British and Irish Lions v Argentina

[Leonormous Boozer]

I am looking forward to comparing Keenan and Kinghorn in the same team.

Do have a sneaky feeling that Keenan could just smoke him. Very different skillsets and Kinghorn is central in Scotland's attack unlike Keenan who's generally used more as a strike runner or a link when getting the ball wide for Ireland.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Did feel a bit sorry for M Smith the other night.

20 minutes off the bench against a tiring team when broken field running might be at a premium late in a game is one thing. But fundamentally he’s not a FB, will never be, and was exposed for it.

Bit melodramatic to say his tour is over before it began, but that versatility is what got him the nod and if Farrell quickly abandons that experiment then you’ve got to wonder if he might come to regret not picking Ford.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

regret not picking Ford.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

View attachment 23887

We're not two posts removed from you saying Keegan is better than Kinghorn

Sit this one out big man

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

We're not two posts removed from you saying Keegan is better than Kinghorn

Sit this one out big man

Farrell should have just picked 38 English 10s but not his son the way they're talked about on these boards.

To this point in their careers Keenan has also definitely been better, only became a conversation in the last 12 months.

 

[Which Tyler]

Did feel a bit sorry for M Smith the other night.

20 minutes off the bench against a tiring team when broken field running might be at a premium late in a game is one thing. But fundamentally he's not a FB, will never be, and was exposed for it.

Bit melodramatic to say his tour is over before it began, but that versatility is what got him the nod and if Farrell quickly abandons that experiment then you've got to wonder if he might come to regret not picking Ford.

IMO, Marcus was taken for the mid-week 23 shirt.
He was never going to start ahead of the Fins, and was never going to start FB, whilst being behind the likes of Kinghorn for the FH/FB option, and behind Keenan as an actual FB (and possibly behind Freeman as an option to start at FB).

For me, the question is whether Farrell wants his FH/FB option starting or benching

 

[big ginger 8]

We're not two posts removed from you saying Keegan is better than Kinghorn

Sit this one out big man

What an outrageous equivalence.

 

[McTallshort]

Early days yet boys to be writing off players

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What an outrageous equivalence.

ikr, putting Keenan in the same sentence as Kinghorn is mental

 

[big ginger 8]

ikr, putting Keenan in the same sentence as Kinghorn is mental

Ah, I know you are but what am I. I have been truly bested.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The Lions CEO and Joe are having a little back and forth.

Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Australia player release for tour matches

Lions CEO expects competitive Western Force side to face Lions in Perth next Saturday

www.irishtimes.com

Joe's dead right, can't be expected to compromise prep for a club match.

 

[dirty harry]

Did feel a bit sorry for M Smith the other night.

20 minutes off the bench against a tiring team when broken field running might be at a premium late in a game is one thing. But fundamentally he's not a FB, will never be, and was exposed for it.

Bit melodramatic to say his tour is over before it began, but that versatility is what got him the nod and if Farrell quickly abandons that experiment then you've got to wonder if he might come to regret not picking Ford.

I liked that comment before getting to Ford at the end...

 

[Reiser99]

The Lions CEO and Joe are having a little back and forth.

Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Australia player release for tour matches

Lions CEO expects competitive Western Force side to face Lions in Perth next Saturday

www.irishtimes.com

Joe's dead right, can't be expected to compromise prep for a club match.

I agree. However, if it's inked into the contract somewhere then potentially Rugby Australia might be liable? I can understand the Lions point of view not to have substandard matches, but to put it in a contract seems messy at best. Hopefully just a storm in a teacup.

 

[Saintjay]

The Lions CEO and Joe are having a little back and forth.

Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Australia player release for tour matches

Lions CEO expects competitive Western Force side to face Lions in Perth next Saturday

www.irishtimes.com

Joe's dead right, can't be expected to compromise prep for a club match.

Definitely the Lions should be saying we look forward to facing your best team in the tests, which we aim to win.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I agree. However, if it's inked into the contract somewhere then potentially Rugby Australia might be liable? I can understand the Lions point of view not to have substandard matches, but to put it in a contract seems messy at best. Hopefully just a storm in a teacup.

Schmidt has said he's read the agreement and he's also released players for the game.

Pretty hard thing to prove in any case, Oz can easily just say their were fitness or welfare concerns.

 

[Reiser99]

Schmidt has said he's read the agreement and he's also released players for the game.

Pretty hard thing to prove in any case, Oz can easily just say their were fitness or welfare concerns.

That's why it's messy.

 

[McTallshort]

The Lions CEO and Joe are having a little back and forth.

Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Australia player release for tour matches

Lions CEO expects competitive Western Force side to face Lions in Perth next Saturday

www.irishtimes.com

Joe's dead right, can't be expected to compromise prep for a club match.

Remember this happening in 2013. A couple of sides picked weaker teams to save players for league fixtures. It's up to them but for an Aussie club player the chances of playing against the lions are rare (probably less rare than playing for them) so to deny a player that opportunity for some meaningless league game is harsh.

 

[General Melchett]

Funny how things change. When the squad was announced some people were saying it's going to be three bad beat downs in the tests.

Schmidt may have just saved this tour and made it competitive.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Remember this happening in 2013. A couple of sides picked weaker teams to save players for league fixtures. It's up to them but for an Aussie club player the chances of playing against the lions are rare (probably less rare than playing for them) so to deny a player that opportunity for some meaningless league game is harsh.

I hope that doesn't happen yeah. Aussie posters will have a better insight but I have a friend working for Norths in Sydney and he says it's a proper professional set up, televised games etc... so I can see why the clubs don't want to release players but it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the individuals.

This is more of a case of Schmidt not releasing key Wallabies players though so less of an issue imo.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I hope that doesn't happen yeah. Aussie posters will have a better insight but I have a friend working for Norths in Sydney and he says it's a proper professional set up, televised games etc... so I can see why the clubs don't want to release players but it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the individuals.

This is more of a case of Schmidt not releasing key Wallabies players though so less of an issue imo.

TBF that shouldn’t be an issue since the super season is over