Fazlet

[Spiffy]

Huw Jones has now been in three successive match day squads. It would be daft to pick him for the next midweek match so the nepo baby might get picked at 12 with one of Tuipolotu or Ringrose at 13 and Smith(M) at 10. After that Farrell will have to pick either the Scots pair or the Irish pair for the next Saturday match and the first test the following week. Basically he could possibly be of use in the midweek team but it would be an outrage if he’s in the test squad. I think most people would agree that Russell is the starter with Fin Smith on the bench. I’d be angry he replaced Smith who has undoubtedly earned that place on the bench. I’d be incandescent with rage if he was selected in front of Russell.

If Farrell gets a run at 12, as you suggest, it will take all the zip out of the Lions attacking back play. He is now more of a heavy plodder than ever. He is a bit of a dodgy defender with poor technique in the 12 channel too, even if he might have the undeserved reputation of a hard man. I can see no remotely reasonable justification for his call up at all. Farrell senior has well and truly cockked it up. The lions players and loyal fans deserve better.

[Oakboy]

Maybe, we should remember that punditry in general has sung his praises for the last 10 years+. I wonder what they'll say tomorrow. Surely, even the die-hards won't defend this selection.

Scenario: OF gets picked at 12, commits a high tackle in first ten minutes, gets red carded and Lions lose. Imagine the press reaction then!!!

[twitchy]

Rugby is one of the most 'coaches kid get undeserved spot on team' sports out there, and this is the cherry on top. Quite frankly embarrassing.

[Oakboy]

[Galfon]

Here's one for you, can you name the first player to represent the Lions in three seperate decades?

Got to be from this Fab 4.. so AWJ -09,-13,-17,-21 ?
Failing that it will be ancient history or war-affected !.

Nope it was Dai Young

Close though !
Only Young & AWJ have achieved this apparently..
DY's first was the classic -89 series with Hastings bros., Richards, Teague, Guscott et al..a great series win that was.

[paddy no 11]

It must be 10 years since the board got to 55 posts that quickly! Faz snr has united us

[Mr Mwenda]

I agree with the sentiments here. The only way it seems to make sense to me is if he's just there for work experience as a coach. Seems daft to me, but that's all I've got.

[Puja]

The enforcement of AI "help" into the Facebook app is a blight on the world, but I will admit I enjoyed its attempt here:

Screenshot_20250703_205645_Facebook.jpg

Puja

[Danno]

I feel the Cadbury ad is more relevant

[Oakboy]

Itoje should have been England's captain years ago and seemed settled in the role over the last year following Farrell's departure. Daddy is suggesting that junior's role in camp and changing room will be welcomed by all the players. Based on what, I wonder?

Let's face it, Itoje and all the other players can hardly look up and say, "His selection is implied criticism of our captain and communication may now be confusing."

[Puja]

I feel the Cadbury ad is more relevant

Mind, I still do hold the opinion that he's been played in the wrong position all his career and that, just like his father's union career, people were determined to make a 10/12 out of what is clearly a flanker. He could've been an all-time great at 7, imo, so maybe the artificial "intelligence" is just tapping into an alternate reality where things went better?

Itoje should have been England's captain years ago and seemed settled in the role over the last year following Farrell's departure. Daddy is suggesting that junior's role in camp and changing room will be welcomed by all the players. Based on what, I wonder?

Let's face it, Itoje and all the other players can hardly look up and say, "His selection is implied criticism of our captain and communication may now be confusing."

What's the betting that Farrell captains the side against the Brumbies?

Puja

[Danno]

I feel the Cadbury ad is more relevant

Mind, I still do hold the opinion that he's been played in the wrong position all his career and that, just like his father's union career, people were determined to make a 10/12 out of what is clearly a flanker. He could've been an all-time great at 7, imo, so maybe the artificial "intelligence" is just tapping into an alternate reality where things went better?
Puja

Hard agree. There's definitely an element of St Johnny's influence because he came through as a 10 that could throw his weight around a bit more than others. Damn your eyes Wilko!

[Mr Mwenda]

I think I get it now. Currently test selection is impossible because everyone is playing well. Somebody needs to shit the bed. The solution is therefore to bring in a player with a proven laxative effect.

[Oakboy]

I think I get it now. Currently test selection is impossible because everyone is playing well. Somebody needs to shit the bed. The solution is therefore to bring in a player with a proven laxative effect.

is it fair to say that OF gets little or no criticism within the game? He certainly gets plenty from outside it. I did wonder if there was a collective sigh of relief when he went into voluntary exile but the Lions call implies the game welcomes him back, strange as it may seem to us.

[Mikey Brown]

I think the responses are way overblown to be honest, there is at least some logic to it but there’s also a lot of things to dislike. As long as he is there to take some pressure off the midfield resources and the squad leadership/experience as a whole, rather than jumping in to the test team.

I watched the Squidge response to it and they entirely buy in to the whole aura/TMA/iceman thing which I’ve always found sort of funny. I do think they’re right that the whole thing of him being a handbrake at 12 and undercutting his 10s authority is a bit overblown as well. He suffered in a lot of the same ways from completely imbalanced midfield combos for England.

Still, form and fitness should have ruled him out anyway.

I hope this doesn’t result in him getting shat on in the media again but it feels inevitable.

[francoisfou]

[Mr Mwenda]

I think the responses are way overblown to be honest, there is at least some logic to it but there’s also a lot of things to dislike. As long as he is there to take some pressure off the midfield resources and the squad leadership/experience as a whole, rather than jumping in to the test team.

I watched the Squidge response to it and they entirely buy in to the whole aura/TMA/iceman thing which I’ve always found sort of funny. I do think they’re right that the whole thing of him being a handbrake at 12 and undercutting his 10s authority is a bit overblown as well. He suffered in a lot of the same ways from completely imbalanced midfield combos for England.

Still, form and fitness should have ruled him out anyway.

I hope this doesn’t result in him getting shat on in the media again but it feels inevitable.

I actually think this take is fair. Farrell jr. clearly has something about him that we as fans don't see and I don't think he is likely to trouble the test XV in any case. Likewise, his apparent persona on the pitch is one thing but everything you're hear about him off it is positive. Likewise, I can't imagine Itoje is upset to have one of his old mates in the squad. They are pros and not people down at Lewes seconds getting the hump because coach's kid always makes the ones. Maybe, bringing in someone who trains hard but can live without having had a fair crack at the test team is a good thing.*

However, it is a poor look and if the tour starts to go off the rails there is a handy narrative in place for why. It all feels unnecessary and weird.

*Just waiting for him to start at 10 now v the wobblies now.

[Numbers]

If there was a kick to win a test in the dying seconds of a game who would you rather take it, Finn Russell or Farrell?

He is a proven pressure player whatever people say of him, I'm for giving him a chance and I really dislike him.

[paddy no 11]

If there was a kick to win a test in the dying seconds of a game who would you rather take it, Finn Russell or Farrell?

He is a proven pressure player whatever people say of him, I'm for giving him a chance and I really dislike him.

In one hypothetical situation he might be better than Russell if you use 5 years ago as a measure

It's an absurd appointment

[Numbers]

If there was a kick to win a test in the dying seconds of a game who would you rather take it, Finn Russell or Farrell?

He is a proven pressure player whatever people say of him, I'm for giving him a chance and I really dislike him.

In one hypothetical situation he might be better than Russell if you use 5 years ago as a measure

It's an absurd appointment

How many of these tests have come down to a kick in the past, it may be hypothetical but it is also certainly relevant.

[Galfon]

Seem to recall F.jnr getting boo'd at the WC in France, can't recall if it was down to selection over Ford, the perceived stodgy play or a rescinded dangerous tackle sanction - there's bound to be a fair slice of Eng fans in the following horde, just hope they can judge things in the here-and-now and not use him as a focal point for disgruntlement if things don't go to plan.

[Mikey Brown]

If there was a kick to win a test in the dying seconds of a game who would you rather take it, Finn Russell or Farrell?

He is a proven pressure player whatever people say of him, I'm for giving him a chance and I really dislike him.

In one hypothetical situation he might be better than Russell if you use 5 years ago as a measure

It's an absurd appointment

How many of these tests have come down to a kick in the past, it may be hypothetical but it is also certainly relevant.

It’s also one of those hypotheticals that seems to disregard the 80 minutes of game that happens beforehand, let alone the number of pressure kicks he has actually missed.

It wouldn’t surprise me massively if he’s on the bench by the end of the series though.

[Banquo]

If there was a kick to win a test in the dying seconds of a game who would you rather take it, Finn Russell or Farrell?

He is a proven pressure player whatever people say of him, I'm for giving him a chance and I really dislike him.

Not sure tbh. Farrell can be as flaky as anyone off the tee. His stats aren't that good frankly. So much nonsense talked about him.

[Mellsblue]

Well, I’m ecstatic about the call up. I hadn’t realised until today that Jacky Lorenzetti had described him as ‘as fast as a snail going backwards’.

[Mellsblue]

Made this it's own thread, cause I suspect there may be a few people wanting to comment on this topic.

Mod

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