B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[Tichtheid]

Finn would be as well booking a family holiday

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... lf-debate/

[Uncle fester]

Absolute joke of an appointment. Not only no coaching experience but a man that has made no secret of his dislike of Finn Russell.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... lf-debate/

Didn't know about that one. Not wild about the appointment for different reasons. He has no experience of coaching at this level and it's not clear what his remit is.

[SaintK]

Maybe Lawes will get called up, apparently he’s tearing it up in D2

As much as I'd love to see him, at 36 this might well be a tour too far?
Brive are 2nd in the standings and may well be involved in play-offs at thee end of the season

Just airing musings , as a counter to the comment about curry. I’d rather have lawes there who doesn’t appear to be winding down in performance just yet, to some overated celts who underperform when it actually matters.

DTelegraph's Charlie Morgan's take on the current form of potential France based Lions
https://archive.ph/hnRDi

[Simian]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Worst pick since Alastair Campbell

[Rhubarb & Custard]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Worst pick since Alastair Campbell

Seems harmless enough, unless he's allowed to pair a suit with trainers

[SaintK]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/a ... 5dqy32dl0o

Interesting

Worst pick since Alastair Campbell

Seems harmless enough, unless he's allowed to pair a suit with trainers

Hopefully no more than the Neil Jenkins role. Water boy, kicking tee carrier and messenger boy

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Worst pick since Alastair Campbell

Seems harmless enough, unless he's allowed to pair a suit with trainers

Hopefully no more than the Neil Jenkins role. Water boy, kicking tee carrier and messenger boy

Might be worth it if he walks out onto the pitch and starts lambasting some of the players for their perceived failings, or driving standards as he might label it

[Chilli2]

Seems harmless enough, unless he's allowed to pair a suit with trainers

Hopefully no more than the Neil Jenkins role. Water boy, kicking tee carrier and messenger boy

Might be worth it if he walks out onto the pitch and starts lambasting some of the players for their perceived failings, or driving standards as he might label it

The Lions are fucked.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Hopefully no more than the Neil Jenkins role. Water boy, kicking tee carrier and messenger boy

Might be worth it if he walks out onto the pitch and starts lambasting some of the players for their perceived failings, or driving standards as he might label it

The Lions are fucked.

I have no objection should that prove the case. But seeing as I've little idea who Australia will even pick let alone how they might play/fare I'm even more clueless than normal

[Punter15]

When you need to unify four different nations, not sure that picking someone with a high degree of animosity towards three of them is a sound move.

[Uncle fester]

When you need to unify four different nations, not sure that picking someone with a high degree of animosity towards three of them is a sound move.

He has plenty of animosity for Irish players too.

[Simian]

When you need to unify four different nations, not sure that picking someone with a high degree of animosity towards three of them is a sound move.

He has plenty of animosity for Irish players too.

True! I suppose it’s possible everyone will be united by their shared disdain for him.

[Biffer]

Scotlands last three results vs Australia

W 15-13 2021
L 15-16 2022
W 27-13 2024

If the Lions don’t exceed that, the tour is a failure.

[Tichtheid]

When you need to unify four different nations, not sure that picking someone with a high degree of animosity towards three of them is a sound move.

He has plenty of animosity for Irish players too.

I'm not sure if it was on here that I read it, but I read that John Cooney's international career was cut short because he didn't get on with Sexton.

[Biffer]

When you need to unify four different nations, not sure that picking someone with a high degree of animosity towards three of them is a sound move.

He has plenty of animosity for Irish players too.

I'm not sure if it was on here that I read it, but I read that John Cooney's international career was cut short because he didn't get on with Sexton.

Be hard to find a 23 of players he actually likes tbh. Prick that he is.

[Tichtheid]

The thing that pisses me off is that the Lions isn't a development tour. Sexton has no pedigree as a coach, zero, nil, nada. He's no right being there.

[SaintK]

The thing that pisses me off is that the Lions isn't a development tour. Sexton has no pedigree as a coach, zero, nil, nada. He's no right being there.

Spot on!!

[Gumboot]

Scotlands last three results vs Australia

W 15-13 2021
L 15-16 2022
W 27-13 2024

If the Lions don’t exceed that, the tour is a failure.

I'd be surprised if there's that kind of series result tbh. Joe Schmidt's clearly got the Aussie Supe players fizzing for selection to face the Lions, and I'd venture to suggest this year's Wallabies will contain a number of truly world class operators at their best. If Farrell selects a test squad full of Irish players who are past their best (ie most of them), I reckon the Lions will really struggle.

[SaintK]

Kinghorn a doubt for the Toulouse league run in and playoffs.
Went off very early in thgeir match agains Castres with knee ligament issues
Was due a scan yesterday but no details as yet

[Tichtheid]

Kinghorn a doubt for the Toulouse league run in and playoffs.
Went off very early in thgeir match agains Castres with knee ligament issues
Was due a scan yesterday but no details as yet

Pisser.

I saw him go off, it didn't look too bad at the time

[Uncle fester]

Kinghorn a doubt for the Toulouse league run in and playoffs.
Went off very early in thgeir match agains Castres with knee ligament issues
Was due a scan yesterday but no details as yet

Pisser.

I saw him go off, it didn't look too bad at the time

Knee injuries can be funny like that.

[Guy Smiley]

Rugby Australia have been making some sound, if slightly unorthodox decisions under the leadership of Phil Waugh which promise a stable brand of growth and financial success after years of poor leadership and decision making. It's good to see, the next few years promise to have them back at the top of the global scene.

The latest is an announcement regarding the appointment of the next national coach, with Joe Schmidt unwilling to carry on. They've found a way to manage a tricky situation... their appointment is Les Kiss who is currently contracted to Queensland Rugby coaching the resurgent Reds. His contract expires in 2026 and Schmidt has agreed to stay on until Kiss can take over... there won't be any extra matches to manage during that stewardship period but it allows a stability at both organisations while avoiding any messy and expensive contract buy out. Kiss and Schmidt have worked together before at Ireland, it seems to be a particularly effective way to manage the transition keeping everyone involved happy.

[Hugo]

Guy, is Schmidt leaving due to homesickness? Thought I read that somewhere.

[Guy Smiley]

Guy, is Schmidt leaving due to homesickness? Thought I read that somewhere.

Not so much homesickness as a desire to be closer to family and his desire to care for his son, who has severe epilepsy. He's a family man... can't begrudge him that.

[Uncle fester]

Guy, is Schmidt leaving due to homesickness? Thought I read that somewhere.

Not so much homesickness as a desire to be closer to family and his desire to care for his son, who has severe epilepsy. He's a family man... can't begrudge him that.

It's why he left Ireland also. Can't fault him. Family first over ambitions that he may have.

[Uncle fester]

Nika, Bin and Piardi for the tests rotating between them.

https://rugbyreferee.net/2025/05/01/202 ... r-referees

[Biffer]

How the fuck does Marius Joncker still get a gig as a TMO?

[SaintK]

Nika, Bin and Piardi for the tests rotating between them.

https://rugbyreferee.net/2025/05/01/202 ... r-referees

Bloody hell! Brousset gets a tour gig after his abysmal performances in the 6N

[Enzedder]

Nika, Bin and Piardi for the tests rotating between them.

https://rugbyreferee.net/2025/05/01/202 ... r-referees

No Saffers? I don't see much of their refs now that there is no Super Rugby there - don't they have any decent ones now?

[Uncle fester]

Nika, Bin and Piardi for the tests rotating between them.

https://rugbyreferee.net/2025/05/01/202 ... r-referees

No Saffers? I don't see much of their refs now that there is no Super Rugby there - don't they have any decent ones now?

Yes, was surprised at that.

[SaintK]

A couple of observations from the Saints Leinster match.

Whilst Doris was visible as a player and had a reasonable game I thought his captaincy and leadership left a lot to be desired when the chips were down.

Am I alone in thinking that Furlong is a shadow of the player he was 4 years ago?

[OomStruisbaai]

Nika, Bin and Piardi for the tests rotating between them.

https://rugbyreferee.net/2025/05/01/202 ... r-referees

No Saffers? I don't see much of their refs now that there is no Super Rugby there - don't they have any decent ones now?

Our refs disappear.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Am I alone in thinking that Furlong is a shadow of the player he was 4 years ago?

No, but he's barely played recently so I'd also be far from writing him off. If he can stay fit, which seemingly is a big if, and he can find his groove they'd be mad not to want him. Also he knows what a Lions tour is about, and he seems like the sort of bloke not to hold his troubles against Fagerson and/or Stuart if he's struggling to regain what he was

[SaintK]

Stephen Jones Lions squad. Must have been a bit pissed !!!
Cameron Redpath, Nicky Smith, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes and Faletau, and no Dan Sheehan

Backs
Back three Elliot Daly (England), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland, after French club duties), Tommy Freeman (England), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland), Jamie Osborne (Ireland).
Centre Cameron Redpath (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Huw Jones (Scotland).
Fly half Finn Russell (Scotland), George Ford (England), Fin Smith (England).
Scrum half Tomos Williams (Wales), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Ben White (Scotland).
Forwards
Prop Nicky Smith (Wales), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Will Stuart (England).
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Jamie George (England).
Second row Ollie Chessum (England), Maro Itoje (England), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England).
Back row Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Ben Earl (England), Tom Curry (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Caelan Doris (Ireland).

https://archive.ph/XILKz#selection-1803.0-1835.159

[sockwithaticket]

It's not even funny trolling at this point. Just absurd.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I could sort of see picking White over Mitchell if looking at more than this year's 6N, and if thinking about the partnership with Russell, but then if that's a thing why not pick Fagerson rather than Lawes?

[Slick]

A couple of observations from the Saints Leinster match.

Whilst Doris was visible as a player and had a reasonable game I thought his captaincy and leadership left a lot to be desired when the chips were down.

Am I alone in thinking that Furlong is a shadow of the player he was 4 years ago?

If Farrell wasn’t coach then Prendergast played himself out of a spot yesterday. He doesn’t do anything better than Russell or Fin Smith but his tackling was unbelievably poor, like amateur rugby poor, so no point in taking him.

I don’t think any of the other Irish players had particularly bad games. Freeman has cemented his place. I feel a bit for Dingwall, how the hell has he not been playing regularly for England? If he had he might well be going

[Gumboot]

I'm curious to know if any of the bored's Lions supporters have watched many of the Aussie Supe teams' games, and how you rate the quality of the opposiion players the tourists are likely to meet.

[Uncle fester]

I'm curious to know if any of the bored's Lions supporters have watched many of the Aussie Supe teams' games, and how you rate the quality of the opposiion players the tourists are likely to meet.

Think most of us stopped watching super rugby a long time ago.

[Sandstorm]

I'm curious to know if any of the bored's Lions supporters have watched many of the Aussie Supe teams' games, and how you rate the quality of the opposiion players the tourists are likely to meet.

Think most of us stopped watching super rugby a long time ago.

I have. Aussie Teams are looking much better than they were 2 years ago. I don’t think they’ll beat the Lions, but they’ll give them a decent series.