AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions

[McTallshort]

I'd go with:

Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itojo, Chessum, VDF, Morgan, Conan, JGP, Russell, Lowe, Tuipuluto, Jones, Freeman, Kinghorn

Not sure about Lowe

 

[Grizwald]

Not sure about Lowe

Kind of need that left footed kicking option so really the alternative is DvM so just no.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

One mental error aside Lowe has been a top performer. Serious Irish tax this tour I feel.

 

[Rugby100]

I'd start with all the same back row that played today.

Chessum and Conan can punch holes and run into brick walls but you saw how effective and athletic and dynamic back row of Earl, Pollock and Morgan can be. I don't think Farrel will but Morgan is in at seven for sure. The last welshman standing, representing his cymru nation

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't think Pollock and Morgan worked well as a pairing tbh

Think Pollock's flair has overshadowed his general blindside play - like he was fine but hardly standout, but the highlights will show his chip and chase and people will call for him to start

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Brilliant performance from the Lions. Good to see LCD up and about.

I know it's a scratch side but I expected much more from the AUNZ side

They were so awful.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Fin Smith is gifting Owen a test spot with these missed kicks at goal

You can just see him starting a later test after Russell struggles or gets injured.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Easy way to win a lifetime of cluster headaches, light sensitivity and short term memory loss.

They not fun. I have mild symptoms of some of those without ever playing a game or any team sport in my life (I have a phobia of being hit by a ball).

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

As an aside from a Leinster / Ireland pov, I hope Ryan Baird is watching and seething. His current form very well could have got him that 6 jersey but he was anonymous the first three months of the year when it mattered.

Don't think he's that type of person though unfortunately.

He could’ve learnt a lot from Chessum this tour

 

[Derpus]

Well that was grim. You will all be glad to know weve had about five professional indigenous rugby players in history so **** knows what the next match is gunna be. Maybe they’ll roll out the Ella brothers.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Lions player ratings v AUNZ Invitational: Ben Earl underlines his case for Test place

Telegraph Sport runs the rule over who made a case for inclusion in the first-Test XV and who took a step back in the last warm-up game

www.telegraph.co.uk

Keenan - 8/10 - Likely to start (8/10)
Hansen - 7/10 - Might now be ahead of Lowe (7/10)
Jones - 8/10 - Will start with Ringrose injured (8/10)
Tuipulotu - 6/10 - Aki probably ahead. (6/10)
van der Merwe - 6/10 - Not likely (6/10)
F Smith - 7/10 - Only if Russell gets injured (2/10)
White - 7/10 - Battling Mitchell for a bench spot - Gibson-Park to start (2/10)
Schoeman - 6/10 - Behind Porter and Genge (2/10)
Cowan-Dickie - 6/10 - Concussion will rule him out (0/10)
Stuart - 6/10 - Chances have gone down (3/10)
Ryan - 7/10 - Bottom of pecking order (1/10)
Beirne - 7/10 - Farrell loves him (7/10)
Pollock - 6/10 - Would be a big gamble (3/10)
Morgan - 6/10 - Not that likely (4/10)
Earl - 9/10 - Behind Conan but will be on the bench (6/10)
Replacements- 7/10. Farrell, Cummings and Kelleher impressed.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Well that was grim. You will all be glad to know weve had about five professional indigenous rugby players in history so **** knows what the next match is gunna be. Maybe they'll roll out the Ella brothers.

I’m really hoping some AB’s make a surprise appearance like Savea

 

[Jimbo]

Didn't think Pollock and Morgan worked well as a pairing tbh

Think Pollock's flair has overshadowed his general blindside play - like he was fine but hardly standout, but the highlights will show his chip and chase and people will call for him to start

Think that’s a bit unfair, thought pollock did less of the spectacular more graph in the first half then more of the flair flashy stuff second, of course it’s easier to remember things that happen later on in games.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I'd start with all the same back row that played today.

Chessum and Conan can punch holes and run into brick walls but you saw how effective and athletic and dynamic back row of Earl, Pollock and Morgan can be. I don't think Farrel will but Morgan is in at seven for sure. The last welshman standing, representing his cymru nation

The AUNZ team were very poor today. I wouldn't make any selection decisions based on today's game.

 

[xenosys]

You can just see him starting a later test after Russell struggles or gets injured.

Honestly, an 80% Finn Russell would still keep out F Smith and Farrell from the starting 10 jersey. He's just that much better than them at the moment.

Fin Smith really hasn't been great this tour, and especially over the last couple of weeks. Maybe Farrell's inclusion put his nose out of place and he's lost focus. I expected a bit more, but you've also got to remember he's still a rookie in terms of caps and he may even be the starting 10 in 4 years time.

 

[Crash Hamster]

I suspect George will be dropped from the England team for tonight now.

Spot on, good call. George to Lions, Dan to start against Argentina.

 

[Grizwald]

Spot on, good call. George to Lions, Dan to start against Argentina.

Pleased for George, his experience and set peice ability id argue he should have been there from the off.

England will miss his experience but nice to see Langdon get a place on the bench.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Think that's a bit unfair, thought pollock did less of the spectacular more graph in the first half then more of the flair flashy stuff second, of course it's easier to remember things that happen later on in games.

Dont think his stats back up he did the graft work though, think someone here said it was like 3 tackles made 2 missed in the first half or so

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He has very similar tackle stats (think made one more, missed one more) to Earl but played 20mins more

Like I said: ok game, nothing to write home about, only elevated because of highlight reel plays (which didn't come off)