Lions - Six Nations 2025 Auditions

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I feel like I'm leaning toward a squad of

1. Genge, Schoeman, Smith
2. Kelleher, Sheehan, George
3. Furlong, Stuart, Fagerson
4. Itoje, Ryan
5. Bernie, Chessum/Martin (Depending what Farrell wants and who is fit but leaning Chessum and Bernie and Chessum both can play 6 to a high standard if needs)
6. Morgan, Fagerson
7. Curry, VDF
8. Doris,Conan, Earl
9. JGP, Williams, White
10. Russell, Smith, Smith
11. Lowe, Freeman
12. Aki, Tuipulotu, Jordan
13. Ringrose, Lawrence
14. Graham, DVDM,
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

 

[BPM]

I'm sure you're right because, as you've said, he deserves to on current form.


I guess it depends on what we expect from the Aussies- if we think they're going to bomb our wingers, then Freeman is better aerially, but Graham is better at breaking the defensive line and finding holes. Even if IFW does recover, I don't think he should tour, not least because I wouldn't want to risk a player coming back from surgery, but because there are other wingers who have put their hands up this 6 Nations and deserve to be there. Definite future Lions test starter, though.


I feel as though any backrow 50/50s come down to Scottish V Welsh players, and I'd imagine the Welsh would get the nod largely down to lack of genuine Welsh contenders in other positions.

I agree with most of this although I'm not sure that kind of sentimentality comes into it? In a 50:50, it would be unfair for Morgan to go ahead of Darge or Ritchie simply because he's Welsh. They're all good at similar things but I'd probably lean towards Ritchie on the basis that he is also a decent lineout forward.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I feel like I'm leaning toward a squad of

1. Genge, Schoeman, Smith
2. Kelleher, Sheehan, George
3. Furlong, Stuart, Fagerson
4. Itoje, Ryan
5. Bernie, Chessum/Martin (Depending what Farrell wants and who is fit but leaning Chessum and Bernie and Chessum both can play 6 to a high standard if needs)
6. Morgan, Fagerson
7. Curry, VDF
8. Doris,Conan, Earl
9. JGP, Williams, White
10. Russell, Smith, Smith
11. Lowe, Freeman
12. Aki, Tuipulotu, Jordan
13. Ringrose, Lawrence
14. Graham, DVDM,
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

Love it. Only few comments from me, Lawrence won't go as he's done his achilles which is gutting.

Also can't see Farrell not selecting his weedy armed Prenderghast, just to feather his own Irish nest.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Love it. Only few comments from me, Lawrence won't go as he's done his achilles which is gutting.

Also can't see Farrell not selecting his weedy armed Prenderghast, just to feather his own Irish nest.

Yeah true about Lawrence then it should be Jones

Also most likely right about Prendergast. Really it would be better for everyone if he did the summer tour in Ireland tbh

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

1. Genge, Schoeman, Porter
2. Kelleher, Sheehan, George
3. Furlong, Stuart, Fagerson
4. Itoje, Ryan
5. Bierne, Chessum
6. Morgan, Curry
7. Curry, VDF
8. Doris,Conan, Earl
9. JGP, Mitchell, White
10. Russell, M. Smith, F. Smith (Prendergast goes over Fin given Faz)
11. Lowe, Freeman
12. Aki, Tuipulotu, Henshaw
13. Ringrose, Jones
14. Graham, DVDM,
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

 

[odw26]

I agree with most of this although I'm not sure that kind of sentimentality comes into it? In a 50:50, it would be unfair for Morgan to go ahead of Darge or Ritchie simply because he's Welsh. They're all good at similar things but I'd probably lean towards Ritchie on the basis that he is also a decent lineout forward.

I'm not saying it would be undeserved, or that would be the sole consideration, but it could help to sway it one way or another because I feel as though there is a subtle underlying notion of wanting each nation to have somewhat of a representation.

 

[odw26]

1. Genge, Schoeman, Porter
2. Kelleher, Sheehan, George
3. Furlong, Stuart, Fagerson
4. Itoje, Ryan
5. Bierne, Chessum
6. Morgan, Curry
7. Curry, VDF
8. Doris,Conan, Earl
9. JGP, Mitchell, White
10. Russell, M. Smith, F. Smith (Prendergast goes over Fin given Faz)
11. Lowe, Freeman
12. Aki, Tuipulotu, Henshaw
13. Ringrose, Jones
14. Graham, DVDM,
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

That's pretty much my thinking as well, only swapping Ritchie for Ben Curry, and Tomos Williams for Alex Mitchell.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I feel like I'm leaning toward a squad of

1. Genge, Schoeman, Smith
2. Kelleher, Sheehan, George
3. Furlong, Stuart, Fagerson
4. Itoje, Ryan
5. Bernie, Chessum/Martin (Depending what Farrell wants and who is fit but leaning Chessum and Bernie and Chessum both can play 6 to a high standard if needs)
6. Morgan, Fagerson
7. Curry, VDF
8. Doris,Conan, Earl
9. JGP, Williams, White
10. Russell, Smith, Smith
11. Lowe, Freeman
12. Aki, Tuipulotu, Jordan
13. Ringrose, Lawrence
14. Graham, DVDM,
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

Apart from leaving out Porter I think I can agree fully with that. Wouldn't be suprised if Jones goes ahead of Jordan and Lawrence plays the 12/13 role though.

POM is probably not worth discounting at 6 either tbh. Been better than Fagerson for me.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

As a bolter, I don't think it's unfathomable that CCS goes tbh... He's been in average form, but his physicality is pretty unique and can see him going as a bit of a "smash some aussies in mid week and make it fun" player

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Apart from leaving out Porter I think I can agree fully with that. Wouldn't be suprised if Jones goes ahead of Jordan and Lawrence plays the 12/13 role though.

POM is probably not worth discounting at 6 either tbh. Been better than Fagerson for me.

As a 6 POM is better just for me Fagerson has better versatility. Especially with players like Morgan, Bernie, Chessum being able to cover 6. Fagerson becomes more the 4th option 8 as well as 6 cover. With that pack you have basically 4 options for each back row slot that could do a job at test level.

On Porter I just don't rate him that much, granted Genge's form has been pretty iffy lately also.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

As a 6 POM is better just for me Fagerson has better versatility. Especially with players like Morgan, Bernie, Chessum being able to cover 6. Fagerson becomes more the 4th option 8 as well as 6 cover. With that pack you have basically 4 options for each back row slot that could do a job at test level.

On Porter I just don't rate him that much, granted Genge's form has been pretty iffy lately also.

Yeah fair, hard squad to make as an out and out 6.

Porter will go and I'll be interested to see if he changes your mind when he starts a game knowing he can empty the tank in 55-60mins rather than having to get to 75. I think he outworks all of your guys around the pitch, his breakdown work is unrivalled as a prop imo. Whether or not he gets penalised at scrum time being ref dependant is annoying but fortunately it's generally the Wayne Barnes disciples that have it in for him, it'll be O'Keeffe and French lads on ref duties.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

I feel like I'm leaning toward a squad of

1. Genge, Schoeman, Smith

No Porter ?

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

As a bolter, I don't think it's unfathomable that CCS goes tbh... He's been in average form, but his physicality is pretty unique and can see him going as a bit of a "smash some aussies in mid week and make it fun" player

He does offer a point of difference at six

 

[big ginger 8]

Yeah fair, hard squad to make as an out and out 6.

Porter will go and I'll be interested to see if he changes your mind when he starts a game knowing he can empty the tank in 55-60mins rather than having to get to 75. I think he outworks all of your guys around the pitch, his breakdown work is unrivalled as a prop imo. Whether or not he gets penalised at scrum time being ref dependant is annoying but fortunately it's generally the Wayne Barnes disciples that have it in for him, it'll be O'Keeffe and French lads on ref duties.

If Porter is fit and not starting I'll be pretty shocked.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah fair, hard squad to make as an out and out 6.

Porter will go and I'll be interested to see if he changes your mind when he starts a game knowing he can empty the tank in 55-60mins rather than having to get to 75. I think he outworks all of your guys around the pitch, his breakdown work is unrivalled as a prop imo. Whether or not he gets penalised at scrum time being ref dependant is annoying but fortunately it's generally the Wayne Barnes disciples that have it in for him, it'll be O'Keeffe and French lads on ref duties.

Porter will go I know that and tbh it's not like Aus is SA

I think for me I've just only seen him against some really top class scrummaging TH's.

But I'm open minded to see him prove me wrong when he can go all out for 60 like most other props

 

[Saintjay]

Ben Curry is definitely on my bolters list.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Surprised people aren't taking Bealham. He'd be my 2nd choice THP.

FWIW my 40-man squad would be:
1. Porter, Schoeman, Smith
2. Sheehan, Kelleher, George
3. Furlong, Bealham, Stuart
4. Beirne, Itoje
5. Ryan, McCarthy, Chessum
6. Curry, Morgan
7. van der Flier, Darge, Earl
8. Doris, Conan, Faletau
9. Gibson-Park, Williams, Mitchell
10. F. Smith, M. Smith, Russell
11. Lowe, DVDM, Freeman
12. Tuipulotu, Aki, Henshaw
13. Jones, Ringrose
14. Feyi-Waboso, Graham
15. Keenan, Kinghorn

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Surprised people aren't taking Bealham. He'd be my 2nd choice THP.

FWIW my 40-man squad would be:
1. Porter, Schoeman, Smith
2. Sheehan, Kelleher, George
3. Furlong, Bealham, Stuart
4. Beirne, Itoje
5. Ryan, McCarthy, Chessum
6. Curry, Morgan
7. van der Flier, Darge, Earl
8. Doris, Conan, Faletau
9. Gibson-Park, Williams, Mitchell
10. F. Smith, M. Smith, Russell
11. Lowe, DVDM, Freeman
12. Tuipulotu, Aki, Henshaw
13. Jones, Ringrose
14. Feyi-Waboso, Graham
15. Keenan, Kinghorn

I reckon that's the closest to Faz's idea shared so far.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

We mustn't forget Hansen has a tattoo of faz so he is automatically on the plane

 

[Saintjay]

Given Australia are always decent in the air. Surely that's something Faz has to take into account with the back three. It's one of the reasons I dubious of Marcus being touted as back three cover unless it's for midweek.