Western Force v British & Irish Lions

[General Melchett]

 

[General Melchett]

Fully expecting a certain flashy git who plays for Bath to start this one but enough about Will Stuart.

Kick-off 11am UK time on Saturday. Team should be announced tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Here's my stab with * indicating injury replacement. Locks are a bit of a lottery as Ryan could well start.

Porter - Sheehan - Stuart
Cummings - McCarthy
Chessum - Conan - VDF

*JGP/Williams - Russell
Lowe - Sione - Ringrose - Hansen
*Keenan/Daly

 

[Ddanno]

Fully expecting a certain flashy git who plays for Bath to start this one but enough about Will Stuart.

Need them dancin' feet

 

[AlRums]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Starting XV: 15. Elliot Daly, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. James Lowe, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Tomos Williams;
1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Dan Sheehan (captain), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Joe McCarthy, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Henry Pollock.

Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Andrew Porter, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Ollie Chessum, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Alex Mitchell, 22. Huw Jones, 23. Marcus Smith.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Replace Daly with Kinghorn and suspect that will be our starting back line

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Too many fackin' Irish

 

[retired9]

Decent looking team and as far as the backs go, better balance I think. 12/13 could be a great pairing, hope Jones gets a decent run out as well I'm sure they are just wanting to see as many potential pairings before the tests as possible. 9/10 looks good too, Williams was handy when he came on.

Pleased for the starting props, they carried on well from the Genge and Bealham last week and Cummings gets another run to broaden the pool of contenders.

Lots of noise about Pollock at 8, lets see how that works as we could do with an option there and he might be the injection of energy that carries them on. 10-15mins for Marcus at 10 would give him a lift and let him show us what he can do from his better position, need guys like him in good form.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not a lot of pace in the side, wouldn't be surprised if one or two of the forwards were faster than the backs

 

[Grizwald]

Replace Daly with Kinghorn and suspect that will be our starting back line

I think Hansen will have to do a lot to dislodge Freeman who's been consistent all season.

There's probably a case to say you look at the international pairings as a potential starting Lion's unit. Argentina game was a case of using the squad available due to the finals weekend being 6 days before. Looking forward to seeing Tuipulotu in his preferred 12 shirt with Ringrose outside. Expect to see Aki and Jones the week after?

 

[Rugbyfan564]

More players born outside of Europe starting for the Lions than those born in England.

 

[Grizwald]

More players born outside of Europe starting for the Lions than those born in England.

I mean I'd expect a team made up of players from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England not to all be born in England......

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Can't wait to have this same conversation every single match thread all summer

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Eat **** everyone.

 

[big ginger 8]

Eat **** everyone.

The fact you didn't even acknowledge it when I sent this to the group chat...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The fact you didn't even acknowledge it when I sent this to the group chat...

I don't know who you are.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Irish fans will be cheering on the Super Rugby sides this tour as they're getting in some early support for their next wave of international players

 

[Groundhog]

Can't wait to have this same conversation every single match thread all summer
View attachment 23908

Irish fans will be cheering on the Super Rugby sides this tour as they're getting in some early support for their next wave of international players

Hmmm

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hmmm

Oh it wasn't sarcasm

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Irish fans will be cheering on the Super Rugby sides this tour as they're getting in some early support for their next wave of international players

Hell yeah