2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
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Has all the hallmarks of being a cracking series this. Oz backs should run rings around the oversized Lions.
But the Lions forwards should eat the Aussies for breakfast. If they get the selections right
@MajorRage said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
But the Lions forwards should eat the Aussies for breakfast. If they get the selections right
tighties yes probably, but the Wallabies will send out a cracking loose forward trio.
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@NTA It's an Andy Farrell team. I severely doubt they're going to Australia to sing Kumbayah and make friends.
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@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Expecting a top backline along the lines of...
Gibson-Park, Russell, Lowe, Aki, Ringrose, Graham, Kinghorn. Res: Mitchell, M Smith, Freeman/Tuipulotu.
Extra back squaddies: T Williams, B White, F Smith/Prendergast, H Jones, Hansen, Freeman/Tuipulotu, Daly, Furbank
Ben Thomas or Tom Jordan could be a bolter. Van der Merwe will probably sneak in and do some damage against the Super Rugby sides. Ollie Lawrence might've travelled if he weren't injured (Feyi-Wabosi possibly in a similar situation). George Ford is another who might 'rise from the dead' in place of Smith or Prendergast.
I know I’m slightly biased towards the Scots but surely he bolts into the test team ?
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Expecting a top backline along the lines of...
Gibson-Park, Russell, Lowe, Aki, Ringrose, Graham, Kinghorn. Res: Mitchell, M Smith, Freeman/Tuipulotu.
Extra back squaddies: T Williams, B White, F Smith/Prendergast, H Jones, Hansen, Freeman/Tuipulotu, Daly, Furbank
Ben Thomas or Tom Jordan could be a bolter. Van der Merwe will probably sneak in and do some damage against the Super Rugby sides. Ollie Lawrence might've travelled if he weren't injured (Feyi-Wabosi possibly in a similar situation). George Ford is another who might 'rise from the dead' in place of Smith or Prendergast.
I know I’m slightly biased towards the Scots but surely he bolts into the test team ?
Would have him behind Lowe, Hansen, Freeman, IFW, Graham... He's got one big string to his bow but all those other players are much more complete wingers.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Centres to me would be the Jocks if their Kiwi was fit.
Thought he was Aussie? (Wiki confirms. Victorian even ... )
@booboo said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Centres to me would be the Jocks if their Kiwi was fit.
Thought he was Aussie? (Wiki confirms. Victorian even ... )
You’ve seen one colonial…
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Murray will be arsehole lucky to be on stand by, let alone make the plane. Kinghorn and Keenan in the box seats, Furbank as a back up. Might have been different if Furbank had the chance to kick on, but thems the licks.
Freeman will go but will be lucky to be a starter. Back row is a lottery with so many putting their hands up. Earl, Curries, Willis from England. Morgan for Wales. Doris, Conan and VDF from Ireland and I’d say Ritchie as a bolter from the Sweaties. 9 is not a position of strength with only J G-P being a standout. 10, I’d be happy with either of the Smiths or Russell. Centres to me would be the Jocks if their Kiwi was fit. On the wings I’d be happy with VDM and Feyi-Waboso if fit.
Second row is Itoje and any one of a few Paddies and Chessum.
Front row doesn’t really matter, it’s only the Aussies.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Front row doesn’t really matter, it’s only the Aussies.
I think this is an old stereotype (well earned, it must be said).
Bell/Porecki/Tupou or AAA are a pretty solid starting front row, and there's some depth too. Our scrum held up well in the most recent spring tour, so it won't be exploited by the Lions the same way they did in 2013.
The other stereotype that has faded is we've got intelligent, fast running backs, especially 9/10. That hasn't been true for a long time and it's certainly not true now.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Front row doesn’t really matter, it’s only the Aussies.
I think this is an old stereotype (well earned, it must be said).
Bell/Porecki/Tupou or AAA are a pretty solid starting front row, and there's some depth too. Our scrum held up well in the most recent spring tour, so it won't be exploited by the Lions the same way they did in 2013.
The other stereotype that has faded is we've got intelligent, fast running backs, especially 9/10. That hasn't been true for a long time and it's certainly not true now.
Stereotypes are around for a reason.
To enable baseless, lazy criticism.
I’m all for that.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Front row doesn’t really matter, it’s only the Aussies.
I think this is an old stereotype (well earned, it must be said).
Bell/Porecki/Tupou or AAA are a pretty solid starting front row, and there's some depth too. Our scrum held up well in the most recent spring tour, so it won't be exploited by the Lions the same way they did in 2013.
The other stereotype that has faded is we've got intelligent, fast running backs, especially 9/10. That hasn't been true for a long time and it's certainly not true now.
@barbarian I wouldn't put Tupou anywhere near a test team
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@barbarian I wouldn't put Tupou anywhere near a test team
@Machpants said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@barbarian I wouldn't put Tupou anywhere near a test team
no way does he deserve another Wallabies jersey after his last few "performances"
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@MajorRage said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
But the Lions forwards should eat the Aussies for breakfast. If they get the selections right
tighties yes probably, but the Wallabies will send out a cracking loose forward trio.
@mariner4life said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MajorRage said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
But the Lions forwards should eat the Aussies for breakfast. If they get the selections right
tighties yes probably, but the Wallabies will send out a cracking loose forward trio.
Their loosies have good balance just need a couple more pieces in the pack to help with some of the grunt work to ensure their loosies aren’t overworking.
@MajorRage i think there is enough quality in the backs for the Lions. Will just be about getting the combinations right.
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Will all depend on how Farrell wants to play.
If it's Ireland 2.0 then he needs to pick lots of Irish players.
If he's been watching France then he needs to pick the right combinations.
I'd go for the latter.
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@Dodge said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I’d start Finn Smith at 10 with Marcus on the bench. I’d pick the England back row, probably the England second row, and Will Stewart at tight head. Freeman will be at 13 or on one wing.
Could probably add the England loosehead, halfback, inside centre and back 3 to that. Maybe even the hooker too.
In all seriousness though, England has some quality players, with good coaching I think they'd easily account for Oz, so sprinkle in some Celts and it's all over down under.
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
In all seriousness though, England has some quality players,
Their 6/7/8 is arguably the best unit of the 4 nations and I'd pick on that basis too.
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Now the Six Nations tournament has finished, I thought I'd have a go at naming a Test line-up for the British and Irish Lions.
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A. Porter (Ireland)
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R. Kelleher (Ireland)
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Z. Fagerson (Scotland)
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M. Itoje (England)
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T. Beirne (Ireland) (c)
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J. Conan (Ireland)
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T.Curry (England)
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B. Earl (England)
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J. Gibson-Park (Ireland)
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F.Russell (Scotland)
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J. Lowe (Ireland)
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B. Aki (Ireland)
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T. Freeman (England)
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D. Van der Merwe (Scotland)
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B. Murray (Wales)
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L. Cowan-Dickie (England)
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E. Genge (England)
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T. Furlong (Ireland)
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O. Chessum (England)
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R. Darge (Scotland)
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A. Mitchell (England)
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F.Smith (England)
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E. Daly (England)
Four Kiwis and a Saffa in the starting backline.
@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Now the Six Nations tournament has finished, I thought I'd have a go at naming a Test line-up for the British and Irish Lions.
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A. Porter (Ireland)
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R. Kelleher (Ireland)
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Z. Fagerson (Scotland)
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M. Itoje (England)
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T. Beirne (Ireland) (c)
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J. Conan (Ireland)
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T.Curry (England)
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B. Earl (England)
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J. Gibson-Park (Ireland)
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F.Russell (Scotland)
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J. Lowe (Ireland)
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B. Aki (Ireland)
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T. Freeman (England)
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D. Van der Merwe (Scotland)
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B. Murray (Wales)
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L. Cowan-Dickie (England)
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E. Genge (England)
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T. Furlong (Ireland)
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O. Chessum (England)
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R. Darge (Scotland)
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A. Mitchell (England)
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F.Smith (England)
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E. Daly (England)
Four Kiwis and a Saffa in the starting backline.
Kelleher ahead of Sheahan ?
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I would have Sheahan Van Der Flier, Jac Roberts, Jones and Kinghorn in starting lineup and Doris, Jordan and Ryan on bench. Kelleher Murray Darge Mitchell and Daly not in my 37. But horses for courses I guess. Ribbans could be a bolter along with Tom Jordan.
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@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
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@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
There’s a safari park with lions at Longleat in England
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@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
There’s a safari park with lions at Longleat in England
@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
There’s a safari park with lions at Longleat in England
Thanks fella. Would not have figured that in a million years !
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@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I think this one is a bit British for me to understand.
When someone gets a moment an explanation would be appreciated.
There’s a safari park with lions at Longleat in England
Thanks fella. Would not have figured that in a million years !
My sister lives out in the sticks a few miles from Longleat and you can sometimes her the fuckers coughing in the middle of the night. Not very reassuring.
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My sister lives out in the sticks a few miles from Longleat and you can sometimes her the fuckers coughing in the middle of the night. Not very reassuring.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
My sister lives out in the sticks a few miles from Longleat and you can sometimes her the fuckers coughing in the middle of the night. Not very reassuring.
....up remains of Welsh players after their efforts in the Six Nations ?
