The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Good start from the Lions. One way traffic. Finn pulling the strings.

[Irishnev]

Looking good, winning the collisions and JGP and Finn controlling

[Buzzo]

Will be class to see this rivalry reignited.

https://youtube.com/shorts/3ohwE8PCnVU

[Buzzo]

We should put in for co-management?

[Irishnev]

I think Conan will start at 8 and Furlong will be in the squad as well, the rest of the side is pretty close to what I think.

Touché Buzzo

[Sus]

My guess from a few months ago! Not miles out of an accurate 23.

Close indeed! And even closer if not for Kinghorn's injury

[Buzzo]

My 23 would be:

Porter
Sheehan
Fagerson
Itoje
Beirne
Curry
Van der flier
Pollock (why not)
JGP
Russell
Lowe
Tuipolotu
Jones
Freeman
Kinghorn

Bench: Genge, Cowan Dickie, Schoeman, McCarthy, Conan, Mitchell, M Smith, Ake

9 Irish, 6 Scots, 8 English

My guess from a few months ago! Not miles out of an accurate 23.

[Buzzo]

Yeah agree. Skelton, Valetini and Lolesio missing out is a big loss.

The Lions have amazing depth to call on and Farrell has picked an exciting squad. That said, I expect the atmosphere and occasion to put some wind in Aussie sails.

[Sus]

Our backs ran riot over the Aussies in the Autumn. With pack dominance it could be quite interesting. If Ringrose hadn’t been injured I wonder what the team would have been? Put Ringrose and Aki into that team and it looks more like an Ireland team than a Lions one. In the end this selection feels representative and in form.

I’m not sure what to expect from the Aussies / part of me thinks this could be a walk in the park. Another acknowledges how they raise their game for occasions like this.

I think there is a decent chance we get smashed - look at the players left out of the Lions squad vs the ones in the Wallabies XV.

And I think the Lions have grown into this tour very well, I thought they were very impressive against the Brumbies, and the final score didn't fully reflect their dominance at the breakdown and scrum

We need to make it a contest at least, and I think we will do that by going to the air as much as possible - Sua'ali'i is an absolute freak of nature and I reckon we might try to use him to win the ball in the air to get up the field rather than try to physically dominate the Lions pack

This will hopefully create more broken field play to move the Lions pack around and allow our flankers more chances to win / slow the ball down

We need to keep the ball in play for as along as possible, otherwise the Lions will strangle us with their greater power, kicking and set piece strength

[Buzzo]

7 Leinster players in the starting 15 is mental.

[Irishnev]

Team is as was leaked

British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki

[Irishnev]

No Skelton or Valenti for them, big losses

Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Alan Ala’alatoa; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt)

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway

[Buzzo]

They’ll go hard for the breakdown, kick a lot, contest both kick and ruck. Tge Lions have power and if Finn gets good ball then there are killers outside him

The thing that this 10/12/13 has is the fact that Finn and Sione can swap and Sione moves to first receiver it’s a very fluid line up. I see Aki as a bench option, for sure he is destructive but doesn’t have the hands or offloading game that Sione has Sione has both aspects to his game.

[Buzzo]

Was watching Squidge Rugby and they pointed out that Morgan isn’t a line out option which probably works against him and would also Show why Bierne is on as a back rower.

[Irishnev]

Our backs ran riot over the Aussies in the Autumn. With pack dominance it could be quite interesting. If Ringrose hadn’t been injured I wonder what the team would have been? Put Ringrose and Aki into that team and it looks more like an Ireland team than a Lions one. In the end this selection feels representative and in form.

I’m not sure what to expect from the Aussies / part of me thinks this could be a walk in the park. Another acknowledges how they raise their game for occasions like this.

They’ll go hard for the breakdown, kick a lot, contest both kick and ruck. Tge Lions have power and if Finn gets good ball then there are killers outside him