1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

View attachment 24113

Wonder why he picked Gordon?
McDermott and Lyngah would've had a lot more time together

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I agree with earlier comments that it feels like a side picked before the tour

Bealham has been far better than Stuart this tour, Morgan has been the best 7 this tour by quite a way

Do not like the Marcus/Aki bench at all (though Farrell backed himself into an Aki shaped corner by not calling up a replacement for Daly, and then other backs getting injured)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Nick Frost starting at lock
Nick Frost recently cast as Hagrid in the new Harry Potter show
Hagrid body double in original movies was Martin Bayfield
Martin Bayfield was an international lock


Makes you think

At some point if he and Pollock are on the field he just say "Henry, yer a wizard"

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Honestly if this Aus pack can move around the Lions pack they might have a chance.
It's not a very mobile pack and not really a massive powerhouse pack either.

 

[Grizwald]

Rumours around Tom Curry starting had a backlash but for me Berine is the bigger head scratcher hoping they can both step up Saturday. There's a lack of dynamism in that backrow. Berine hasn't really started many tests at 6 and its usually when playing against South Africa to get another big body in. For a big bloke he's very good over the ball which isn't Curry's USP. If O'Keefe officiates the breakdown like in the warm up game then its probably a moot point having a 'fetcher' on the park anyhow.

Its for the birds now but I still find it odd how so many open sides were taken to not have two start unless it's just that Farrell didnt rate that many of the blind side options available. Ritchie or even Baird.

On the Aussies they're missing some of their big names. How is James Slipper only 36? He seems to have been around forever.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

It’s not an inspiring team. While it ought to have enough, it also wouldn’t be a shock to see them get dragged into a proper scrap.

 

[Grizwald]

Rumours around Tom Curry starting had a backlash but for me Berine is the bigger head scratcher hoping they can both step up Saturday. There's a lack of dynamism in that backrow. Berine has really started many tests at 6 and its usually when playing against South Africa to get another big body in. For a big bloke he's very good over the ball which isn’t Curry's USP. If O'Keefe officiates the breakdown like in the warm up game then its probably a moot point having a 'fetcher' on the park anyhow.

Its for the birds now but I still find it odd how so many open sides were taken to not have two start unless it's just that Farrell didnt rate that many of the blind side options available. Ritchie or even Baird.

On the Aussies they're missing some of their big names. How is James Slipper only 36

That's a very uninspiring, mediocre Lions Team. They're very lucky that Australia are so average because if they were playing a good Wallaby team, and certainly if they were touring SA or NZ, I'd be worried about a 3-0 whitewash. What is the point of warm-up games if they don't have a massive bearing on test selection?. The Lions concept with one of the national coaches as the head coach is a busted flush - it needs radical changes.

I think overall it's one of the strongest Lions squads IMO. There's very little drop off in most positions from 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice IMO. What I will say it feels like more than a handful of players were taken on tour either carrying injuries or not long returning following lay ups with little chance to get back into form.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

In what world is Curry not a fetcher?
He's been asked to fulfil the role of a blindside a lot but the breakdown is his bread and butter, especially when playing at 7

 

[Reiser99]

I personally feel form in tour should matter, but oh well. Clearly Farrell had his back row planned considering he's starting the two players with the worst form and in a combination not used in the warm ups. I'd like to say we'll see if he's vindicated in the test, but my worry is the Lions will be too strong regardless. You never know though. If Aussies turn the Lions over then Farrell will be the one in the firing line for his selections.

 

[Ddanno]

In what world is Curry not a fetcher?
He's been asked to fulfil the role of a blindside a lot but the breakdown is his bread and butter, especially when playing at 7

That's a pretty ******* funny take on Curry, you have to admit

 

[General Melchett]

What is a bit baffling is that Jac Morgan hardly ever gives away penalties. I know BOK doesn't like a scrap on the floor but Morgan's discipline is very good. Anyway, time for the out of form test match animals to deliver.

 

[Groundhog]

As I expected, Farrell didn't take 'tour form' AKA who can hockey the living daylights out of Super Rugby sides the hardest into account, because its frankly not a great selection criteria, especially compared to actual test matches played this year. We might ask what's the point of the midweek matches then, and the actual answer is money and minutes.

 

[ncurd]

As I expected, Farrell didn't take 'tour form' AKA who can hockey the living daylights out of Super Rugby sides the hardest into account, because its frankly not a great selection criteria, especially compared to actual test matches played this year. We might ask what's the point of the midweek matches then, and the actual answer is money and minutes.

Pretty much this Farrell would have a good idea who his starting 23 are when he did selection just like any coach and isn't going to deviate from that massively based on warm games.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Well, let me calm down because it hasn't been confirmed, but if Jac Morgan doesn't start for the Lions, I'm prepared to go to war. Just call me. I'll be there. Right now, I'm on a train to Edinburgh, seething to the very pit of my soul. I'm a Lions nerd. I went in 2017 in NZ and I hate to say it, but 50% of me wants the Lions to lose. No Morgan is just an abomination. If it was VDF I wouldn't be so angry. But Curry ?

Shut up, helmet

 

[Welsh Exile]

Would be so funny if the Lions actually lose this game. He’d automatically be a worse lions coach than Gatland. Jeez.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Honestly It could be a pretty close game looking at the teams.
If Aus had just a couple of their heavy hitters I would fancy them

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

I agree with earlier comments that it feels like a side picked before the tour

Bealham has been far better than Stuart this tour, Morgan has been the best 7 this tour by quite a way

Do not like the Marcus/Aki bench at all (though Farrell backed himself into an Aki shaped corner by not calling up a replacement for Daly, and then other backs getting injured)

i would not want to be backed into an AKI shaped corner

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

I can understand Farrells thinking behind his picks in the first test. Not saying I would have picked that exact 23 but I can see his logic. Come on Lions.

 

[dirty harry]

Not selecting probably the player of the tour so far in Morgan (certainly up there with Itoje) is bad, but Jones at 12 Tuipilotu at 13?

Furlong very lucky, Curry i have no words, I always thought Beirne would start 6.

It should be enough, against a poor Oz team, but as someone mentioned above the mobility is limited, Conan, Beirne, Furlong, all look jaded and maybe tired.

 

[dirty harry]

I've only just seen the bench, Smith on early for keenan might ruin the match for the lions, and Aki?