The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

Lions: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (captain), Will Stuart, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose.

Finn + JGP

[Irishnev]

Must’ve been nice for Finn to play behind a dominant pack with 5 Irish lads in it

[Buzzo]

They were a different breed back in the amateur days Legends walking and working among us.

Ian was I think a school teacher as well as Captaining Scotland and playing for the Lions!

[ame]https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/1936441763180540239[/ame]

[ame]https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/1936455135506354302[/ame]

[Irishnev]

RIP Ian McLaughlin, Scotland and Lions legend. “Mighty Mouse”.

He was also our next door neighbour when I was a kid, he rescued me once when I went over the handlebars of my bike and split my head open.

He was capped 8 times by the Lions and was part of the famous (infamous) tour to South Africa in 74. Captained Scotland numerous times also.

And when I was a kid he was a lively man and a great neighbour

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-un...s/cly827z7r9ro

RIP

When those lads were amateurs it was a different world, we used to holiday in West Cork when I was young and we’d often see Donal Lenihan (Ireland and Lions) down there and my Dad would be chatting away to him.

[Buzzo]

RIP Ian McLaughlin, Scotland and Lions legend. “Mighty Mouse”.

He was also our next door neighbour when I was a kid, he rescued me once when I went over the handlebars of my bike and split my head open.

He was capped 8 times by the Lions and was part of the famous (infamous) tour to South Africa in 74. Captained Scotland numerous times also.

And when I was a kid he was a lively man and a great neighbour

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cly827z7r9ro

[Irishnev]

It shows that time together really matters, beating Australia won’t be a formality

[Sus]

Lions looked good at times in attack, but lacked a bit of structure in defence. No surprises there I guess

But quite a bit of encouragement to take out of it

And remember, the Wallabies are a bit **** at the moment - it’s not like they are playing the 2x world champions at home

[Buzzo]

Win for Argentina.

Be a decent game to have missed for some, could be the toughest game the Lions have in the build up. Just a bit disjointed throughout really. Never got control of game at 9 and 10 imo.

Lions points in second half came when Pumas were a man down.

[Buzzo]

Lions looking very much like a scratch team in the 1st half.

[Buzzo]

Shame there’s so many players unavailable for both teams. Argentina could give the Lions a real test having beaten the boks, all blacks and aussies in the past 12 months but with a fair few players missing - Im not so sure!

[Sus]

Looking forward to it! Will be a good test to start with

[Irishnev]

First “test” on Friday night, I bought two tickets a year ago on spec after being successful as part of a Lions member draw. Decided against going done weeks back as it was a big too much hassle and I couldn’t align it with a bigger trip home

Gave them to a mate for face value and will watch from Riga tomorrow night as we are taking a city break there for 4 days

[Buzzo]

Feel for him, by his own admission he wasn’t ready last tour but I reckon he’d have challenged for. Starting place this time and would defo have been capped.

[Irishnev]

Zander F ruled out, Findlay B in as replacement. Tadgh F a big doubt as well

[Buzzo]

100% mate. There is precious little space for enjoyment in the footy threads.