Lions tour 2025

[Howe_zat]

The names are in, the blazers printed, the stuffed lion sewed by a mysterious witch of the moorlands, and so on.

Rumours that Maro Itoje was announced as captain beneath a pillar of white smoke remain uncomfirmed.

Forwards:

• Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
• Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
• Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England)
• Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
• Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)
• Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
• Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
• Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
• Maro Itoje (Saracens/England - captain)
• Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
• Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
• Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
• Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)
• Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Backs:

• Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
• Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822
• Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
• Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
• Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
• Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland)
• James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
• Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
• Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
• Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
• Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
• Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
• Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)

 

[Howe_zat]

Ireland - 15
England - 13
Scotland - 8
Wales - 2

 

[Uppercut]

Ireland - 15
England - 11
Scotland - 7
Wales - 2

I count 13 from England and 8 from Scotland.

 

[Howe_zat]

I count 13 from England and 8 from Scotland.

Yes that's what I said.

 

[Jarquis]

Justice for George Ford

 

[Molehill]

Going to be interesting to see if Pollock can force his way into the starting XV, he might be captain on the next tour.

I'd also say Wales are fortunate to get 2 players, not sure Morgan is one of the best back rows at the mo, but Williams is fair enough.

 

[Boy_Blunder]

I think Morgan and Williams deserve their spots

 

[ripper868]

Backs:

• Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
• Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
• Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

Assuming these 4 will turn out for the combined Aus/NZ test


Strong Squad. Don't think one gets anywhere near the Wallabies starting 23 though, should be a comfortable swansong for Joe Schmidt this.

 

[Chin Music]

Assuming these 4 will turn out for the combined Aus/NZ test


Strong Squad. Don't think one gets anywhere near the Wallabies starting 23 though, should be a comfortable swansong for Joe Schmidt this.

I was going to mention my unease at the number of 'assimilated' players making this squad. The Springboks went to town on the last tour when the Lions were talking about learning Afrikaans phrases. They simply replied to ask Duhan!

 

[Uppercut]

Some interesting picks. Cowan-Dickie over George, Mack Hansen over Darcy Graham being two that stand out.

I like the Hansen selection. It's a risk because he's had so many injuries and it's not clear whether he'll ever find anything close to his best form again. But IMO it's easier to see a future where he's seriously challenging for a starting spot than it is for Graham.

 

[Molehill]

I like the Hansen selection. It's a risk because he's had so many injuries and it's not clear whether he'll ever find anything close to his best form again. But IMO it's easier to see a future where he's seriously challenging for a starting spot than it is for Graham.

Yeah, but Graham isn't an Aussie!!

 

[ripper868]

I was surprised Graham missed out tbh, suspect he's first call if any of the outside backs go down. Alex Mitchell the surprise for me, didn't really notice him in the 6N?

 

[Molehill]

I was surprised Graham missed out tbh, suspect he's first call if any of the outside backs go down. Alex Mitchell the surprise for me, didn't really notice him in the 6N?

You could argue that's the art of a good scrum half if you don't notice him too much. No doubt that England play so much better with his distribution whilst the Northampton backline is proving itself one of the best in Europe.

 

[Heboric]

13 from England yikes. I guess there was no one else .
Unfortunately I cant see Australia winning a game

 

[weeman27bob]

I was surprised Graham missed out tbh, suspect he's first call if any of the outside backs go down. Alex Mitchell the surprise for me, didn't really notice him in the 6N?

I thought he had a pretty good Six Nations tbf

 

[Ali TT]

Pope called himself Leo. Stick a fork in this one

 

[ripper868]

You could argue that's the art of a good scrum half if you don't notice him too much. No doubt that England play so much better with his distribution whilst the Northampton backline is proving itself one of the best in Europe.

Very good point, like a good 2nd rower. Though I'd say Dupont is streets ahead of every 9 and he's very noticable when hes on, so not sure the quiet achiever tag is one most 9's would want. Fair point about Northampton though, I've seen 0 of the games as no clue where/how to watch and I'm not getting another sports subscription to do so.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, not sure I agree with the "unobtrusive #9 is a good thing" idea.

Position is custom made for your egomaniacal show offs. Think Nick Farr-Jones, George Gregan, Matt Dawson, Joost van der Westhuizen, Faf du Klerk, Justin Marshall, Mike Phillips, etc.

None of them exactly the "unsung hero" type.

 

[Ali TT]

Yeah, not sure I agree with the "unobtrusive #9 is a good thing" idea.

Position is custom made for your egomaniacal show offs. Think Nick Farr-Jones, George Gregan, Matt Dawson, Joost van der Westhuizen, Faf du Klerk, Justin Marshall, Mike Phillips, etc.

None of them exactly the "unsung hero" type.

Scrum half has to spend half his time sticking his head between the arses, legs and studded feetof men twice his size to find the ball. Can't really be a shrinking violet

 

[ripper868]

When i think of the great/very good #9s, none of them were very backwards in coming forward. Gregan, Joost vdV, A.Smith, Marshall, Faf, Genia, Philips, Dawson (i guess), Stringer, Galthie, Farr Jones...anyway yeah. Mitchell still the surprise for me, I guess 9 may be the only short area (so to speak)