The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

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

[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]

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]

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]

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

[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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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

[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]

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

[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

[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.