What's your squad look like?

[Leonormous Boozer]

Only dorks seem excited about this after a peruse online.

Cool fantasy rugby project but no one cares if they lose.

 

[Ddanno]

Only dorks seem excited about this after a peruse online.

Cool fantasy rugby project but no one cares if they lose.

I quite like the debate around the announcement (if not the format this time) but I'm mainly interested about how it will **** the national sides.

 

[Derpus]

I wonder if this is the most born outside of the four nations.
New Zealand - Gibson-Park, Aki, Lowe,
South Africa - Schoeman, van der Merwe
USA - McCarthy
Singapore- Smith
Australia - Tuipulotu, Hansen

Not a bad Barbarians side you have there...

In all seriousness though the Wallabies don't stand a chance.

 

[McTallshort]

I wonder if this is the most born outside of the four nations.
New Zealand - Gibson-Park, Aki, Lowe,
South Africa - Schoeman, van der Merwe
USA - McCarthy
Singapore- Smith
Australia - Tuipulotu, Hansen

It's almost like some nations actively recruit overseas players....

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ah, he was dropped by the end of the 6 nations (Crowley probably gave the jersey back but still).

I don't think from a coach's perspective they'd have looked at Sam's performance at the weekend and drop him from a position he had. Wouldn't be surprised if Marcus Smith had a bit of support from the blazers either due to how marketable he is in England.

Best result for Ireland though to go into your tour with all your 10's together.
Also with no JGP, it gives you a perfect chance to play the 9/10 combos for the rugby World Cup in 2 years time (Not saying JGP wouldn't be able to play then though)

It's just a shame you don't have a tier 1 opposition to go against this tour.

Meanwhile England are going on a tour with 10's who is prob not going to be in the squad come next RWC and Atkinson who isn't really good enough for the top level IMO.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Lions should have taken a stand against ‘foreign players’

It is not blood-and-soil nationalism to feel uneasy about World Rugby’s lax residency ruling benefiting Gibson-Park, Aki, Lowe et al

www.telegraph.co.uk

Good article. Darcy Graham has had his place stolen and others as well

 

[McTallshort]

Best result for Ireland though to go into your tour with all your 10's together.
Also with no JGP, it gives you a perfect chance to play the 9/10 combos for the rugby World Cup in 2 years time (Not saying JGP wouldn't be able to play then though)

It's just a shame you don't have a tier 1 opposition to go against this tour.

Meanwhile England are going on a tour with 10's who is prob not going to be in the squad come next RWC and Atkinson who isn't really good enough for the top level IMO.

But Ireland's players miss out on the development that lions tours give you as an individual. Not sure Rentaghost is sat in Dublin thinking "glad a body swerved that Lions tour"

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean he has benefited from a rugby nation that actively does it

You take away the Non Scottish players from the Scotland team and is then the Scottish team good enough to give him that platform?

 

[McTallshort]

Lions should have taken a stand against ‘foreign players’

It is not blood-and-soil nationalism to feel uneasy about World Rugby’s lax residency ruling benefiting Gibson-Park, Aki, Lowe et al

www.telegraph.co.uk

Good article. Darcy Graham has had his place stolen and others as well

It's behind a firewall. What's the general gist?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

But Ireland's players miss out on the development that lions tours give you as an individual. Not sure Rentaghost is sat in Dublin thinking "glad a body swerved that Lions tour"

Like what? What benefit does it give an individual? These are pro setups not like he's an amateur who has missed a chance to train with pros. In all honesty has Marcus Smith improved since the 2021 tour?

I'm sure he will be sad missing it but it will benefit Ireland and Prendergast more missing this tour

Not like he's 30 he's got the chance to make another 3 tours IF he is genuinely that good....

 

[McTallshort]

Like what?
You mean like Sam Simmonds last tour?

I'm sure he will be sad missing it but it will benefit Ireland and Prendergast more missing this tour

Not like he's 30 he's got the chance to make another 3 tours IF he is genuinely that good....

Yeah pick out one individual who didn't do much afterwards ok

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Meanwhile England are going on a tour with 10's who is prob not going to be in the squad come next RWC and Atkinson who isn't really good enough for the top level IMO.

I'd be really keen for us to take Ford, and then some big punts on younger options.

Huge opportunity to give someone like Benson (or any of the young recent 20s etc) a shot, given that'll be hard to come by normally when they're stuck behind the Smiths for the next half decade at least

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah pick out one individual who didn't do much afterwards ok

Name me individuals who have gone when not ready
I mean Marcus Smith went as prem winner what has he done since? 4 years on and he's prob still England 2nd choice 10 and prob going to be 3rd choice 10 in this tour.


What did he gain from that 2021 Lions tour?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

ok if a lions tour adds so much benefit to the development of a player why has only one country from the lions nations made a rugby World Cup final?

 

[Ddanno]

It's behind a firewall. What's the general gist?

Here you go Squire

https://archive.ph/QEeMo

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Best result for Ireland though to go into your tour with all your 10's together.
Also with no JGP, it gives you a perfect chance to play the 9/10 combos for the rugby World Cup in 2 years time (Not saying JGP wouldn't be able to play then though)

It's just a shame you don't have a tier 1 opposition to go against this tour.

Meanwhile England are going on a tour with 10's who is prob not going to be in the squad come next RWC and Atkinson who isn't really good enough for the top level IMO.

Yeah I didn't want Sam to go, he needs to focus on off pitch development. Georgia will be a good level to test lads, reckon we could even lose that.

I think this Lions tour will be good for us insofar as we'll get a look at a lot of new lads which is needed.

 

[big ginger 8]

Lions should have taken a stand against ‘foreign players’

It is not blood-and-soil nationalism to feel uneasy about World Rugby’s lax residency ruling benefiting Gibson-Park, Aki, Lowe et al

www.telegraph.co.uk

Good article. Darcy Graham has had his place stolen and others as well

Stolen is a bit much. Hansen getting a lot of flack, first off not sure how many have watched him recently because he's been class and secondly his mum is Irish. He's not a residency player.

Also far from the first tour to have residency players.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Name me individuals who have gone when not ready
I mean Marcus Smith went as prem winner what has he done since? 4 years on and he's prob still England 2nd choice 10 and prob going to be 3rd choice 10 in this tour.


What did he gain from that 2021 Lions tour?

About £50K for 80 minutes work. I'd take it.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Name me individuals who have gone when not ready
I mean Marcus Smith went as prem winner what has he done since? 4 years on and he's prob still England 2nd choice 10 and prob going to be 3rd choice 10 in this tour.


What did he gain from that 2021 Lions tour?

Not sure it came from that tour in particular, but he's gone from a flashy highlight goose kick player to a superb game manager as well (fight me, he is) and evolved his game massively in that 4 years.

What would you want as proof of gaining something?

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I'm actually getting quite excited. The tour in 2021 was a dud and it wasn't really anybody's fault. You can't put on a good tour during a pandemic. So hopefully we get some good tests and who doesn't love midweek rugby?