Western Force v British & Irish Lions

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Please stop with the Curry over VdF thing. We need to live in the real world here.

VDF wears Curry PJ’s

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

VDF wears Curry PJ's

Because he's humble and thinks his own ones with "World's Greatest" on the chest is a bit egregious.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

If it's not WOL I don't bother.

WOLolo

 

[General Melchett]

My current test team at this point.

1. Genge
2. Sheehan
3. Stuart
4. Itoje
5. McCarthy
6. TBC (Morgan/Curry)
7. Van Der Flier
8. Conan

09. Williams (if fit)
10. Russell
11. Freeman
12. Tuipulotu
13. TBC (Jones/Ringrose)
14. Lowe
15. Kinghorn

Beyond the TBCs, Stuart, Williams and Lowe are only pencilled in, not inked.

Exactly how I see it although I do like Chessum at 6 and for balance someone with mobility and who can jackal at 7 - which looks up for grabs. I'd say VDF is favourite because Farrell trusts him but need to see Curry and Morgan in more games before deciding. Earl also not out of the running for a spot. I also wouldn't be averse to Bealham starting with Stuart and Porter forming a bomb squad.

Just re-watched the game and it was a game of two halves for Hansen. Got smoked by his opposite number a few times in the first half and looked lightweight with the missed tackles but will cut him some slack given he hasn't played much lately, just like Duhan. Grew into the game and was very good in the second half. Was industrious with that chase and rewarded with the knock on but it's clear that Farrell has a soft spot for him by singling him out post match and after they did an interview together.

Russell was excellent in defence which didn't get mentioned much yesterday. The backline just looks more fluid with his crisp passing and smart decision making. Sione at 12 also helps with his ability to interchange with Finn and step in to be first receiver. His passing is also excellent. Love the way he is constantly scanning the pitch looking for space just before he receives the ball. He knew exactly where Sheehan was before the cross field kick. Overall just a classy and controlled performance. The Smiths are battling it out for second spot.

Don't mind admitting that I have been proved wrong with the Daly selection - he was excellent yesterday. Back three just looked more assured with him there and his positioning / decision making.

Hope Tomos' injury isn't serious as he has also been excellent so far.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Hansen was decent - don't think he's ruled himself out of the test side, however do think Daly's performance probably ruled Hansen out

Be interesting to see what Farrell does with the test side: 6:2 or 5:3?
There's so many good forwards you could lean towards 6:2 but then we don't really have 10 cover outside of the dedicated 10s
A scrumhalf and Daly on the bench covers everything outside of 10 very nicely, but who's covering 10? Kinghorn? JGP?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

My current test team at this point.

1. Genge
2. Sheehan
3. Stuart
4. Itoje
5. McCarthy
6. TBC (Morgan/Curry)
7. Van Der Flier
8. Conan

09. Williams (if fit)
10. Russell
11. Freeman
12. Tuipulotu
13. TBC (Jones/Ringrose)
14. Lowe
15. Kinghorn

Pretty much with you on backs and 1-4. 5-8 massively up for grabs.

I like McCarthy and he went well yesterday but if your enforcer can’t enforce against that lot then there’s something wrong. He’s put down first dibs on the shirt but it’s not on his back yet.

Conan’s a good player but not his country’s first choice 8. Just have a sneaky feeling they may go for an athlete there, probably Earl if his form’s OK. Chessum’s our best line out operator and I think he’ll start somewhere - where that is will affect other selections but it would be a hell of a back row that could afford to omit Curry.

Starting to sound like quite an English pack.

 

[McTallshort]

Main negative from yesterday was the scrum which absolutely crumbled at times. Need to settle on a front 5 very quickly.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

The media here in England are obsessed with Pollock. A lot of them will explode if he is left out and several players they don’t think should be eligible are involved in completely different positions.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I thought Hansen was decent - don't think he's ruled himself out of the test side, however do think Daly's performance probably ruled Hansen out

Be interesting to see what Farrell does with the test side: 6:2 or 5:3?
There's so many good forwards you could lean towards 6:2 but then we don't really have 10 cover outside of the dedicated 10s
A scrumhalf and Daly on the bench covers everything outside of 10 very nicely, but who's covering 10? Kinghorn? JGP?

Agree yeah, Hansen is a start or nothing guy to be honest and I can't see him getting ahead of Freeman no matter how much Farrell likes work rate.

Think from an Irish POV in the backs, Lowe and Ringrose are nearly nailed on, JGP will be if fit, Aki is behind in a tight race, Keenan will need to get back to 2023 form amd Hansen needs injuries.

 

[big ginger 8]

Pretty much with you on backs and 1-4. 5-8 massively up for grabs.

I like McCarthy and he went well yesterday but if your enforcer can't enforce against that lot then there's something wrong. He's put down first dibs on the shirt but it's not on his back yet.

Conan's a good player but not his country's first choice 8. Just have a sneaky feeling they may go for an athlete there, probably Earl if his form's OK. Chessum's our best line out operator and I think he'll start somewhere - where that is will affect other selections but it would be a hell of a back row that could afford to omit Curry.

Starting to sound like quite an English pack.

Not sure on that reasoning with Conan, he's not his country's starting 8 because his country's starting 8 is the guy who would have been tour captain and the Lions starting 8. Conan started 8 on the last tour and would I believe be starting 8 for any other Lions country so don't think not being ahead of Doris should really count against him.

Maybe Earl will get the start because he is also a quality player but Conan is an absolutely class operator who doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.

 

[Ddanno]

Your king is more our head of state than yours, technically.

Being married to a brit has taught me that no one hates the Brits more than themselves.

Yeah, I mean, give me one thing to be genuinely proud of that isn't comedy or music.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Not sure on that reasoning with Conan, he's not his countries starting 8 because his countries starting 8 is the guy who would have been tour captain and the Lions starting 8. Conan started 8 on the last tour and would I believe be starting 8 for any other Lions country so don't think not being ahead of Doris should really count against him.

Maybe Earl will get the start because he is also a quality player but Conan is an absolutely class operator who doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.

Fair enough. He’s a good player although from what I’ve seen of him (not as much as some) not quite the force he was.

He’ll get the chance to stake his claim along with Earl and others. I wouldn't be upset to see him in and nor would I be upset if he wasn’t and the same goes for Earl.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah, I mean, give me one thing to be genuinely proud of that isn't comedy or music.

Branston pickle.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Yeah, I mean, give me one thing to be genuinely proud of that isn't comedy or music.

Adam Jones?

 

[TommiG88]

Branston pickle.

I’ll also add HP Sauce to that

 

[Welsh Exile]

Though totally normal, being proud or ashamed of a country is a bit silly anyway

 

[General Melchett]

.

I'll also add HP Sauce to that

They should be signing Henry Pollock up to do some advertising/endorsements. He's going viral and their sales would shoot up.

 

[TommiG88]

.


They should be signing Henry Pollock up to do some advertising/endorsements. He's going viral and their sales would shoot up.

Have him holding the bottle and he just needs to say the follow…

“HP sauce, it’s the Pollocks”

 

[Saintjay]

I'll also add HP Sauce to that

Using anything else is just Lowe.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

It feels that the Irish lads are getting some harsh criticism. It's like they're in the shoes of the Welsh for the previous 3 tours where you have to justify their selection.

My boy Beirne starts even if he puts in a 3 out of 10 performance and while I'm not a massive Hanson fan he's decent and I definitely don't buy into Lowe being an average player. He's a top 10 winger in my opinion. Bit long in the tooth perhaps.

It feels that the Irish lads are getting some harsh criticism. It's like they're in the shoes of the Welsh for the previous 3 tours where you have to justify their selection.

My boy Beirne starts even if he puts in a 3 out of 10 performance and while I'm not a massive Hanson fan he's decent and I definitely don't buy into Lowe being an average player. He's a top 10 winger in my opinion. Bit long in the tooth perhaps.

I agree with this. I don't think performances in the warmup games should have that much bearing on selection.