Lions tour 2025

[Molehill]

Will we one day see the Argies as world rugby and soccer champions? Beating the full strength of the 4 unions is an impressive effort that will be quite beyond the Wallabies.

Wasn’t full strength, quite a few were unavailable as only just joined up. Felt more like a Barbarians performance than Lions, too many attempts at the miracle pass instead of holding onto possession. Sure they’ll improve massively by Test time.

 

[ripper868]

How in **** was that not a full strength side? Literally had the 4 captains of each home nation playing.

I'll give you cohesion etc as the first match together, but selling that as a not full strength team is a reach.

Yes they'll be better by the next test, but it was a one off game for the Argies as well who don't play together very often either. Give them some credit.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

There's no shame in losing to Argentina. They are no 5 in the world (better than England, Scotland, and Australia).

 

[James]

Perhaps Argentina now have a case for a full Lions tour moving forward.

 

[Molehill]

How in **** was that not a full strength side? Literally had the 4 captains of each home nation playing.

I'll give you cohesion etc as the first match together, but selling that as a not full strength team is a reach.

Yes they'll be better by the next test, but it was a one off game for the Argies as well who don't play together very often either. Give them some credit.

10 Leinster plus Finn Russell, Stuart and Chessum couldn’t play.

 

[ripper868]

I'd call it weak Argentina side as well then, no Chocobores at 12 and with Creevy retired, Argentina may never have a first choice side again.

Those Leinster lads (and Finn and Stuart and Chessum) also could play, they just weren't picked. Kelleher (of Leinster) played on the weekend and played this test.

Their non selections for rest is probably wise given the length of the tour, but saying it's not a first choice side, when the players are in fact available, is a slap in the face to both the players picked and to Argentina as it's a **** attempt to discredit a great victory for them.

 

[GotSpin]

How in **** was that not a full strength side? Literally had the 4 captains of each home nation playing.

I'll give you cohesion etc as the first match together, but selling that as a not full strength team is a reach.

Yes they'll be better by the next test, but it was a one off game for the Argies as well who don't play together very often either. Give them some credit.

Argentina had plenty of players missing too

edit. Just saw your above post

 

[Son Of Coco]

Good to see the Lions borrowing their selection policy from the English cricket team and including South Africans, Kiwis and Australians.

Welcome home boys!

 

[Molehill]

Good to see the Lions borrowing their selection policy from the English cricket team and including South Africans, Kiwis and Australians.

Welcome home boys!

Marnus, Usman, Inglis etc etc

But do you know what? I kind of agree. It's one thing representing an adopted country in International Sport, but the Lions does sort of feel a bit different. Hansen playing against his nationality is the really daft one, but I guess it's not the first time he's done it.

I'd call it weak Argentina side as well then, no Chocobores at 12 and with Creevy retired, Argentina may never have a first choice side again.

Those Leinster lads (and Finn and Stuart and Chessum) also could play, they just weren't picked. Kelleher (of Leinster) played on the weekend and played this test.

Their non selections for rest is probably wise given the length of the tour, but saying it's not a first choice side, when the players are in fact available, is a slap in the face to both the players picked and to Argentina as it's a **** attempt to discredit a great victory for them.

Agree it wasn't full strength Argentina either, but I'm not sure more than about 7 of the Lions starting line up on Friday will be in the First Test.

 

[Uppercut]

Marnus, Usman, Inglis etc etc

But do you know what? I kind of agree. It's one thing representing an adopted country in International Sport, but the Lions does sort of feel a bit different. Hansen playing against his nationality is the really daft one, but I guess it's not the first time he's done it.

You know Hansen is Irish by birth right? I’m a bit offended by the implication that my London-born niece and nephew aren’t ‘really’ Irish.

 

[Burgey]

Genuine question for RahRah lovers. Why are the Lions even a thing, and why such a big thing?

Like, if Aus, SA, NZ and Argentina put together a combined outfit, it might be a bit of a giggle as an exhibition series but that would be it. Why the importance of what is a combo side of four test playing countries? I truly don't get it outside of being like an All Star game equivalent.

 

[Uppercut]

Genuine question for RahRah lovers. Why are the Lions even a thing, and why such a big thing?

Like, if Aus, SA, NZ and Argentina put together a combined outfit, it might be a bit of a giggle as an exhibition series but that would be it. Why the importance of what is a combo side of four test playing countries? I truly don't get it outside of being like an All Star game equivalent.

I think it’s just because it has so much history behind it. It means a lot to the players involved and spectators take their lead from that.

If they were only suggesting it now I imagine people would find the idea tacky.

 

[Ali TT]

I think it’s just because it has so much history behind it. It means a lot to the players involved and spectators take their lead from that.

If they were only suggesting it now I imagine people would find the idea tacky.

Yeah, agree. It's an anachronism but we don't need to get rid of anachronisms for the sake of it.

 

[ripper868]

It's the history of it, and that every 4 years you get to go on a ****ing great bender with blokes you usually bash **** out of during the 6 nations to (try) bash **** out of the former colonies.

It's probably the 'peak' team that the home nations players can be selected to in their careers, bit like SOO in league, except it only comes along every 4 years.

It's a big deal for the players of Aus, Nz and RSA as you'll probably only get to play against them once in your career, as they only tour your country every 12 years. It's very rare you get 2 cracks at them.

Plus, it's a massive booze up for the touring fans, a huge economy boost for the toured country, and just a jolly good show.

Outside of the World Cup, it's probably the biggest rugby event.

 

[Chin Music]

I think a tour to Argentina would be banging. I've visited the country once albeit to BA and the southern Andes. They do like their rugby tradition in Argentina too.

PS, I said on the first page that I didn't think too much of southern Hemisphere origin players getting picked for the Lions. No problem with them playing for the countries of their choice if that's what they wish to do, but I didn't think it is right that they play for the Select XV.

And one of the greatest ever Lions certainly thinks this is wrong.
British & Irish Lions: Willie John McBride 'bothered' by foreign-born players : Planet Rugby

 

[BoyBrumby]

"Tradition" is likely the correct answer, yeah.

It's the last of the great tours in any commonwealth(ish) sport now, isn't it? In League we barely even get an Ashes nowadays (literally can't remember when the last one was), never mind any tour games against clubs/county select XIIIs; in cricket the most we get is a couple of hit'n'giggles as warm ups against scratch XIs that, often as not, aren't even first class games.

There's also partly the idea of the home nations banding together to face insurmountable odds, although tours to NZ or RSA likely fit that narrative slightly better than tours to Oz do, notwithstanding the upturn in the Wobblies' fortunes since Schmidt took over.

In the games versus provincial teams (especially before blanket TV coverage) the Lions were often taking their lives in their hands in a very literal way. Lol Dallaglio's back bears witness to the enthusiasm yer Saffers have for rucking:

 

[Molehill]

You know Hansen is Irish by birth right? I’m a bit offended by the implication that my London-born niece and nephew aren’t ‘really’ Irish.

Born in Canberra and even played for Aus U20's. It seems he didn't decide he was Irish until he was about 24....have your niece and nephew committed to a country yet?

 

[Uppercut]

Born in Canberra and even played for Aus U20's. It seems he didn't decide he was Irish until he was about 24....have your niece and nephew committed to a country yet?

They’re qualified to play for England, Mexico, and Ireland. AFAIC anyone who tries to tell them they’re not really any one of those nationalities, for any reason, can go **** themselves.

 

[Molehill]

They’re qualified to play for England, Mexico, and Ireland. AFAIC anyone who tries to tell them they’re not really any one of those nationalities, for any reason, can go **** themselves.

I'm not telling them they're one thing or another. But seems like Hansen decided he was an Aussie until it wasn't ideal for him to be one.

 

[BoyBrumby]

They’re qualified to play for England, Mexico, and Ireland. AFAIC anyone who tries to tell them they’re not really any one of those nationalities, for any reason, can go **** themselves.

Fair enough, but there's Irish and there's Irish, isn't there?

Legally speaking I'm Irish, hold the passport and everything, but I couldn't with a straight face claim to be as culturally Irish as someone who was born and raised there.