Lions v AUNZ

[Banquo]

If Ringrose and Kinghorn are out I'd go with:
Genge
Sheehan
Furlong
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum - line out is going to be important imo.
Morgan
Earl
JGP
Russell
Lowe
Huwipulotu
Freeman
Keenan

Kelleher,
Porter, Stuart (although Schoeman and Bealham are much of a muchness with them)
Cummings
Pollock
White (but it will be Mitchell)
MSmith
Aki

Ringrose and Kinghorn being out causes a bit of a pickle for the last two spots.. Given Finn won't be leaving the pitch bar injury I think MSmith covering 15 and Aki with Jones able to cover wing is maybe what they'll need to do.

You’d trust Marcus if Finn went off injured??

If Finn gets injured i don't think.the Lions win the series.uù

But they have little flexibility given the injuries. They could bench Fin but then they'd be relying on Freeman to cover 15 and he's not had a run there on tour.

The players who have the most flexibility are injured or needed to wear the 13 jersey.

absolutely don't agree, plenty of stuff to work with if Russell is injured; Marcus Smith has barely played 10 on tour, and not with JGP as far as remember. Freeman can play 13 AND 15 pretty well btw. But I do agree there isn't an ideal solution, but I'd much rather Fin Smith backed up Russell than Marcus, who looks (unsurprisngly) down on confidence, or Farrell who doesn't deserve to be there (and has barely played in months)

[Cameo]

You’d trust Marcus if Finn went off injured??

If Finn gets injured i don't think.the Lions win the series.uù

But they have little flexibility given the injuries. They could bench Fin but then they'd be relying on Freeman to cover 15 and he's not had a run there on tour.

The players who have the most flexibility are injured or needed to wear the 13 jersey.

absolutely don't agree, plenty of stuff to work with if Russell is injured; Marcus Smith has barely played 10 on tour, and not with JGP as far as remember. Freeman can play 13 AND 15 pretty well btw. But I do agree there isn't an ideal solution, but I'd much rather Fin Smith backed up Russell than Marcus, who looks (unsurprisngly) down on confidence, or Farrell who doesn't deserve to be there (and has barely played in months)

I'm with you. If Finn got injured, the Lions' next best 10 will be better than anything Australia has to offer. Same if that one gets injured. To be honest, I think there are five players in the current squad who would probably start at 10 for Australia (Russell, Smith, Smith, Farrell, and Kinghorn).

If Farrell is the plan, then bizarre not to have had him out there, but let's not all jump to conclusions or catastrophise.

[Banquo]

If Finn gets injured i don't think.the Lions win the series.uù

But they have little flexibility given the injuries. They could bench Fin but then they'd be relying on Freeman to cover 15 and he's not had a run there on tour.

The players who have the most flexibility are injured or needed to wear the 13 jersey.

absolutely don't agree, plenty of stuff to work with if Russell is injured; Marcus Smith has barely played 10 on tour, and not with JGP as far as remember. Freeman can play 13 AND 15 pretty well btw. But I do agree there isn't an ideal solution, but I'd much rather Fin Smith backed up Russell than Marcus, who looks (unsurprisngly) down on confidence, or Farrell who doesn't deserve to be there (and has barely played in months)

but let's not all jump to conclusions or catastrophise.

what are you on about, this is the internet!!!

Lots of pundits are offering Farrell up, so it wouldn't be a surprise, but I'd hate it. Sure he'd do a job.

[R3dders]

If Ringrose and Kinghorn are out I'd go with:
Genge
Sheehan
Furlong
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum - line out is going to be important imo.
Morgan
Earl
JGP
Russell
Lowe
Huwipulotu
Freeman
Keenan

Kelleher,
Porter, Stuart (although Schoeman and Bealham are much of a muchness with them)
Cummings
Pollock
White (but it will be Mitchell)
MSmith
Aki

Ringrose and Kinghorn being out causes a bit of a pickle for the last two spots.. Given Finn won't be leaving the pitch bar injury I think MSmith covering 15 and Aki with Jones able to cover wing is maybe what they'll need to do.

You’d trust Marcus if Finn went off injured??

At 10? Why on earth not, it's like the AIs never happened.

[Banquo]

If Ringrose and Kinghorn are out I'd go with:
Genge
Sheehan
Furlong
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum - line out is going to be important imo.
Morgan
Earl
JGP
Russell
Lowe
Huwipulotu
Freeman
Keenan

Kelleher,
Porter, Stuart (although Schoeman and Bealham are much of a muchness with them)
Cummings
Pollock
White (but it will be Mitchell)
MSmith
Aki

Ringrose and Kinghorn being out causes a bit of a pickle for the last two spots.. Given Finn won't be leaving the pitch bar injury I think MSmith covering 15 and Aki with Jones able to cover wing is maybe what they'll need to do.

You’d trust Marcus if Finn went off injured??

At 10? Why on earth not, it's like the AIs never happened.

Because his confidence is pretty low and he’s hardly played 10 on tour. Plus we lost 3 of those games
He’s a huge talent to be clear but he’s lost his way and has looked mainly poor this tour.

[Spiffy]

Even before the tour, Marcus was screwed around by England. Much as the very good Jack Crowley was by Ireland, and did not make the trip.

[Which Tyler]

AUNZ were a very good team of individuals, unaccustomed to playing together - much like the Lions (who've now had a month together).

If we take anything away from it, it should be how difficult it is to mould a scratch team into coherence to take on any actual established, international level team (see also Argentina, but hopefully not Australia next week).