2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia

[MiketheSnow]

@Dodge said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

If Owen F is anywhere near the 23 it will be a massive piss take and will impact on Farrell Senior’s standing when he goes back to Ireland / moves to England

I don't agree tbh, if he shows up in training etc. Listen to any ex pro who's played with him and they're so complimentary about him as a leader, on and off the pitch, I don't think the players on tour would have an issue tbh, they will likely see his value.

Whether he's worth it as a player from an outsiders point of view is entirely different, fans will bitch but it won't undermine AF.

To put it another way, would any other coach have selected Farrell as Daly’s replacement?

[Bovidae]

It's pretty hard for Schmidt to release all his players when the Wallabies are preparing for a test themselves this weekend. He has/did release some from the squad.

[Bones]

[sparky]

Odd performance from the Lions today, has Andy Farrell selecting his boy unsettled his squad?

[sparky]

So what's the Lions Test team going be?

My best guess is:

1 Genge
2 Sheehan
3 Stuart
4 Itoje (c)
5 McCarthy
6 Curry
7 Morgan
8 Conan
9 JG-P
10 F Russell
11 Hansen
12 Aki
13 H Jones
14 Freeman
15 Kinghorn

16 Kelleher
17 Porter
18 Furlong
19 Ryan
20 Pollock
21 Mitchell
22 Farrell
23 Ringrose

[Mr Fish]

Lowe will be in there. Not sure whether they'll opt for Aki or Tuipulotu at 12 to preserve the Scottish axis.

[MN5]

@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

So what's the Lions Test team going be?

My best guess is:

1 Genge
2 Sheehan
3 Stuart
4 Itoje (c)
5 McCarthy
6 Curry
7 Morgan
8 Conan
9 JG-P
10 F Russell
11 Hansen Van der Merwe
12 Aki
13 H Jones
14 Freeman
15 Kinghorn

16 Kelleher
17 Porter
18 Furlong
19 Ryan
20 Pollock
21 Mitchell
22 Farrell
23 Ringrose

You almost got it. Theres no way they won’t select big DVDM.

Aki or Tuipulotu is a tight call too

[Catogrande]

@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

So what's the Lions Test team going be?

My best guess is:

1 Genge
2 Sheehan
3 Stuart
4 Itoje (c)
5 McCarthy
6 Curry
7 Morgan
8 Conan
9 JG-P
10 F Russell
11 Hansen Van der Merwe
12 Aki
13 H Jones
14 Freeman
15 Kinghorn

16 Kelleher
17 Porter
18 Furlong
19 Ryan
20 Pollock
21 Mitchell
22 Farrell
23 Ringrose

You almost got it. Theres no way they won’t select big DVDM.

Aki or Tuipulotu is a tight call too

He’s had a tour to forget so far. My guess would be Freeman and Lowe on the wings and the big Saffer not in the 23.

[MN5]

@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

So what's the Lions Test team going be?

My best guess is:

1 Genge
2 Sheehan
3 Stuart
4 Itoje (c)
5 McCarthy
6 Curry
7 Morgan
8 Conan
9 JG-P
10 F Russell
11 Hansen Van der Merwe
12 Aki
13 H Jones
14 Freeman
15 Kinghorn

16 Kelleher
17 Porter
18 Furlong
19 Ryan
20 Pollock
21 Mitchell
22 Farrell
23 Ringrose

You almost got it. Theres no way they won’t select big DVDM.

Aki or Tuipulotu is a tight call too

He’s had a tour to forget so far. My guess would be Freeman and Lowe on the wings and the big Saffer not in the 23.

I saw one highlight where he threw his opposite away like a rag doll. He has more upside than the others. But yes, he might not have done enough to get in.

[game_film]

Farrell being on tour only makes Sexton’s inclusion look worse. What the hell is he going to say during the week that the actual playing fly halves or coaching team aren’t?

[Steven Harris]

Kurt Eklund has been called into Anzac team to play the British & Irish Lions
Flying out to Adelaide tomorrow
Thought he was one of the better Māori players yesterday
Great reward for a player who always gives

[antipodean]

At a Lions Lunch with Ieyan Evans, Joe Schmidt, Ronana O'Gara and a bunch of Brumbies. Hope to remember and share anything memorable and or insightful.

Will probably be too pissed.

[MN5]

@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

At a Lions Lunch with Ieyan Evans, Joe Schmidt, Ronana O'Gara and a bunch of Brumbies. Hope to remember and share anything memorable and or insightful.

Will probably be too pissed.

Judging by some of the spelling you already are.

Have fun !

[KiwiMurph]

No specific timeline but it reads as if Noah's Lions series is done.

Rugby Australia  /  Jul 8

Media Statement: Noah Lolesio

[Mr Fish]

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

No specific timeline but it reads as if Noah's Lions series is done.

Rugby Australia  /  Jul 8

Media Statement: Noah Lolesio

Terrible news for him. What a rollercoaster of a season.

[His Bobness]

That’s a mortal blow to the Wallabies and you have to feel for them. I’m not sure Donaldson offers much as a replacement.

[Mr Fish]

I actually think Donaldson could be a step up, higher ceiling but also capable of a few brain farts every match. Very rocks and diamonds but might be the type of player that the Wallabies need.

[MiketheSnow]

@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

I actually think Donaldson could be a step up, higher ceiling but also capable of a few brain farts every match. Very rocks and diamonds but might be the type of player that the Wallabies need.

I'd have Lynagh straight in there. He's the future.

[Bones]

@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

I actually think Donaldson could be a step up, higher ceiling but also capable of a few brain farts every match. Very rocks and diamonds but might be the type of player that the Wallabies need.

Interesting, Lolesio has a solid history of melting, love seeing him named against the ABs, I'm surprised he still gets test gigs.

[Mr Fish]

@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

I actually think Donaldson could be a step up, higher ceiling but also capable of a few brain farts every match. Very rocks and diamonds but might be the type of player that the Wallabies need.

I'd have Lynagh straight in there. He's the future.

Hasn't played a match since the SR quarter-finals so unless he gets brought into the AUNZ team, I can't see them giving him the 10 jersey against the Lions.