2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
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Backline starting to form up for the Lions IMHO, with the following as lock-ins for me:
9 Mitchell
10 Russell
11 VDM
12 Tuipulotou
13 Jones
14 Hansen
15 Keenan@NTA said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
Backline starting to form up for the Lions IMHO, with the following as lock-ins for me:
9 Mitchell -possibly
10 Russell - definitely
11 VDM - not a chance
12 Tuipulotou - Could go either way with the Irish guy
13 Jones - ditto
14 Hansen - unlikely, had one good game
15 Keenan - likely, had one good game but not many options -
@Mr-Fish said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
@NTA said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
Backline starting to form up for the Lions IMHO, with the following as lock-ins for me:
9 Mitchell
10 Russell
11 VDM
12 Tuipulotou
13 Jones
14 Hansen
15 KeenanWhat have you seen from DVDM to lock him in?
Game breaking ability and history. Three tries against an AB midfield wouldn't have gone amiss either.
@MN5 said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
Game breaking ability and history. Three tries against an AB midfield wouldn't have gone amiss either.
But they did go amiss if he thought he was scoring tries against an AB midfield.
On that showing Laumape would have a challenge playing 13 in the NPC and don't get me started on that performance of David Havili. -
@NTA said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
Backline starting to form up for the Lions IMHO, with the following as lock-ins for me:
9 Mitchell
10 Russell
11 VDM
12 Tuipulotou
13 Jones
14 Hansen
15 KeenanWhat have you seen from DVDM to lock him in?
@Mr-Fish said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
@NTA said in AUNZ XV vs British and Irish Lions:
Backline starting to form up for the Lions IMHO, with the following as lock-ins for me:
9 Mitchell
10 Russell
11 VDM
12 Tuipulotou
13 Jones
14 Hansen
15 KeenanWhat have you seen from DVDM to lock him in?
I think he offers more than Lowe as an attacking threat and has combination with the other Scots.
Lowe has a better boot, but isn't offering much else IMHO
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Rugby Analyst's take
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I think the loose forwards are the hardest to pick. I'd be very shocked if Pollock wasn't in the 23. Don't think he'll start but his form and impact is undeniable.
Feel like Morgan has his nose in front on the openside flank. 6 and 8 are very hard to call but I don't think either spot will go to Curry or Earl. Chessum or Beirne for me at blindside, Conan probably at 8. Pollock and/or Earl on the bench.
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I think the loose forwards are the hardest to pick. I'd be very shocked if Pollock wasn't in the 23. Don't think he'll start but his form and impact is undeniable.
Feel like Morgan has his nose in front on the openside flank. 6 and 8 are very hard to call but I don't think either spot will go to Curry or Earl. Chessum or Beirne for me at blindside, Conan probably at 8. Pollock and/or Earl on the bench.
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 if 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.
Edit: Sorry, Conan at 8 is what I meant. Fat thumbs.
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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 if 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.
Edit: Sorry, Conan at 8 is what I meant. Fat thumbs.
@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...
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@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...
As long as we have a 12 at 12 and a 13 at 13, I’m happy with any combo, though there is a case for going with established combos.
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@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...
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
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@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
Sound.
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@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
Gut instinct. Absolutely not saying it's right at all.
I can see Kinghorn being selected at fullback and obviously some people think DVDM should be selected on the left wing (disagree there, think it should/will be Lowe).
I just can't wrap my head around Scotland having four or five players starting in the Lions backline - probably just because they've historically been a bit shit (and even now haven't come close to winning the Six Nations or making a World Cup semi-final in a long time).
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@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
Gut instinct. Absolutely not saying it's right at all.
I can see Kinghorn being selected at fullback and obviously some people think DVDM should be selected on the left wing (disagree there, think it should/will be Lowe).
I just can't wrap my head around Scotland having four or five players starting in the Lions backline - probably just because they've historically been a bit shit (and even now haven't come close to winning the Six Nations or making a World Cup semi-final in a long time).
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo
Based on what?
Gut instinct. Absolutely not saying it's right at all.
I can see Kinghorn being selected at fullback and obviously some people think DVDM should be selected on the left wing (disagree there, think it should/will be Lowe).
> I just can't wrap my head around Scotland having four or five players starting in the Lions backline - probably just because they've historically been a bit shit (and even now haven't come close to winning the Six Nations or making a World Cup semi-final in a long time).
Don’t question it. Embrace it
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@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...
@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.
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@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.
@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.
Yeah the
TonganScotsman appears to have the inside running on theSamoanIrishman -
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.
@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.
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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.
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/first-nations-pasifika-xv-squad-confirmed-for-lions-tour-match-2025714
