NPR

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:31 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 3:21 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 3:12 pm

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

dkm57 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:30 pm 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.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 9:24 pm

dkm57 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:30 pm 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.

There are players who're good but not much seems to happen, whereas with Pollock whether one thinks he's good or not stuff happens. Of course sometimes that stuff isn't him scoring but people running over him to score, as we saw Vs Leinster, but stuff does happen, and that's not nothing

clydecloggie wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:52 am Pre-latching is legal, as long as it's just one player who's not in front of the ball carrier.

Pollock is brilliant, no doubt, but until his wonder try he was a weak link in the Saints team against Leinster. Then he scored that try, found his groove, and was amazing.

clydecloggie wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:52 am Pre-latching is legal, as long as it's just one player who's not in front of the ball carrier.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:33 am

clydecloggie wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:52 am Pre-latching is legal, as long as it's just one player who's not in front of the ball carrier.

Furlong is clearly impeding Pollock. That's illegal.

He was also the top tackler in the match with 18 completed (15 of which were inside the Saints’ half). Pollock also hit the most defensive rucks in the match (21).

That's some weak link.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:15 am I repeat, James Ryan is a clear homer selection. He can only play at lock, he can't play anywhere else. And for some reason Farrell had picked 6 locks in a 38-man squad. He's just not at the same level and offers nothing extraordinary. Meanwhile, in the row behind, there are no specialist no.8s in the squad, despite Tom Willis tearing it up for England and Saracens. Willis is also 120kgs and would add significant heft to congested carries allowing the lighter speedsters in the backrow to carry wider out.

It's a significant mistake in my opinion.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:15 am I repeat, James Ryan is a clear homer selection. He can only play at lock, he can't play anywhere else. And for some reason Farrell had picked 6 locks in a 38-man squad. He's just not at the same level and offers nothing extraordinary. Meanwhile, in the row behind, there are no specialist no.8s in the squad, despite Tom Willis tearing it up for England and Saracens. Willis is also 120kgs and would add significant heft to congested carries allowing the lighter speedsters in the backrow to carry wider out.

It's a significant mistake in my opinion.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:44 am

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 9:24 pm

dkm57 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:30 pm 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.

There are players who're good but not much seems to happen, whereas with Pollock whether one thinks he's good or not stuff happens. Of course sometimes that stuff isn't him scoring but people running over him to score, as we saw Vs Leinster, but stuff does happen, and that's not nothing

I saw this comment from some idiot in the comments of a newspaper article as well.




112kg Doris running full chat at 100kg Pollock with 120kg Furlong illegally pre-latched into him and 120kg Porter pushing through from behind as well.

You've got to be majorly struggling if you need to use this tackle as negative evidence in the debit column. And/or a colossal fuckwit of course.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:34 am

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:44 am

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 9:24 pm

There are players who're good but not much seems to happen, whereas with Pollock whether one thinks he's good or not stuff happens. Of course sometimes that stuff isn't him scoring but people running over him to score, as we saw Vs Leinster, but stuff does happen, and that's not nothing

I saw this comment from some idiot in the comments of a newspaper article as well.




112kg Doris running full chat at 100kg Pollock with 120kg Furlong illegally pre-latched into him and 120kg Porter pushing through from behind as well.

You've got to be majorly struggling if you need to use this tackle as negative evidence in the debit column. And/or a colossal fuckwit of course.

Perfectly fair, with the slight caveat it only holds if Doris is the last heavier player he's asked to tackle. Else he missed a first up table to concede under the sticks, and I suspect Pollock doesn't need to be told that's not the standard.

Furlong, well yes he's a nuisance, but if you're holding out for the ref to help you out there you're in the wrong job.

It is a negative in Pollock's column, but it's not like other players haven't made mistakes, and it's not like there aren't plenty of positives, indeed such was alluded to me in my post, wailing and pretending missing first up tackles isn't a problem is a bit odd though, very odd actually.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:36 am Conan is a specialist 8 tbf, but just having one in the squad certainly feels like an error. With half of the locks selected capable of playing blindside and six locks being quite a lot anyway, we certainly didn't need so many flankers

Farrell did say there are a couple of spots still to claim for players who can prove their fitness. I suspect one of them is being held for Doris as they wait and see how severe his injury is.

Ryan is incredibly fortunate to have as many Ireland caps as he does at this point, let alone get selected for the Lions. That said, outstanding locks in the Home Nations teams are few and far between. I'd like to think that if Martin wasn't injured (again...) he'd have gone instead. Grant Gilchrist is probably the next best option.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:36 am Conan is a specialist 8 tbf, but just having one in the squad certainly feels like an error. With half of the locks selected capable of playing blindside and six locks being quite a lot anyway, we certainly didn't need so many flankers

Farrell did say there are a couple of spots still to claim for players who can prove their fitness. I suspect one of them is being held for Doris as they wait and see how severe his injury is.

Ryan is incredibly fortunate to have as many Ireland caps as he does at this point, let alone get selected for the Lions. That said, outstanding locks in the Home Nations teams are few and far between. I'd like to think that if Martin wasn't injured (again...) he'd have gone instead. Grant Gilchrist is probably the next best option.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:33 am

clydecloggie wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:52 am Pre-latching is legal, as long as it's just one player who's not in front of the ball carrier.

Furlong is clearly impeding Pollock. That's illegal.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:36 am Conan is a specialist 8 tbf, but just having one in the squad certainly feels like an error. With half of the locks selected capable of playing blindside and six locks being quite a lot anyway, we certainly didn't need so many flankers

Farrell did say there are a couple of spots still to claim for players who can prove their fitness. I suspect one of them is being held for Doris as they wait and see how severe his injury is.

Ryan is incredibly fortunate to have as many Ireland caps as he does at this point, let alone get selected for the Lions. That said, outstanding locks in the Home Nations teams are few and far between. I'd like to think that if Martin wasn't injured (again...) he'd have gone instead. Grant Gilchrist is probably the next best option.

Sandstorm wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:26 am Can’t believe how much stick young Pollock is getting, especially in Ireland!! He a very special talent and if he works on his hands around the eye area, could be as big a legend as Schalk Burger one day.

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 10:35 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:36 am Conan is a specialist 8 tbf, but just having one in the squad certainly feels like an error. With half of the locks selected capable of playing blindside and six locks being quite a lot anyway, we certainly didn't need so many flankers

Farrell did say there are a couple of spots still to claim for players who can prove their fitness. I suspect one of them is being held for Doris as they wait and see how severe his injury is.

Ryan is incredibly fortunate to have as many Ireland caps as he does at this point, let alone get selected for the Lions. That said, outstanding locks in the Home Nations teams are few and far between. I'd like to think that if Martin wasn't injured (again...) he'd have gone instead. Grant Gilchrist is probably the next best option.

Bit surprised Ryan was picked tbh but if we're taking about Gilchrist as an alternative then it's exposing the paucity of options in that position.

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 10:33 am

Kawazaki wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:33 am

clydecloggie wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:52 am Pre-latching is legal, as long as it's just one player who's not in front of the ball carrier.

Furlong is clearly impeding Pollock. That's illegal.

moving-the-goalposts-300x2402.jpg

112kg Doris running full chat at 100kg Pollock with 120kg Furlong illegally pre-latched into him

Yr Alban wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:48 am

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 10:35 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 9:36 am Conan is a specialist 8 tbf, but just having one in the squad certainly feels like an error. With half of the locks selected capable of playing blindside and six locks being quite a lot anyway, we certainly didn't need so many flankers

Farrell did say there are a couple of spots still to claim for players who can prove their fitness. I suspect one of them is being held for Doris as they wait and see how severe his injury is.

Ryan is incredibly fortunate to have as many Ireland caps as he does at this point, let alone get selected for the Lions. That said, outstanding locks in the Home Nations teams are few and far between. I'd like to think that if Martin wasn't injured (again...) he'd have gone instead. Grant Gilchrist is probably the next best option.

Bit surprised Ryan was picked tbh but if we're taking about Gilchrist as an alternative then it's exposing the paucity of options in that position.

TBH I think Gilchrist, like Darcy Graham and Jamie Ritchie, suffers a bit from having played all his pro club rugby in a very erratic Edinburgh team. He’s not spectacular, but Scotland really miss him when he isn’t there. I didn’t expect him to make the Lions squad, but then I didn’t expect Cummings to either.

Slick wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 4:48 pm I would not like to be any of these players playing over the next few weeks.

Biffer wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:12 pm

Slick wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 4:48 pm I would not like to be any of these players playing over the next few weeks.

Major ‘great grandmas funeral’ vibes tbh

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:27 am

Sandstorm wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:26 am Can’t believe how much stick young Pollock is getting, especially in Ireland!! He a very special talent and if he works on his hands around the eye area, could be as big a legend as Schalk Burger one day.

Seriously?

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 12:12 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:48 am

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 10:35 am

Bit surprised Ryan was picked tbh but if we're taking about Gilchrist as an alternative then it's exposing the paucity of options in that position.

TBH I think Gilchrist, like Darcy Graham and Jamie Ritchie, suffers a bit from having played all his pro club rugby in a very erratic Edinburgh team. He’s not spectacular, but Scotland really miss him when he isn’t there. I didn’t expect him to make the Lions squad, but then I didn’t expect Cummings to either.

I think Gilchrist is a military medium plodder to be honest. This isn't me saying Ryan is great. He's not but the fact that both players are in contention at all exposes a potential weakness in the squad.

dpedin wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 9:45 am

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:27 am

Sandstorm wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:26 am Can’t believe how much stick young Pollock is getting, especially in Ireland!! He a very special talent and if he works on his hands around the eye area, could be as big a legend as Schalk Burger one day.

Seriously?

Pollock is an exciting young player and to be fair the Lions have always had one or two young guys like him in the squad.It is good to see. However he is very inexperienced and the hype around him is probably a bit over the top, he might find the going tough on tour, we shall see if he is able to make his mark. I don't have a problem with him in the squad although Jamie Ritche was very unlucky not to be chosen given he is in brilliant form at the moment and is a similar type of player but with more experience.

dpedin wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 9:45 am

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:27 am

Sandstorm wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:26 am Can’t believe how much stick young Pollock is getting, especially in Ireland!! He a very special talent and if he works on his hands around the eye area, could be as big a legend as Schalk Burger one day.

Seriously?

Pollock is an exciting young player and to be fair the Lions have always had one or two young guys like him in the squad.It is good to see. However he is very inexperienced and the hype around him is probably a bit over the top, he might find the going tough on tour, we shall see if he is able to make his mark. I don't have a problem with him in the squad although Jamie Ritche was very unlucky not to be chosen given he is in brilliant form at the moment and is a similar type of player but with more experience.

Slick wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 9:51 am

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 12:12 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:48 am

TBH I think Gilchrist, like Darcy Graham and Jamie Ritchie, suffers a bit from having played all his pro club rugby in a very erratic Edinburgh team. He’s not spectacular, but Scotland really miss him when he isn’t there. I didn’t expect him to make the Lions squad, but then I didn’t expect Cummings to either.

I think Gilchrist is a military medium plodder to be honest. This isn't me saying Ryan is great. He's not but the fact that both players are in contention at all exposes a potential weakness in the squad.

I know very little about 2nd row play, and he certainly isn’t a highlights reel type, but the difference it makes when he is not playing for Edinburgh or Scotland is quite stark so he must be doing something

Deepsouth wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:33 pm
Just sounds like how the Barmy Army conducts themselves on every tour of Australia.

Disgraceful pond scum.....

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 8:14 am

Uncle fester wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 6:41 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 3:53 am 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.

That’s right, let the scorn flow through you…

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 11:40 am Soup has become an irrelevancy for most. Including many in your neck of the woods. Look at the gates.