That is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenienceGuy Smiley wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:42 am I think we can all agree that for the good of the game globally, it would be best if this was just a British Lions, yeah? No need for the and I.
We don't want any thuggery and violence, lads.
Lions Squad - Who's In?
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Being deliberately obtuse to throw the opposition off the scent. England locks and back row very handy at present and should feature heavily.
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Still think it'd be better for England if our players didn't feature heavily, didn't en masse tour Argentina, and instead had a rest when there's nowt to play for this summer. Ideally if you join the EPS you'd recuse yourself from Lions selection, because at that point you'd be accepting England was your priority
Close no doubt, but so much competition there and, again, the coach.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
- Uncle fester
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I agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
I think DvdM has demonstrated, in this 6Ns, a newly found ability to create. Several tries this year for Scotland where he's made the break then found the pass or offload for someone else to score.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pmI agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
It's not a criticism of Farrell and your reasoning is why I said it. It's also true that if it's close, he goes with what he knows, which is also natural.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pmI agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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Lowe will be going on the tour if fit but not sure on Hansen. He fills a very specific role in the Irish team (extra playmaker) and Farrell might see somebody else who can do that for the lions.Slick wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:33 pmIt's not a criticism of Farrell and your reasoning is why I said it. It's also true that if it's close, he goes with what he knows, which is also natural.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pmI agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
Or alternatively he could pick centres who can pass but those guys are not that plentiful.
Part of that might come back to the FB discussion - Kinghorn is an extra playmaker and it's often more beneficial to have that function at FB, so they can come into the line at any part of the field.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:39 pmLowe will be going on the tour if fit but not sure on Hansen. He fills a very specific role in the Irish team (extra playmaker) and Farrell might see somebody else who can do that for the lions.Slick wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:33 pmIt's not a criticism of Farrell and your reasoning is why I said it. It's also true that if it's close, he goes with what he knows, which is also natural.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pm
I agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
Or alternatively he could pick centres who can pass but those guys are not that plentiful.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Yeah, I'd be pretty surprised if Lowe isn't pencilled in as a starter at this stageUncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:39 pmLowe will be going on the tour if fit but not sure on Hansen. He fills a very specific role in the Irish team (extra playmaker) and Farrell might see somebody else who can do that for the lions.Slick wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:33 pmIt's not a criticism of Farrell and your reasoning is why I said it. It's also true that if it's close, he goes with what he knows, which is also natural.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pm
I agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
Or alternatively he could pick centres who can pass but those guys are not that plentiful.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
And Kinghorn. Probably in the seat for 15 but also his versatility.
Yeah both played well. I think JvdF was nailed on at the start of the tournament but is now clinging on for dear life with a few others stepping up.
Agree that Lowe and DVDM are probably the first picks, but Tommy Freeman is having a very good championship with scores in each game so far (4 in total) and also fits the mould of a busy winger that Farrell likes. He won't be first choice, but I think Freeman is much more likely to be in the larger squad than Feyi-Waboso or any other of England's outside backs.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:39 pmLowe will be going on the tour if fit but not sure on Hansen. He fills a very specific role in the Irish team (extra playmaker) and Farrell might see somebody else who can do that for the lions.Slick wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:33 pmIt's not a criticism of Farrell and your reasoning is why I said it. It's also true that if it's close, he goes with what he knows, which is also natural.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:21 pm
I agree but not for the reason you think. Farrell likes "busy" wingers hence why he's ignored our more "traditional"-type wingers in Stockdale and Baloucoune.
Farrell might well look at DVDM and ask "what else does he do (or not do) besides run with the ball?"
Graham is significantly better rounded than DVDM but he's small and Farrell also likes size. Australia being physically robust is also likely to be a factor.
Or alternatively he could pick centres who can pass but those guys are not that plentiful.
Unfortunately I think Kinghorn is nailed on for the bench because of his versatility. 11,14,15 and at a push, 10.Blackmac wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 5:44 pmAnd Kinghorn. Probably in the seat for 15 but also his versatility.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
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Increasingly think touring Argentina is dumb - we can’t be far off world cup seedings coming out and their full strength side ought to be favourites if we’re missing a whole bunch of startersRhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:15 pm Still think it'd be better for England if our players didn't feature heavily, didn't en masse tour Argentina, and instead had a rest when there's nowt to play for this summer. Ideally if you join the EPS you'd recuse yourself from Lions selection, because at that point you'd be accepting England was your priority
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages, What feats he did that day
At least the RFU have deigned to visit a tier 2 country for a change.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:28 pmIncreasingly think touring Argentina is dumb - we can’t be far off world cup seedings coming out and their full strength side ought to be favourites if we’re missing a whole bunch of startersRhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:15 pm Still think it'd be better for England if our players didn't feature heavily, didn't en masse tour Argentina, and instead had a rest when there's nowt to play for this summer. Ideally if you join the EPS you'd recuse yourself from Lions selection, because at that point you'd be accepting England was your priority
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
- Uncle fester
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Yeah, I'm looking at the available centres and unless I'm missing somebody I'm not seeing a great combo of skillz + bosh. We have the centres to play Gatlandball so skillz are going to have to come from the back 3.Big D wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 6:11 pm I think the Tuipulotu injury is quite big for the Lions. He's a dual threat of being able to run over someone or spin a quality ball wide.
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We often seem to visit Argentina during a Lions tour, the change that would be nice is taking our full side over, not one denuded of players sadly making the Lions jamboree. Not sure when we last missed a tour to Argentina when it was a Lions summer, if we discount the pandemic, and reasonably one mightBiffer wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:29 pmAt least the RFU have deigned to visit a tier 2 country for a change.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:28 pmIncreasingly think touring Argentina is dumb - we can’t be far off world cup seedings coming out and their full strength side ought to be favourites if we’re missing a whole bunch of startersRhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:15 pm Still think it'd be better for England if our players didn't feature heavily, didn't en masse tour Argentina, and instead had a rest when there's nowt to play for this summer. Ideally if you join the EPS you'd recuse yourself from Lions selection, because at that point you'd be accepting England was your priority
I'd think there's scope for taking a development team to Romania, Georgia. Fiji and Samoa might reasonably say send us your 1sts, or we'll beat you even harder, but if we're sending some reserves to a tier 1 nation in Argentina I'm not sure they'd complain if we visited them, certainly in the first instance they should take the money and run. We used to run the development tours to the USA (and Canada), but when it finally dawned on the RFU that wasn't going to give them even a small slice of the American media market they rather lost interest
They’re going to the USA after Argentina.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 9:07 pmWe often seem to visit Argentina during a Lions tour, the change that would be nice is taking our full side over, not one denuded of players sadly making the Lions jamboree. Not sure when we last missed a tour to Argentina when it was a Lions summer, if we discount the pandemic, and reasonably one mightBiffer wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:29 pmAt least the RFU have deigned to visit a tier 2 country for a change.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:28 pm
Increasingly think touring Argentina is dumb - we can’t be far off world cup seedings coming out and their full strength side ought to be favourites if we’re missing a whole bunch of starters
I'd think there's scope for taking a development team to Romania, Georgia. Fiji and Samoa might reasonably say send us your 1sts, or we'll beat you even harder, but if we're sending some reserves to a tier 1 nation in Argentina I'm not sure they'd complain if we visited them, certainly in the first instance they should take the money and run. We used to run the development tours to the USA (and Canada), but when it finally dawned on the RFU that wasn't going to give them even a small slice of the American media market they rather lost interest
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
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More Tuipulotu really. Jones is a strike runner type centre.
But they could well be the test pairing.
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Jones is a more finessed version of Jiffy June, picks great lines and that works perfectly with a passer like Russell. Never really seen him as a distributor in his own right.charltom wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:12 pm Ha.
Jones is definitely the skillz in this skillz & bosh combo. Sione can't be a pairing on his own!
Not that he isn't blessed with skillz, of course.
Jones is a crow-bar, VERY seldom passes the ball. Like most 13s in modern Rugby....Uncle fester wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:25 pm
Jones is a more finessed version of Jiffy June, picks great lines and that works perfectly with a passer like Russell. Never really seen him as a distributor in his own right.

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Centre is such a hard position to play. You need to be fast enough to exploit breaks, physical enough to bosh and deal with boshers and on top of that, you need to be able to pass and read play.
Centres for Lions will be an interesting choice but it is really down to which Scottish or Irish guys you pick. Wales have had nothing to offer at centre and England's only hope would have been Lawrence and he is now crocked it seems for quite a while. If Tupilotu had been fit during 6Ns then there would be little debate now. However he is likely to be fit by end of regular season and will be available for Lions and will be 1st choice, with Aki/Henshaw as back up. If you go with Tupilotu at 12 then keeping the pairing with Jones, who has had a superb 6Ns, seems an obvious choice. Ringrose would be back up with perhaps Daly in as cover for outside centre and back 3?
Also need to consider how the Aussies will play and they will be looking for a fast and expansive game on fast pitches, they won't want to keep the ball in the pack for too long so having a mobile set of backs with pace, able to play off quick and multi phase ball will be key.
Also need to consider how the Aussies will play and they will be looking for a fast and expansive game on fast pitches, they won't want to keep the ball in the pack for too long so having a mobile set of backs with pace, able to play off quick and multi phase ball will be key.
Lovely inside pass from him to set up Jordan on SaturdaySandstorm wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 8:56 amJones is a crow-bar, VERY seldom passes the ball. Like most 13s in modern Rugby....Uncle fester wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:25 pm
Jones is a more finessed version of Jiffy June, picks great lines and that works perfectly with a passer like Russell. Never really seen him as a distributor in his own right.![]()
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
I honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pmThat is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenienceGuy Smiley wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:42 am I think we can all agree that for the good of the game globally, it would be best if this was just a British Lions, yeah? No need for the and I.
We don't want any thuggery and violence, lads.
It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
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24 passes so far in the Six Nations.Sandstorm wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 8:56 amJones is a crow-bar, VERY seldom passes the ball. Like most 13s in modern Rugby....Uncle fester wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:25 pm
Jones is a more finessed version of Jiffy June, picks great lines and that works perfectly with a passer like Russell. Never really seen him as a distributor in his own right.![]()
He may have been a bit more explosive / quicker when he was with the Stormers and breaking through with Scotland but right now he is a fully rounded player and in the best form of his life.
HSBC Lions.Yr Alban wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:04 amI honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pmThat is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenienceGuy Smiley wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:42 am I think we can all agree that for the good of the game globally, it would be best if this was just a British Lions, yeah? No need for the and I.
We don't want any thuggery and violence, lads.
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Nah, that still has a thin veneer of respectability. Needs more overt money grabbing vibes. I'd vote for Aramco Lions just because Gazprom Lions isn't really an option just now. Tesla - the Official Team Car of the Ineos Lions. There, that's the vibe.robmatic wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 6:45 amHSBC Lions.Yr Alban wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:04 amI honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pm
That is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenience
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Probably don't want the focus on appropriating Lions in such fashion.Yr Alban wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:04 amI honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pmThat is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenienceGuy Smiley wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:42 am I think we can all agree that for the good of the game globally, it would be best if this was just a British Lions, yeah? No need for the and I.
We don't want any thuggery and violence, lads.
But then again Tesla Lions does have a nice ring and wouldn't cause any commentary
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That's it. Just give the opposition even more motivation.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:50 amProbably don't want the focus on appropriating Lions in such fashion.Yr Alban wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:04 amI honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pm
That is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenience
But then again Tesla Lions does have a nice ring and wouldn't cause any commentary
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I think go full South Asian cricket shameless, the Aramco in association with British American Tobacco Lions brought to you by Karachi Cement (drink Guinness responsibly)clydecloggie wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:24 amNah, that still has a thin veneer of respectability. Needs more overt money grabbing vibes. I'd vote for Aramco Lions just because Gazprom Lions isn't really an option just now. Tesla - the Official Team Car of the Ineos Lions. There, that's the vibe.
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages, What feats he did that day
To be honest, I think the US team would be a better fit for Tesla and there would be a ready made re-branding for the Tesla EaglesRhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:50 amProbably don't want the focus on appropriating Lions in such fashion.Yr Alban wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:04 amI honestly don’t understand why they don’t have a ‘SA pro teams’ moment, drop the British/Isles/B&I tag altogether and simply rebrand as The Lions.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:11 pm
That is the Lions, the British Isles Lions. But then some people had their Trump Gulf of America moment and decided it needed to be the British and Irish Lions for convenience
But then again Tesla Lions does have a nice ring and wouldn't cause any commentary
That is quite amazingBlackmac wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 9:14 am I see the Six Nations app doesn't even include Russell in the player of the tournament poll for Stand Off, only FSmith, Pendergast and Garbisi.![]()
All the money you made will never buy back your soul