Lions - Six Nations 2025 Auditions

[Rugbyfan564]

Also with lots of talk about how replacements happen I wonder what the chances nobody gets injured until well into the tests and no replacement ever happens. Would be unprecedented.

 

[Saintjay]

Press Association leaking Maro as captain. No big shock if true.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Press Association leaking Maro as captain. No big shock if true.

They were not exactly going to keep that secret when he is having dinner tonight with all the former captains.

 

[Saintjay]

They were not exactly going to keep that secret when he is having dinner tonight with all the former captains.

Yep don't get why they bother. Loads of rugby players, drinking at a do in London with mobile phones.....nobody will ever find out.

 

[McTallshort]

I've heard from more than one source it's James Lowe

 

[Ddanno]

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Also set to be 22 Forwards and 18 backs for a total of 40 players. (Unless he changes his mind tonight during the final meeting.)

 

[Saintjay]

From the Times, never realised clubs made money from the Lions tbh.

Leinster, the Irish province sure to have the most players in the squad, could earn more than £1million, with Saracens, Sale and Northampton likely to take about £400,000 each, as part of the profit-sharing agreement between the Lions and clubs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Maybe the lions ain't so bad after all

 

[Rugbyfan564]

From the Times, never realised clubs made money from the Lions tbh.

Leinster, the Irish province sure to have the most players in the squad, could earn more than £1million, with Saracens, Sale and Northampton likely to take about £400,000 each, as part of the profit-sharing agreement between the Lions and clubs.

Also
'With that financial boost, it is predicted that each player will be paid between £80,000 and £100,000 for the privilege of touring with the Lions, closer to the top end if the tour makes a larger profit.

The players will receive the same amount regardless of whether they play all three Test matches or a matter of minutes on tour, a change from previous trips before the Covid pandemic, where payments were made on a pro-rata basis.’

That probably reduces any squad tensions.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

The Times are saying might only be two of Farrell Jr, F Smith, M Smith, Ford, Russell and Prendergarst selected. The Times are suggesting Russell might miss out as Farrell Sr has doubts about him. M Smith fears he won't be selected even with Kinghorn a late arrival. All the people that know Farrell Jr think he will be selected. And that it might be Prendergarst and Farrell Jr only.

 

[NickBD]

That might be the worst outcome. Prendergast I can take 1 bad games doesn't change that hes very good but imo he's behind Russell and F Smith, but picking him wouldn't annoy me. Farrell you don't need me to tell you why it's bad.

 

[General Melchett]

The Times are saying might only be two of Farrell Jr, F Smith, M Smith, Ford, Russell and Prendergarst selected. The Times are suggesting Russell might miss out as Farrell Sr has doubts about him. M Smith fears he won't be selected even with Kinghorn a late arrival. All the people that know Farrell Jr think he will be selected. And that it might be Prendergarst and Farrell Jr only.

Farrell has doubts about Russell who delivered in the last Lions test and more importantly in November against Australia while the rest of the world (apart from Sexton) has doubts about his son. Think the writing was on the wall for Russell when Sexton was appointed and said Owen would be his starting ten a few weeks ago.

Luckily it's not SA or NZ otherwise the decision to only take Owen & Prendergast would come back to bite him on the arse.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Farrell can’t be that highly rated when he doesn’t and hasn’t played international 10 or is this sexton wanted Farrell at 12 to babysit Sam at 10.

 

[McTallshort]

Farrell can't be that highly rated when he doesn't and hasn't played international 10 or is this sexton wanted Farrell at 12 to babysit Sam at 10.

I do bloody hope not

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I do bloody hope not

You read it here first.

 

[Saintjay]

If it is just Owen Farrell and Sam Pendergast. This afternoon is going to be so much fun on social media.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If it is just Owen Farrell and Sam Pendergast. This afternoon is going to be so much fun on social media.

I don't believe it for a second but have never wanted anything more.

 

[Reiser99]

The Times are saying might only be two of Farrell Jr, F Smith, M Smith, Ford, Russell and Prendergarst selected. The Times are suggesting Russell might miss out as Farrell Sr has doubts about him. M Smith fears he won't be selected even with Kinghorn a late arrival. All the people that know Farrell Jr think he will be selected. And that it might be Prendergarst and Farrell Jr only.

IF, that's true then I'll boycott the Lions this year. Those picks would be so biased I couldn't take anymore selections seriously.

 

[General Melchett]

IF, that's true then I'll boycott the Lions this year. Those picks would be so biased I couldn't take anymore selections seriously.

I'm with you on the 'if'. Will reserve judgement until the squad is announced. I am hoping these are just leaked false rumours to generate clicks and interest ahead of the announcement.

There's no middle ground with the Owen pick. Either Farrell snr will get massive respect for being a professional and picking players on merit or it's going to be full blown nepotism. The Prendergast development tour is a separate issue. It will be very harsh on Fin and Finn if one or both don't make the plane IMO.

Everyone knows Australia are shite. The expectation is not just to win but to win well and play entertaining rugby.