AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions

[dirty harry]

I know it's almost like he's a 20 year old kid who's had 1 game of international rugby .

Thing with him though is do we invest now and hope he develops quickly while accepting the good with the bad or wait and give him time but potentially develop him slower.

Hell of a talent, not ready but overall had a good tour.

Of course, I say England should stick with him, keep him involved and manage how he develops from there. He's shown more than enough to be a top int back rower.

Lions experience will be invaluable to him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think Earl's been good but he's probably the only forward who's advanced his case

I'd definitely have him on the bench for the tests - if they play Chessum at 6 I wouldn't be overly against him starting at 8, as I don't think Conan's looked his best

 

[TommiG88]

The Iceman made that with the charge and offload

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The prem needs to do something to allow teams to retain players regardless of being homegrown or not. The lack of retention, to me, makes it the least interesting league in the NH, find the teams don't have much of an identity outside their histories.

Only way to do this is to wipe Japanese and French rugby off the face of the Earth
Clubs can't afford to retain everyone when they're competing with those two for salaries

 

[General Melchett]

Poor opponents but Ben White has been superb

 

[Crash Hamster]

Good hard line by Earl there.

 

[McTallshort]

Lions pack is playing well. Ben Whites having an armchair ride and is making the most of it

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The prem needs to do something to allow teams to retain players regardless of being homegrown or not. The lack of retention, to me, makes it the least interesting league in the NH, find the teams don't have much of an identity outside their histories.

But how?
End of the day it’s a open market and unlike Ireland where everyone wants to play for Leinster players just don’t have the same loyalties

 

[TommiG88]

Poor opponents but Ben White has been superb

He’s been good, but felt he’s kicked a couple of times when we’ve had a chance to move it. My only small complaint

 

[AlRums]

Poor opponents but Ben White has been superb

He's been flawless so far

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I know it's almost like he's a 20 year old kid who's had 1 game of international rugby .

Thing with him though is do we invest now and hope he develops quickly while accepting the good with the bad or wait and give him time but potentially develop him slower.

Hell of a talent, not ready but overall had a good tour.

I mean TBF the Lions shouldn’t be a development thingy

 

[dirty harry]

Think Earl's been good but he's probably the only forward who's advanced his case

I'd definitely have him on the bench for the tests - if they play Chessum at 6 I wouldn't be overly against him starting at 8, as I don't think Conan's looked his best

Back row is fascinating....

This is a game to make quick players look better than they are, Earl is probably an example.

Morgan the form player, Conan and VDF like a number of Irish man look jaded, Chessum on form should start with Morgan...

But I think only Morgan has done enough to split the Irish boys, Beirne and Conan to start with him (from a Farrell POV)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Hansen + DVDM dream team for the test pls

 

[big ginger 8]

VDM being served up his hattrick by Irish delivery experts.

 

[TommiG88]

Farrell 1-0 Jordan

The right decision was made

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

But how?
End of the day it's a open market and unlike Ireland where everyone wants to play for Leinster players just don't have the same loyalties

A system where a club can match offers for players with x amount of starts over the period of their contract (pro-rated for injury periods) and the cap stays at the previous contracts number or only a percentage of the increase is counted. Something along those lines that allows teams to build over long periods.

The cap is needed but I don't think it should handicap teams from keeping key players.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Duhan van der McHatTrick incoming..?

There we go.

 

[McTallshort]

Hansen + DVDM dream team for the test pls

I have warmed to Hansen.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

A system where a club can match offers for players with x amount of starts over the period of their contract (pro-rated for injury periods) and the cap stays at the previous contracts number or only a percentage of the increase is counted. Something along those lines that allows teams to build over long periods.

The cap is needed but I don't think it should handicap teams from keeping key players.

Saints problem isn’t the cap though from what I gather it’s their own pay structure

They have the cap space and can make Finn Smith marquee. The issue is would they be willing to pay something like 500k for him

 

[dirty harry]

You know what, Bealham has been quietly doing his job on tour, under the radar but hasn't put a foot wrong.