Lions v AUNZ

[pompey-zebra]

British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; F Smith, White; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Ryan, Beirne (c), Pollock, Morgan, Earl

Replacements; Kelleher, Porter, Bealham, Cummings, Van der Flier, Mitchell, M Smith, Farrell

[Banquo]

Looks a tad second team to me though I’d say 7 12 13 11-15 still up for grabs.

[BaldiePete]

Tasty backs but the bench selection for the backs is seriously fucked. Who is covering wing? I think Jones might have had a few games at wing when he was playing in South Africa nine years ago but that’s it. I thought Cummings did enough in his last match to merit a start, but that could be Scottish bias. There should be no complaints about back row speed for this one.

[Oakboy]

If the numbering of the 23 means anything, we have Pollock at 6, Marcus at 22 and Farrell at 23. I'd normally see Pollock as a 7/8 so is Morgan the likely test starter at 7?

The backs bench numbering hints at Marcus being the replacement FH and Farrell the IC. Odd, when we know Marcus will only get game time at FB.

[Mikey Brown]

I think there’s a slightly odd mix here of guys still auditioning for a starting spot in the first test (Morgan, centres) and those practicing their (near enough) confirmed bench spots (Porter, Mitchell, potentially all those others) in the first test.

I too thought Cummings leapt ahead of Ryan and Beirne with his performance last week, so maybe he’s in the latter camp, but I see why Farrell would want every chance of getting a lock the quality of Beirne back up to speed.

So not an obvious midweek side necessarily and Farrell still keeping his cards relatively close, I would say.

The Smith and Faz senior situation on the bench is odd, yes. Would be very interesting if Fin Smith needed to come off early for any reason.

[Banquo]

I think there’s a slightly odd mix here of guys still auditioning for a starting spot in the first test (Morgan, centres) and those practicing their (near enough) confirmed bench spots (Porter, Mitchell, potentially all those others) in the first test.

I too thought Cummings leapt ahead of Ryan and Beirne with his performance last week, so maybe he’s in the latter camp, but I see why Farrell would want every chance of getting a lock the quality of Beirne back up to speed.

So not an obvious midweek side necessarily and Farrell still keeping his cards relatively close, I would say.

The Smith and Faz senior situation on the bench is odd, yes. Would be very interesting if Fin Smith needed to come off early for any reason.

Last game before the test, not ideal to still be so many positions up for grabs tbh. Faz and Marcus on the bench is logical but weird

[Mikey Brown]

I think there’s a slightly odd mix here of guys still auditioning for a starting spot in the first test (Morgan, centres) and those practicing their (near enough) confirmed bench spots (Porter, Mitchell, potentially all those others) in the first test.

I too thought Cummings leapt ahead of Ryan and Beirne with his performance last week, so maybe he’s in the latter camp, but I see why Farrell would want every chance of getting a lock the quality of Beirne back up to speed.

So not an obvious midweek side necessarily and Farrell still keeping his cards relatively close, I would say.

The Smith and Faz senior situation on the bench is odd, yes. Would be very interesting if Fin Smith needed to come off early for any reason.

Last game before the test, not ideal to still be so many positions up for grabs tbh. Faz and Marcus on the bench is logical but weird

I get your point, but I wouldn't really say it's "so many positions" that are up for grabs anyway. There's some debate on the bench and a couple of 50/50s in the starting team. Surely you still want that fight and competition going in to the last warmup. I don't think it's that practical to have been playing your full test team multiple times already, or at least I trust Farrell's judgement of it.

Didn't do himself any favours with the number of semi-injured/unavailable players brought on tour though.

[Banquo]

I think there’s a slightly odd mix here of guys still auditioning for a starting spot in the first test (Morgan, centres) and those practicing their (near enough) confirmed bench spots (Porter, Mitchell, potentially all those others) in the first test.

I too thought Cummings leapt ahead of Ryan and Beirne with his performance last week, so maybe he’s in the latter camp, but I see why Farrell would want every chance of getting a lock the quality of Beirne back up to speed.

So not an obvious midweek side necessarily and Farrell still keeping his cards relatively close, I would say.

The Smith and Faz senior situation on the bench is odd, yes. Would be very interesting if Fin Smith needed to come off early for any reason.

Last game before the test, not ideal to still be so many positions up for grabs tbh. Faz and Marcus on the bench is logical but weird

I get your point, but I wouldn't really say it's "so many positions" that are up for grabs anyway. There's some debate on the bench and a couple of 50/50s in the starting team. Surely you still want that fight and competition going in to the last warmup. I don't think it's that practical to have been playing your full test team multiple times already, or at least I trust Farrell's judgement of it.

Didn't do himself any favours with the number of semi-injured/unavailable players brought on tour though.

I think back row midfield and back three and thus bench far from clear. So a lot.
Competition yes, but different to a national squad, familiarity etc

[Lizard]

Only 8 All Blacks in the AUNZ squad, and not necessarily great ones:

AUNZ Invitational XV squad:
Aidan Ross, AJ Lam, Angus Blyth, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Daniel Botha, Darby Lancaster, David Havili, Folau Fakatava, George Dyer, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Hoskins Sotutu, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jock Campbell, Joe Brial, Joey Walton, Joshua Fusitu’a, Kalani Thomas, Kurt Eklund, Lachlan Anderson, Lukhan Salakai-Loto, Mac Grealy, Marika Koroibete, Matt Philip, Ngani Laumape, Pete Samu, Richie Asiata, Seru Uru, Shannon Frizell, Shaun Stevenson, Tane Edmed.

[Cameo]

AUNZ XV: S Stevenson; A Lam, N Laumape, D Havili, M Koroibete; T Edmed, F Fakatava; A Ross, B Paenga-Amosa, J Toomaga-Allen, A Blyth, L Salakaia-Loto, S Frizel, P Samu, H Sotutu. Subs: K Eklund, J Fusitu’a, G Dyer, M Philip, J Brial, K Thomas, H McLaughlin-Phillips, J Campbell.

Player for played that is comfortably the best team the Lions have faced, since Argentina at least. Lacking a bit at 10 (I think originally they wanted Mounga), but elsewhere pretty strong.

Obviously cohesion is likely to be an issue.

[Mikey Brown]

Yes I heard Mo’Unga was due in but got injured. That would have been some team.

A real abrasive test in the backrow.

Is Samu currently in the picture for Aus? He’s been a wrecking ball for Bordeaux and will surely have a point to prove if he isn’t already.

Dunno about Laumape at 13 but with him and Koriobete that’s a fair bit of firepower in the backs too.

[Cameo]

Last game before the test, not ideal to still be so many positions up for grabs tbh. Faz and Marcus on the bench is logical but weird

I get your point, but I wouldn't really say it's "so many positions" that are up for grabs anyway. There's some debate on the bench and a couple of 50/50s in the starting team. Surely you still want that fight and competition going in to the last warmup. I don't think it's that practical to have been playing your full test team multiple times already, or at least I trust Farrell's judgement of it.

Didn't do himself any favours with the number of semi-injured/unavailable players brought on tour though.

I think back row midfield and back three and thus bench far from clear. So a lot.
Competition yes, but different to a national squad, familiarity etc

Are we not kidding ourselves a bit here. I would love there to be competition in all those positions but I am not sure there is. I suspect that Farrell has known his preferred options for a couple of weeks now (if not since before the tour in most positions). Cue outrage etc., but I'm not sure I've changed my mind on more than a couple of positions for months.

I'd say the only two questions are probably:

- who starts at 7?
- is Kinghorn fit or, if not, is Keenan fit?

Would love to be wrong and Tuipulotu and Jones storm through to be starting centres.

[Banquo]

I get your point, but I wouldn't really say it's "so many positions" that are up for grabs anyway. There's some debate on the bench and a couple of 50/50s in the starting team. Surely you still want that fight and competition going in to the last warmup. I don't think it's that practical to have been playing your full test team multiple times already, or at least I trust Farrell's judgement of it.

Didn't do himself any favours with the number of semi-injured/unavailable players brought on tour though.

I think back row midfield and back three and thus bench far from clear. So a lot.
Competition yes, but different to a national squad, familiarity etc

Are we not kidding ourselves a bit here. I would love there to be competition in all those positions but I am not sure there is. I suspect that Farrell has known his preferred options for a couple of weeks now (if not since before the tour in most positions). Cue outrage etc., but I'm not sure I've changed my mind on more than a couple of positions for months.

I'd say the only two questions are probably:

- who starts at 7?
- is Kinghorn fit or, if not, is Keenan fit?

Would love to be wrong and Tuipulotu and Jones storm through to be starting centres.

I think the front 5 has nailed itself on, though definitely doubts at 1 and 5 before they went off imo; Chessum would not have been his starting 6 imo, but for Beirne and Curry not going so well and also the issues we've had at the breakdown....which knocks on to 7, which again has to be up for grabs. 9,10 done deal, yes. He did have a look at Aki and Tuipulotu, but that looked wrong; I'd think as you say he may revert to the Irish centres but familiarity with Russell isn't easy. Back three is very much up for grabs imo, not least because of injury.

[Lizard]

Yes I heard Mo’Unga was due in but got injured. That would have been some team.

A real abrasive test in the backrow.

Is Samu currently in the picture for Aus? He’s been a wrecking ball for Bordeaux and will surely have a point to prove if he isn’t already.

Dunno about Laumape at 13 but with him and Koriobete that’s a fair bit of firepower in the backs too.

Yeah, Laumape hasn’t played a test for 5 years…

[Which Tyler]

What's the sweepstake on which minute Farrell puts in a high / no-arms tackle?
And how hard the officials will look for mitigation?

[twitchy]

Too hot to be watching rugby.

[Banquo]

Aunz aren’t very good, much worse than tahs etc. we are playing much more structured tho

[Banquo]

Cue Owen Farrell wouldn’t miss those conversions

[Banquo]

Back to back pens again.
They are right that their back row is sooo much bigger than ours.

[Which Tyler]

Cue Owen Farrell wouldn’t miss those conversions

Or if he did, he'd nail the next one, which makes it all okay

[Banquo]

Cue Owen Farrell wouldn’t miss those conversions

Or if he did, he'd nail the next one, which makes it all okay

With you this time!

[Banquo]

What’s up with Beirne, bad pen bad decision making and looks so off the pace? Shame, in top nick, class.

[Stom]

I know he's got 2 tries, but every time I see DvdM, I just think he's not good enough.

And as much as many of us thought Beirne would be nailed on, he just looks completely off the pace.

IMO, Jones is looking very good.

[Banquo]

I’d love to think this midfield could be as effective v Aus, but I fear Aunz defence is just shit

[Banquo]

I know he's got 2 tries, but every time I see DvdM, I just think he's not good enough.

And as much as many of us thought Beirne would be nailed on, he just looks completely off the pace.

IMO, Jones is looking very good.

Agreed, agreed and agreed tho oppo are helping him! I’d quite like the Scottish midfield to start anyway