No bad but you spelt Russell incorrectly..  . Bath's success this season has been due in a big way to Russell's flair , defence and game management. Finn Smith should definitely be no.2.

10s should be Ford for steady / closer.   Russell for the attacking option and Fin Smith for the wildcard

they are the 3 best tens available.

Farnell might want to play a more Conservative  style than is Russell's game but he is too clever a coach to leave one of the best 10s in the world at home

Ford can't get in the England team and Russell is a flake. Admittedly I might well pick him but my feeling is Farrel won't. I expect Farrel will pick Bundee and the barge that is James Slowe

calling Russell a flake shows how little you know about rugby.

I'll leave you to it on this thread.

I'll leave you to it on this thread.

Bit early for a flounce, but have a great day anyway.

Farnell might want to play a more Conservative style than is Russell's game but he is too clever a coach to leave one of the best 10s in the world at home

I never suggested he'd be left at home.

Some strange picks above. 

Freeman and Smith deserve to start.

Would have Mitchell on form and combo from saints/ England too.

Why Dorris (no form) and Beirne (not a 6) ahead of VDF from Leinster/Ireland? 

Why Kelleher ahead of Sheehan?

Morgan could be a good midweek captain. Williams and lake aren't good enough.

Freeman and Smith deserve to start.

Leicester's Niki Smith at loose head? Bold call 😄

I think Marcus Smith, Finn Smith and Finn Russell will tour but Marcus Smith starts at bottom of those 3 due to being shunted around by England.

Beirne (not a 6) ahead of VDF from Leinster/Ireland? 

Bierne has played a lot at 6, never seen VDF play 6. Morgan does at times but I would prefer to see a big unit at 6. Doris/Conan or Keleher/Sheehan are coin tosses...I thought Sheehan was injured tbh!

Williams is the best 9 in the English premier league, it's not his fault he plays for Wales!

Would have Mitchell on form

He's a good player but just seems to come up with glaring errors at crucial times, he dropped a regulation kick off yesterday so went off my list along with Pretendertackle.

We all know Farrell will pick James Slowe, two glacially slow centres who are big anyway...I thought I would go left field 😄

I think Jac Morgan is the best 7 available but VDF is also a machine

I wouldn’t take M Smith and Russell, so Russell goes with Finn Smith, and I would have taken Ford as a player / coach but he’s got Sexton involved so Pendergast goes too.

Gibson Park is as sure a starter as anyone.

I would like to see Morgan play because he was outstanding in a poor team, in a good one he could be unbelievable.

The other semi final was a cracker too, quite a few players who would make a Lions squad if able.

Gibson-Park and Scotty Scheffler separated at birth.

👬

Looks like Doris may not make it due to injury 

No Darcy Graham was which seems a bit mad to me.seems a bit light on out and out 8's and sixes too

The 2025 British & Irish Lions squad:

Forwards: (21)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #848
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) #825 (C)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Backs: (17)
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland)
James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)

British Lions

Can you see what you've done wrong there, OP? 😶 

Bit surprised over DG too not sure Mack Hansen is better... Would agree about the back row too 

Can you see what you've done wrong there, OP? 😶 

I can, very embarrassing 😭

Scott Cummings?

Elliot Daly stickiest hands or may can't pass. He's definitely another strange call.

Cummings is a fabulous player.   A very athletic and mobile lock with great hands.  Can call the lineout and is also more than good enough to play 6.  Totally there on merit.

Perhaps the most critical player for Scotland after Finn

Daly is there because he can cover 13, wing and fullback, he's not the player he was though.

There's 6 locks and 5 7s. 

I think you're probably right, a a, that Beirne's covering 6.

Probably chessum too, as the others are outright second rows and the captain is an 80 minute player so they're competing for one spot really.

Earl and curry cover 8 too. Conan's the traditional big lump at 8. 

Looks to me like the plan is play two 7s and one big lump. 

Conan with Morgan/curry at 6 and another 7, or Beirne/chessum with curry/early at 8 and another 7.

Earl and curry cover 8 too. Conan's the traditional big lump at 8. 

Morgan can ply 8 too but is best at 7.

Curry, Morgan and Conan would be ok but I would prefer a big lump at 6. Morgan is wasted at 6. Surprised Cunningham South isn't in squad. AU's always have a good lineout and on the quiet have a massive pack these days

zander fagerson out injured before it's begun, must be hard to take!

Gutted for Zander, he's had a great year or two.. 

Asher Opoku‑Fordjour is a really good "youngster" and arguably a better all rounder than fagerson, perhaps a bit callow but he'll learn quickly. in fact, quite worringly, England have a batch of young props who are going to be a handful. 

This can only be good news, looks like an amazing player!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c93yzq2n1p8o

The new Folau.

Hopefully without the homophobia

I assume Sky have all the match coverage wrapped up.

I find myself wondering if there ‘tiz’ a way of watching the matches in a similar way as is common for bike racing these days?

Looking forward to this tour - and holding my nose to pay for a couple of months of Sky Sports

And...ahem...still no change to thread title!

Posted by: lister

↑

I assume Sky have all the match coverage wrapped up.

I find myself wondering if there ‘tiz’ a way of watching the matches in a similar way as is common for bike racing these days?

Loads of pirate channels available - thats how I will be watching.  Ask me near the time and I will send you a link

Thanks mods!!!

Now that the club rugby is over we can kick off some poorly reasoned debate on the test selections. 

First name on the team sheet Finn Russell

Itoje

V Argentina 

British and Irish Lions: Smith; Freeman, Tuipulotu, Aki, Van der Merwe; Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Itoje, Beirne, Curry, Morgan, Earl.

Replacements: Kelleher, Schoeman, Furlong, Cummings, Pollock, Williams, Daly, Hansen.

First name on the team sheet Finn Russell

I wonder  if Farrel will agree.

Looks magic

On the Lions' Youtube channel, Episode 1 " The Ultimate Test" .... 4 of the first 6 players to speak have Aussie/Sarf accents.

Hanson, Aki, Schoeman, VderM 

Not used to this, feels weird.

How do you as welsh/scots/irishmen make peace with it? 

Oh and the film/edit/episode is generally dull.... No real insight, no action, no build up of excitement... Poor.

It's like the producers have never watched a NFL Hard Knocks episode.

live coverage on S4C, in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, which I think you can get free across the border(s).  Gwych!

Could be a good game this, Argentina seem up for it.

Oops.

Posted by: Caher

↑

Could be a good game this, Argentina seem up for it.

yep, great try before the break

Good game. 

Lions understandably lacking a bit of cohesion - especially line out (even when England to England) and in the mid-field. But good attacking ambition 

live coverage on S4C, in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, which I think you can get free across the border(s). Gwych!

You can.

Obviously too many Welsh in the team though, very much second best in a scrappy game so far.

How do you as welsh/scots/irishmen make peace with it? 

It's a problem.

Great Argentina try in that...

So 3 dwarves in the back row doesn't help the lineout does it...with Doris out it doesn't look an easy fix. Much as Pollock is an exciting talent bringing him off the bench didn't help, had a player like Faletau come on it would have given a genuine 3 rd option in the lineout....

I am also not entirely sure why Morgan and Curry were both asked to play on the wing, one or both need to be in the middle.

Genge was great, DVdM I thought looked good in attack but ropey in defence but then he was rusty and playing with new systems etc, Smith is not a 15 despite what anyone says and Tuipoloto is not a 13. Freeman was a mixed bag of brilliant one min and then error the next.

I thought Tomos was better than Mitchel at putting players into gaps on the mainline.

Posted by: Ro5ey

↑

On the Lions' Youtube channel, Episode 1 " The Ultimate Test" .... 4 of the first 6 players to speak have Aussie/Sarf accents.

Hanson, Aki, Schoeman, VderM 

Not used to this, feels weird.

How do you as welsh/scots/irishmen make peace with it? 

 

All nations do this including England.  There is a subtle difference between " the scots people" (ethnic group) and "the people of Scotland" those who love our lovely country and have made it their home

Duhan for example was injured, out of contract and about to give up rugby when we took a punt on bringing him to Edinburgh.  He developed into the player he is in Scotland.  Tuipiloto is a similar story IIRC.  these folk are proud to play for Scotland.  I have no issue with it.  I have more of an issue with out and out mercenaries but I do not see any of them now tho we have had them in the past

Bierne at 6 for Lions this weekend.

Unlucky for Tomos Williams - I thought he was looking good.  Hopefully not as bad as it looked

Tomos is class, shame he looks broken.

Lions looked better but the opposition weren't up to much.

Pollock looks like he could be the next Ardie Savea but I think this tour is a year too soon for him.

Not sure that game told us much in terms of Test selection.  I liked the Williams/Russell half back combo.  Pollock was involved in a lot good and less good but a lot of competition for back row. 

Daly is always going to be in march day squad though. Maybe on bench, but he's just to versatile and rock solid not to be included 

If they don't sort their restarts and gathering of high ball they'll be on the back foot and awful lot

Tuipoloto was much much better at 12.

Tomos is above Mitchell but Faz will pick JGP if he's fit. Neither Irish wing does it for me but I expect them to be picked.

The backrow squad selection is all kinds of wrong imo. Needs a big 6 like Chandler Cunningham South plus a Fagerson, Dempsey or Faletau for 8

If they don't sort their restarts and gathering of high ball they'll be on the back foot and awful lot

Suaalii will be starting to get very excited!

Tomos Williams out of tour, White called up. Gutted for Tomos he was playing really well and has an x factor non of the other 9's have

Yeah real pity for Williams. As I said before I thought him and Russell worked really well together 

Farrell " Set for Lions call-up" ... Jeez I hope not 😳

Daly out now as well as Williams. I'm gonna stop giving my test team picks

I'm fortunate enough to be flying out to watch the first and second tests. Just awaiting the call from Andy Farrell about whether to pack my (non-existent) boots.

Daly out too, he's been excellent, shame 

Calling up a 10/12 who's not played test rugby for 2 years and been in poor club form when not injured  form for an outside utility back is odd. Especially when the other two fullbacks haven't managed to play yet.

Name sounds familiar though

Pretty awful decision... As above, poor year at Racing 92, Cannae tackle without being carded and never a utility back ....

Not sure what Tom Jordan must think.. Blair Murray was touted too be he is shit.

Doesn't look like Owen is there to cover Daly, more like to free up Marcus Smith to be the utility back bench cover.  Farrell likes 6-2 split but needs a versatile back. Won't want him getting mullered mid week.

He'll do a good job as the midweek fly half, maybe even midweek captain if all the other captain options are now looking like test players - Morgan, Beirne, Sheehan, genge.

So if they needed a 10 why not choose one who has played an international in the last 2 years or at the very least has some club form?

Not sure i'd want Marcus Smith to be covering any position on his performance so far........b

Good result for Scotland, watched a few mins, one cracking try. 

Just endured a 60min first half Wales v Japan. Both teams look like they would rather be having a siesta rather than play rugby in the blazing sun. Thanks Eddie, great idea. Ref is very very poor too, mostly in favour of Wales tbh but sometimes not...Wales not losing though although I will be out on ride before the end so they still have the chance to make it 18 in a row

Not sure i'd want Marcus Smith to be covering any position on his performance so far........b

Not been given a fair go imo, never a 15 at the top level. I think he will return home frustrated 

Wales not losing though although I will be out on ride before the end so they still have the chance to make it 18 in a row

A chance they are grabbing with both hands

NZ v France is a good watch 

Just watched last 20mins of Lions first half....I thought Pollock was starting at 6, but it's Bierne again.

Bit worried about Wednesday's match... Brumbies are a level above this.. 🤔 

Pollock not available, tight calf

Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful

The whole of that was pretty awful. Only positive was that a bunch of select internationals brought on after 50 mins can bully their counterparts from the 8th best regional team in the scrum.

Posted by: Caher

↑

NZ v France is a good watch 

See the Proctor disallowed try about 15 mins into the second half? Utterly ridiculous how they watch super slo-mo replays to disallow tries like that. Really beginning to piss me off about rugby. (Especially as a ref who has to make split decisions without video!) 

He held it against his arm with his finger tips for one thing, but in normal speed that was a try all day long hmph

Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful

Taking him over Darcy Graham is a joke

Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful

Taking him over Darcy Graham is a joke

A bit of an underwhelming display today , some good bits ,some poor bits . Furlong getting better, Chesum excellent. Half backs good, centres not overly impressive but don't see Farrell picking Huwipoluto..

Morgan needs to play.

Hope Kinghorn is ok