B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[Gumboot]

Ah righto, Murray's scratched then. A good defence is a non-negotiable at fullback. Shame, he's fun to watch on attack.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Ah righto, Murray's scratched then. A good defence is a non-negotiable at fullback. Shame, he's fun to watch on attack.

We don't know he defends badly, when presented with an opportunity to defend he's ignored that part of the game. So he might be brilliant and just doesn't want to embarrass people, but too one might be inclined to think he makes Ramos look a brave defender

[Deepsouth]

Totally different to chanting "Hadlee's a wanker!" all day, then?

That's nearly 50 years ago mate.

Might be time to let it go......

[Gumboot]

Totally different to chanting "Hadlee's a wanker!" all day, then?

That's nearly 50 years ago mate.

Might be time to let it go......

Around these parts the first of Feb' is still commemorated as Underarm Outrage Day.

Deflect all you like, the point stands.

[Deepsouth]

Totally different to chanting "Hadlee's a wanker!" all day, then?

That's nearly 50 years ago mate.

Might be time to let it go......

Around these parts the first of Feb' is still commemorated as Underarm Outrage Day.

Deflect all you like, the point stands.

Precious much?

You boys have been crying over what was a perfectly legal delivery now for a long long time.

Brilliant strategic thinking from Gregory lol....

[Gumboot]

Precious much?

Says the bloke who jumped onto the thread to whinge about the Barmy bloody Army. Cop onto yourself, cobber.

[Deepsouth]

Precious much?

Says the bloke who jumped onto the thread to whinge about the Barmy bloody Army. Cop onto yourself, cobber.

Mate I'm talking about current English fan behaviour.
Your talking about events half a century ago.

I would suggest that's not much of an equivalence bro......

[Gumboot]

You're right, there's simply no comparison between harmless jingoistic banter and momentous historical events that rock the sport to its very core.

February 1, 1981 - a date which will live in infamy.

Cricket coulda doid that day, bro.

[Deepsouth]

You're right, there's simply no comparison between harmless jingoistic banter and momentous historical events that rock the sport to its very core.

February 1, 1981 - a date which will live in infamy.

Cricket coulda doid that day, bro.


All legal bro, all very legal.

Nothing to see there......

[Gumboot]

Enjoy hosting the Lions, bro. I'm jealous.

[Deepsouth]

Enjoy hosting the Lions, bro. I'm jealous.

Cheers mate. Hoping for a cracker of a series. In Joe we trust. We will definately need our best team on the park to be competitive.

Go you good thing!!!

[Deepsouth]

Is there any one that can win a World Cup?.....lol

[Guy Smiley]

[fishfoodie]

That Lass watches a lot of Rugby !

Agree with the Reddit thread, it wouldn't be a bad 1st Test team; but I'd still prefer Keenan at FB

[Tichtheid]

Kinghorn is most effective at fullback, I'd prefer him there. I don't think the wingers will exclude vdMerwe.

I just don't get the Curry love at all. For the second tour in a row he seems to be riding a wave of population pressure. I don't particularly think Morgan did enough in the 6N either, although he is a quality player he wasn't even the best Welsh backrow on display.

[Sandstorm]

That Lass watches a lot of Rugby !

She’s our Uncle Fester

[Slick]

That Lass watches a lot of Rugby !

Agree with the Reddit thread, it wouldn't be a bad 1st Test team; but I'd still prefer Keenan at FB

Nah, she’s an idiot buying into the English anti Russell hype.

[Tichtheid]

I've seen an interview with Finn from last week where at the end he talks about the Lions, specifically he talks about how Ireland play. Everyone knows where they are supposed to be at any given time and it works so well because they are all very well drilled.
He didn't say this, but I take that a step further and say that is how Leinster work, they have a large squad in which everyone can slot in and know their job, it's been years in the making and they all just fit in when called in to the side. If Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman were from Blackrock school they would be in the Ireland team too.

Finn said that Ireland play fairly narrow and kick really well, they are very good at chasing kicks. He prefers playing with wider passes than Ireland (or Leinster) do.

I hope this doesn't count against him, not him saying it, the coaches and analysts will know all this. My point is that if the Lions are Leinster+ it will be a disaster. They will win but it will be shite

[Uncle fester]

I've seen an interview with Finn from last week where at the end he talks about the Lions, specifically he talks about how Ireland play. Everyone knows where they are supposed to be at any given time and it works so well because they are all very well drilled.
He didn't say this, but I take that a step further and say that is how Leinster work, they have a large squad in which everyone can slot in and know their job, it's been years in the making and they all just fit in when called in to the side. If Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman were from Blackrock school they would be in the Ireland team too.

Finn said that Ireland play fairly narrow and kick really well, they are very good at chasing kicks. He prefers playing with wider passes than Ireland (or Leinster) do.

I hope this doesn't count against him, not him saying it, the coaches and analysts will know all this. My point is that if the Lions are Leinster+ it will be a disaster. They will win but it will be shite

Ireland play that way because we lack pace out wide. Am pretty confident that Farrell will widen the playbook with faster players available to him.

[Yeeb]

Kinghorn is most effective at fullback, I'd prefer him there. I don't think the wingers will exclude vdMerwe.

I just don't get the Curry love at all. For the second tour in a row he seems to be riding a wave of population pressure. I don't particularly think Morgan did enough in the 6N either, although he is a quality player he wasn't even the best Welsh backrow on display.

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

[SaintK]

Kinghorn is most effective at fullback, I'd prefer him there. I don't think the wingers will exclude vdMerwe.

I just don't get the Curry love at all. For the second tour in a row he seems to be riding a wave of population pressure. I don't particularly think Morgan did enough in the 6N either, although he is a quality player he wasn't even the best Welsh backrow on display.

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

[SaintK]

Double post

[Tichtheid]

Kinghorn is most effective at fullback, I'd prefer him there. I don't think the wingers will exclude vdMerwe.

I just don't get the Curry love at all. For the second tour in a row he seems to be riding a wave of population pressure. I don't particularly think Morgan did enough in the 6N either, although he is a quality player he wasn't even the best Welsh backrow on display.

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

At 36 is he better than any English option in the second or back row? If he was surely he’s have been offered a good club contract in England? He’s not in the same boat as Willis where his club went under.
Then he also has to be better than the options from Scotland, Ireland and Wales too.

I haven’t seen any ProD2, but I’ve been watching internationals and top European and club rugby - there is good competition for places in the back five of the scrum.

[SaintK]

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

At 36 is he better than any English option in the second or back row? If he was surely he’s have been offered a good club contract in England? He’s not in the same boat as Willis where his club went under.
Then he also has to be better than the options from Scotland, Ireland and Wales too.

I haven’t seen any ProD2, but I’ve been watching internationals and top European and club rugby - there is good competition for places in the back five of the scrum.

Saints offered him a new contract, he'd always said he wouldn't play for another Premiership side having been at Saints since he was 16. Brive came in with an offer he couldn't refuse which was an awful lot more than Saints could afford and included housing and all his kids school fees for 2 years!!
I don't watch Pro D2 either but by all accounts he is having a great first season. In his prime he'd be a shoo-in, can't see him touring this time though.

[Tichtheid]

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

At 36 is he better than any English option in the second or back row? If he was surely he’s have been offered a good club contract in England? He’s not in the same boat as Willis where his club went under.
Then he also has to be better than the options from Scotland, Ireland and Wales too.

I haven’t seen any ProD2, but I’ve been watching internationals and top European and club rugby - there is good competition for places in the back five of the scrum.

Saints offered him a new contract, he'd always said he wouldn't play for another Premiership side having been at Saints since he was 16. Brive came in with an offer he couldn't refuse which was an awful lot more than Saints could afford and included housing and all his kids school fees for 2 years!!
I don't watch Pro D2 either but by all accounts he is having a great first season. In his prime he'd be a shoo-in, can't see him touring this time though.

I can see why he took the contract.

I can’t see him on the Lions tour either, I think it’s easy to get a bit sentimental over good players but I can’t see Farrell watching ProD2 games when has lots of options available.

On a related note, Jamie Ritchie signed for Perpignan for next season and they are in second bottom spot in the Top14. It would be bad for him to not play top class rugby in his late 20s, he’s just come back into his best form too after the Scottish captaincy got to him a bit.

[dpedin]

At 36 is he better than any English option in the second or back row? If he was surely he’s have been offered a good club contract in England? He’s not in the same boat as Willis where his club went under.
Then he also has to be better than the options from Scotland, Ireland and Wales too.

I haven’t seen any ProD2, but I’ve been watching internationals and top European and club rugby - there is good competition for places in the back five of the scrum.

Saints offered him a new contract, he'd always said he wouldn't play for another Premiership side having been at Saints since he was 16. Brive came in with an offer he couldn't refuse which was an awful lot more than Saints could afford and included housing and all his kids school fees for 2 years!!
I don't watch Pro D2 either but by all accounts he is having a great first season. In his prime he'd be a shoo-in, can't see him touring this time though.

I can see why he took the contract.

I can’t see him on the Lions tour either, I think it’s easy to get a bit sentimental over good players but I can’t see Farrell watching ProD2 games when has lots of options available.

Agreed - lets focus on the current crop of players who are in their prime rather than someone who was a fantastic player a few years ago but is now winding down to retirement playing in a second tier league.

[SaintK]

At 36 is he better than any English option in the second or back row? If he was surely he’s have been offered a good club contract in England? He’s not in the same boat as Willis where his club went under.
Then he also has to be better than the options from Scotland, Ireland and Wales too.

I haven’t seen any ProD2, but I’ve been watching internationals and top European and club rugby - there is good competition for places in the back five of the scrum.

Saints offered him a new contract, he'd always said he wouldn't play for another Premiership side having been at Saints since he was 16. Brive came in with an offer he couldn't refuse which was an awful lot more than Saints could afford and included housing and all his kids school fees for 2 years!!
I don't watch Pro D2 either but by all accounts he is having a great first season. In his prime he'd be a shoo-in, can't see him touring this time though.

I can see why he took the contract.

I can’t see him on the Lions tour either, I think it’s easy to get a bit sentimental over good players but I can’t see Farrell watching ProD2 games when has lots of options available.

On a related note, Jamie Ritchie signed for Perpignan for next season and they are in second bottom spot in the Top14. It would be bad for him to not play top class rugby in his late 20s, he’s just come back into his best form too after the Scottish captaincy got to him a bit.

Perpignan could end up playing Brive in a play off!!!
Probably a bit of a lifestyle choice in the decision. Beautiful part of France.

[Tichtheid]

Saints offered him a new contract, he'd always said he wouldn't play for another Premiership side having been at Saints since he was 16. Brive came in with an offer he couldn't refuse which was an awful lot more than Saints could afford and included housing and all his kids school fees for 2 years!!
I don't watch Pro D2 either but by all accounts he is having a great first season. In his prime he'd be a shoo-in, can't see him touring this time though.

I can see why he took the contract.

I can’t see him on the Lions tour either, I think it’s easy to get a bit sentimental over good players but I can’t see Farrell watching ProD2 games when has lots of options available.

On a related note, Jamie Ritchie signed for Perpignan for next season and they are in second bottom spot in the Top14. It would be bad for him to not play top class rugby in his late 20s, he’s just come back into his best form too after the Scottish captaincy got to him a bit.

Perpignan could end up playing Brive in a play off!!!
Probably a bit of a lifestyle choice in the decision. Beautiful part of France.

I lived inland from Perpignan, about halfway to Andorra from there, the coastal towns are lovely. My boss lived in a gorgeous place called Céret, plane tree-lined streets offering shade from the hot sun, beautiful architecture, town square market for fresh food, very Spanish/French/Catalan. They used to have Feria where they’d run bulls through the streets and have bull fights too, I don’t know if they still do that.

[SaintK]

I can see why he took the contract.

I can’t see him on the Lions tour either, I think it’s easy to get a bit sentimental over good players but I can’t see Farrell watching ProD2 games when has lots of options available.

On a related note, Jamie Ritchie signed for Perpignan for next season and they are in second bottom spot in the Top14. It would be bad for him to not play top class rugby in his late 20s, he’s just come back into his best form too after the Scottish captaincy got to him a bit.

Perpignan could end up playing Brive in a play off!!!
Probably a bit of a lifestyle choice in the decision. Beautiful part of France.

I lived inland from Perpignan, about halfway to Andorra from there, the coastal towns are lovely. My boss lived in a gorgeous place called Céret, plane tree-lined streets offering shade from the hot sun, beautiful architecture, town square market for fresh food, very Spanish/French/Catalan. They used to have Feria where they’d run bulls through the streets and have bull fights too, I don’t know if they still do that.

Lucky man!
I've only holidayed down that way

[Begbie]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

[duke]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Has he taken the space on the coaching team previously occupied by Neil Jenkins?

[Begbie]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Has he taken the space on the coaching team previously occupied by Neil Jenkins?

Looks like it.

[westport]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

[Slick]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Ludicrous more like

[Blackmac]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

[Yeeb]

Kinghorn is most effective at fullback, I'd prefer him there. I don't think the wingers will exclude vdMerwe.

I just don't get the Curry love at all. For the second tour in a row he seems to be riding a wave of population pressure. I don't particularly think Morgan did enough in the 6N either, although he is a quality player he wasn't even the best Welsh backrow on display.

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

Just airing musings , as a counter to the comment about curry. I’d rather have lawes there who doesn’t appear to be winding down in performance just yet, to some overated celts who underperform when it actually matters.

[Monk]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

I cannot see Sexton being able to coach a backline drawn from various quarters to play the style he was effective at in the time available.

In any event not sure that the Lions should try and replicate this phase-play. They have the benefit of drawing outstanding backline players who can produce the kind of direct rugby that the Aussies will find difficult to cope with. IMO the Lions 10's should be Russel and F. Smith - best equipped to bring class outside backs into play.

[SaintK]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

Beyond a joke
Zero coaching experience and fucking awful interpersonal skills all round

[Deveron Boy]

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

Beyond a joke
Zero coaching experience and fucking awful interpersonal skills all round

Might as well go ‘all in’ on the cnut count and pick Owen as part of the squad….

[Uncle fester]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.