The rugby

[secretsqirrel]

Unpopular opinion, I never cared one way to the other about the Lions.

17th March I wrote…

I’ve never really seen the relevance of the Lions in the professional era. I understand that it is no doubt an honour and very prestigious to be selected as a player to go on tour, but from a sporting perspective it is a bit like a greatest hits compilation?
The pinnacle of RU achievement is the WC, a Lions tour does not even affect the world rankings and therefore the seedings for the draw. It is just another opportunity for players to get injured needlessly as far as I can see.

There I said it!

It was one of my first posts on here, but once it had got passed vetting and was allowed to be visible thread had moved on a couple of pages. So not surprised if anyone missed it.
Glad I’m not the only one @Pblakeney

 

[Dorset Boy]

Bath into their second final of the season, scoring 6 tries up in Edinburgh

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Bath into their second final of the season, scoring 6 tries up in Edinburgh

They made heavy going of it though. At times I thought that I was watching Exeter of past seasons. So much kicking and first receiver, pick and go stuff, even under penalty advantage.
Not your typical Bath performance.

Saints currently beating Leinster. Obviously they are still suffering from last week’s hammering from the Scarlets!

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Loving all the sullen looking Leinster faces atm.
I bet they were expecting to score 4 first half tries, rather than concede them.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

A brilliant result. Excellent for the competition.

 

[geocycle]

The Lions squad is named on Thursday.
Does anyone care.
This is the least excited I have ever been for a Lions Tour. Maybe because I don’t think Australia will be very good.
I’m sure I will get up for it nearer the time.

I’m interested. The problem with the Australia trip is that at least three of the home nations would expect to beat them regularly. In theory a selection of the best should do the job with some margin. The only uncertainty is that matches are not won on paper and the Lions combinations will be untested.

Shame they are not taking on SA as that would be a huge challenge.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Fantastic day for the english semi finalists.
Saints playing at Leinster's neutral home ground and beating them - superb! Leinster have all the advantages going but just can't get over the European line. Such a shame........ not!

 

[Beebo]

The Leinster match day squad had 1028 international caps compared to Northampton’s 83 caps.
They also have a further 16 lions caps compared to Nil for Northampton.

 

[laurentian]

Maro is named as Lions captain

Live feed of full squad announcement here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/live/cy0y20knd7pt#player

 

[laurentian]

Lions forwards
​

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)

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)

Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)

Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Lions backspublished at 14:42 British Summer Time
14:42 BSTBreaking​

• 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)

 

[Beebo]

No huge surprises. But I wasn’t expecting any.
Pollock being the most exciting young star.

 

[geocycle]

I thought Darcy Graham was a bit unlucky and Prendergast/Smith was a tight call given lack of evidence fo either at test level. Cummings is an interesting choice as they really need some bulk in the locks especially as the No8s are at the lighter end.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Ireland 15 (9 forwards, 6 backs)
England 13 (8,5)
Scotland 8 (3,5)
Wales 2 (1,1)

 

[T4tomo]

and Prendergast/Smith was a tight call

Smith (Fin) absolutely bossed him in the HK game and Prendergast's defence is pretty suspect.

I'm pleased Farrell senior wasnt tempted to recall a rather out of form Farrell junior.

The thing with a Lion's squad announcement is that whilst it is the "starting squad", thee are usually up to half dozen replacements called up during the tour, so those that "missed out" may yet make it.

 

[laurentian]

Smith (Fin) absolutely bossed him in the HK game and Prendergast's defence is pretty suspect.

I'm pleased Farrell senior wasnt tempted to recall a rather out of form Farrell junior.

The thing with a Lion's squad announcement is that whilst it is the "starting squad", thee are usually up to half dozen replacements called up during the tour, so those that "missed out" may yet make it.

. . . and Farrell jnr is on the standby list