AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions

@Dodge said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

it is however a tradition of the Lions tour to Aus to play an ANZAC team, I'm ok with that.

No game in 2001 or 2013. This might be the second time ever?

I don't have an issue with it. It makes the fixture list more interesting. Weakened SR sides haven't put up enough of a fight (so far)

fair point, I have a romantic memory of '93 (even though there weren't many Kiwis in that side from memory)

Yeah I'd say it really helps ramp up interest too. I think it's neat.

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

Aus only has 4 pro teams. They need to create some additional teams to play.

No MABs or Provincial XV, or for that matter AB XV.

@booboo said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

Aus only has 4 pro teams. They need to create some additional teams to play.

No MABs or Provincial XV, or for that matter AB XV.

Australia A played last year - no reason why they couldn't have included them.

@Mr-Fish said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

@booboo said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

Aus only has 4 pro teams. They need to create some additional teams to play.

No MABs or Provincial XV, or for that matter AB XV.

Australia A played last year - no reason why they couldn't have included them.

You don’t want to detract too many players away from their provincial sides and their prep for those matches. Plus some of those Aus A players are now in the Wallabies squad.

Word is that Nuggie and Bernard Foley were lined up (and maybe Ritchie Mo, and other Jap based types) but the admin failed to confirm arrangements.

I prefer the AUNZ team to the provincial BaaBaa's that we did, the concept of the AUNZ team has some potential to be something cool i think

I like the concept.

Despite the insurance challenges they've got a good group of players and with Kiss and Foz there's plenty of coaching talent too.

Excited for Saturday.

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

I with you Major, seems like a Baabaas game to me, hard to get interested, which is saying something for me. Basically the rugby in Aus struggles for enough depth to find teams to play, so they filling in the gaps. Mind you I didn't get excited about Bok/Baabaa game a couple of weeks back. Just don't find these thrown together teams of players from around world, where I get feeling it's a week on the piss for most of the players as not my thing.

@Dodge said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

fair point, I have a romantic memory of '93 (even though there weren't many Kiwis in that side from memory)

Lol Dodge probably because it was '89?

I find it more interesting than watching the best players from 4 international sides playing against a (depleted) quarter of a single international side. Might even watch it, if it wasn't 3 fucking am.
Lions pretty much are a limited-criteria Baabaas. At least this is a limited-criteria Baabaas vs an even more limited-criteria Baabaas.

Id be happy if it became a regular for lions tours to either country....give "the other country" some skin in the tour, i like that they kiwis that have missed out on selection get a chance to show off so close to home

@Kiwiwomble said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

Id be happy if it became a regular for lions tours to either country....give "the other country" some skin in the tour, i like that they kiwis that have missed out on selection get a chance to show off so close to home

If they select players on the fringes of the ABs it gives some opportunity for the AB coaches to see them play quality international opposition

@Dan54 said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

I don't really understand this game. Lions tours are so rare, so hyped up, so talked about and for one of the games they are playing a team no heritage, no pedigree and worst of all, no real selection philosophy other than who isn't in their respective countries first team squads.

I with you Major, seems like a Baabaas game to me, hard to get interested, which is saying something for me. Basically the rugby in Aus struggles for enough depth to find teams to play, so they filling in the gaps. Mind you I didn't get excited about Bok/Baabaa game a couple of weeks back. Just don't find these thrown together teams of players from around world, where I get feeling it's a week on the piss for most of the players as not my thing.

I get the feeling this week is a bit more serious than a Baabaas week

But proof will be in the pudding on Saturday

I reckon it's a great idea. And looking at that team it makes me really keen to watch, which is frankly more than I've been for the Lions to take on Super teams without their best 5-7 players.

As for tradition, history etc - Australia only has four Super teams. For a full tour you need to provide 5-7 matches beyond Tests. It's not like we have other rugby teams with history and pedigree just knocking around (well you could reform the Rebels but nobody wants that).

Sure we could roll out a Country side like we did in 2013, but the fun of playing amatuers from the bush wears off pretty quickly as the Lions put on 100+. You could do Australia A, but does that really have any more tradition and prestige than the AUNZ concept? Not really.

Between the AUNZ and the Pacifika/Indigenous side next week, I think RA are trying a few things that may evolve into actual traditions that we can continue in years to come.

I’m not sure that the Barbarians concept has really transitioned into the professional era and I’m not sure that it can. The original idea, following on from the need to have an extra game to fund The Aussies return (or something), was to tack on an extra, more carefree game to the end of an NH tour. Such tours really don’t happen in the same way anymore. A crowded calendar, player availability, cost has all taken something away from the concept IMO. The Lions on the other hand, has managed to thrive in the pro era, albeit in a more concentrated format.

@Bovidae said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:

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Strong side. If it gels, it could cause the Lions a lot of problems.

Foz just missed chef's kiss by this much, when he didn't make Frizzel the other co-captain.