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JZSmith
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 13:03 |
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 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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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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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 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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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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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: 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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Raider999
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Posted: 08 Jul 2025 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 |
| 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: 08 Jul 2025 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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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 08 Jul 2025 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: 8 hours 56 minutes ago at 10:04 |
Farrell on bench for final Lions game before Tests
British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; F Smith, White; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Ryan, Beirne (c), Pollock, Morgan, Earl
Replacements; Kelleher, Porter, Bealham, Cummings, Van der Flier, Mitchell, M Smith, Farrell
AUNZ Invitational: Stevenson; Lam, Laumape, Havili (cc), Koroibete; Edmed, Fakatava; Ross, Paenga-Amosa, Toomaga-Allen, Blyth, Salakaia-Loto, Frizell, Samu, Sotutu.
Replacements: Eklund, Fusitu'a, Dyer, Philip, Brial, Thomas, McLaughlin-Phillips, Campbell |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 4 hours 3 minutes ago at 14:57 |
Lions call up Osborne as cover for Kinghorn
Ireland's Jamie Osborne will join the British and Irish Lions squad as back-up to Blair Kinghorn despite the Scotland full-back receiving "positive news" from a scan on a knee injury.
Kinghorn sustained the injury in Wednesday's win over the ACT Brumbies, stretching the tourists' resources at full-back with Hugo Keenan's game time having been restricted by illness and injury.
Osborne, who is described as "training cover" for Kinghorn, will arrive at the Lions camp on Saturday from Portugal, where he has been training with Ireland.
Kinghorn is recently back from a separate knee injury sustained on club duty for Toulouse.
The Lions said the medical team will "manage his return to training over the coming days".
The Lions play their final pre-series tour game against an Australia/New Zealand invitational side on Saturday, before taking on the Wallabies in the first Test on 19 July.
Toulouse's progress to the Top 14 final delayed Kinghorn's arrival on tour, and he lasted only 24 minutes on his Lions debut against the Brumbies before being replaced.
England's Marcus Smith, whose ability to cover both fly-half and full-back was key to his selection in the squad, has played the most minutes at 15, with Tommy Freeman, Mack Hansen and Huw Jones also able to fill in if the Lions find themselves short.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell gave Osborne the first of his eight Test caps at full-back against South Africa last summer, but the 23-year-old is more used to playing in midfield.
Scotland's Tom Jordan and Wales' Blair Murray might also have entered Farrell's thinking as options to cover for Kinghorn. |
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