First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions - Tuesday 22 July Kick-off: 11.00 BST

[Danno]

I only remember Pollock taking a lot of lineout ball and that turnover at the end. Pretty anonymous day and given how poor the rucks were that's not great.

Putting him on a pedestal and kicking better backrowers out isn't going to magically supercharge his development.

[Sandydragon]

I only remember Pollock taking a lot of lineout ball and that turnover at the end. Pretty anonymous day and given how poor the rucks were that's not great.

Putting him on a pedestal and kicking better backrowers out isn't going to magically supercharge his development.

Fair play, he's done well to be in that squad on his 1st proper season. Other than mass injury or a situation where the third test result isnt going to influence the series, then I dont see him in the test squad.

[Banquo]

I only remember Pollock taking a lot of lineout ball and that turnover at the end. Pretty anonymous day and given how poor the rucks were that's not great.

Putting him on a pedestal and kicking better backrowers out isn't going to magically supercharge his development.

Unseen work, clearly. He hit a lot of rucks, but there was no balance in the back row, nor much structure to the play that would allow Pollock to do his x facror stuff. He did flanker basics tbh, which is fine, but he's not as physical yet as others who can do that better. He will be excellent with this rate of development.

[Which Tyler]

So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

[Banquo]

Shame I don't think any of the possibles really made a decent case for test selection... saying that some of the players in the twat on Saturday weren't much cop either...

I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

They were poor; understandably, but poor. Came alive when we gave them momentum but couldn't string anything together apart from close to our line where we were pretty feeble.

Mind, credit to their scrum, which we took lightly and their lineout which made us look scruffy there.

[Banquo]

So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

He's his scots team mate so hardly surprising. Was Itoje near, and maybe it just wasn't caught on camera in any case.

[Big D]

So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

[Sandydragon]

So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

He's his scots team mate so hardly surprising. Was Itoje near, and maybe it just wasn't caught on camera in any case.

The camera made a point of capturing Russell coming over; maybe other Lions team mates did as well but just not recorded.

[Banquo]

So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

isn't that a legacy of Gregor's havingaspat comments?

[Mikey Brown]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

[Mikey Brown]

Shame I don't think any of the possibles really made a decent case for test selection... saying that some of the players in the twat on Saturday weren't much cop either...

I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

They were poor; understandably, but poor. Came alive when we gave them momentum but couldn't string anything together apart from close to our line where we were pretty feeble.

Mind, credit to their scrum, which we took lightly and their lineout which made us look scruffy there.

I suppose I was looking at their performance in the context of all this chat about cohesion and squads needing weeks together before they can catch a pass. I don’t actually have any idea how much prep time they’ve had though, to be honest.

They were a long, long way from polished but I enjoyed the grit and determination to stay in it.

[Banquo]

I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

They were poor; understandably, but poor. Came alive when we gave them momentum but couldn't string anything together apart from close to our line where we were pretty feeble.

Mind, credit to their scrum, which we took lightly and their lineout which made us look scruffy there.

grit and determination to stay in it.

Spose

[Banquo]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

his passing and timing of run and pass just can look so stilted. Sure he does some good stuff- even great, left footed chip for Osborne try was bloody good. But the jisming...and ignoring the shit stuff, two awful passes out the back....two missed tackles. He was ok today in the main, but with some amateur bits.

[Sandydragon]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Glad youve written that. He looked off the pace for me; not awful but equally not at test match level. Yet commentarors must be seeing something different. Sam Warburton was positively enthused by Farrell.

[Big D]

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

isn't that a legacy of Gregor's havingaspat comments?

Don't think so as GT has made him captain at times.

[Banquo]

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

isn't that a legacy of Gregor's havingaspat comments?

Don't think so as GT has made him captain at times.

didn't he drop him for not being a team player....I think that's where the perception comes from anyway? Or maybe Sexton's pre tour comments.

[Mr Mwenda]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

[Numbers]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

Marcua Smith has passed his HIA thankfully.

[Spiffy]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

LATER EDIT : In the Planet Rugby Lions player ratings, Faz scored 8. The highest rating in the team.

[Banquo]

Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

[Puja]

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

I've only seen the highlights, but I'd have to disagree on the chip for the try - really poorly placed, overhit, and horrendously telegraphed. The only reason it led to a try was an incredibly lucky bounce to take the ball away from the three defenders.

Oddly enough, from the rest of the highlights, it looked like he had a good game - showed some nice sleight of hand for the second try, was running a good line for the intercept, made some great play for DVDM's try. I was expecting to come on here and find people grudgingly impressed, but clearly highlights not telling the whole tale.

Him starting a fight over the headshot on Graham was awful though - just emphasising why he's not captaincy material. It's generally a virtue to stand up for your teammates and defend them, but the captain has to keep their head and not be the first man in, grabbing at throats.

Puja

[Banquo]

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

I've only seen the highlights, but I'd have to disagree on the chip for the try - really poorly placed, overhit, and horrendously telegraphed. The only reason it led to a try was an incredibly lucky bounce to take the ball away from the three defenders.

Oddly enough, from the rest of the highlights, it looked like he had a good game - showed some nice sleight of hand for the second try, was running a good line for the intercept, made some great play for DVDM's try. I was expecting to come on here and find people grudgingly impressed, but clearly highlights not telling the whole tale.

Him starting a fight over the headshot on Graham was awful though - just emphasising why he's not captaincy material. It's generally a virtue to stand up for your teammates and defend them, but the captain has to keep their head and not be the first man in, grabbing at throats.

Puja

we will have to disagree, good vision and morover off his left foot into no man's land, not an easy skill- choice of two chasers as well- their left wing was off, so no cover and a great option. Thought you know bounce of the ball hates you....and the proof always in the pudding.

The rest shows how misleading a highlights reel is. Obviously it skips the lowlights. On the incident, he was policing the follow up....not ideal, but sometimes you have show some dog and help team mates being shoved around.

[Donny osmond]

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Have to disagree on the chip, it bounced into Osbournes arms, any other bounce and its a wasted possession. The dummy and give for VDM was class tho.

[Mikey Brown]

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Have to disagree on the chip, it bounced into Osbournes arms, any other bounce and its a wasted possession. The dummy and give for VDM was class tho.

Yeah the replay from behind the posts does make it look incredibly fortunate, with a couple of Aussies in cover and Osborne not even that close to where the ball initially lands.

Still, it was a try in the end so hard to argue too much. I’m constantly torn in not wanting to tear the guy down but being baffled by the OTT praise. Even the pass for the Duhan try you’d think might register as being a f**k-up if he hadn’t done it.

[Banquo]

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Have to disagree on the chip, it bounced into Osbournes arms, any other bounce and its a wasted possession. The dummy and give for VDM was class tho.

I’ll happily disagree again . Excellent bit of skill, left foot landed it where both chasers had a chance.