B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[Sandstorm]

An extra 15 might be needed, which I think is why Marcus Smith got the nod.

He's not a 15's ballsack

[topofthemoon]

Jack Conan 1.93m / 111kg
Tom Curry 1.85m / 110kg
Ben Earl 1.89m / 102kg
Jac Morgan 1.82m / 104kg
Henry Pollock 1.88m / 102kg
Josh van der Flier 1.83m / 105kg

You've got to imagine that back row selection would have looked a little different if they were taking on the Springboks or All Blacks.

As it stands, they could be giving away a bit of beef to Valetini and Wilson while Tizzano (if selected ahead of McReight) will be faster to the breakdown than any player on that list.

Makes you wonder if either Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 in the Tests is a reasonably strong possibility to balance the back row out a bit.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Pollock is young enough I don't really care and Daly is old enough I don't really care, so it's only 11 English players dragged off on the jamboree, we've been hit by worse so small mercies perhaps

[Sandstorm]

Jack Conan 1.93m / 111kg
Tom Curry 1.85m / 110kg
Ben Earl 1.89m / 102kg
Jac Morgan 1.82m / 104kg
Henry Pollock 1.88m / 102kg
Josh van der Flier 1.83m / 105kg

You've got to imagine that back row selection would have looked a little different if they were taking on the Springboks or All Blacks.

As it stands, they could be giving away a bit of beef to Valetini and Wilson while Tizzano (if selected ahead of McReight) will be faster to the breakdown than any player on that list.

Makes you wonder if either Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 in the Tests is a reasonably strong possibility to balance the back row out a bit.

A backrow of any of the 6 players at the top will give the Boks a lot to think about. There's a tonne of talent and power there.

Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 would be a much less worrisome opponent.

[sockwithaticket]

BETTER.

We'll leave it there

Speaking your truth

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

One drubbing. Besides the 2017 53 -24 result, your next highest margin is 14 points last November in a 27 - 13 scoreline. That's a comfortable win, but not a drubbing.

In the last decade Scotland are 4/7 against Australia. Score average of 27 - 20

In that same time England are 10/13. Score average of 31 - 22

[Kawazaki]

Just seen the squad.

I think James Ryan is very very lucky indeed. No chance he gets picked if the Lions coach wasn't also the Irish coach. IMHO, Tom Willis can count himself very very unlucky.

[Kawazaki]

Daly - you love to see it

Yep, he's absolute quality.

[Simian]

I’m slightly disappointed that we don’t get the epic shit show we’d have got if he’d selected his son. Guess that’s going to have to wait until injury forces a call up at 10 or 12.

[topofthemoon]

Jack Conan 1.93m / 111kg
Tom Curry 1.85m / 110kg
Ben Earl 1.89m / 102kg
Jac Morgan 1.82m / 104kg
Henry Pollock 1.88m / 102kg
Josh van der Flier 1.83m / 105kg

You've got to imagine that back row selection would have looked a little different if they were taking on the Springboks or All Blacks.

As it stands, they could be giving away a bit of beef to Valetini and Wilson while Tizzano (if selected ahead of McReight) will be faster to the breakdown than any player on that list.

Makes you wonder if either Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 in the Tests is a reasonably strong possibility to balance the back row out a bit.

A backrow of any of the 6 players at the top will give the Boks a lot to think about. There's a tonne of talent and power there.

Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 would be a much less worrisome opponent.

How much lineout ball are you winning v the Springboks with a back row from that group plus Itoje and Beirne as locks?

[Paddington Bear]

BETTER.

We'll leave it there

Speaking your truth

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

Sorry - not calling you a liar, and you’ll know better than me, however Scotland having only lost twice to Australia since the 2015 world cup doesn’t pass my sniff test, have you missed the first post for context in this?

Edit - looked it up and stand corrected, smaller sample size albeit

[Insane_Homer]

polynesian-descent midfield test matchup with Tuipulotu and Aki v Ikitau and Suaalii for Aus?

[Yr Alban]

Speaking your truth

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

Sorry - not calling you a liar, and you’ll know better than me, however Scotland having only lost twice to Australia since the 2015 world cup doesn’t pass my sniff test, have you missed the first post for context in this?

Edit - looked it up and stand corrected, smaller sample size albeit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_o ... d_Scotland

It’s true. Scotland have won 4 of the last 5. It’s always about where you draw the line for these things, but if you take the last 10 years, it’s 4-3 to Scotland, with all three Australia wins by 1 point (including the utter travesty at the 2015 RWC, of course).

[Insane_Homer]

BIL_FH.png (241.65 KiB) Viewed 1525 times

[Sandstorm]

Jack Conan 1.93m / 111kg
Tom Curry 1.85m / 110kg
Ben Earl 1.89m / 102kg
Jac Morgan 1.82m / 104kg
Henry Pollock 1.88m / 102kg
Josh van der Flier 1.83m / 105kg

You've got to imagine that back row selection would have looked a little different if they were taking on the Springboks or All Blacks.

As it stands, they could be giving away a bit of beef to Valetini and Wilson while Tizzano (if selected ahead of McReight) will be faster to the breakdown than any player on that list.

Makes you wonder if either Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 in the Tests is a reasonably strong possibility to balance the back row out a bit.

A backrow of any of the 6 players at the top will give the Boks a lot to think about. There's a tonne of talent and power there.

Beirne or Itoje playing at 6 would be a much less worrisome opponent.

How much lineout ball are you winning v the Springboks with a back row from that group plus Itoje and Beirne as locks?

I see your fear, however the Boks regularly play with shorter backrowers including Deon Fourie, Marco Van Staden and Siya Kolisi - none of whom are known as lineout options. Ditto for Savea and Cane.

Aussie hookers all throw like drunken mules anyway, so you'll have no issues in the lineouts Downunder.

[Biffer]

Speaking your truth

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

One drubbing. Besides the 2017 53 -24 result, your next highest margin is 14 points last November in a 27 - 13 scoreline. That's a comfortable win, but not a drubbing.

In the last decade Scotland are 4/7 against Australia. Score average of 27 - 20

In that same time England are 10/13. Score average of 31 - 22

Questions was 'since the 2015 rugby world cup'. I didn't pick that timescale. You however picked one to better your argument. And actually the original question was about Russell. Who's only lost once.

[SaintK]

Back row
Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Ben Earl (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Henry Pollock (England)

Seeing the backrow written down has got me a little concerned. There is a lack of 8 their and although all really good players I think it will be tricky to get a balanced back row from there.

What are the chances of Doris getting called up if fit in time? Think its within the rules as squad not limited like a world cup.

Yeah, not any hard bastards in that selection

Curry and Conan are hard enough for me

[SaintK]

Pollock is young enough I don't really care and Daly is old enough I don't really care, so it's only 11 English players dragged off on the jamboree, we've been hit by worse so small mercies perhaps

Eh?
13 English

[Sandstorm]

Pollock is young enough I don't really care and Daly is old enough I don't really care, so it's only 11 English players dragged off on the jamboree, we've been hit by worse so small mercies perhaps

Eh?
13 English

I think he's talking about the England Summer Tour team

[Uncle fester]

Position view:

Looseheads: Andrew Porter, Ellis Genge, Pierre Schoeman

Hookers: Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Luke Cowan-Dickie

Tightheads: Tadhg Furlong, Will Stuart, Zander Fagerson

Locks: Maro Itoje (captain), Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings, Ollie Chessum

Back rows: Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Peter O'Mahony, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier

Scrum-halves: Jamison Gibson-Park, Tomos Williams, Alex Mitchell

Out-halves: Fin Smith, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith

Centres: Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose

Back threes: James Lowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Tommy Freeman, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, Elliot Daly

[sockwithaticket]

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

One drubbing. Besides the 2017 53 -24 result, your next highest margin is 14 points last November in a 27 - 13 scoreline. That's a comfortable win, but not a drubbing.

In the last decade Scotland are 4/7 against Australia. Score average of 27 - 20

In that same time England are 10/13. Score average of 31 - 22

Questions was 'since the 2015 rugby world cup'. I didn't pick that timescale. You however picked one to better your argument.

Taking out the 1 additional fixture included for each team barely makes a difference

Scotland 4/6, score average 26 - 18

England 10/12, score average 33 - 21

[SaintK]

Position view:

Looseheads: Andrew Porter, Ellis Genge, Pierre Schoeman

Hookers: Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Luke Cowan-Dickie

Tightheads: Tadhg Furlong, Will Stuart, Zander Fagerson

Locks: Maro Itoje (captain), Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings, Ollie Chessum

Back rows: Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Peter O'Mahony, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier

Scrum-halves: Jamison Gibson-Park, Tomos Williams, Alex Mitchell

Out-halves: Fin Smith, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith

Centres: Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose

Back threes: James Lowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Tommy Freeman, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, Elliot Daly

[SaintK]

One drubbing. Besides the 2017 53 -24 result, your next highest margin is 14 points last November in a 27 - 13 scoreline. That's a comfortable win, but not a drubbing.

In the last decade Scotland are 4/7 against Australia. Score average of 27 - 20

In that same time England are 10/13. Score average of 31 - 22

Questions was 'since the 2015 rugby world cup'. I didn't pick that timescale. You however picked one to better your argument.

Taking out the 1 additional fixture included for each team barely makes a difference

Scotland 4/6, score average 26 - 18

England 10/12, score average 33 - 21

Quite frankly my dears…….who gives a fuck

[Yeeb]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

[Big D]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

From a Scots POV I think it depends how the injury recoveries go and how Toulouse get on in play offs. Later Kinghorn gets out on tour the harder it'll be.

So long as Tuipulotu is hits the ground running he'll be fresh as a daisy and will be pretty strong.

Furlong to miss out my match day 23 so long as Fagerson is fit. He and Stuart are offering more now.

Fuck it I'd start Pollock.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Pollock is young enough I don't really care and Daly is old enough I don't really care, so it's only 11 English players dragged off on the jamboree, we've been hit by worse so small mercies perhaps

Eh?
13 English

Discounting Daly and Pollock

[robmatic]

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

One drubbing. Besides the 2017 53 -24 result, your next highest margin is 14 points last November in a 27 - 13 scoreline. That's a comfortable win, but not a drubbing.

In the last decade Scotland are 4/7 against Australia. Score average of 27 - 20

In that same time England are 10/13. Score average of 31 - 22

Questions was 'since the 2015 rugby world cup'. I didn't pick that timescale. You however picked one to better your argument. And actually the original question was about Russell. Who's only lost once.

To be fair, Fin Smith has never lost against Australia.

[Yeeb]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

From a Scots POV I think it depends how the injury recoveries go and how Toulouse get on in play offs. Later Kinghorn gets out on tour the harder it'll be.

So long as Tuipulotu is hits the ground running he'll be fresh as a daisy and will be pretty strong.

Furlong to miss out my match day 23 so long as Fagerson is fit. He and Stuart are offering more now.

Fuck it I'd start Pollock.

I’d start pollock too but don’t want to get whinged at for being too pro England. Hadn’t realised those injuries and Toulouse thing , just prefer furlong to fagerson myself and do feel that synergy / familiarity between certain positions does at times outweigh individual skills.

[Big D]

Did Farrell say anything about France based players? Only one selected and he has a pretty irresistible case for inclusion.

[Big D]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

From a Scots POV I think it depends how the injury recoveries go and how Toulouse get on in play offs. Later Kinghorn gets out on tour the harder it'll be.

So long as Tuipulotu is hits the ground running he'll be fresh as a daisy and will be pretty strong.

Furlong to miss out my match day 23 so long as Fagerson is fit. He and Stuart are offering more now.

Fuck it I'd start Pollock.

I’d start pollock too but don’t want to get whinged at for being too pro England. Hadn’t realised those injuries and Toulouse thing , just prefer furlong to fagerson myself and do feel that synergy / familiarity between certain positions does at times outweigh individual skills.

I see the merits in that last bit. And to be fair partly why I think the Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones midfield is attractive.

So happy for Jones. Was unlucky to miss out on the NZ tour due to injury.

[Yeeb]

From a Scots POV I think it depends how the injury recoveries go and how Toulouse get on in play offs. Later Kinghorn gets out on tour the harder it'll be.

So long as Tuipulotu is hits the ground running he'll be fresh as a daisy and will be pretty strong.

Furlong to miss out my match day 23 so long as Fagerson is fit. He and Stuart are offering more now.

Fuck it I'd start Pollock.

I’d start pollock too but don’t want to get whinged at for being too pro England. Hadn’t realised those injuries and Toulouse thing , just prefer furlong to fagerson myself and do feel that synergy / familiarity between certain positions does at times outweigh individual skills.

I see the merits in that last bit. And to be fair partly why I think the Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones midfield is attractive.

So happy for Jones. Was unlucky to miss out on the NZ tour due to injury.

Centres & fly half can be funny, sometimes they gel really well with like or different players attributes, and sometimes they are Jamie Noon

[Uncle fester]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

I doubt Beirne is getting left out if fit.

[Slick]

So, in summary, very little to get spiteful about. Disappointing in many ways.

Has anyone checked the spiteometer at PR?

[SaintK]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

Earl is not a starting No8. Conan there and Earl on the bench

[SaintK]

So, in summary, very little to get spiteful about. Disappointing in many ways.

Has anyone checked the spiteometer at PR?

Very little spite.
Lot of posters think the Graham was unlucky to be behind Hansen.
Some questions regarding Ryan and Daly and the balance of the backrow selections
Otherwise very peaceful!!!

[Slick]

Perhaps something like:

Porter Sheehan furlong
Itoje chessum
Curry earl Morgan*

Gibson P
Russell

Freeman Duhun VDM
Aki Jones
Kinghorn

*token

Earl is not a starting No8. Conan there and Earl on the bench

I can see Fagerson and Genge as starting props and Tuipulotu replacing Aki.

Also can't see a test team that Lowe doesn't get picked by Farrell

[Punter15]

From a Scots POV I think it depends how the injury recoveries go and how Toulouse get on in play offs. Later Kinghorn gets out on tour the harder it'll be.

So long as Tuipulotu is hits the ground running he'll be fresh as a daisy and will be pretty strong.

Furlong to miss out my match day 23 so long as Fagerson is fit. He and Stuart are offering more now.

Fuck it I'd start Pollock.

I’d start pollock too but don’t want to get whinged at for being too pro England. Hadn’t realised those injuries and Toulouse thing , just prefer furlong to fagerson myself and do feel that synergy / familiarity between certain positions does at times outweigh individual skills.

I see the merits in that last bit. And to be fair partly why I think the Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones midfield is attractive.

So happy for Jones. Was unlucky to miss out on the NZ tour due to injury.

Me too. He is just so good and the toppest of top blokes too. When I refloat Wasps, he’s my first buy.

[Biffer]

I think props for the test will very much depend on performance on tour. Very even competition. Same for the rest of the pack. G-P, Russell, VdM all very likely in the back line, Keenan in the box seat for FB. Other wing quite an open competition, centres tough but Jones very likely at outside, if Tuipolotou is on form probably at 12.

[dkm57]

Think the wobblies will have a target on Pollock from the get go, upper class, pom 'wunderkind', that has the English meeja and pundits circle jerking, irresistible bait.

He is very good though.

[Paddington Bear]

So, in summary, very little to get spiteful about. Disappointing in many ways.

Has anyone checked the spiteometer at PR?

A bloke in the office went up to a Dubliner and asked if Prendergast has ever been to Georgia before, got some spite out of that

[Paddington Bear]

Scotland have also only lost twice, and both times by one point. Finn Russell didn't play in one of the losses. We've also given them a couple of drubbings, and have conceded a lot fewer points in our games as well.

Sorry - not calling you a liar, and you’ll know better than me, however Scotland having only lost twice to Australia since the 2015 world cup doesn’t pass my sniff test, have you missed the first post for context in this?

Edit - looked it up and stand corrected, smaller sample size albeit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_o ... d_Scotland

It’s true. Scotland have won 4 of the last 5. It’s always about where you draw the line for these things, but if you take the last 10 years, it’s 4-3 to Scotland, with all three Australia wins by 1 point (including the utter travesty at the 2015 RWC, of course).

Yeah checked the same thing hence the edit, mea culpa