Galfon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:23 pm
Comment from WF skip, White:
Henry Pollock was certainly up to the hype. From 50 minutes plus they kept the intensity and he came into his own.
if he had a USP that may be it.Earned his corn today, though showed the rough on his diamond bits that wouldn't be unexpected.
He was the one listening to the ref a lot of the time. For him to be picked out for the yellow was quirky refereeing at best.
I did begin to wonder if White is related to the ref. Time after time the call of 'use it' was just an invitation for White to take as long as he liked.
It's interesting how refs have their favourite whistle causes. He was right on the obstruction instances, I suppose, but tackling without the ball seemed not to be on the agenda (from both sides).
At least the reds will know what to expect as he's doing the first test.
Have we? Lineout and restarts a shambles. I don’t think pairing Itoje with Beirne helped either of them. I like Itoje and McCarthy as a potl combo.
He’s not a good 6, and we have options aplenty.
Itoje and McCarthy seems the obvious 2nd row combination to me.
McCarthy out his hand up today.
Back row is far from clear. Beirne at blindside is a mixed bag.
aye. We have a problem in back row heft, not solved by putting either Chessum or Itoje there.
Spiffy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:00 pm
Disappointed to see that Lions decided not to contest the line out.Their tackling was also a tad on the weak side. They were in the right spot to make the tackle, made contact but allowed the carrier to make metres time and again.
Who said Finn Russell couldn't defend - he was putting himself about in the first half. James Lowe looks overweight. McCarthy and Chessum great. Daly sound and smart. Cruel luck for Tomas - hope it's not serious. I was betting on him for the test team.
Agreed, esp on Russell and James Lowe (who I rate). Not sure about Tomos at 9 tbh- he's a terrific runner and support runner, but can be a bit slow to the breakdown. I actually though a fair few looked unfit to be honest.
switchskier wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:27 pm
Such a relief after the turgid nature of the last tour.
Still lots to work on, especially in defence. Two different players have been exposed in the 13 channel now, something's not quite right or they're not quite getting how the system is meant to work.
Hansen did have a good last 20 but before that I was thinking justice for Darcy. We do look short of top end gas.
yup. Defence is very disjointed- its a rush/blitz but not connected. Wings and 13's left looking daft, but also big holes near the ruck through dog legs
Big D wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:17 pm
Was there a school of thought that Russell couldn't defend?
He's a very willing tackler. Has been for years.
Yeah, he's got this reputation as an unreliable mercurial player who does the flash highlights stuff, and otherwise hides, not bothering to defend and not getting on the same wave lengths as team-mates.
It's at least 5 years out of date, and was harsh pigeon-holing even then.
It's like people can't accept that a player can have both a highlights reel AND some dog.
I don't recall him ever hiding in defence, even if he wasn't terribly fierce in his early years.
Last edited by Which Tyler on Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Big D wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:17 pm
Was there a school of thought that Russell couldn't defend?
He's a very willing tackler. Has been for years.
Yeah, he's got this reputation as an unreliable mercurial player who does the flash highlights stuff, and otherwise hides, not bothering to defend and not getting on the same wave lengths as team-mates.
It's at least 5 years out of date, and was harsh pigeon-holing even then.
Was Townsend the originator of that do you think, when they obviously fell out? Finn's big weakness was really overplaying/forcing stuff that wasn't on, and its still there, but much much better.
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:52 pm
Russell has pretty much only played in teams requiring him to be wildly ambitious in attack to make up for a lack of forward dominance.
The poor defence thing has become quite an easy way to spot people who don’t pay any attention.
Good points well made.
Making a success at 10 in sides with average forwards is a rare thing.
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:52 pm
Russell has pretty much only played in teams requiring him to be wildly ambitious in attack to make up for a lack of forward dominance.
Not sure that's been true since 2018, or if it was true even then
Big D wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:17 pm
Was there a school of thought that Russell couldn't defend?
He's a very willing tackler. Has been for years.
Yeah, he's got this reputation as an unreliable mercurial player who does the flash highlights stuff, and otherwise hides, not bothering to defend and not getting on the same wave lengths as team-mates.
It's at least 5 years out of date, and was harsh pigeon-holing even then.
Was Townsend the originator of that do you think, when they obviously fell out? Finn's big weakness was really overplaying/forcing stuff that wasn't on, and its still there, but much much better.
His nickname when breaking through was the muscle, because the Glasgow squad thought he just had the one, coming from semi-pro rugby. But it was never really about his commitment to defence.
Some interesting selection dilemmas emerging. I thought the back 3 really came into it's own after a slow start and had impressive work rate. I really liked Daly's contributions, often the glu player.
Pack hard to judge but I like McCarthy's work and the subs did a good job turning the screw. Nice, but hard to judge given the disparity.
The force wingers were good. Nick White's tash and hair choices remain a concern.
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:52 pm
Russell has pretty much only played in teams requiring him to be wildly ambitious in attack to make up for a lack of forward dominance.
Not sure that's been true since 2018, or if it was true even then
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:52 pm
Russell has pretty much only played in teams requiring him to be wildly ambitious in attack to make up for a lack of forward dominance.
Not sure that's been true since 2018, or if it was true even then
Thought backline attack looked quite good. I'm biased but I think Russell and Tuipuloto work so well together. Just pick the right options consistently with plenty of creativity.
Daly looked very good. Just very good all round rugby player who can spot what to do against a defence with gaps. Still a bench option for me though, the tests won't be like this game.
On the.wings, both were pretty good and I like their ambition and creativity. For me, though, you can't have them both in your top team as you then lack a bit of pace/finishing. Hansen to me is just less good than Lowe.
Defence out wide (and all round) seemed a bit iffy. As others have said, a bit of a disjointed blitz, but also some poor tackling. Only 7 points conceded though which says something about the scramble.
Pack was a bit odd. Some decent individual performances but some tired looking players and still didn't look as consistently on to as you would like. Sheehan and McCarthy are very good and add some carrying/physicallity which is needed. Pollock was good but not shockingly so. Did kindof what I expected from an amazing young talent in a relatively easy game. I wouldn't be shocked if he comes through to be a test bench prospect, but I equally wouldn't be surprised if they decide his all round game isn't there yet.
Sub props will have done their chances no harm, though hard to judge how much that increased dominance there was because of Force weakening.
Just watched the Bordeaux/Toulouse Top 14 final. Jack Willis confirmed yet again that he is probably the best all-round back row forward in the N.Hemisphere. Big, powerful, thumping tackler, jackler par excellence, an abrasive attitude and a great engine. It's a travesty he is not touring with the Lions. If Farrell can wait for Kinghorn, then why not Jack?
Some seem to think that Kinghorn is the front runner for the Lions FB slot.He will do well to displace both Keenan, who is a proven talent in a successful Ireland team, and Daly, who had a great game today. He may appear as a wing option. He has better gas than Lowe/Hansen, who, however, bring other attributes to the party. I'd have him ahead of Duhan VDM anyway. At present I'd see Freeman as a fairly nailed on wing, with the other wing and FB slots pretty open.
Spiffy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 1:52 am
Just watched the Bordeaux/Toulouse Top 14 final. Jack Willis confirmed yet again that he is probably the best all-round back row forward in the N.Hemisphere. Big, powerful, thumping tackler, jackler par excellence, an abrasive attitude and a great engine. It's a travesty he is not touring with the Lions. If Farrell can wait for Kinghorn, then why not Jack?
Some seem to think that Kinghorn is the front runner for the Lions FB slot.He will do well to displace both Keenan, who is a proven talent in a successful Ireland team, and Daly, who had a great game today. He may appear as a wing option. He has better gas than Lowe/Hansen, who, however, bring other attributes to the party. I'd have him ahead of Duhan VDM anyway. At present I'd see Freeman as a fairly nailed on wing, with the other wing and FB slots pretty open.
Tend to agree on Willis but he’s not played intl rugby for years, so I don’t think it’s about waiting as such. Then again Pollock had barely played intl rugby either before call up!
Daly bench for sure.
Need more pace, and both Lowe and Hansen did good and bad in equal measure; Hansen’s last 20 has offset the pretty awful first 50 he had ( 6 turnovers, missed 3 tackles)
Cameo wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 12:11 am
Thought backline attack looked quite good. I'm biased but I think Russell and Tuipuloto work so well together. Just pick the right options consistently with plenty of creativity.
Daly looked very good. Just very good all round rugby player who can spot what to do against a defence with gaps. Still a bench option for me though, the tests won't be like this game.
On the.wings, both were pretty good and I like their ambition and creativity. For me, though, you can't have them both in your top team as you then lack a bit of pace/finishing. Hansen to me is just less good than Lowe.
Defence out wide (and all round) seemed a bit iffy. As others have said, a bit of a disjointed blitz, but also some poor tackling. Only 7 points conceded though which says something about the scramble.
Pack was a bit odd. Some decent individual performances but some tired looking players and still didn't look as consistently on to as you would like. Sheehan and McCarthy are very good and add some carrying/physicallity which is needed. Pollock was good but not shockingly so. Did kindof what I expected from an amazing young talent in a relatively easy game. I wouldn't be shocked if he comes through to be a test bench prospect, but I equally wouldn't be surprised if they decide his all round game isn't there yet.
Sub props will have done their chances no harm, though hard to judge how much that increased dominance there was because of Force weakening.
Agreed on 10 and 12, tho Tuipoluto looked pretty unfit and sluggish in open play, just needs game time I guess. As said above, Hansen started the game really poorly, and we have to find some gas in the backline.
Agreed on mccarthy and Sheehan, despite poor lineout.
Think Farrell has a fair amount of thinking to do.
Enjoyed that. A bit more cohesion. Still pretty clunky in parts.
Defence is a bit of a mess. Why we didn’t contest lineout is beyond me. Lots of unforced errors.
Main thing is can I cope with a whole tour of Will Greenwood on comms? My life he’d do so much better to just be quiet than constantly interject. I thought Stuart Barnes way annoying! I’d welcome him back with open arms at the moment!
Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 9:00 am
Enjoyed that. A bit more cohesion. Still pretty clunky in parts.
Defence is a bit of a mess. Why we didn’t contest lineout is beyond me. Lots of unforced errors.
Main thing is can I cope with a whole tour of Will Greenwood on comms? My life he’d do so much better to just be quiet than constantly interject. I thought Stuart Barnes way annoying! I’d welcome him back with open arms at the moment!
Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 9:00 am
Enjoyed that. A bit more cohesion. Still pretty clunky in parts.
Defence is a bit of a mess. Why we didn’t contest lineout is beyond me. Lots of unforced errors.
Main thing is can I cope with a whole tour of Will Greenwood on comms? My life he’d do so much better to just be quiet than constantly interject. I thought Stuart Barnes way annoying! I’d welcome him back with open arms at the moment!
Reddit agrees
"Sky sports, if you're reading any of this, just know that 99% of us think you could replace Will Greenwood with a 7 year old with adhd and a voovoozela and it would improve the commentating tenfold"
Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 9:00 am
Enjoyed that. A bit more cohesion. Still pretty clunky in parts.
Defence is a bit of a mess. Why we didn’t contest lineout is beyond me. Lots of unforced errors.
Main thing is can I cope with a whole tour of Will Greenwood on comms? My life he’d do so much better to just be quiet than constantly interject. I thought Stuart Barnes way annoying! I’d welcome him back with open arms at the moment!
Greenwood is awful. Just talks utter rubbish to fill gaps. Apparently some teams can go ten seasons without wining a restart! Anyone with half a brain and who has watched just a tiny bit of rugby would have noted the lions struggle at restart time today. Losing that many is unusual for a pro team. Or even an amateur team. Might have to mute the telly.
