The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Yeah cracking game that.

Thought Ben White was excellent. I’ve met Duhan a couple of times he’s just a bit of a big lump. He is quite a physical specimen to put it mildly! Ben Earl was very good today also - back row is so hard to call. Agree on Morgan - he is class.

I think the team will be close to the one you mentioned but with Tuipolotu and Jones, I also think Keenan will start. Bench tough to call also.

[Irishnev]

Farrell’s post match interview suggests Ringrose won’t play the first test due to concussion

[Irishnev]

Good win for the Lions, I don’t think I remember such an evenly balanced set of players which makes picking the test team really hard. Happy that Hugo looked back to normal given concerns about Kinghorn. Centre and back row are impossible to call!

There is something very unlikeable with Duhan VDM he reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo and not due to his three tries….. Jones is much better than I thought and I think it will be both Scottish or both Irish in the centre

Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Itoje, Chessum, Morgan, Conan, JGP, Finn, Lowe, Aki, Ringrose, Freeman, Kinghorn (if fit)

Morgan has been low key brilliant in every game I’ve seen him.

[bacon]

Was at the Waratahs game - one of the worst rugby games I've endured live - so many mistakes when a more considered option would have been a better approach - and maybe I'm getting old but all the stadium razzamatazz during the game is so completely over the top - completely kills off any chance of crowd atmosphere

[Irishnev]

Farrell getting called up is farcical. Total nepotism.

He may simply be there as a wise head, I’d have preferred a specialist 6 tbh, the squad is really missing one

[Buzzo]

Farrell getting called up is farcical. Total nepotism.

[Buzzo]

Poor game from a lot of the forwards in the loose today. And Smith again a bit out of his depth I thought. A few players may have ruled themselves out today.

Feel a bit for Keenan, injured and then I’ll, but it’s an elite environment so no time to get up to speed.

Will be Aki and Ringrose next but crucially they will probably have JGP and Finn at 9 and 10 so should get good ball.

[Irishnev]

Another win but again quite sloppy, scrum excellent though. Kinghorn looked v good and Keenan was poor, the centres are so hard to call and familiarity counts so much, the Scottish or the Irish or a mix

[Irishnev]

Lions were impressive against the Reds. Really grew into the game and overpowered them physically

Doesn’t bode well for the Wallabies, despite the slightly muddled defensive lines at times

That’s the pattern so far, the provincial sides run out of puff. The Lions have much better players but it’s all about cohesion and doing the basics. Restarts still look an issue as did the line out. One more week of trialling things and then the test side will shape up. V hard to call many positions now tbh, I’d go with…

Kinghorn, Lowe, Tuipulotu, Aki, Freeman, Finn, JGP, Conan, Van Der Flier, Beirne, Itoje, McCarthy, Furlong, Sheehan, Genge

Porter, Kelleher, Schoeman, Chessum, Pollack, Mitchell, Ringrose, Smith

[Sus]

Lions were impressive against the Reds. Really grew into the game and overpowered them physically

Doesn’t bode well for the Wallabies, despite the slightly muddled defensive lines at times

[Irishnev]

D’oh….. Kinghorn of course it was him and no idea why I mixed up a huge full back with a nimble winger

Itoje is a lead by example quiet guy and not the Johnson, O’Connell type second row. In fairness, Doris is v similar if he was fit

[Buzzo]

One thing with Itoje, he is a class player, but watching the behind the scenes stuff with the Lions on YouTube I do not see him as a captain.

[Buzzo]

You mean Kinghorn not Graham he will be flying having just won the Top14 again with Toulouse. How Jack Willis is not touring is a mystery he is I. Ridiculous form for Toulouse.

Centres is defo a tough one to call as all four are top class. Thought some of the link up from VDF and Pollock looked good, and already you could see a difference in how fluid the team was.

Finn is definitely in the form of his life, still has the ability to change the game with outrageous skill but has added pragmatism at times and decision making to his game. I love watching how he Marshalls forwards and backs as soon as there is a ruck.

[Irishnev]

Watched the extended highlights of Saturdays game last night as we are on hols. Attack looked good. Defence needs work. Finn played well and a Shane for Williams that his tour is over. Ben White called up.

Finn and JGP could be game changing.

Defence and restarts (disastrous), scrum was solid and lineout not great. Pollack will get plaudits but JVDF and Joe McCarthy more consistent than him. Right now he’s a highlights reel and a game changer but v rash

We need Darcy Graham integrated quickly as he’s the test full back for me. Ringrose was v good and the centre pairing looks so hard to call as does backrow and back 3

I think we have a few certainties - Sheehan, Itoje, JGP, Finn, Graham, after that it’s all up for grabs

[Buzzo]

Watched the extended highlights of Saturdays game last night as we are on hols. Attack looked good. Defence needs work. Finn played well and a Shane for Williams that his tour is over. Ben White called up.

Finn and JGP could be game changing.