B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[Blackmac]

Shall we all stop putting 50p in the dickhead?

Yeah, you're right. Uninformed, ignorant bigots best ignored.

[SaintK]

Brief summary so you don't have to go back on the thread
All the English players were shite. All the Scottish players were brilliant
And what the fuck is Marcus Smith doing on tour?

That's a very Sweaty-centric opinion.

The plastic jock on the wing was the worst player on the pitch. The plastic jock in the centre was nearly as shite. The plastic jock in the front row was ok.

Absolute fucking nonsense. Just confirming your appalling lack of credibility on this bored.
Tuipoloto was probably the most solid player on the pitch and Duhan did nothing worse than Freeman.

Point of order
In the 3 player rating list I saw VdM was a 5 and Freeman was a 7.
Which I think is probably correct from what I saw.

[Dogbert]

Shall we all stop putting 50p in the dickhead?

Yeah, you're right. Uninformed, ignorant bigots best ignored.

Nothing like a Lions tour to bring all four nations together

[Blackmac]

That's a very Sweaty-centric opinion.

The plastic jock on the wing was the worst player on the pitch. The plastic jock in the centre was nearly as shite. The plastic jock in the front row was ok.

Absolute fucking nonsense. Just confirming your appalling lack of credibility on this bored.
Tuipoloto was probably the most solid player on the pitch and Duhan did nothing worse than Freeman.

Point of order
In the 3 player rating list I saw VdM was a 5 and Freeman was a 7.
Which I think is probably correct from what I saw.

I agree with that but would give Freeman a 6, mainly because he was given far more opportunities to make up for his mistakes. As far as I could see Duhan lost two high balls out of two but apart from that did well with what he got. He cannot be blamed for missing the tackle when the Argies had the two man overlap to run in the first try as even I would have been able to step him in that situation.
Freeman I believe lost two out of three high balls. He also missed a bad tackle for the first try and was completely out of position to defend the third. He then saw more of the ball in an attacking sense so upped his profile a bit.
My point is the people suggesting Duhan had any worse a game than the majority of Lions on the pitch, when most, apart from Genge, Bierne and Tuipoloto put in military medium to poor performances.
They all clearly had an eye on bigger things ahead.

[Blackmac]

Shall we all stop putting 50p in the dickhead?

Yeah, you're right. Uninformed, ignorant bigots best ignored.

Nothing like a Lions tour to bring all four nations together

The reality is most on here are making quite reasonable, informed assessments but that trolling dick is just being a fool.

[Wyndham Upalot]

For once, it's great to sit on the periphery and witness the inevitable pissing contest unravel. The two moon-gazing Taffs were actually alright IMO, but obviously won't be anywhere near the starting (Test) lineup

[el capitan]

At tier 1 Test match rugby level, Marcus Smith is a specialist for the 22 shirt only.

Not coherent enough with his play for 10, lacking the fundamentals and knowledge for 15. I think he can be a different option to bring on first receiver or fitted in wider if you're chasing the game.... But if the incumbent 10 is Russell, you'd probably just leave him on for the Hail Mary stuff in that case.

As for the match, felt the forwards went fairly well but the backs less so. Lack of cohesion and looking a bit disjointed got punished.

[Hugo]

For once, it's great to sit on the periphery and witness the inevitable pissing contest unravel.

One thing is certain - Lions tours ALWAYS produce the drama.

[Kawazaki]

Yeah, you're right. Uninformed, ignorant bigots best ignored.

Nothing like a Lions tour to bring all four nations together

The reality is most on here are making quite reasonable, informed assessments but that trolling dick is just being a fool.

When you have a kindred swarm around you sending you echoes it's easy to think that you are in the ascendant and correct. The Jocks in this place have zero self-awareness. Your lads really aren't the be all and end all, even the ones who are genuinely Scottish. Russell and Kinghorn are quality, the rest, especially the project plastics, should not be on the tour.

[Kawazaki]

At tier 1 Test match rugby level, Marcus Smith is a specialist for the 22 shirt only.

Not coherent enough with his play for 10, lacking the fundamentals and knowledge for 15. I think he can be a different option to bring on first receiver or fitted in wider if you're chasing the game.... But if the incumbent 10 is Russell, you'd probably just leave him on for the Hail Mary stuff in that case.

As for the match, felt the forwards went fairly well but the backs less so. Lack of cohesion and looking a bit disjointed got punished.

Marcus Smith is barely England level. No way he should be in a Lions squad.

[Slick]

Nothing like a Lions tour to bring all four nations together

The reality is most on here are making quite reasonable, informed assessments but that trolling dick is just being a fool.

When you have a kindred swarm around you sending you echoes it's easy to think that you are in the ascendant and correct. The Jocks in this place have zero self-awareness. Your lads really aren't the be all and end all, even the ones who are genuinely Scottish. Russell and Kinghorn are quality, the rest, especially the project plastics, should not be on the tour.

You know there are more English than Scots on here? The reason you don’t have a supporting swarm probably goes back to that self awareness, bar bore thing. Just a thought.

[Kawazaki]

The reality is most on here are making quite reasonable, informed assessments but that trolling dick is just being a fool.

When you have a kindred swarm around you sending you echoes it's easy to think that you are in the ascendant and correct. The Jocks in this place have zero self-awareness. Your lads really aren't the be all and end all, even the ones who are genuinely Scottish. Russell and Kinghorn are quality, the rest, especially the project plastics, should not be on the tour.

You know there are more English than Scots on here? The reason you don’t have a supporting swarm probably goes back to that self awareness, bar bore thing. Just a thought.

Being English is a broad church that accepts all sorts, but being unencumbered with an inferiority complex is something we largely share.

[Slick]

When you have a kindred swarm around you sending you echoes it's easy to think that you are in the ascendant and correct. The Jocks in this place have zero self-awareness. Your lads really aren't the be all and end all, even the ones who are genuinely Scottish. Russell and Kinghorn are quality, the rest, especially the project plastics, should not be on the tour.

You know there are more English than Scots on here? The reason you don’t have a supporting swarm probably goes back to that self awareness, bar bore thing. Just a thought.

Being English is a broad church that accepts all sorts, but being unencumbered with an inferiority complex is something we largely share.

And still they all think you are a dick

[Kawazaki]

You know there are more English than Scots on here? The reason you don’t have a supporting swarm probably goes back to that self awareness, bar bore thing. Just a thought.

Being English is a broad church that accepts all sorts, but being unencumbered with an inferiority complex is something we largely share.

And still they all think you are a dick

They can think whatever they like. I don't hold grudges.

[dpedin]

Pleased that we learned that the players from [insert nation here] were excellent and let down by the players from [insert nation here].

Argentina are a serious side and should be no one’s idea of a training run. I’d be very interested to see how a fully loaded England would go against them in a three test series this summer, can’t imagine we’d win 3-0.

Not sure we learned anything new really, the players who are fairly widely seen as not Lions test players (LCD, Earl, VDM, Hansen, Morgan, Williams, Pollock, Mitchell) showed why that is and the rest muddled through as well as they could. M.Smith full back experiment once again hopelessly exposed.

We’ll see, but asking players in this day and age to whip themselves into test match shape in boiling heat at the end of a full bore season is asking a hell of a lot.

Don't disagree with much of that but the last sentence also applies to Argentina who were also without a raft of first choice players, players who have come off the end of a long hard season, had little preparation time and yet seemed to have a bit more energy and cohesiveness about their game.

I was just disappointed with the lack of control and direction that the Lions had on the game. Lots of individuals but little cohesion. I thought they would adopt a more pragmatic game plan, keep it tight and use powerful pack better before opening up a little in 2nd half. I suppose the poor line out didnt help though?

No doubt about that, but with that said Argentina play regular international rugby as a unit, I suspect England Scotland and Ireland would have looked more cohesive last night than the Lions did.

Hmmmm .... Argentina's last game was in November!

[Slick]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

[SaintK]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

[Slick]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

Yeah, I liked the fact he was putting himself out there and kept going, but find a 8/10 bizarre, he made a lot of mistakes. Either way, I don’t think that game should particularly count for too much as we go forward

[Hal Jordan]

He looked a bit ropey under the high ball,which is unusual.

[Big D]

The biggest concern on Freeman for me wasn't something that will show on the stat sheet. He was out of position for the Argentinan 1st try by being too tight in defence. But that will some with familiarity.

I wasn't too impressed by the back three although I think both wingers showed some nice touches in attack.

Duhan looked like a player coming off an injury, Smith looked like a 10 playing full back and Freeman made mistakes too. But it's the first game and they'll be better for the run out, as will all of the 23.

[Big D]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

If Kinghorn makes it to tour it wouldn't surprise me to see them try a back 3 of Kinghorn, Lowe and Keenan in the game the Saturday before the 1st test.

[Biffer]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

If Kinghorn makes it to tour it wouldn't surprise me to see them try a back 3 of Kinghorn, Lowe and Keenan in the game the Saturday before the 1st test.

Kinghorn is a player who can be used very imaginatively if the coach using him has the imagination to do it. Towns end does it a bit, but doesnt have to think about it really as he's playing fullback and stepping up into the line as you'd expect a FB to do, but also able to be either an alternate ten or second receiver.

If you're playing him in the wing, you can see there might be other ways you use him - have you seen much of a wing coming inside to pop up as an alternate distributor, rather than just as an extra man to create space? Question is, is Farrell imaginative enough to do things like that. My instinct is not.

This is part of my problem with Lions coach picks. They have a tendency recently to go with who's successful - understandable. But you've got to examine their success. Both Farrell and Gatland have succeeded with a very disciplined, some might say rigid, game plan. I'm not sure that works for the Lions. It needs a coach who looks at the resources he has, and then designs a system around them (step forward Geech and Telfer). Who knows, AF might surprise me.

[Big D]

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

If Kinghorn makes it to tour it wouldn't surprise me to see them try a back 3 of Kinghorn, Lowe and Keenan in the game the Saturday before the 1st test.

Kinghorn is a player who can be used very imaginatively if the coach using him has the imagination to do it. Towns end does it a bit, but doesnt have to think about it really as he's playing fullback and stepping up into the line as you'd expect a FB to do, but also able to be either an alternate ten or second receiver.

If you're playing him in the wing, you can see there might be other ways you use him - have you seen much of a wing coming inside to pop up as an alternate distributor, rather than just as an extra man to create space? Question is, is Farrell imaginative enough to do things like that. My instinct is not.

This is part of my problem with Lions coach picks. They have a tendency recently to go with who's successful - understandable. But you've got to examine their success. Both Farrell and Gatland have succeeded with a very disciplined, some might say rigid, game plan. I'm not sure that works for the Lions. It needs a coach who looks at the resources he has, and then designs a system around them (step forward Geech and Telfer). Who knows, AF might surprise me.

Doesn't Hansen pop up and distribute at times for Ireland?

[Blackmac]

I’m finding the differing views on Freeman quite interesting. Seems split down the middle on social media and was the same amongst a group of friends I was swimming with this morning

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

Yeah, I liked the fact he was putting himself out there and kept going, but find a 8/10 bizarre, he made a lot of mistakes. Either way, I don’t think that game should particularly count for too much as we go forward

That's what I thought. Quite a glaring missed tackle for the first try, horrendously out of position for the third, but other that than very busy and reasonable effective going forward. I don't view lost high balls as that disastrous as I think it is a poor bloody hit and miss tactic.

[Slick]

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

If Kinghorn makes it to tour it wouldn't surprise me to see them try a back 3 of Kinghorn, Lowe and Keenan in the game the Saturday before the 1st test.

Kinghorn is a player who can be used very imaginatively if the coach using him has the imagination to do it. Towns end does it a bit, but doesnt have to think about it really as he's playing fullback and stepping up into the line as you'd expect a FB to do, but also able to be either an alternate ten or second receiver.

If you're playing him in the wing, you can see there might be other ways you use him - have you seen much of a wing coming inside to pop up as an alternate distributor, rather than just as an extra man to create space? Question is, is Farrell imaginative enough to do things like that. My instinct is not.

This is part of my problem with Lions coach picks. They have a tendency recently to go with who's successful - understandable. But you've got to examine their success. Both Farrell and Gatland have succeeded with a very disciplined, some might say rigid, game plan. I'm not sure that works for the Lions. It needs a coach who looks at the resources he has, and then designs a system around them (step forward Geech and Telfer). Who knows, AF might surprise me.

As I said in another post, one of my big takeaways from Friday is that I am very worried about AF being able to adapt to what he has. Really all he has brought to Ireland is continuity and a team that looks like it is in slow decline. Possibly a bit harsh, but I don’t think he is the messiah

[SaintK]

The Rugby Paper gave him an 8 all the other ratings I've seen have been 7
I thought he was ok, couple of errors but was busy looking for work. Will be interesting to see how Lowe an AN Other go next week against WEstern Force

Yeah, I liked the fact he was putting himself out there and kept going, but find a 8/10 bizarre, he made a lot of mistakes. Either way, I don’t think that game should particularly count for too much as we go forward

That's what I thought. Quite a glaring missed tackle for the first try, horrendously out of position for the third, but other that than very busy and reasonable effective going forward. I don't view lost high balls as that disastrous as I think it is a poor bloody hit and miss tactic.

Think that's because Smith wasn't where he should have been?

[SaintK]

Reports saying that there are still doubts on the fitness of Gibson-Park and Keenan for next Saturdays match
Huw Jones fit and ready for selection

[Blackmac]

Yeah, I liked the fact he was putting himself out there and kept going, but find a 8/10 bizarre, he made a lot of mistakes. Either way, I don’t think that game should particularly count for too much as we go forward

That's what I thought. Quite a glaring missed tackle for the first try, horrendously out of position for the third, but other that than very busy and reasonable effective going forward. I don't view lost high balls as that disastrous as I think it is a poor bloody hit and miss tactic.

Think that's because Smith wasn't where he should have been?

Yeah, Freeman didn't get within a couple of metres of making a tackle, Smith was half the width of the pitch away.

[Big D]

Reports saying that there are still doubts on the fitness of Gibson-Park and Keenan for next Saturdays match
Huw Jones fit and ready for selection

Jones might end up at full back.

[Uncle fester]

As I said in another post, one of my big takeaways from Friday is that I am very worried about AF being able to adapt to what he has. Really all he has brought to Ireland is continuity and a team that looks like it is in slow decline. Possibly a bit harsh, but I don’t think he is the messiah

All he has brought?
What are you smoking?

He took over a shambles after Schmidt and has won championships, grand slams, test series in New Zealand and inflicted South Africa's first home defeat since 2022, while playing the most positive rugby we've played in decades.

I get that you really don't like Ireland and there are some odd selections but there's no need to make silly stuff up and hope to convince others by repeating it over and over.

[Uncle fester]

That's what I thought. Quite a glaring missed tackle for the first try, horrendously out of position for the third, but other that than very busy and reasonable effective going forward. I don't view lost high balls as that disastrous as I think it is a poor bloody hit and miss tactic.

Think that's because Smith wasn't where he should have been?

Yeah, Freeman didn't get within a couple of metres of making a tackle, Smith was half the width of the pitch away.

We defended really narrow. I don't know if it was because we were playing with 2 inside centres or a systems thing but I was getting flashbacks to Argentina dumping Ireland out of 2015 rwc with the way they found space outside with the key difference that the lions wingers are not slow.

We need to fix that rapidly because the Aussies will look to exploit it.

[Slick]

As I said in another post, one of my big takeaways from Friday is that I am very worried about AF being able to adapt to what he has. Really all he has brought to Ireland is continuity and a team that looks like it is in slow decline. Possibly a bit harsh, but I don’t think he is the messiah

All he has brought?
What are you smoking?

He took over a shambles after Schmidt and has won championships, grand slams, test series in New Zealand and inflicted South Africa's first home defeat since 2022, while playing the most positive rugby we've played in decades.

I get that you really don't like Ireland and there are some odd selections but there's no need to make silly stuff up and hope to convince others by repeating it over and over.

Yeah fair enough, that was a rushed post. I do think that he came in under a system that was geared to winning and had been winning and hasn’t done much to develop that beyond making it more rigid. Not sure I agree that Ireland have played lovely rugby under him. It remains to be seen if he can adapt. I’ve got zero against Farrell.

[Sandstorm]

Weird casting shade on Farrell’s record. Only Rassie has done better in the last decade.

[Slick]

Weird casting shade on Farrell’s record. Only Rassie has done better in the last decade.

This is my nightmare post, Irish rugby and Rassie.

“Casting shade”, hope you have a self uppercut incoming

[Tichtheid]

Weird casting shade on Farrell’s record. Only Rassie has done better in the last decade.

This is my nightmare post, Irish rugby and Rassie.

“Casting shade”, hope you have a self uppercut incoming

Yo, chill with the Rassie hate, fam! Him and Andy are the GOATs, putting in mad work for rugby. Bet everyone’s lowkey jealous of their vibe globally.

(I used an English to Gen Alpha translator for that)

[Uncle fester]

As I said in another post, one of my big takeaways from Friday is that I am very worried about AF being able to adapt to what he has. Really all he has brought to Ireland is continuity and a team that looks like it is in slow decline. Possibly a bit harsh, but I don’t think he is the messiah

All he has brought?
What are you smoking?

He took over a shambles after Schmidt and has won championships, grand slams, test series in New Zealand and inflicted South Africa's first home defeat since 2022, while playing the most positive rugby we've played in decades.

I get that you really don't like Ireland and there are some odd selections but there's no need to make silly stuff up and hope to convince others by repeating it over and over.

Yeah fair enough, that was a rushed post. I do think that he came in under a system that was geared to winning and had been winning and hasn’t done much to develop that beyond making it more rigid. Not sure I agree that Ireland have played lovely rugby under him. It remains to be seen if he can adapt. I’ve got zero against Farrell.

You clearly haven't watched any Ireland games other than when they play Scotland. Schmidt was the rigid one. The style has loosened significantly under Farrell.

You don't have zero against Farrell. You're just plain ignorant and that's even worse.

[Slick]

All he has brought?
What are you smoking?

He took over a shambles after Schmidt and has won championships, grand slams, test series in New Zealand and inflicted South Africa's first home defeat since 2022, while playing the most positive rugby we've played in decades.

I get that you really don't like Ireland and there are some odd selections but there's no need to make silly stuff up and hope to convince others by repeating it over and over.

Yeah fair enough, that was a rushed post. I do think that he came in under a system that was geared to winning and had been winning and hasn’t done much to develop that beyond making it more rigid. Not sure I agree that Ireland have played lovely rugby under him. It remains to be seen if he can adapt. I’ve got zero against Farrell.

You clearly haven't watched any Ireland games other than when they play Scotland. Schmidt was the rigid one. The style has loosened significantly under Farrell.

You don't have zero against Farrell. You're just plain ignorant and that's even worse.

One out bosh, one out bosh, one out bosh, cheeky little run around. Genius.

[SaintK]

Yeah fair enough, that was a rushed post. I do think that he came in under a system that was geared to winning and had been winning and hasn’t done much to develop that beyond making it more rigid. Not sure I agree that Ireland have played lovely rugby under him. It remains to be seen if he can adapt. I’ve got zero against Farrell.

You clearly haven't watched any Ireland games other than when they play Scotland. Schmidt was the rigid one. The style has loosened significantly under Farrell.

You don't have zero against Farrell. You're just plain ignorant and that's even worse.

One out bosh and clear out beyond the ball, one out bosh and illegal entry into the ruck, one out bosh and flop over the top of the ruck, cheeky little run around. Genius.

Fixed for you

[Slick]

You clearly haven't watched any Ireland games other than when they play Scotland. Schmidt was the rigid one. The style has loosened significantly under Farrell.

You don't have zero against Farrell. You're just plain ignorant and that's even worse.

One out bosh and clear out beyond the ball, one out bosh and illegal entry into the ruck, one out bosh and flop over the top of the ruck, cheeky little run around. Genius.

Fixed for you

I was building up to that

[Yr Alban]

Shall we all stop putting 50p in the dickhead?

I put the dickhead in question on ignore months ago, which has been fantastic. Unfortunately people keep quoting him, which means I end up having to read his tedious drivel anyway.