AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions
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@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
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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.
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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.
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@Dan54 said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
@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?
haha, fuck i'm old
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British and Irish Lions:
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
British and Irish Lions:
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen FarrellYeah, nah
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
British and Irish Lions:
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen FarrellFake news.
That can’t be the team, its named the 8 following the 9
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To be honest I really don't think DVDM has done much of anything on this tour so far. Huw Jones very unlucky if he is not picked to start but Ringrose has played well too and I guess if it's pretty even, you go with teh guy you know. Jones has at least had the opportunities to press his case which hasn't always been the case on more recent tours.
Pollock I reckon is seen as a utility back row off the bench and will thrive on game time. I don't see this as a relegation from the test squad and fully expect him to feature at some time in the test 23.
It looks like the famous
versatility of Smith M is working in his favour. Well that and the fact both Daley and Kinghorn are crocked and Keenan is playing like a sack of spuds. Will he be in the test 23 though? Probably not as I think that place will go to Farrell. -
No chance it's going to Farrell, he's barely played and won't even be starting this weekend. Marcus Smith has made every opportunity a winner when introduced from the bench. It's a no brainer.
You are correct re DVDM, but the same applies to many who you can be almost certain will start. Curry probably the biggest standout here.
I expect Pollock off the bench for test 1 but starting by test 3. Kid is a serious serious talent.
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@barbarian said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
well you could reform the Rebels but nobody wants that)
Melbourne rugby fans triggered.
Both of them.
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@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
I guess this is the second stringers as they stand right now.
I hope for the Lions sake that some of them aren’t.
For me Morgan and Tuipoluto need to be in the test squad. Tuipoluto starting as Aki looks far too laboured so far. Morgan has been very good but I know it’s an uphill battle to get in that starting team, he could be good impact off the bench though.
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@ACT-Crusader Given the coach is Farrell, I'm fairly sure that O'Aki knew that he was the starting 12 for test 1 before flying out.
Morgan & Pollock have probalby been Farrell's biggest headache so far this tour.
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@Catogrande said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
To be honest I really don't think DVDM has done much of anything on this tour so far. Huw Jones very unlucky if he is not picked to start but Ringrose has played well too and I guess if it's pretty even, you go with teh guy you know. Jones has at least had the opportunities to press his case which hasn't always been the case on more recent tours.
Pollock I reckon is seen as a utility back row off the bench and will thrive on game time. I don't see this as a relegation from the test squad and fully expect him to feature at some time in the test 23.
It looks like the famous
versatility of Smith M is working in his favour. Well that and the fact both Daley and Kinghorn are crocked and Keenan is playing like a sack of spuds. Will he be in the test 23 though? Probably not as I think that place will go to Farrell.If DVDM creates opportunities for himself and finishes decisively then I'd have him leapfrogging Lowe
I'd personally go with the Scottish centres
Pollock will be on the bench and will offer far more than VDF
If Keenan has a mare / isn't fit then Marcus Smith will start, otherwise it's Keenan to start at M Smith on the bench to cover 10 & 15
If Farrell Jr is anywhere near the Test 23 then Farrell Sr is a fucking knob
I'd start with this backline
Mitchell, Russell, DVDM, Tuipolotu, Jones, Freeman, Keenan
with JGP, M Smith, Ringrose on the bench
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@MajorRage said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
No chance it's going to Farrell, he's barely played and won't even be starting this weekend. Marcus Smith has made every opportunity a winner when introduced from the bench. It's a no brainer.
I agree with you, it's just that I think the coaches may see it differently.
You are correct re DVDM, but the same applies to many who you can be almost certain will start. Curry probably the biggest standout here.
Both have credit in the bank with Curry's being more recent. He had a stand out 6N, including blasting through Jac Morgan in the immediate build up to England's first try. DVDM had a quiet 6N. The thing possibly in DVDM's favour is that the wings have not really shown much apart from Freeman. Lowe has been good in parts but was somewhat lacklustre v the Brumbies and butchered a certain try early on. Hansen - meh.
I expect Pollock off the bench for test 1 but starting by test 3. Kid is a serious serious talent.
Wouldn't surprise me one bit.
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I wa fortunate enough to see a Q&A with Martin Johnson and a couple of other, lesser mortals and naturally it was all about the Lions. Whilst the other two had their views about who is up, who is down, who deserves it etc etc. Jonno was "Nah. You just pick your best players on the tour and that's it. No credit in the bank. No, he deserves it. Just pick the best guy for the job. End of."
Having said all of that, I'd still pick Curry at 6, mainly because no-one has really put their hand up. Maybe Chessum, but he's only had the one outing and was OK. But you will then need Conan at 8 (not a problem) and then you'd pick Morgan at 7 with Pollock on the bench.
I'd be happy with that.
