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Steve@Mose 
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 Topic: Lions 2025
Posted: Yesterday at 10:21 |
 Raider999 wrote:
Steve@Mose wrote:
British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen |
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I would say this is very close to being the preferred side for the 1st test
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Apart from the absence of Jac Morgan who, in my opinion, has earned a place in the Test Match 23.
Curry works hard and will tackle repeatedly without fail, but on a few occasions (against Argentina and Western Force) two "dominant" tackle attempts were ineffectual, and in the Argentina match this contributed to the Pumas' third try. Brumbies might be Curry's last opportunity to earn a place in the First Test.
VdF appears to blow hot and cold, and like Pollock will need to put in big performance off the bench.
Fingers crossed that no-one gets broken against the Brumbies, and there are no disciplinary issues on the pitch.
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: Yesterday at 10:02 |
Wallabies first-choice fly-half Lolesio ruled out of Lions series
Australia's preparations to face the British and Irish Lions have suffered a major setback after first-choice fly-half Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the series.
The 25-year-old was carried off the pitch in the Wallabies' 21-18 win over Fiji on Sunday with an apparent whiplash injury.
He was initially discharged from hospital later that day, raising hopes he would be fit to face the tourists. However, after further check-ups, he had surgery on Tuesday afternoon.
Rugby Australia said Lolesio "will spend a period of time away from the game during his rehabilitation". That absence will span the entirety of the series against the Lions.
Lolesio was left out of Australia's Rugby World Cup squad in 2023 but has since become the Wallabies' go-to fly-half under head coach Joe Schmidt.
He started five of the Wallabies' six Rugby Championship games last year and all four of their autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere.
Ben Donaldson seems most likely to take on the 10 role, with Tom Lynagh - the England-raised 22-year-old son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh - also in the squad named for the Fiji fixture.
Schmidt could call on the experience of Bernard Foley and James O'Connor to bolster his options.
The first Test against the Lions takes place in Brisbane on 19 July, with the second and third Tests being staged on the following weekends in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Fiji fixture was Australia's only warm-up match for the series. |
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Raider999
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Posted: Yesterday at 09:37 |
Steve@Mose wrote:
British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen |
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I would say this is very close to being the preferred side for the 1st test
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RAID ON
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 07:55 |
British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen |
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JZSmith
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Posted: 04 Jul 2025 at 11:47 |
cheshire exile wrote:
I suspect that was an attempt at irony.Though how Farrell can be blamed for the salary cap breaches is beyond me. |
Indeed I thought the "titles won without a shadow of scandal" rather gave it away but there you go.
And of course I didn't blame him for the salary cap breaches (he just defended them) but there you go again.
A man of true integrity. (That was irony by the way!)
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 04 Jul 2025 at 11:19 |
Suaalii returns as Wallabies name side for Fiji
Australia: Wright; Potter, Suaalii, Ikitau, Jorgensen; Lolesio, McDermott; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Williams, Gleeson, McReight, Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Nonggorr, Hooper, Tizzano, White, Donaldson, Daugunu.
Fiji: Rayasi; Ravouvou, Masi, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere (capt), Ravai, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Tagitagivalu, Canakaivata, Mata.
Replacements: Matavesi, Hetet, Doge, Vocevoce, Tuisue, Baselala, Ravula, Maqala. |
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cheshire exile
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 15:40 |
Paul10 wrote:
I suspect he's been brought in because there aren't many backs who have done Lions tours before.
M Smith, Russell, Aki, DVDM I think are the only ones. |
Exactly. And of course the last tour wasn’t played in front of spectators; Aki has already talked about the massively higher scrutiny of this tour.
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Paul10
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 15:19 |
I suspect he's been brought in because there aren't many backs who have done Lions tours before.
M Smith, Russell, Aki, DVDM I think are the only ones.
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cheshire exile
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 14:55 |
I suspect that was an attempt at irony. Though how Farrell can be blamed for the salary cap breaches is beyond me.
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Exiled_Scots
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 14:36 |
JZSmith wrote:
This is very unfair on Farrell junior. He brings so much to the party. There's his superb tacking technique perfected by so many visits to tackle school. Then there's his total integrity highlighted by all those The League once known as the The League once known as the Premiership iership iership titles won without a shadow of scandal. What a marvellous ambassador he will be for the Lions! |
Total Integrity!!! Was Farrell junior not the Saracens captain during the salary cap scandal which let to £5 million + fine and effective relegation to the Championship?
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Watch Out - The Scottish Phoenix Club is on the Up!!
Seven down one to go
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JZSmith
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 13:03 |
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This is very unfair on Farrell junior. He brings so much to the party. There's his superb tacking technique perfected by so many visits to tackle school. Then there's his total integrity highlighted by all those The League once known as the Premiership iership titles won without a shadow of scandal. What a marvellous ambassador he will be for the Lions!
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Exiled_Scots
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 11:59 |
Robb wrote:
Steve@Mose wrote:
Gutted for Daly.
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"Daddy, I want to go on the Lions tour." "Yes, my son. You can come on the tour. You just need to wait until someone gets injured so I have an excuse to bring you out."
(To be honest, I had a 100% suspicion that exactly this would happen at some point in the tour) |
Nepotisms strikes again
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Watch Out - The Scottish Phoenix Club is on the Up!!
Seven down one to go
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Robb
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 11:40 |
Steve@Mose wrote:
Gutted for Daly.
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"Daddy, I want to go on the Lions tour." "Yes, my son. You can come on the tour. You just need to wait until someone gets injured so I have an excuse to bring you out."
(To be honest, I had a 100% suspicion that exactly this would happen at some point in the tour)
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 10:49 |
Tadhg Beirne to lead The British & Irish Lions against the Waratahs in Sydney
Munster Rugby and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the side as Maro Itoje gets the evening off after leading the tourists to victory against the Queensland Reds.
Beirne is joined in the second row by fellow Irishman and Leinster Rugby’s James Ryan.
Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman, Sale Sharks and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Connacht Rugby and Ireland tight-head Finlay Bealham pack down in the front row.
The backrow is made up of Northampton Saints and England’s Henry Pollock at no.6, Leinster and Ireland’s Josh van der Flier at no.7 and Saracens and England’s Ben Earl at No.8.
The backline sees the English duo and Northampton Saints teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith at scrum-half and fly-half, with the Scotland partnership of Glasgow Warriors duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres.
Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan and Toulouse and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen.
...
Squad Update
The British & Irish Lions can confirm that Saracens and England back Elliot Daly has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a fractured forearm.
Daly sustained the injury against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. His The League once known as the Premiership iership Rugby club and country teammate Owen Farrell has been called up as a replacement and will join the squad in Sydney on Friday evening.
Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell said: “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”
Owen, Lion #780, has been called up to his fourth Tour having made 18 appearances for the Lions across the 2013, 2017 and 20121. The 33-year-old has 112 caps for England and is his country’s record points scorer.
Lions Tour Manager Ieuan Evans said: “To be a three-times tourist like Elliot means you have to be a world-class player over an extended period of time. But not only is Elliot a world-class player, he is also a wonderful Lion who is much-loved by his teammates and our fans. So we all feel for him right now. Both on and off the field, Elliot can be immensely proud of his contribution on this Tour of Australia. He will be sorely missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
The British & Irish Lions v NSW Waratahs Allianz Stadium, Saturday 5th July, 2025, KO: 11:00 BST
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #878
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863
11. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/ Scotland)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)
5. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880
6. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #874
8. Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #873
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England) #859
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #818
19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #871
20. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869
21. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861
22. Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855 |
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Se7en
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 10:28 |
This selection makes very little sense. Owen Farrell is a fly half/inside centre option, but neither of those positions require any extra cover as there are ample quality players in both positions already.
If full back cover is more of a concern with Daly out, why not bring Henry Arundell onboard? A quality winger/full back option capable of cutting through any defence with ball in hand.
Whilst Owen Farell might bring a lot of experience/leadership with his CV, there are plenty of leaders across the backs and forwards in the squad already. Strange choice.
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Paul10
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 10:12 |
The only reason to select Farrell in front of Jordan or Murray or Osborne is that he is already in Australia.
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tigerburnie
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 09:42 |
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Dad................Dad...........................can I play....................
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 09:39 |
Gutted for Daly.
Former England captain Owen Farrell is in line for a remarkable call-up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Coach Andy Farrell is set to turn to his son as a replacement for utility back Elliot Daly, who has been ruled out with the arm injury he suffered in Wednesday's win over Queensland Reds.
Owen Farrell, 33, recently returned to Saracens after a difficult season in Paris with Racing 92.
He won 112 caps for his country before taking a break from England duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
A Test Lion on the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours, there is no doubting Farrell's credentials.
But his call-up is controversial.
Farrell has not played international rugby in nearly two years and has not played at all in nearly nine weeks after suffering a concussion while playing for Racing against Lyon on 4 May, his last game for the Top 14 side.
A host of other contenders - such as Wales' Blair Murray or Scotland's Tom Jordan - have been training and preparing for competitive rugby with their national sides.
However, when naming his Lions squad on 8 May, Andy Farrell confirmed Owen had been in selection contention despite his lack of international rugby.
"Owen was in the conversation obviously, an experienced player like that, looking for his fourth tour and with his leadership qualities," he said.
Farrell's inclusion in the squad could alter the dynamic in the Lions midfield, with the Saracens playmaker comfortable at both fly-half and inside centre.
As it stands, Finn Russell is the clear favourite to start the Test series at fly-half, with Bundee Aki or Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre.
Fin Smith had been set to be Russell's back-up, with Marcus Smith yet to get an opportunity to start in his preferred position of number 10.
Andy Farrell suggested after the 52-12 win over Queensland Reds the Lions had "loads of full-backs" even if Daly was ruled out.
However, neither Blair Kinghorn nor Hugo Keenan have yet featured on tour, with Kinghorn arriving late following Toulouse's Top 14 win, and Keenan struggling with injury and illness.
The Lions play the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday in Sydney, before meeting the ACT Brumbies in Canberra four days later.
The first Test against Australia is on 19 July in Brisbane. |
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KnightsBoy
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Posted: 02 Jul 2025 at 13:05 |
Queensland Reds: (12) 12 Tries: Toomaga-Allen, Flook Con: McLaughlin-Phillips British and Irish Lions (21) 52 Tries: Freeman 2, Porter, Van der Merwe, Itoje, Morgan, Jones, Ringrose Cons: Russell 4, F Smith 2
Edited by KnightsBoy - 02 Jul 2025 at 13:06
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 01 Jul 2025 at 13:47 |
The Wallabies can beat the Lions, here's how - Horwill
James Horwill has a theory that the Sea of Red, certainly by the third Test, gets a bit salty.
"The Lions fans aren't the best at blending in," says Horwill, who skippered the Wallabies on the Lions' last visit in 2013.
"Some of them I don't think bought anything else apart from a Lions jersey last time.
"They're probably packing light, saving on the airfare - not paying for checked luggage for a three-week vacation."
The arrival of the Lions and their supporters, along with 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups and the 2032 Olympic Sevens, has been pegged as a 'golden runway' of events to get union on the up Down Under.
To really achieve lift-off though Australia needs winning Wallabies.
"The expectation of our national team is that they win and win regularly," Horwill explained.
"We want some good performances and I'm hopeful and confident that the Wallabies can get the job done."
The bookies are less confident - the Lions are heavy favourites. But Horwill sees areas where they can be exposed.
"Depending on how [Wallaby head coach] Joe Schmidt goes with selection, I think we might have size in the back five [second and back rows]," he says.
In contrast, the Lions have plenty of back-row options, but their squad prioritises mobility, speed and athleticism over heavy-duty gain-line ball carriers.
Schmidt, meanwhile, has called up 6ft 8in lock Will Skelton, whose 22-stone frame comes at defences at a surprising pace.
Horwill likes the balance the hosts have struck.
"In Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson we have two genuine world-class eights," he said.
"I think Fraser McReight will be the starting number seven and he is a difference maker for us.
"He's an out-and-out fetcher but also is that link between the forwards and the backs.
"On the northern hemisphere tour last year, the only game McReight didn't play was the defeat against Scotland and Australia just didn't have the same flow, understanding or functionality.
"He's a key player for us."
Jake Gordon or Nic White may start at scrum-half, but Horwill says Tate McDermott could be a star turn as the tourists tire in the final quarter.
"Tate has had an excellent Super Rugby season. He is probably the best nine in the country, but his ability to attack teams with his feet might come into play as a replacement," says Horwill.
"You could play a gameplan to tire out the Lions and then bring on Tate in the last 20 to 30 minutes to attack those fringes and pick off the defenders around the ruck, which he does so well."
When Australia beat England at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium in November, McDermott's dart set up a first-half try for captain Wilson.
The last time the Lions toured Australia, Israel Folau, playing his first game of international rugby, scored two tries in Australia's narrow first-Test defeat.
"Izzy was the most naturally freaky sort of athlete that I've ever played with," says Horwill.
"Wherever we put him around the field, someone would have to mark his aerial threat - sometimes double mark him - and that would then create opportunities for others.
"Izzy just made everything look so easy, he moved and jumped so effortlessly for a big guy and Joseph's got a lot of that about him."
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - Australia's 6ft 5in big-money import from rugby league - was inspired by Folau as a boy, and the 21-year-old has shown similar aerial ability.
With the Lions looking unconvincing in the battle for the skies against Argentina and struggling to regain kick-offs against Western Force, he will be chasing and leaping hard.
"Wherever Joseph is you are going to see defenders bunching around that area - maybe there's an opportunity to kick elsewhere and get a bit of ascendancy," says Horwill.
For all the interest in England flanker Henry Pollock's supersonic ascent to the upper reaches, Australia have their own bolters.
Corey Toole was part of the Australian sevens team that finished fourth in the Olympics in Paris a year ago, but 11 tries in the Brumbies' 16-game run to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals have given him a shot of stepping on to the biggest stage in the XV-man game.
And Max Jorgensen, the 20-year-old son of former Wallaby Peter Jorgensen, is back from an ankle injury in time to contend on the wing as well.
"The one thing you have got in Australia's back three is genuine pace," says Horwill.
"Corey Toole has got real gas and he has certainly bulked up a lot over the past year. He barged over Damian McKenzie to score against the Chiefs in that Super Rugby semi-final - if he does get an opportunity he is really exciting.
"Jorgensen is the sort of prodigious talent we've been building around.
"He has been a little bit unlucky with injuries, and just needs to get some some time in the saddle playing a bit of rugby."
This will be the first series since 2013 that Horwill has watched from the southern hemisphere after he followed a stint at Harlequins with a degree at Cambridge University.
"I just probably didn't appreciate how big it was - the enormity and the importance of it to the fans, and the importance of selection to the players," said Horwill.
"Football's number one, it's everywhere, but for this period, the Lions is on the front and back pages.
"I was living In Putney in London and for that first Test against New Zealand in 2017, I walked along the street at 8am and every pub in Putney was red."
Horwill will be playing host to his own Lions tourist this year. Wales centre Jamie Roberts, who scored the final try as the Lions ran away with the third deciding Test 12 years ago, was at Quins with Horwill.
"It's funny how the world works," says Horwill.
"That third Test is probably the only in my international career that I would like to have back for another run at it.
"Back then, in 2013, we probably never thought we'd be playing together, let alone become quite good friends.
"He was a great guy to have around at Quins and more importantly been a good mate since.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him and his family when they come out here over the summer." |
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