2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
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@Mattasaurus said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Based on super form, Wobblies could be handy enough
The reduction to four teams has created much stronger squads, so the competition within those squads raises the level.
There's a better chance this year that the Wallabies could win the Bledisloe than they've had in a long, long time.
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Jonny "the whining fluffybunny" Sexton has joined the British and Irish Lions coaching team:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cr5dqy32dl0o
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@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Jonny "the whining fluffybunny" Sexton has joined the British and Irish Lions coaching team:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cr5dqy32dl0o
Best lion since Alastair Campbell
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It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.
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@Catogrande My guess is that Andy Farrell will pick the squad. Jonny Sexton's role will be mostly to do with goalkicking and a bit of game management. I agree. I don't think this has any impact on whether Finn Russell goes to Australia or not.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.
From watching the six nations, the Aussies will have their fingers crossed that he is starting. Was absolutely abysmal
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@KiwiInLondon said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.
From watching the six nations, the Aussies will have their fingers crossed that he is starting. Was absolutely abysmal
Mate, he wasn’t abysmal. He was hot and cold for sure, but that’s his game. See also Carlos Spencer. Exceptionally, naturally talented, but run a game to a game plan? Not so much. It depends upon what the coaches want. A good example would be the 1997 Lions. McGeechan picked Townsend at 10 specifically because he felt that an unpredictable playmaker was needed to unlock the Bok system. However, shit goal kicker, which would also be necessary, so Jenkins at 15. And he wasn’t a full back’s arse. But we won the series.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@KiwiInLondon said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.
From watching the six nations, the Aussies will have their fingers crossed that he is starting. Was absolutely abysmal
Mate, he wasn’t abysmal. He was hot and cold for sure, but that’s his game. See also Carlos Spencer. Exceptionally, naturally talented, but run a game to a game plan? Not so much. It depends upon what the coaches want. A good example would be the 1997 Lions. McGeechan picked Townsend at 10 specifically because he felt that an unpredictable playmaker was needed to unlock the Bok system. However, shit goal kicker, which would also be necessary, so Jenkins at 15. And he wasn’t a full back’s arse. But we won the series.
Yeah great analogy. When you think of Russell you think of Spencer/Townsend but without the rig. Capable of amazing stuff but also some howlers.
I think the cool word to describe them is ‘mercurial’
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@KiwiInLondon said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.
From watching the six nations, the Aussies will have their fingers crossed that he is starting. Was absolutely abysmal
Mate, he wasn’t abysmal. He was hot and cold for sure, but that’s his game. See also Carlos Spencer. Exceptionally, naturally talented, but run a game to a game plan? Not so much. It depends upon what the coaches want. A good example would be the 1997 Lions. McGeechan picked Townsend at 10 specifically because he felt that an unpredictable playmaker was needed to unlock the Bok system. However, shit goal kicker, which would also be necessary, so Jenkins at 15. And he wasn’t a full back’s arse. But we won the series.
He was absolutely shocking in defense and attack. Couldn’t coordinate a thing in the backline
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Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
Well look what happens when the pressure is on him? RWC game against SA was a classic example. Ditto against Ireland and England in the six nations
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@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande My guess is that Andy Farrell will pick the squad. Jonny Sexton's role will be mostly to do with goalkicking and a bit of game management.
And sportsmanship.
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@KiwiInLondon said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
Well look what happens when the pressure is on him? RWC game against SA was a classic example. Ditto against Ireland and England in the six nations
I think that's just as much of a case of the rest of the Scots team not being as good as their SA and Irish opposites on the whole.
Not England, they've got the wood on them overall.
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@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@KiwiInLondon said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Crikey mate, you’re a harsh judge.
Well look what happens when the pressure is on him? RWC game against SA was a classic example. Ditto against Ireland and England in the six nations
I think that's just as much of a case of the rest of the Scots team not being as good as their SA and Irish opposites on the whole.
Not England, they've got the wood on them overall.
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@nostrildamus said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@sparky said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande My guess is that Andy Farrell will pick the squad. Jonny Sexton's role will be mostly to do with goalkicking and a bit of game management.
And sportsmanship.
The Alistair Campbell role
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Doris could be doubtful due to the shoulder injury he suffered against Northampton.
"Caelan Doris will have a procedure this week on a shoulder injury and a further assessment will be carried out afterwards," a Leinster statement said.
Was he really a good chance to be the captain? I guess it depends on how impartial Farrell is with his selections.
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@Bovidae said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Doris could be doubtful due to the shoulder injury he suffered against Northampton.
"Caelan Doris will have a procedure this week on a shoulder injury and a further assessment will be carried out afterwards," a Leinster statement said.
Was he really a good chance to be the captain? I guess it depends on how impartial Farrell is with his selections.
Two horse race between him and Itoje in most pundits eyes
Both 80 min players with their places in the starting XV locked in
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After the weekend, Pollock, Finn Smith, Mitchell, Freeman on the plane
Russell surplus to requirements for me
Both Smiths do everything Russell does but better
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I’d still take Russell over Prendergast if they’re taking 3 fly-halves.
