Lions - Six Nations 2025 Auditions

[dgc47]

Articles for example. The teelgprah have one today full of Scottish fans saying they have been turned off because of and hoping Graham beats van der Merwe's record because then it be held by someone properly Scottish.

All this talk about van der Merwe not being Scottish is stupid considering the Vunipola brothers represented England and the Lions.

The game has changed to allow Unions these opportunities.

Fin Smith has Scottish parents, had a grandfather who played for Scotland, but no problem about him representing England and good luck to him I say.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

All this talk about van der Merwe not being Scottish is stupid considering the Vunipola brothers represented England and the Lions.

Moving somewhere as a kid vs moving somewhere as a pro are two very different things

Fin Smith has Scottish parents, had a grandfather who played for Scotland, but no problem about him representing England and good luck to him I say.

Well yeah, he was born in and England and has lived here all his life and played all age grades and academy levels here
It'd be weirder if he represented Scotland

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

 

[TommiG88]

Moving somewhere as a kid vs moving somewhere as a pro are two very different things


Well yeah, he was born in and England and has lived here all his life and played all age grades and academy levels here
It'd be weirder if he represented Scotland

Ben White?

 

[dgc47]

Moving somewhere as a kid vs moving somewhere as a pro are two very different things


Well yeah, he was born in and England and has lived here all his life and played all age grades and academy levels here
It'd be weirder if he represented Scotland

Well excuses are made to suit some and excuses are made to defend others.
I hope van der Merwe and Smith continue to have fantastic careers for their respective Countries.
I have no problem with either at all.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ben White?

Full product of England's systems, silly he's playing for Scotland

The international game is union vs union - seeing which union produces the best players, for bragging rights. That's what sport boils down to, really

Don't care where a player is from, care where his rugby's from

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

All this talk about van der Merwe not being Scottish is stupid considering the Vunipola brothers represented England and the Lions.

The game has changed to allow Unions these opportunities.

Fin Smith has Scottish parents, had a grandfather who played for Scotland, but no problem about him representing England and good luck to him I say.

 

[dgc47]

Yeah, I expected something like that. No problem at all.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Nicky Smith finally getting a start and showing what he can do

He has looked sharp for Leicester this season

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Steve Borthwick’s selection call could cost Marcus Smith a Lions place

While fly-half has helped out at full-back for England, Fin Smith or Sam Prendergast may have stolen his seat on the flight to Australia

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't see a world where M Smith doesn't go to be honest. Farrell loves outliers and tries to fit them in his teams. Only have to look at Ireland and the guys he picked up before they were regular provincial starters.

Keenan - One of the fittest players in the game
Hansen - playmaking ability you don't see often in wingers
Prendergast - kicking
Joe McCarthy - big and mobile

 

[AlRums]

Six Nations 2025: The second coming of Scotland's Huw Jones

BBC Scotland's Andy Burke examines how Scotland centre Huw Jones has rebuilt himself into one of the world's finest outside centres.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Jimbo]

Fair enough. It's worth remembering that Russell played 70+ mins of the third test in South Africa four years ago and nailed every penalty/conversion in what was a high pressure environment. He'd be the only 10 with Lions experience at test level. He changed the game when he came on for the injured Biggar and ended up putting in a MOTM performance. A series win was on the cards if not for Liam Williams butchering a certain try and not passing to Adams.

6N performances will determine who tours (and he will tour due to his experience/c

Fair enough. It's worth remembering that Russell played 70+ mins of the third test in South Africa four years ago and nailed every penalty/conversion in what was a high pressure environment. He'd be the only 10 with Lions experience at test level. He changed the game when he came on for the injured Biggar and ended up putting in a MOTM performance. A series win was on the cards if not for Liam Williams butchering a certain try and not passing to Adams.

6N performances will determine who tours (and he will tour due to his experience/credit in the bank) but the performances down under will go a long way in determining who starts the tests.

And rightly so, he should undoubtably be in the driving seat for the 10 jersey, I was actually defending him with many saying he lands kicks and Scotland win which changes the entire complexion of the game and can't really be considered an absalute definitive win unless it's the literal last play of the game with no restart, most kickers have the occasional off day and I would think a lions setup would feature multiple kicking options in the starting line up should his goal kicking abandon him again, what he consistently brings else where far outweighs his occasional suspect kicking, I wouldn't consider it a weakness in general at all though.

 

[Jimbo]

I don't see a world where M Smith doesn't go to be honest. Farrell loves outliers and tries to fit them in his teams. Only have to look at Ireland and the guys he picked up before they were regular provincial starters.

Keenan - One of the fittest players in the game
Hansen - playmaking ability you don't see often in wingers
Prendergast - kicking
Joe McCarthy - big and mobile

I'd love to see Smith get descent time and a bit of a license to play when it's on, play well and prove doubters an SB that even on the international stage there is a place for it and it can work, just has to tempered at times, probably dreaming but would be great to see.

 

[dgc47]

Russell owns the 10 shirt, Prendergast is waiting in the wings, The Smiths can fight it out with Fin getting the nod.

 

[Jimbo]

Russell owns the 10 shirt, Prendergast is waiting in the wings, The Smiths can fight it out with Fin getting the nod.

Couldn't agree more, what I'd like to see and what is likely or best for the lions in general isn't one of the same by any means.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Finn, Marcus, Prendergast, in that order

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah, I think Prendergast will end his career as the best of the three unless England have a very strong spell in the next 10 years but he's a season out from this level for me.

Chance to change my mind now though.

He's arguably the best pick for a more limited Lions type game plan though being the best kicker from hand of the three by a bit though.

 

[Saintjay]

Prendergast likely to go based on being Irish but not on today's display.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Prendergast likely to go based on being Irish but not on today's display.

If Andy is smart, he will make him live in the weight room all summer.