B&I Lions 2025 Official Thread

[dpedin]

Finn Smith was poor today, failed to adapt to his forwards getting pwned at breakdowns - I am going to say it so the Scottish posters can stop painfully trying to be a bit more subtle than previous weeks. You are welcome.

VdM was really poor though

. We were really trying!

But agree on both points

Agreed however I just felt that Mitchell and Smith needed to slow their game down a little at times and make better decisions, particularly in first 20mins.They both just seemed too rushed and didn’t have their heads up to see what is going on. Loose kicks, passing to isolated forwards, trying off loads that weren’t on, etc. it looked like the ‘panic’ spread across the team. A more measured approach would have been better, it just looked like they were trying to prove a point.

[Blackmac]

Has Kinghorn touched the ball yet?

Odd comment.

[Blackmac]

The forwards have become a real concern, especially the front row.
Only Cummings, Shoeman, VdF and Earl of the starting 8 put in a decent performance. I actually thought Cummings was the best Lions forward on the pitch. Earls also did very well but needs to control his discipline as he gave away 3 silly penalties. VdF was decent as always.

Mitchell and Smith just offer nothing in comparison to AN OTHER and Russell, and provided no decent ball for the backs. MOTM decision was a joke.

Huwipoloto did great with what little shit they were shovelled. Combined superbly for first try. A couple of times chances were missed by other players failing to take advantage of opportunities created by them. Still think it would be nonsense not to start them outside Russell.

Ryan was pretty anonymous apart from the lineout. His missed restart made previous poor efforts look competent and a bad knock on with the try line begging.

Hansen and Kinghorn not given much chance but did okay with what they were given. Kinghorns wide passing was superb later in the game and dealt well with a couple of high balls.

Genge is absolutely nailed on at loose head. I don't know why the commentators were praising Furlong as it was Genge that clearly added the scrum dominance.

Tighthead is a disaster and Stuart is probably improving his chances sitting on the bench.

What has happened to Beirne, looks miles of the pace and at the moment a waste of a shirt.

Keenan looked like a man who hasn't played in months and his missed tackle for the try was a shocker.

[ASMO]

its fair to say this Lions squad is several steps down in quality from the previous one, both in playing and coaching....they genuinely will struggle to win this series, i do fear a 3-0 drubbing

[Sandstorm]

its fair to say this Lions squad is several steps down in quality from the previous one, both in playing and coaching....they genuinely will struggle to win this series, i do fear a 3-0 drubbing

You’re the first guy to call out Farrell’s coaching of this squad. I doubt you’ll be the last.

[Hal Jordan]

Just caught up with the match. It was so turgid I thought I was watching England playing a Tier 2 team. Result never in doubt, performance unacceptably stodgy.

[SaintK]

Has Kinghorn touched the ball yet?

Odd comment.

Try not to get too precious
As I said up thread I hadn’t heard his name in commentary when I asked
Busy with grandchildren whilst watching

[Blackmac]

Has Kinghorn touched the ball yet?

Odd comment.

Try not to get too precious
As I said up thread I hadn’t heard his name in commentary when I asked
Busy with grandchildren whilst watching

It's not being precious, it's just odd to be critical when you yourself admit you weren't paying attention.
Kinghorn didn't get many opportunities at wing but came strongly into the game in the second half. As Warburton stated in commentary his distribution with what he got was superb and he claimed both high balls he completed for. His catch and pass for the VDF non try was superb.

[SaintK]

Odd comment.

Try not to get too precious
As I said up thread I hadn’t heard his name in commentary when I asked
Busy with grandchildren whilst watching

It's not being precious, it's just odd to be critical when you yourself admit you weren't paying attention.
Kinghorn didn't get many opportunities at wing but came strongly into the game in the second half. As Warburton stated in commentary his distribution with what he got was superb and he claimed both high balls he completed for. His catch and pass for the VDF non try was superb.

Get a grip
Ffs man it wasn’t a criticism it was an honest question

[ScarfaceClaw]

its fair to say this Lions squad is several steps down in quality from the previous one, both in playing and coaching....they genuinely will struggle to win this series, i do fear a 3-0 drubbing

That’s fairly rancid mockers bait.

[SaintK]

Sky teams starting XV. Not sure about Stuart and Chessum as starters probably did well by not being selected for today

Genge
Sheehan
Stuart
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum
Morgan
Conan
Gibson park
Russell
Freeman
Tuipoluto
Jones
Lowe
Kinghorn

[Slick]

its fair to say this Lions squad is several steps down in quality from the previous one, both in playing and coaching....they genuinely will struggle to win this series, i do fear a 3-0 drubbing

You’re the first guy to call out Farrell’s coaching of this squad. I doubt you’ll be the last.

Ahem

[ASMO]

Sky teams starting XV. Not sure about Stuart and Chessum as starters probably did well by not being selected for today

Genge
Sheehan
Stuart
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum
Morgan
Conan
Gibson park
Russell
Freeman
Tuipoluto
Jones
Lowe
Kinghorn

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

[Slick]

Sky teams starting XV. Not sure about Stuart and Chessum as starters probably did well by not being selected for today

Genge
Sheehan
Stuart
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum
Morgan
Conan
Gibson park
Russell
Freeman
Tuipoluto
Jones
Lowe
Kinghorn

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

[Blackmac]

Try not to get too precious
As I said up thread I hadn’t heard his name in commentary when I asked
Busy with grandchildren whilst watching

It's not being precious, it's just odd to be critical when you yourself admit you weren't paying attention.
Kinghorn didn't get many opportunities at wing but came strongly into the game in the second half. As Warburton stated in commentary his distribution with what he got was superb and he claimed both high balls he completed for. His catch and pass for the VDF non try was superb.

Get a grip
Ffs man it wasn’t a criticism it was an honest question

Jesus man, you really need to calm yourself down. Ridiculous comeback to a polite response.

[Blackmac]

Sky teams starting XV. Not sure about Stuart and Chessum as starters probably did well by not being selected for today

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

Yeah, it's entirely my line up bar Chessum, and I can see their thinking behind that as Beirne is playing so poorly.

[SaintK]

It's not being precious, it's just odd to be critical when you yourself admit you weren't paying attention.
Kinghorn didn't get many opportunities at wing but came strongly into the game in the second half. As Warburton stated in commentary his distribution with what he got was superb and he claimed both high balls he completed for. His catch and pass for the VDF non try was superb.

Get a grip
Ffs man it wasn’t a criticism it was an honest question

Jesus man, you really need to calm yourself down. Ridiculous comeback to a polite response.

I'm fine thanks very much
You seem to think me asking a simple honest question is being critical as per the highlighted part of your statement

[SaintK]

Sky teams starting XV. Not sure about Stuart and Chessum as starters probably did well by not being selected for today

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

Played there both for Tigers and England. Can make hard yards through the tackle with the ball and has a big engine. Neither of which applies to Beirne at the moment. I think Farrell will go for a regular backrower with Chessum covering 5 and 6 on the bench

[Slick]

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

Played there both for Tigers and England. Can make hard yards through the tackle with the ball and has a big engine. Neither of which applies to Beirne at the moment. I think Farrell will go for a regular backrower with Chessum covering 5 and 6 on the bench

[Kawazaki]

They will select a lineout option at 6 and Chessum is pretty much the only player in the squad who fits the bill other than Beirne who is way off it. Can VdF play at 6?

[PCPhil]

They will select a lineout option at 6 and Chessum is pretty much the only player in the squad who fits the bill other than Beirne who is way off it. Can VdF play at 6?

Big fan of VdF but this year has not been anywhere near his best IMHO.

[Slick]

They will select a lineout option at 6 and Chessum is pretty much the only player in the squad who fits the bill other than Beirne who is way off it. Can VdF play at 6?

Big fan of VdF but this year has not been anywhere near his best IMHO.

Can’t help but feel one of the stories of this tour is going to be too many Irish past their peak.

In saying that, it’s just not a vintage group and there are not many people you could say are hard done by left behind

[Tichtheid]

They will select a lineout option at 6 and Chessum is pretty much the only player in the squad who fits the bill other than Beirne who is way off it. Can VdF play at 6?

Big fan of VdF but this year has not been anywhere near his best IMHO.

Can’t help but feel one of the stories of this tour is going to be too many Irish past their peak.

In saying that, it’s just not a vintage group and there are not many people you could say are hard done by left behind

Only a year ago the generally held opinion was that it was going to be so one-sided it was going to put future tours in jeopardy.

That hasn't aged too well.

[Yr Alban]

Big fan of VdF but this year has not been anywhere near his best IMHO.

Can’t help but feel one of the stories of this tour is going to be too many Irish past their peak.

In saying that, it’s just not a vintage group and there are not many people you could say are hard done by left behind

Only a year ago the generally held opinion was that it was going to be so one-sided it was going to put future tours in jeopardy.

That hasn't aged too well.

To be fair, the Wallabies were a total mess until pretty recently, and we expected a dominant Ireland to supply most of the Lions players. Things have changed somewhat.

[Big D]

i would not be unhappy with that selection to be fair

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

Played there both for Tigers and England. Can make hard yards through the tackle with the ball and has a big engine. Neither of which applies to Beirne at the moment. I think Farrell will go for a regular backrower with Chessum covering 5 and 6 on the bench

The way the some players are going I wouldn't be massively shocked to see a 6/2 split with Kinghorn a break glass in emergency 10 option.

[tc27]

Can’t help but feel one of the stories of this tour is going to be too many Irish past their peak.

In saying that, it’s just not a vintage group and there are not many people you could say are hard done by left behind

Only a year ago the generally held opinion was that it was going to be so one-sided it was going to put future tours in jeopardy.

That hasn't aged too well.

To be fair, the Wallabies were a total mess until pretty recently, and we expected a dominant Ireland to supply most of the Lions players. Things have changed somewhat.

Exactly - Aus exceeded expectations in the Autumn. The Lions test sides had a mixed six nations (or appalling in Wales case).

The more daunting the challenge the better for the Lions concept IMO (as long as it's not a 2005 type drubbing)..

[dpedin]

Yeah. Chessum has played really well but not sure of him at 6, mainly because I don’t know enough about him there

Played there both for Tigers and England. Can make hard yards through the tackle with the ball and has a big engine. Neither of which applies to Beirne at the moment. I think Farrell will go for a regular backrower with Chessum covering 5 and 6 on the bench

The way the some players are going I wouldn't be massively shocked to see a 6/2 split with Kinghorn a break glass in emergency 10 option.

Cummings has played 6 quite a few times as well and showed enough today for spot on bench

[Biffer]

If Farrell wants to win the series he wraps Gibson Park and a Russell in cotton wool for the next week

[KingBlairhorn]

I haven’t seen the game and don’t know the score but I came here to say; it’s 8pm, a full 9 hours after the game started, and I have just sat down to watch it to find it is not available yet on now tv on demand. 9 hours later. Premier sports, the so-called budget option, has all games available on demand within minutes of them finishing. There is no way I will manage to go much longer without finding out the score.

If this is the standard sky work to they can go fuck themselves if they think I am ever going to pay their extortionate subscription fees. Absolute tinpot service.

[SaintK]

If Farrell wants to win the series he wraps Gibson Park and a Russell in cotton wool for the next week

Quite!!!

[Tichtheid]

I haven’t seen the game and don’t know the score but I came here to say; it’s 8pm, a full 9 hours after the game started, and I have just sat down to watch it to find it is not available yet on now tv on demand. 9 hours later. Premier sports, the so-called budget option, has all games available on demand within minutes of them finishing. There is no way I will manage to go much longer without finding out the score.

If this is the standard sky work to they can go fuck themselves if they think I am ever going to pay their extortionate subscription fees. Absolute tinpot service.

That's not good to hear, I'm in London on the day of the second test and I was hoping to watch it when I get to my sister's in the evening

[Tichtheid]

The commentator on the Eng Arg game has just said that Borthwick "is not a man given to hyperbole or overstatement".

The commentator is not a man given to tautology or repetition

[Tichtheid]

As an aside, the picture quality on the Sky broadcasts is way better than Premier Sports

[Hal Jordan]

Pity the game's shit.

[ScarfaceClaw]

There must be some pretty Argentinian women to show in the crowd. This game is pretty average.

[Biffer]

So, today.

Cummings was excellent
Earl was terrific
Jones was very good

Apart from that, I’m not sure anyone was good or bad.

Keenan looked like a player who was coming back from injury
Kinghorn looked like a player who had just won the Top14.

[ScarfaceClaw]

And Coles gets a yellow for tackling with his face.

[Hal Jordan]

Yellow yes, never a red on upgrade.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Yellow yes, never a red on upgrade.

Absolutely not a red. Which is why it will be upgraded to red.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Stays yellow. Never ever a red card.