1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[General Melchett]

It is too soon to start slamming Farrell's selection before a ball has been kicked/thrown . If Curry and Beirne are shite on Saturday and he picks them again for the second test then that's a different matter.

 

[odw26]

I wouldn't have cared if Morgan started but people acting like Curry is incapable.

When he's playing well Morgan couldn't even lace his boots. I back him to play well this weekend.

He's not incapable, and I really hope he has a good game on Saturday, because I want the Lions to win. I think it's justified to suggest that Morgan would have a more positive impact on the game because of the way the two of them are playing at the moment.

 

[odw26]

It is too soon to start slamming Farrell's selection before a ball has been kicked/thrown . If Curry and Beirne are shite on Saturday and he picks them again for the second test then that's a different matter.

Yeah but it's fun to have a discussion around the team as it helps to keep interest up ahead of the test.

 

[Welsh Exile]

You’re all going to burn in hell.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Just noticed no JOC in the Aus team
Ok I don't know who I want to win.

An Aus win would be crazy good for the rest of the series though.

If Smith comes on at 15 I expect the sky to be peppered with high balls

Rugby is turning into Tennis where “fans” say stupid things like “I just hope we see a good game”

Makes me want to puke.

 

[Groundhog]

Now that I have balanced takes out of the way, Ireland are 14-1 against the other nations since the last Lions tour and only lost that game by virtue of a jammy drop goal. Any non-Irish player in the 23 are there because of lasting fondness Farrell has for his simple Northern upbringing and lingering love of the Union. Morgan is a DEI selection in the first place who wouldn't make the Connacht 23 and Crowley not making the tour is a disgrace. Every English player is destined to be the future host of a **** podcast no one listens to and Huw Jones is only good at rugby now because of the horse steroids they gave him in South Africa.

Everything I said is a verifiable data driven, science based fact.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

14-1

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

To be honest nothing about this selection changes my opinion about the Lions chances. There's very little drop off in most positions no matter who Farrell picks (especially the 7 jersey), I don't think pretty marginal calls will be what decides the series, they should win if they are in any way cohesive. If they play like the did against the Argies, the only real challenge they have had on this tour, they could get beat up for their lunch money, but they really really shouldn't.

My only concern from a Lions POV is the balance of the bench. I wouldn't want Smith playing significant minutes at 15.

Yes. When the bench is selected coaches tend to think oh this player would be good to come on for the last 20 minutes of the game, completely forgetting that if there is an injury in the first minute a bench player could have to play the whole game. Imagine Australia putting high balls up for Marcus Smith at fullback for the whole 80 minutes.

 

[dirty harry]

How has Morgan played in his previous world cup finals/semi finals, lions tests and league finals ...

I'm dying on the Curry hill.

Well in that case let's get Johnny Wilkinson in hahahah after all how many world cups has Curry won...

Does on the hill all you like, the statement that he's the least performing back rower is absolutely accurate, cracking player who looks to be at 80%.

 

[big ginger 8]

Apparently Keenan lost 5-6kgs whilst sick, so no wonder his first game wasn't spectacular.

Not really a fan of Beirne at 6 these days but I trust Farrell.

 

[Groundhog]

Apparently Keenan lost 5-6kgs whilst sick, so no wonder his first game wasn't spectacular.

Not really a fan of Beirne at 6 these days but I trust Farrell.

Incredible Keenan **** Marcus Smith's entire bodyweight out and made it back for the test.

 

[McTallshort]

Incredible Keenan **** Marcus Smith's entire bodyweight out and made it back for the test.

I **** Smiths bodyweight after a decent kebab

 

[Scotty]

Mixed feelings. From 1-5 and 8-23 that's the exact team I'd have gone for. But #6 and #7 really put a damper on it. I absolutely love T. Curry but he and Beirne have both been sleep walking so far this tour. J. Morgan can feel very hard done by.

I'd rather Chessum and Morgan if we were going for lock/6. Feel for Wales tbh, they've gone from 100% involvement to 0% of Welsh players in the 23.

Curry will step up i have no doubt but he isnt the form player at all, if anything he's 3rd choice 7.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Can we at least all agree that if we don't put 50 points on this Ozzie team than Farrell is a complete utter waste man and totally overhyped and isn't fit to tie Gatlands boots.

I may or may not be trolling a little bit.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gatland could personally hand me £1000000 in used bank notes and I'd still want to feed him to a cartoon snake so it has a big Warren Gatland shaped bump in it's stomach

 

[Groundhog]

Can we at least all agree that if we don't put 50 points on this Ozzie team than Farrell is a complete utter waste man and totally overhyped and isn't fit to tie Gatlands boots.

I may or may not be trolling a little bit.

Andy fine.
Owen, I will lay down my life to strike down heretics who speak blasphemy

 

[Groundhog]

Gatland could personally hand me £1000000 in used bank notes and I'd still want to feed him to a cartoon snake so it was a big Warren Gatland shaped bump in it's stomach

Just checking the ethics of this. Seems ok

 

[big ginger 8]

Tupou dropped not injured.

 

[Grizwald]

Tupou dropped not injured.

His form hasn't been great this season by all accounts.

I reckon Farrell has kept his cards close to his chest and the Lion's forwards will rip in and generally be a bit more direct then has been seen.

Green 10 in an unfamiliar partnership is there to go after.

 

[TopTen2003]

The good thing for Lions is that they have a lot of dynamism and options up their sleeve they can bring in for 2nd and 3rd Tests, if this more physical approach stutters in the opener.

It’s nice to have Morgan, VDF, Pollock all up your sleeve.

Be interesting to see how McCarthy goes next to Itoje as any need to switch him out then brings Chessum/Beirne into lock consideration I guess- opening up the back row options?