Lions Vs Brumbies

[FKAS]

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollocl, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen

[Donny osmond]

Pressure on Kinghorn to perform at 15.

Lol-ing st the back row chat prior to the tour "So much depth, so many worldies" aye lads, so we've stuck a 2nd row in there to try and get something going. It means all 3 2nd rows are on the pitch for the whole game but what can you do?

Grumble grumble....

Still a good looking team mind

[Tuco Ramirez]

Back row, centre positions still up for grabs. i think at least 10 of that starting team will be test starters tho. Front five, back 3 and halfbacks

[Oakboy]

Can Curry claim the 7 shirt ahead of Morgan and VDF? The Curry of three years ago probably would have done.

[Cameo]

Could easily be the test team, but I hope not in a few positions. Mainly centre and backrow, though I also think that it is very close between all the front rows.

Expect them to put in a decent performance and.win comfortably against the Brumbies, which will of course help those picked in those tight positions.

[Banquo]

Back row, centre positions still up for grabs. i think at least 10 of that starting team will be test starters tho. Front five, back 3 and halfbacks

This, though I'd think back 3 still has minor question marks at 15 and 11 for me.

[Banquo]

Pressure on Kinghorn to perform at 15.

Lol-ing st the back row chat prior to the tour "So much depth, so many worldies" aye lads, so we've stuck a 2nd row in there to try and get something going. It means all 3 2nd rows are on the pitch for the whole game but what can you do?

Grumble grumble....

Still a good looking team mind

I think we have a carrying problem up front with Beirne looking shagged out. I'm not sure we have many worldies either.

Picking Curry at 7 also looks like we are going to take a different approach to the breakdown too,

[Donny osmond]

Pressure on Kinghorn to perform at 15.

Lol-ing st the back row chat prior to the tour "So much depth, so many worldies" aye lads, so we've stuck a 2nd row in there to try and get something going. It means all 3 2nd rows are on the pitch for the whole game but what can you do?

Grumble grumble....

Still a good looking team mind

I think we have a carrying problem up front with Beirne looking shagged out. I'm not sure we have many worldies either.

Picking Curry at 7 also looks like we are going to take a different approach to the breakdown too,

Completely agree, was just having a moan, indirectly about the management. Those players are still quality players, just in the cauldron of a Lions tour they haven't settled yet. I wouldn't put it past Curry to lay down a significant marker against the Brumbies.

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

[Mikey Brown]

Pressure on Kinghorn to perform at 15.

Lol-ing st the back row chat prior to the tour "So much depth, so many worldies" aye lads, so we've stuck a 2nd row in there to try and get something going. It means all 3 2nd rows are on the pitch for the whole game but what can you do?

Grumble grumble....

Still a good looking team mind

I think we have a carrying problem up front with Beirne looking shagged out. I'm not sure we have many worldies either.

Picking Curry at 7 also looks like we are going to take a different approach to the breakdown too,

Completely agree, was just having a moan, indirectly about the management. Those players are still quality players, just in the cauldron of a Lions tour they haven't settled yet. I wouldn't put it past Curry to lay down a significant marker against the Brumbies.

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

Probably just repeating myself at this stage but I think it’s an option Farrell will want to have in the 23, whether starting or not. He clearly likes Baird as a 6 option for Ireland. Chessum is primarily a lock, but his performance at 6 for England when they beat Ireland a couple of years back will probably have stuck in Farrell’s mind.

Extra weight in the scrum vs agility/speed off of it is obviously a trade-off, but he’s got a huge engine and gets around the field incredibly well for a big guy. Maybe he wouldn’t start, but if he shows that he can bolster the scrum, maul, lineout, restarts from 6 that’s a great option to have.

I’m viewing Saturday as Chessum and Curry both auditioning for the 6 shirt to be honest. Curry hasn’t looked himself so far. Morgan is the only one I think has nailed down a spot (at 7) and yeah Beirne looks a bit off the pace.

[Which Tyler]

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

He's played there 20-odd times, so he's not a neophyte, though he's also not as experienced there as I would like before selecting him internationally at 6

[Banquo]

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

He's played there 20-odd times, so he's not a neophyte, though he's also not as experienced there as I would like before selecting him internationally at 6

this, plus I worry about his agility/reading of the attack when not close to the ruck.

[Banquo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... d0zy5z0dxo

pretty much my thoughts in terms of style of play; it could be that they are rope-a-doping Schmidt mind.

[Mikey Brown]

I think that’s been the question from day 1. Farrell and Schmidt are both pretty straight shooters but their knowledge of eachother is too great to ignore. How much are either willing to show, knowing the approach and strengths of the other?

As others have said it certainly seems easier in theory to test some of the wide stuff and then go route 1, rather than vice versa, and you’d want to maintain the element of uncertainty about which one it will be. The look of the initial squad obviously suggested a bit of tippy-happy, side-to-side, but there’s still room for a more powerful, direct selection.

A lot has been made of Australia’s decline but I find it hard not to think he’ll have a few surprises. They were certainly a step up last year in the Autumn, and I think Scotland (who dealt with them best) were also fortunate to get a bit of footage to look at before taking them on.

The way they went up the guts took a few teams by surprise, so I don’t think all the fetchers in this squad is too big a surprise in that sense, but the overall balance does still seem a bit odd.

[Banquo]

I think that’s been the question from day 1. Farrell and Schmidt are both pretty straight shooters but their knowledge of eachother is too great to ignore. How much are either willing to show, knowing the approach and strengths of the other?

As others have said it certainly seems easier in theory to test some of the wide stuff and then go route 1, rather than vice versa, and you’d want to maintain the element of uncertainty about which one it will be. The look of the initial squad obviously suggested a bit of tippy-happy, side-to-side, but there’s still room for a more powerful, direct selection.

A lot has been made of Australia’s decline but I find it hard not to think he’ll have a few surprises. They were certainly a step up last year in the Autumn, and I think Scotland (who dealt with them best) were also fortunate to get a bit of footage to look at before taking them on.

The way they went up the guts took a few teams by surprise, so I don’t think all the fetchers in this squad is too big a surprise in that sense, but the overall balance does still seem a bit odd.

My ‘surprise’ comes from no inclination to change in game when at risk of or actually losing.

[jngf]

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollocl, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen

T Curry at no.7 is a retrograde step imo - he looked pretty stodgy playing there in the last Lion series imo and really is twice the player at 6 ( and has been for a number of years) - reminds me rather too much of England picking Hill at 7 in 2004 when by then that ship had well and truly sailed

[jngf]

Pressure on Kinghorn to perform at 15.

Lol-ing st the back row chat prior to the tour "So much depth, so many worldies" aye lads, so we've stuck a 2nd row in there to try and get something going. It means all 3 2nd rows are on the pitch for the whole game but what can you do?

Grumble grumble....

Still a good looking team mind

I think we have a carrying problem up front with Beirne looking shagged out. I'm not sure we have many worldies either.

Picking Curry at 7 also looks like we are going to take a different approach to the breakdown too,

Completely agree, was just having a moan, indirectly about the management. Those players are still quality players, just in the cauldron of a Lions tour they haven't settled yet. I wouldn't put it past Curry to lay down a significant marker against the Brumbies.

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

Is it that specialist though? - openside and no.8 certainly are but 6 is a bit like the Swiss Army knife - use it to balance what your specialist 7 and 8 don’t have. I do agree with you though that sticking a lock like Chessum or Beirne there is far from ideal - especially given that Curry, Morgan, Conan and possibly Pollock could all cover 6 at a pinch.

[FKAS]

I think we have a carrying problem up front with Beirne looking shagged out. I'm not sure we have many worldies either.

Picking Curry at 7 also looks like we are going to take a different approach to the breakdown too,

Completely agree, was just having a moan, indirectly about the management. Those players are still quality players, just in the cauldron of a Lions tour they haven't settled yet. I wouldn't put it past Curry to lay down a significant marker against the Brumbies.

Also, I'm not usually a fan of playing a 2nd row at 6, its a specialist position and not treating it like one can backfire. Has Chessum got the rugby nous to get about the pitch like a genuine 6? At least 2 of those 2nd rows who are starting are going to be on their backsides come full time.

Is it that specialist though? - openside and no.8 certainly are but 6 is a bit like the Swiss Army knife - use it to balance what your specialist 7 and 8 don’t have. I do agree with you though that sticking a lock like Chessum or Beirne there is far from ideal - especially given that Curry, Morgan, Conan and possibly Pollock could all cover 6 at a pinch.

Chessum has played plenty at blindside, as has Beirne. Don't think it's an unfamiliar position to either of them. Chessum played 6 and played very well in that shock England victory over Ireland in the 6N in 2024. Given the Lions could do with helping their lineout with a third jumper, maul defence and general physicality then a lock at 6 is a good call particularly when it's one as mobile as Big Red.

[Which Tyler]

Chessum has played plenty at blindside, as has Beirne. Don't think it's an unfamiliar position to either of them. Chessum played 6 and played very well in that shock England victory over Ireland in the 6N in 2024. Given the Lions could do with helping their lineout with a third jumper, maul defence and general physicality then a lock at 6 is a good call particularly when it's one as mobile as Big Red.

Opposed to that, of course, you've got the health risks.
Do you really want to play someone quite that ginger underneath a hole in the ozone layer?

[Sandydragon]

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollocl, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen

T Curry at no.7 is a retrograde step imo - he looked pretty stodgy playing there in the last Lion series imo and really is twice the player at 6 ( and has been for a number of years) - reminds me rather too much of England picking Hill at 7 in 2004 when by then that ship had well and truly sailed

Current 6, Morgan at 7 and Conan at 8 has probably been the most balanced back row to date. I’m a bit concerned that the Aussie backrow will give us a very hard time if we don’t pick a unit which is unbalanced, particularly if there’s players out of their normal positions. I appreciate Beirne has played 6 a fair bit but I don’t think he’s quite on top of his game at the moment there.

[Oakboy]

Chessum has played plenty at blindside, as has Beirne. Don't think it's an unfamiliar position to either of them. Chessum played 6 and played very well in that shock England victory over Ireland in the 6N in 2024. Given the Lions could do with helping their lineout with a third jumper, maul defence and general physicality then a lock at 6 is a good call particularly when it's one as mobile as Big Red.

Opposed to that, of course, you've got the health risks.
Do you really want to play someone quite that ginger underneath a hole in the ozone layer?

[Oakboy]

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollocl, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen

T Curry at no.7 is a retrograde step imo - he looked pretty stodgy playing there in the last Lion series imo and really is twice the player at 6 ( and has been for a number of years) - reminds me rather too much of England picking Hill at 7 in 2004 when by then that ship had well and truly sailed

Current 6, Morgan at 7 and Conan at 8 has probably been the most balanced back row to date. I’m a bit concerned that the Aussie backrow will give us a very hard time if we don’t pick a unit which is unbalanced, particularly if there’s players out of their normal positions. I appreciate Beirne has played 6 a fair bit but I don’t think he’s quite on top of his game at the moment there.

I don't think any back rower has cemented a place. Chessum will not be found wanting at 6. If a lineout option at 6 is needed, he is a good choice and maybe adds the poundage to leave Farrell free to pick a mobile No 8 if he wants to. I'd suggest that could be a thought against Aus if their trio is as pacey as in the past. If Conan gets the shirt, might there be doubt about the raw pace of Morgan or VDF at 7, letting in Curry if he is up to the level of earlier years? If not, that leaves Earl and Pollock as outside bets at 7. I'd like to see Chessum/Curry, VDF and Pollock as a unit at some point in this game.

[Banquo]

T Curry at no.7 is a retrograde step imo - he looked pretty stodgy playing there in the last Lion series imo and really is twice the player at 6 ( and has been for a number of years) - reminds me rather too much of England picking Hill at 7 in 2004 when by then that ship had well and truly sailed

Current 6, Morgan at 7 and Conan at 8 has probably been the most balanced back row to date. I’m a bit concerned that the Aussie backrow will give us a very hard time if we don’t pick a unit which is unbalanced, particularly if there’s players out of their normal positions. I appreciate Beirne has played 6 a fair bit but I don’t think he’s quite on top of his game at the moment there.

I don't think any back rower has cemented a place. Chessum will not be found wanting at 6. If a lineout option at 6 is needed, he is a good choice and maybe adds the poundage to leave Farrell free to pick a mobile No 8 if he wants to. I'd suggest that could be a thought against Aus if their trio is as pacey as in the past. If Conan gets the shirt, might there be doubt about the raw pace of Morgan or VDF at 7, letting in Curry if he is up to the level of earlier years? If not, that leaves Earl and Pollock as outside bets at 7. I'd like to see Chessum/Curry, VDF and Pollock as a unit at some point in this game.

As before, you need to be careful where you put Chessum in defence if playing 6; I've seen him exposed a couple out from the breakdown, big lad, not especially agile even if quite quick- hopefully he's been working on that. Today will be fascinating.

[Banquo]

Sloppy to say the least

[Banquo]

Make that piss poor

[BaldiePete]

Kinghorn was taken out in the air.