Attendances and audiences in Australia for the Lions tour. It all suggests the tour was a massive success.
I enjoyed the games a lot, which as someone who wanted both teams to lose says something about the quality. And the fact there was some controversy is even better.
Looking back, I have to think Aussie were robbed of a series win with the non-penalty in the second Test
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I enjoyed the games a lot, which as someone who wanted both teams to lose says something about the quality. And the fact there was some controversy is even better.
Looking back, I have to think Aussie were robbed of a series win with the non-penalty in the second Test
Second time a south Pacific Lions series has been decided by a dubious reffing decision
@Kirwan Yes 100% to the first bit, but less so to the second paragraph.
I thought the Sheehan try was the most dubious one in that game. The Morgan clear out is the sort of thing that happens all the time and hasn't been penalised at the top level in a decade. Poor Australian defence was the main reason they lost that second Test.
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
the non-penalty in the second Test
That being the grass cutter tackle by the pom right? Followed by a red card and penalty try.
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
the non-penalty in the second Test
That being the grass cutter tackle by the pom right? Followed by a red card and penalty try.
That too, was a crap call. Nothing worse than taking the time to look at it and still get it wrong
@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Kirwan Yes 100% to the first bit, but less so to the second paragraph.
I thought the Sheehan try was the most dubious one in that game**. The Morgan clear out is the sort of thing that happens all the time and hasn't been penalised at the top level in a decade**. Poor Australian defence was the main reason they lost that second Test.
Rubbish, missile cleanouts get penalised all the time, just not in the last minute by the looks of things
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Well they didn't much in the first 20 minutes when Aus were all over us. I was watching a review, might have been Squidgy, can't remember and there were quite a few that were almost identical to THAT clearout. Not a peep from anyone - not even Squidgy (if it was him).
Short version is two wrongs don't make a right. But the main difference is they didn't get reviewed, so when you take the time to review it, you should get to the right decision.
It's not a good argument to say they messed it up in all these other places too.
Should just go back to the law where you have to bind with another player to join a ruck like that, suck the forwards back into one area and get more space for the backs. If we are really worried about player health, a jackel with their head down getting smashed with some joining a ruck with downward momentum seems way more dangerous that accidentally touching someones head in a tackle.
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Kirwan Yes 100% to the first bit, but less so to the second paragraph.
I thought the Sheehan try was the most dubious one in that game**. The Morgan clear out is the sort of thing that happens all the time and hasn't been penalised at the top level in a decade**. Poor Australian defence was the main reason they lost that second Test.
Rubbish, missile cleanouts get penalised all the time, just not in the last minute by the looks of things
But regardless it was still poor defence that let in the last try. 5-6 players standing behind the ruck or whatever it was is the reason Keenen scored. Perhaps one of Wallabies biggest weakness (and I know I keep saying it) is how passive they get on defence. I bet Schmidt works on it quite a bit, it's just a mental thing.
And they had all that possession earlier in the half, the chance to put them away, and couldn't score
@Kirwan I can't refute any of that, what you say makes sense to me both on a player safety angle and in potentially making the game a bit more open. However...
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Rubbish, missile cleanouts get penalised all the time, just not in the last minute by the looks of things
I hope you aren’t expecting me to be consistent with my arguments?
Was still a penalty though.
@Kirwan said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I hope you aren’t expecting me to be consistent with my arguments?
This both made me laugh and so resonated with me. Maybe it is age - I have been on here for decades - but I am appreciating the unfiltered, yet amazingly sane commentary (from many but especially the old-timers) so much.