Lions - Six Nations 2025 Auditions

[ncurd]

@TRF_Olyy can we have a Lions forum reopened considering squad announcement is due Thursday?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought this was already in the Lions forum lol,
It's already there just not in the featured - i'll shift it

 

[munstermuffin]

Sam is better than George Ford and not far behind M Smith, he has one flaw in his game, a big one that should keep him out of the Lions tour but he wasn't as bad at the weekend as is being made out. I don't think there's many 10s in the game who stop Pollock there, there's also no other 10 in the game defending there. Ireland use him as a speed bump and it's fine with 15 players on the pitch, Neinaber's more aggressive defence doesn't allow for that and Saints exposed the stress that that puts on Ringrose and even more so, Henshaw.

I agree he isn't as bad but watched that game back. He was terrible. His kicking was aimless and loose in open play and the first Freeman try was from Prendergast faults too. Prendergast can be a great 10 but he has been pushed too fast to early that it is pressure on every time and every failure like Saturday will be a game that dents him. The fact he had to be put there is simply an issue in itself that he is a liability. Unless he sorts that part of the game out he is not an option at 10 realistically. Every team now has eyes on targeting him more now.

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

I agree he isn't as bad but watched that game back. He was terrible. His kicking was aimless and loose in open play and the first Freeman try was from Prendergast faults too. Prendergast can be a great 10 but he has been pushed too fast to early that it is pressure on every time and every failure like Saturday will be a game that dents him. The fact he had to be put there is simply an issue in itself that he is a liability. Unless he sorts that part of the game out he is not an option at 10 realistically. Every team now has eyes on targeting him more now.

Agree - feel Irish media/public were so desperate for him to be Sexton reborn they rushed him and now have potentially knocked two good 10s from paths to being great 10s.

 

[Saintjay]

Agree - feel Irish media/public were so desperate for him to be Sexton reborn they rushed him and now have potentially knocked two good 10s from paths to being great 10s.

Isn't that more on Leinster and the IRFU with contingency planning post Sexton.

Tbh if anyone seems to have put all there eggs in the Predergast basket it's Farrell.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Isn't that more on Leinster and the IRFU with contingency planning post Sexton.

Tbh if anyone seems to have put all there eggs in the Predergast basket it's Farrell.

feel bad for Crowley, he never did anything wrong to warrant loosing his place.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

feel bad for Crowley, he never did anything wrong to warrant loosing his place.

He never did much to keep it, quite poor v England, SA x2 and NZ. Quite a flawed 10 whereas Sam is a flawed rugby player. Think Farrell is gambling on being able to teach the basics rather than aspects of the games some lads never figure out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sanderson has said he thinks Tom Curry, LCD, Ford and Asher will make the Lions squad - said he's biased in his predictios, but he's also BFFL with Farrell Sr and Wigglesworth so might have the inside track

 

[Saintjay]

Sanderson has said he thinks Tom Curry, LCD, Ford and Asher will make the Lions squad - said he's biased in his predictios, but he's also BFFL with Farrell Sr and Wigglesworth so might have the inside track

Asher and Lcd would be the big surprises for me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Asher and Lcd would be the big surprises for me.

I could see LCD going tbf, Wales and Scotland don't have anyone to write home about at 2 (if you want a setpiece, anyway) started 4/5 games in the 6N and he's playing his best rugby since his injury atm

Asher a longshot but plays both sides of the scrum to a high level so useful for midweek if you don't want to risk any test players

Ford, I think, is the least likely tbh

 

[munstermuffin]

He never did much to keep it, quite poor v England, SA x2 and NZ. Quite a flawed 10 whereas Sam is a flawed rugby player. Think Farrell is gambling on being able to teach the basics rather than aspects of the games some lads never figure out.

I do agree here but in equal measure Prendergast never did much to earn the spot. Jack was poor but equally Sam just never earned it and well eventually lost spot for last game and mixed with last Saturday I think the kid has buckets of pressure now that could have been avoided and as I said longer he doesn't sort it the harder he will struggle to succeed.

Equally Farrell has gambled with going on a Leinster plus a few model and that could horribly back fire too. It is really an interesting time.

 

[AlRums]

Mack Hansen: Ireland wing and British and Irish Lions hopeful sidelined with ankle injury

Connacht confirm Ireland international winger Mack Hansen will miss "approximately" five weeks with an ankle injury.

www.bbc.co.uk

Hansen out

 

[big ginger 8]

Mack Hansen: Ireland wing and British and Irish Lions hopeful sidelined with ankle injury

Connacht confirm Ireland international winger Mack Hansen will miss "approximately" five weeks with an ankle injury.

www.bbc.co.uk

Hansen out

5 weeks would have him back a few weeks before the first warm up.

 

[munstermuffin]

5 weeks would have him back a few weeks before the first warm up.

They even went out of way to say he is eligible to be fit for Lions. I think Connacht have accepted they have 2 games and well they mean little so no risk

 

[Ddanno]

Sanderson has said he thinks Tom Curry, LCD, Ford and Asher will make the Lions squad - said he's biased in his predictios, but he's also BFFL with Farrell Sr and Wigglesworth so might have the inside track

Really hope Ford goes after being insultingly ignored by Gatland several times. Even if he only gets club games he'll like and deserve getting Lions Tourist on his CV

(And he can teach the backs at least as much as Sexton can)

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Sanderson has said he thinks Tom Curry, LCD, Ford and Asher will make the Lions squad - said he's biased in his predictios, but he's also BFFL with Farrell Sr and Wigglesworth so might have the inside track

Considering they don't tell the players (Bar the Captain) till the announcement the coaches should not be tipping of their friends

If Farrell Sr does pick Farrell Jr they going to have to film the moment he sees the announcement or people will suspect he would have tipped him off despite the etiquette.

 

[General Melchett]

From memory they read out the names in alphabetical order (backs then forwards) and so it's going to be squeaky bum time if Farrell and Ford's names are both read out.

They have missed a trick and should have done it like the Oscars with the players all sat in the crowd and the screen split into four catching their reactions as the last places are read out. Owen getting the red mist and mouthing the words "Dad you absolute **** - you're dead to me".

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm sure I read/heard something that they let all the players, who are in contention, know in advance (even the reserves lost, so like 70+ players) in case they don't want to do it etc
So could just be that those 4 have had the call

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If Ford goes I'd be both shocked and pushed back over to the Schmidt side.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Sanderson has said he thinks Tom Curry, LCD, Ford and Asher will make the Lions squad - said he's biased in his predictios, but he's also BFFL with Farrell Sr and Wigglesworth so might have the inside track

Surely AOF wont tour