2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
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@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Yeah, Farrell is a bizarre replacement, can't really see a place in the squad for him, so maybe it's about leadership?
Nepo
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Farrell’s selection lends credence to the suggestion that they always wanted him on the plane but couldn’t justify it. Potentially a divisive call I feel.
The back row selection is, I feel, dependent on who plays 8. If it’s Earl then they will likely go for the bigger options at 6 & 7, so Chessum and VdF. If Conan plays 8 it gives more options to find some balance. I think I’d start with Conan at 8, Curry at 6 and Morgan or Earl at 7, but it seems they view Earl solely as an 8. Morgan in the box seat for 7 atm for me.
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@brodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@brodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Morgan's a top player but I think Farrell will opt for what he knows best which is Jvdf.
That would be a mistake given their respective games on tour thus far.
Beirne looks like a liability; penalised off the park.
Curry was practically invisible.
I agree with what you say here but Jvdf is still a top player and he's played well so far. There's nothing much between him and Morgan.
Curry is well past it.
You must have watched a different 6 Nations to me then. Either that or he has gone from MoM performances to “well past it” in a couple of months.
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@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@brodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@brodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Morgan's a top player but I think Farrell will opt for what he knows best which is Jvdf.
That would be a mistake given their respective games on tour thus far.
Beirne looks like a liability; penalised off the park.
Curry was practically invisible.
I agree with what you say here but Jvdf is still a top player and he's played well so far. There's nothing much between him and Morgan.
Curry is well past it.
You must have watched a different 6 Nations to me then. Either that or he has gone from MoM performances to “well past it” in a couple of months.
Whilst not as good as Richard Hill, he's doing the same job
Goes quietly about his business allowing his 7 and 8 to do what they do best. And once in a while he does the lion's share and deservedly gets MOTM recognition
Curry, Morgan, Conan is the most balanced Test back row
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@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Yeah, Farrell is a bizarre replacement, can't really see a place in the squad for him, so maybe it's about leadership?
Nepo
Not eligible and has just signed for Gloucester.
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@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Yeah, Farrell is a bizarre replacement, can't really see a place in the squad for him, so maybe it's about leadership?
Bring your kid to work month
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Blues fans will be happier.
All Blacks number eight Hoskins Sotutu has added to the all-star AUNZ Invitational XV squad set for next Saturday’s match against the British & Irish Lions. The powerful Blues back-rower is joined by teammate AJ Lam, along with Queensland Reds duo Aidan Ross and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Ross and JTA to play for a third team against the BIL now. Lam would have to play on the wing.
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They'll have to redesign the jersey so it's predominately black at this stage.
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These are the players announced for the AUNZ team so far:
Aidan Ross
Joshua Fusitu’a
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
Shannon Frizell
Pete Samu
Hoskins Sotutu
Folau Fakatava
David Havili
Ngani Laumape
AJ Lam
Marika Koroibete
Shaun StevensonHead coach: Les Kiss
Assistant coaches: Ian Foster, Simon Cron, Zane HiltonStill need some locks and a 1st 5 to round out the starting XV. Probably a 7 too unless Samu plays there.
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@Bovidae said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
These are the players announced for the AUNZ team so far:
Aidan Ross
Joshua Fusitu’a
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
Shannon Frizell
Pete Samu
Hoskins Sotutu
Folau Fakatava
David Havili
Ngani Laumape
AJ Lam
Marika Koroibete
Shaun StevensonHead coach: Les Kiss
Assistant coaches: Ian Foster, Simon Cron, Zane HiltonStill need some locks and a 1st 5 to round out the starting XV. Probably a 7 too unless Samu plays there.
Think the 10 might already be in the squad.
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Gotta love league pundits. Right at the start of the NRLW season and they're still playing Rugby-is-shit dominoes.
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I've been pondering the recent calling up of Owen Farrell and I'm going to predict that, barring injury, he will be on the bench for the first test. His versatility will be mentioned more than once.
Note: This is my prediction, not what I want to happen. He has been a great servant for both England and the Lions, but his age, injury, lack of form and lack of recent game time, particularly international should count against his inclusion.
But I doubt it.
