1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[AngloScotsHybrid]

So what's the point in having warm up games if (as you wrote) "you can't really read too much into the warm up games" and your mind is already set ?
The Lions always go with reputation over form and where has that got the lions ? Losing more series than they win. That's were.



Once again, like most your picking on reputation

Lions should be not happy with just "steady"

Steady Conan was No8 in SA in 2021 were the they lost and he was outplayed by SA's opposite Lukhanyo Am who is fast, dynamic and athletic, like the back row against AUS/NZ on Saturday



So three big lumps, who are slow are fk, can't line break for sh*t, but they run into brick walls and punch holes, you only need one player like that in your back row and that should be Morgan the other two should be Earl and Pollock.

Yes it's not the safe option, but I simply can't ignore what they did on Saturday to nil AUS/NZ

The warm up games are to get the Lions players used to playing with each other, and used to the systems in attack and defence that the team will be using.
If a player has a good game against the Waratahs that doesn't override what has happened over the previous 12 months and mean he should go into the test team over a player that has been better than him over the previous 12 months.

 

[spursincornwall]

Lions to win by 50

 

[AlRums]

Horrible English overlords.

Didn't you Welsh wusses have a Braveheart?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Didn't you Welsh wusses have a Braveheart?

Of course. Who do you think Alun Wyn Jones' direct ancestors were?

If you go back far enough you can trace his line back to Jesus. S4C did a documentary on it and tested his DNA. Proved it basically.

 

[AlRums]

Of course. Who do you think Alun Wyn Jones' direct ancestors were?

If you go back far enough you can trace his line back to Jesus. S4C did a documentary on it and tested his DNA. Proved it basically.

I suppose they took care of certain dragons then, hence the flag, his name wouldn't have been George at the time per chance?

 

[AlRums]

Of course. Who do you think Alun Wyn Jones' direct ancestors were?

If you go back far enough you can trace his line back to Jesus. S4C did a documentary on it and tested his DNA. Proved it basically.

How much was sheep DNA?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Didn't you Welsh wusses have a Braveheart?

Nope, they were too busy messing around with dykes.

Offa's Dyke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TobesHodges]

I see all the pundits talking about the Aus backline but I think their pack is going to be phenomenal, huge front 5 with Skelton, Topou, Bell. But the backrow is really good, I suspect they’ll go Valetini 6 McReight 7 and Wilson 8.

Fraser McReight is an elite back rower, I think to counter the Lions have to go grunt, Conan, Morgan, Curry counters with curry being a bit more defensive than earl, pollock and Bierne

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I see all the pundits talking about the Aus backline but I think their pack is going to be phenomenal, huge front 5 with Skelton, Topou, Bell. But the backrow is really good, I suspect they'll go Valetini 6 McReight 7 and Wilson 8.

Fraser McReight is an elite back rower, I think to counter the Lions have to go grunt, Conan, Morgan, Curry counters with curry being a bit more defensive than earl, pollock and Bierne

Skelton and Tupou will be on the bench and only play 20 mins.

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Wallabies being announced at 04.30 BST, Lions team is at 07.00 BST.

Veletini & Skelton both trained today. Oz media is suggesting that Lynagh will start at 10.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Owen Farrell misses out on Lions squad for first Australia Test

Exclusive: Former England captain left out with Marcus Smith preferred on bench and Tom Curry to play in back row

www.telegraph.co.uk

M Smith on the bench as Farrell misses out. No Pollock either. Curry, Beirne and Conan to start. Tuipulotu and Jones will start as well as Russell and Gibson-Park. Hansen and Kinghorn out through injury. Aki and Mitchell also on the bench. Chessum and Earl on the bench. No Morgan which means first test since 1989 with no Welsh player.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Booooooooooo.

Come on the Ozzies.

 

[Reiser99]

Owen Farrell misses out on Lions squad for first Australia Test

Exclusive: Former England captain left out with Marcus Smith preferred on bench and Tom Curry to play in back row

www.telegraph.co.uk

M Smith on the bench as Farrell misses out. No Pollock either. Curry, Beirne and Conan to start. Tuipulotu and Jones will start as well as Russell and Gibson-Park. Hansen and Gibson-Park out through injury. Aki and Mitchell also on the bench. Chessum and Earl on the bench. No Morgan which means first test since 1989 with no Welsh player.

JGP starting and out through injury?

 

[General Melchett]

Booooooooooo.

Come on the Ozzies.

You can always cling onto the fact that Huw Jones is the most Welsh sounding name in the squad.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Don't think I believe most of that.

 

[Reiser99]

Owen Farrell misses out on Lions squad for first Australia Test

Exclusive: Former England captain left out with Marcus Smith preferred on bench and Tom Curry to play in back row

www.telegraph.co.uk

M Smith on the bench as Farrell misses out. No Pollock either. Curry, Beirne and Conan to start. Tuipulotu and Jones will start as well as Russell and Gibson-Park. Hansen and Gibson-Park out through injury. Aki and Mitchell also on the bench. Chessum and Earl on the bench. No Morgan which means first test since 1989 with no Welsh player.

Also, based on the tour that would be one of the worst backrows.

 

[Which Tyler]

Owen Farrell misses out on Lions squad for first Australia Test

Exclusive: Former England captain left out with Marcus Smith preferred on bench and Tom Curry to play in back row

www.telegraph.co.uk

M Smith on the bench as Farrell misses out. No Pollock either. Curry, Beirne and Conan to start. Tuipulotu and Jones will start as well as Russell and Gibson-Park. Hansen and Gibson-Park out through injury. Aki and Mitchell also on the bench. Chessum and Earl on the bench. No Morgan which means first test since 1989 with no Welsh player.

"The telegraph can reveal"
and then theorises without any actual reveals

 

[Welsh Exile]

You can always cling onto the fact that Huw Jones is the most Welsh sounding name in the squad.

It’s not a Welsh sounding name. It is Welsh. Good point actually, I do like Huw.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Irish Times generally has about 21/23 correct for Ireland, this is their team:

Lions Possible XV: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), McCarthy, Chessum, Van der Flier, Conan. Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Pollock, Earl, Mitchell, Farrell, M Smith

That's far better for me and seems a bit more like what could be predicted from the warm-up selections but I don't think anyone has a clue tbh.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

JGP starting and out through injury?

Opps. I mean Kinghorn is out. I will edit it.