not quite there really. A bit like not passing out on your Royal Marines Commando training but still wearing the regimental tie.
Edit: I am reminded of Steve Smith on the 1980 tour. Called in as a last minute injury replacement for the final test, sat on the bench and didn't play a single minute. Yeah he got his Lions blazer and tie but he would never wear them. Fortunately he got called up again on the 1983 tour and did play.
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Windows97 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
This tour is starting to look like a hideous blood-bath for the Aussies, a lack of top flight talent and an interium coach against a Lions team flying high on confidence it could get nasty quick in the test series.
Yeah, Israel isn't very popular at the moment I guess. I can't see how psytrance is either. Not a good combo.
@Catogrande I feel so sorry for them, that I am willing to accept their wages straight into my bank account.
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Windows97 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
This tour is starting to look like a hideous blood-bath for the Aussies, a lack of top flight talent and an interium coach against a Lions team flying high on confidence it could get nasty quick in the test series.
Yeah, Israel isn't very popular at the moment I guess. I can't see how psytrance is either. Not a good combo.
I take it he wasn't on the ticket at Glastonbury this year??
@mohikamo said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
guna be a had get 'cos they are only playing the 8th ranked team in the world
ahem
@NTA said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@mohikamo said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
guna be a had get 'cos they are only playing the 8th ranked team in the world
ahem
What the fuck ????
When did you chumps overtake Argentina and Scotland ?
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@NTA said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@mohikamo said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
guna be a had get 'cos they are only playing the 8th ranked team in the world
ahem
What the fuck ????
When did you chumps overtake Argentina and Scotland ?
When Scotland lost to Fiji and Argentina lost to England
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@NTA said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@mohikamo said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
guna be a had get 'cos they are only playing the 8th ranked team in the world
ahem
What the fuck ????
When did you chumps overtake Argentina and Scotland ?
When Scotland lost to Fiji and Argentina lost to England
Ah righto.
Yeah I'd erased the Fiji game from my memory. Sadly World Rugby didn't.
