RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:43 am 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 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:07 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:43 am 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 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:20 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:07 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:43 am 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 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:42 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:20 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:07 pm

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

Cameo wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:35 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:42 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:20 pm

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.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:21 pm 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.

Banquo wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:25 am Cue Owen Farrell wouldn’t miss those conversions

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:26 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:25 am Cue Owen Farrell wouldn’t miss those conversions

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

Stom wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:34 am 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.