B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[Rhubarb & Custard]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

[Uncle fester]

I found this on a reddit post:

The 1903 All Black captain, Jimmy Duncan, is credited with coining the name five-eighths when he decided to take a player from the forwards to add to the backs. The backs at that time consisted of two half-backs, three three-quarters, and a full-back. As the additional player stood between half-back and three-quarters, Duncan came up with the term five-eighths according to the fraction between them.

The player at five-eighths, also known as the five-eighth, could take the ball back to the forwards or pass it on to the three-quarters.

As the game of rugby union evolved, the two half-back positions acquired separate functions. The outside half-back, now known as the outhalf or fly-half, became the first five-eighths in New Zealand under the two five-eighths system. The next player on his outside was called the second five-eighths

It makes sense when you consider the 10 and 12 as a pair, which is or was the kiwi system.

[Wylie Coyote]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

[Biffer]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

I think he is the epitome of the modern full back. Fast and physical, and importantly can step in to play ten on the other side of the break down from your fly half to disguise your line of attack.

[Slick]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

I agree, he is a bit wasted on the wing. In saying that, he has been playing so well over the last 18 months or so that you might just want him on the pitch anywhere

[Slick]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

[SaintK]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

My son told me he got a 3 month subscription
Haven’t a clue otherwise, I’ll be watching the tests at my club with a post breakfast Guinness

[Rhubarb & Custard]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

[Tichtheid]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

I'm pretty sure that deal is for a six month minimum term, but you might get the Rugby Championship too, I haven't been able to find out who the broadcaster is this year.

I went for the one month at full price, that allows me to cancel when I want.

They usually offer a deal when you go to cancel.

[Paddington Bear]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

I believe it is a 6 month minimum term.

I’ve found Virgin reasonable value as I get (very fast) wifi through them as well as Sky and TNT, it helps obviously I watch a lot of cricket as Sky for rugby is now terrible value unless you fancy watching Rugby Championship repeats

[Slick]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

I'm pretty sure that deal is for a six month minimum term, but you might get the Rugby Championship too, I haven't been able to find out who the broadcaster is this year.

I went for the one month at full price, that allows me to cancel when I want.

They usually offer a deal when you go to cancel.

FFS, the wording is very ambiguous but the normal full price monthly deal didn’t come up as an option.

It did say that is you cancel before the end of the deal you can’t get the same deal again which made me think it’s cancel at any time. We shall see!

[Biffer]

Has anyone else got the Sky sports subscription through NOW?

Just signed up to the £26 a month for 6 months then it’s £36 - I think I can cancel after the Lions tour but not sure…

I'm pretty sure that deal is for a six month minimum term, but you might get the Rugby Championship too, I haven't been able to find out who the broadcaster is this year.

I went for the one month at full price, that allows me to cancel when I want.

They usually offer a deal when you go to cancel.

FFS, the wording is very ambiguous but the normal full price monthly deal didn’t come up as an option.

It did say that is you cancel before the end of the deal you can’t get the same deal again which made me think it’s cancel at any time. We shall see!

If you cancel at the end they'll likely offer you another cheap deal. They usually do for me.

[Biffer]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

From a simplistic pov the Scottish bavkline has consistently cut the Aussies apart for the last seven or eight years. More so than the other Lions nations. So you take that back line and look at where you can improve on it, if you're a decent coach. I have a feeling Farrell might have his guys though, and then see where he can fit this Scots round that.

[topofthemoon]

They do seem to being a bit sneaky. If you have used Now TV before and are logged in when you go to offers it will only show you the 6 month minimum term for £26 per month option.

This link has all 3 possible options including the day pass (£14.99 for 24 hours) and the flexible month (£34.99 per month):

https://www.nowtv.com/plans/new/sports

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

From a simplistic pov the Scottish bavkline has consistently cut the Aussies apart for the last seven or eight years. More so than the other Lions nations. So you take that back line and look at where you can improve on it, if you're a decent coach. I have a feeling Farrell might have his guys though, and then see where he can fit this Scots round that.

In a side that's allowed to play and often loses anyway so the pressure is less. Not that I'm especially fussed it the backline is Irish and/or Scottish

[sockwithaticket]

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

From a simplistic pov the Scottish bavkline has consistently cut the Aussies apart for the last seven or eight years. More so than the other Lions nations. So you take that back line and look at where you can improve on it, if you're a decent coach. I have a feeling Farrell might have his guys though, and then see where he can fit this Scots round that.

More than Ireland and Wales, perhaps. England's record against them, even as we declined against other nations is very good. In part because Aus have been crap for most of the last 8 years.

They've improved over the last couple, but I'm still not entirely sure how good they are.

[Slick]

They do seem to being a bit sneaky. If you have used Now TV before and are logged in when you go to offers it will only show you the 6 month minimum term for £26 per month option.

This link has all 3 possible options including the day pass (£14.99 for 24 hours) and the flexible month (£34.99 per month):

https://www.nowtv.com/plans/new/sports

The 6 month option I was getting was slightly different and never mentioned a 6 month minimum term, just that it was available at the reduced price for 6 months. The flexible £36 option wasn’t available. We shall see!

[Uncle fester]

There remains the valid option to pick Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing.

I know Toulouse play Kinghorn there but they have like 4 international fullbacks in the squad so they have to fit everyone in. I just don't see him as wing. He is such a creative player for those around him, his offloading and all round ball handling is wasted on the wing, let him pop up across the back field and he will excel, he gets the best out of his wingers and has such a high ceiling athletically and skills wise.

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

A good guide would be how Farrell has picked wingers to date. He's more or less ignored Stockdale when fit and generally selected wingers with good workrate and ability to bring others into the game. Kinghorn would have a good chance of featuring there even if Keenan gets the 15 slot.

It's one of the positions where we are spoiled for choice, not so in others.

[Tichtheid]

There is an oddity in many teams that they simply don't bring the wingers off the wing enough, but it is an option. And you get 2 15s in defence.

Depends a bit just how much you're expecting your 15 to be covering (against) kicks, because pretty much no one is better at that than Keenan, Keenan reads the game brilliantly and works his nuts off covering the backfield. But I can't say I've any idea how the Aussies will play, indeed when I saw their recent squad I figured I could pick 10-12 of them out of a lineup, maybe

From a simplistic pov the Scottish bavkline has consistently cut the Aussies apart for the last seven or eight years. More so than the other Lions nations. So you take that back line and look at where you can improve on it, if you're a decent coach. I have a feeling Farrell might have his guys though, and then see where he can fit this Scots round that.

In a side that's allowed to play and often loses anyway so the pressure is less. Not that I'm especially fussed it the backline is Irish and/or Scottish

I'm not sure that there is any less pressure on Scotland than there is on any other nation. I think Biffer has a point, put that backline behind a pack which pressurises opponents into making mistakes and leaving gaps due to being on the back foot and you'd really see them let rip.

Unless Fagerson does a Mr Benn and appears back on tour as if by magic, then I can't see Scotland being represented in the test side pack, maybe Schoeman on the pine

[SaintK]

Noticed on Where's the Match that the Lions v Argies is on iPlayer tonight.
Having searched iPLayer I can't find it anywhere.!!!!!

[Simian]

Noticed on Where's the Match that the Lions v Argies is on iPlayer tonight.
Having searched iPLayer I can't find it anywhere.!!!!!

I think that’s referring to the S4C diverge you can access through I player

[SaintK]

Noticed on Where's the Match that the Lions v Argies is on iPlayer tonight.
Having searched iPLayer I can't find it anywhere.!!!!!

I think that’s referring to the S4C diverge you can access through I player

Aaah!
Can't see it there either though to be honest I don't fancy watching it witha Welsh commentary

[Oxbow]

Noticed on Where's the Match that the Lions v Argies is on iPlayer tonight.
Having searched iPLayer I can't find it anywhere.!!!!!

I think that’s referring to the S4C diverge you can access through I player

Aaah!
Can't see it there either though to be honest I don't fancy watching it witha Welsh commentary

S4C sometimes do English commentary on the red button I think.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

From a simplistic pov the Scottish bavkline has consistently cut the Aussies apart for the last seven or eight years. More so than the other Lions nations. So you take that back line and look at where you can improve on it, if you're a decent coach. I have a feeling Farrell might have his guys though, and then see where he can fit this Scots round that.

In a side that's allowed to play and often loses anyway so the pressure is less. Not that I'm especially fussed it the backline is Irish and/or Scottish

I'm not sure that there is any less pressure on Scotland than there is on any other nation. I think Biffer has a point, put that backline behind a pack which pressurises opponents into making mistakes and leaving gaps due to being on the back foot and you'd really see them let rip.

Unless Fagerson does a Mr Benn and appears back on tour as if by magic, then I can't see Scotland being represented in the test side pack, maybe Schoeman on the pine

No, just no. Mr Benn did not appear by magic, that was the shopkeeper!

And Scotland are rarely up for winning anything, 6N or WC. Which isn't to say they can't play under the pressure of actual winning something, we just don't know either way, and simply it's always easier to have a stunning last round of golf when you're comfortably outside any chance of competing for the win.

[SaintK]

I think that’s referring to the S4C diverge you can access through I player

Aaah!
Can't see it there either though to be honest I don't fancy watching it witha Welsh commentary

S4C sometimes do English commentary on the red button I think.

Thanks I'll take a look later this evening

[fishfoodie]

I think that’s referring to the S4C diverge you can access through I player

Aaah!
Can't see it there either though to be honest I don't fancy watching it witha Welsh commentary

S4C sometimes do English commentary on the red button I think.

Yes, they do for the URC matches, although confusingly if you select the English commentary, you get the Welsh one, & if you select the Welsh one, you get the English one on my TV

It's also on TG4 in Ireland if you fancy listening to another language

[Hal Jordan]

Don't S4C put the Emglish commentary on YouTube? That's where I found the Heineken Cup (what?) Final.

[SaintK]

Finally found it on S4C………..says it’s unavailable

[SaintK]

It’s on Now TV
Just been sent a login

[salanya]

S4c working beautifully for me

[Slick]

The English just box kicking and missing tackles

[Insane_Homer]

Giving away the 3 was cheapest option

[Big D]

That's not a million miles away from a yellow.

[Hal Jordan]

Well, after a plug socket related fuse blowing, I am.now back in the power, and have realised that this is on Sky Sports.

[Insane_Homer]

Good finish

Or maybe not

[Big D]

Is this a capped international?

[salanya]

Good finish

Or maybe not

Not

[Hal Jordan]

Good finish

Or maybe not

Hasty edit there...

[Big D]

This is where rugby needs sped up. Clear knock on. Just let the tmo give the knock on.

[Margin__Walker]

Bloke was walking back with the face of a man who knew he dropped it.