Bolters

[Numbers]

Well as we know there are normally a couple of bolters in the squad, who do you think may feature?

England: Arundell, Sinckler, Lawes, Jack Willis, Farrell

Ireland: Don't think they have any bolters as they will make up the majority of the squad you'd think

Wales: Any of the team who aren't Jac Morgan or Tomos Williams would be considered a bolter

Scotland: MCDowell, Horne, M Fagerson, Gilchrist

I'm sure I must have missed out many players.

[Mikey Brown]

In terms of surprising 6 nations form of players I had zero expectation of touring…

1. Baxter
2. Cherry
3. John
4. Brown
5. Jenkins
6. Ritchie
7. Curry (Ben)
8. Willis
9.
10. Prendergast
11. Daly
12. McDowall
13. Llewellyn
14. Murray
15. Jordan

[Puja]

Guardian talking up the possibility of Captain Owen Farrell. Surely they couldn't possibly - it'd be so badly received by everybody.

I think Pollock may go - he's not ready yet in my book, but he's arrogant and cocky (on the field) and I suspect Farrell Snr might like the cut of his jib.

Puja

[Big D]

Guardian talking up the possibility of Captain Owen Farrell. Surely they couldn't possibly - it'd be so badly received by everybody.

I think Pollock may go - he's not ready yet in my book, but he's arrogant and cocky (on the field) and I suspect Farrell Snr might like the cut of his jib.

Puja

Pollock is the only genuine bolter i can think of. There are plenty of very tight calls especially in the back row.

I think most of the squad picks itself this time but appreciate that's a very simplistic view.

[Puja]

Presented without comment: https://archive.ph/ddwlF

It is the 79th minute of the third Test in Sydney, and the British and Irish Lions are trailing by two points in the series decider against Australia. The Lions have just been awarded a penalty, from the right-hand touchline, to win their first series in 12 years, and only their fourth since the tour of South Africa in 1974.

The burning question is: which player would most Lions supporters back to handle the pressure of the moment, with seven weeks of toil at stake and the overwhelming expectation of four nations resting on his shoulders?

Finn Russell? Fin Smith? Marcus Smith? Sam Prendergast? Jack Crowley? Gareth Anscombe? Ben Thomas? George Ford? Blair Kinghorn? All fine kickers on their day, but all of whom have had their wobbles under pressure.

No, the answer has to be Owen Farrel.

[Cameo]

Presented without comment: https://archive.ph/ddwlF

It is the 79th minute of the third Test in Sydney, and the British and Irish Lions are trailing by two points in the series decider against Australia. The Lions have just been awarded a penalty, from the right-hand touchline, to win their first series in 12 years, and only their fourth since the tour of South Africa in 1974.

The burning question is: which player would most Lions supporters back to handle the pressure of the moment, with seven weeks of toil at stake and the overwhelming expectation of four nations resting on his shoulders?

Finn Russell? Fin Smith? Marcus Smith? Sam Prendergast? Jack Crowley? Gareth Anscombe? Ben Thomas? George Ford? Blair Kinghorn? All fine kickers on their day, but all of whom have had their wobbles under pressure.

No, the answer has to be Owen Farrel.

Haha, I don't agree with the answer but I also don't think it is the right question. The aim is surely to pick the players to win the series without resorting to a 50/50 penalty in the last minute otherwise we might as well pick Leigh Halfpenny or Chris Paterson.

Otherwise we might as well ask a series of other questions which would lead to various different answers:

- Lions are 4 points down in the 79th minute and a winger is free on the left but it'll take a perfect 20 metre pass to pick him out. Whose hands do you want the ball to be in?

- Lions are 2 points down in the 79th minute but their 10 has made an intercept on his own 22. Who do you want that 10 to be?

- Lions are cruising with 20 mins to go, only a red card could derail them. Who do you want making a tackle?

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Bizarre. It seems to reinforce this idea he never had bad games from the tee, and also that his peak form is just a given despite international retirement and his run of injuries/form at Racing.

It really wouldn’t surprise me that much to see him go though. Might actually be quite funny in a way.

[Puja]

Presented without comment: https://archive.ph/ddwlF

It is the 79th minute of the third Test in Sydney, and the British and Irish Lions are trailing by two points in the series decider against Australia. The Lions have just been awarded a penalty, from the right-hand touchline, to win their first series in 12 years, and only their fourth since the tour of South Africa in 1974.

The burning question is: which player would most Lions supporters back to handle the pressure of the moment, with seven weeks of toil at stake and the overwhelming expectation of four nations resting on his shoulders?

Finn Russell? Fin Smith? Marcus Smith? Sam Prendergast? Jack Crowley? Gareth Anscombe? Ben Thomas? George Ford? Blair Kinghorn? All fine kickers on their day, but all of whom have had their wobbles under pressure.

No, the answer has to be Owen Farrel.

Haha, I don't agree with the answer but I also don't think it is the right question. The aim is surely to pick the players to win the series without resorting to a 50/50 penalty in the last minute otherwise we might as well pick Leigh Halfpenny or Chris Paterson.

Otherwise we might as well ask a series of other questions which would lead to various different answers:

- Lions are 4 points down in the 79th minute and a winger is free on the left but it'll take a perfect 20 metre pass to pick him out. Whose hands do you want the ball to be in?

- Lions are 2 points down in the 79th minute but their 10 has made an intercept on his own 22. Who do you want that 10 to be?

- Lions are cruising with 20 mins to go, only a red card could derail them. Who do you want making a tackle?

Bang on. Leaving aside the fact that his international kicking percentage is lower than that of Russell, FSmith, and Ford (and probably some of the others as well, but those are the ones I know), the fact very much remains that the most likely reason for the Lions underperforming and ending up in the situation of being 1-1 and 2 points down in the last minute of Test 3 would've been that we'd picked Farrell at 10.

Puja

[Numbers]

Presented without comment: https://archive.ph/ddwlF

Haha, I don't agree with the answer but I also don't think it is the right question. The aim is surely to pick the players to win the series without resorting to a 50/50 penalty in the last minute otherwise we might as well pick Leigh Halfpenny or Chris Paterson.

Otherwise we might as well ask a series of other questions which would lead to various different answers:

- Lions are 4 points down in the 79th minute and a winger is free on the left but it'll take a perfect 20 metre pass to pick him out. Whose hands do you want the ball to be in?

- Lions are 2 points down in the 79th minute but their 10 has made an intercept on his own 22. Who do you want that 10 to be?

- Lions are cruising with 20 mins to go, only a red card could derail them. Who do you want making a tackle?

Bang on. Leaving aside the fact that his international kicking percentage is lower than that of Russell, FSmith, and Ford (and probably some of the others as well, but those are the ones I know), the fact very much remains that the most likely reason for the Lions underperforming and ending up in the situation of being 1-1 and 2 points down in the last minute of Test 3 would've been that we'd picked Farrell at 10.

Puja

Do you reckon Ford has chance of going? I think he attacks the advantage line as good as any and obviously Farrell knows him very well.

[Puja]

Haha, I don't agree with the answer but I also don't think it is the right question. The aim is surely to pick the players to win the series without resorting to a 50/50 penalty in the last minute otherwise we might as well pick Leigh Halfpenny or Chris Paterson.

Otherwise we might as well ask a series of other questions which would lead to various different answers:

- Lions are 4 points down in the 79th minute and a winger is free on the left but it'll take a perfect 20 metre pass to pick him out. Whose hands do you want the ball to be in?

- Lions are 2 points down in the 79th minute but their 10 has made an intercept on his own 22. Who do you want that 10 to be?

- Lions are cruising with 20 mins to go, only a red card could derail them. Who do you want making a tackle?

Bang on. Leaving aside the fact that his international kicking percentage is lower than that of Russell, FSmith, and Ford (and probably some of the others as well, but those are the ones I know), the fact very much remains that the most likely reason for the Lions underperforming and ending up in the situation of being 1-1 and 2 points down in the last minute of Test 3 would've been that we'd picked Farrell at 10.

Puja

Do you reckon Ford has chance of going? I think he attacks the advantage line as good as any and obviously Farrell knows him very well.

Somewhere between zero and fuck all chance, I suspect. It's a shame, cause he's probably the best player never to've toured with the Lions and I'd actually rate him as a better fly-half than both Smiths right now when he's fully fit (I'd still pick both Smiths ahead of him for England as we want to develop them to become even better, but in a one-off game, I'd rate Ford), but I can't see Farrell picking him off the back of club form and 20 minutes against a demoralised Welsh side, especially if the Boy Wonder and his off-pitch intangibles are available. That's not even mentioning that it'd be professionally interesting for Farrell Snr to pick England's third choice over Ireland's first choice - he might be publically bullish about it being a meritocracy and no quotas or picking on nationality, but he does still have to go back to Ireland after this and deal with the players he's left behind.

I'd say the pecking order goes Russell, FSmith, MSmith, some ordering of Fazlet/Prendergast/Crowley, then Ford, so he'd need 4 injuries to even make the squad.

Puja

[switchskier]

A true bolter should be someone not yet established on the international scene, preferably young and breaking through. I can think of a host of back row names but I think heavy competition there mitigates against. Instead I'd look at areas where the Lions are weaker.

So maybe Baxter at prop, Quirke at scrumhalf and Jenkins at lock.

[Cameo]

Yeah, the only real bolters I can think of are backrows and there is no need to pick Pollock let alone Douglas given all the options.

I suppose maybe a 9 like Quirke or someone in France would count.

I'm not sure I would count Baxter as a bolter (he has started tests in NZ I think!). Similar for Jenkins.

[Spiffy]

Yeah, the only real bolters I can think of are backrows and there is no need to pick Pollock let alone Douglas given all the options.

I suppose maybe a 9 like Quirke or someone in France would count.

I'm not sure I would count Baxter as a bolter (he has started tests in NZ I think!). Similar for Jenkins.

Pollock is something special with a real X factor, as he showed again at the weekend. I think he has the capacity to light up a test match and inspire his team mates, especially if the Lions want to play high tempo attacking rugby.
Hard to see Quirk making it ahead of Gibson Park, Tomos Willliams, Mitchell, White.

[Puja]

Yeah, the only real bolters I can think of are backrows and there is no need to pick Pollock let alone Douglas given all the options.

I suppose maybe a 9 like Quirke or someone in France would count.

I'm not sure I would count Baxter as a bolter (he has started tests in NZ I think!). Similar for Jenkins.

Pollock is something special with a real X factor, as he showed again at the weekend. I think he has the capacity to light up a test match and inspire his team mates, especially if the Lions want to play high tempo attacking rugby.
Hard to see Quirk making it ahead of Gibson Park, Tomos Willliams, Mitchell, White.

Agreed on Quirke. People are fixated on him, but he hasn't played for England since his first two caps in 2021, and barely plays for Sale with his horrendous luck with injuries (and Warr being very good and always fit). He's not an international prospect, let alone Lions, until he can get a run of games without injury and play well in them.

TWilliams is doing well on Prem form as well, so any bolter would have to do better than him domestically.

Puja

[Puja]

A couple of articles suggesting Ribbans as a potential bolter - I've heard worse ideas, tbh.

Puja