RugbyRebels

Thought Faz would be a shoe-in for Vegas / New Zealand in four years time, following a efficient and controlled series whitewash against a supposedly inferior host, but that's probably been blown off course a bit in Sydney today as some failings were exposed.
He later lauded his relatively young coaching team, and positive things have been said about work of the 45-strong backroom team such as.Charlotte Gibbons and Aled Walters.

He may decline an offer of course, but arguably the greatest challenge awaits ( and of course a customary gong for continued great service to the game !.. )

It will depend very much on 2027, I think. Ireland could suffer from an aging team and an inflexible and dogmagic coach, and see wnother quarter final exit - if that were to be combined with Surely Bornwinner's grand plan coming off and England getting a gold or silver medal, then it sould be hard to justify sticking over twisting.

Puja

Galfon wrote: ↑Sat Aug 02, 2025 11:51 pm Thought Faz would be a shoe-in for Vegas / New Zealand in four years time, following a efficient and controlled series whitewash against a supposedly inferior host, but that's probably been blown off course a bit in Sydney today as some failings were exposed.
He later lauded his reatively young coaching team, and positive things have been said about work of the 45-strong backroom team such as.Charlotte Gibbons and Aled Walters.

He may decline an offer of course, but arguably the greatest challenge awaits ( and of course a customary gong for continued great service to the game !.. )

In pure terms the tour was a success, the lions won the test series and only lost two games, one the pre- tour game v Argentina and the final test v Aus once the test series was already won. The tour appears to have gone smoothly with little rancor. Even Farrell Jr being parachuted in has caused few ripples outside of forums such as these. That would sure surely put Farrell sr in pole position.

You'd hope though those making the decisions would look at it in context. Scratchy performances that still led to 40-50 point wins hardly showed a deep quality of opposition and once Australia got their act together, the lions didn't look like a team of " best of the best" I cabt imaging NZ opponents beingbsi accommodating. Plus Farrell will have to make a new generation of Irish players as good as the current crop have been if he's to do something similar and pick a largely Irish centred squad that he knows and trusts.

I wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

As for the customary gong, what's the best for a double Farrell knighthood in the new years honours?

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:12 am..
I wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

As for the customary gong, what's the best for a double Farrell knighthood in the new years honours?

Forgot SE was a Coach in an earlier tour under Geech, with his pal Warren G.and agree it was a pity his French connection was an obstacle this time.
('Double Farrell' sounds lethal, but reckon jnr. would need to work on his bee-keeping or organic farming alongside more charity work to better his chances in the time being )

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 12:28 am It will depend very much on 2027, I think. Ireland could suffer from an aging team and an inflexible and dogmagic coach, and see wnother quarter final exit - if that were to be combined with Surely Bornwinner's grand plan coming off and England getting a gold or silver medal, then it sould be hard to justify sticking over twisting.

Puja

How Farrell manages the generational transition will be important. Ireland looked tired this year. They struggled against a terrible wales team and France butchered them. It wasn’t their best event.

You sense there has to be a shake up before the next RWC and if Farrell manages it then he has to be in pole position to take on the All Blacks, which I think would be a mistake.

Dogmagic has to be a winner surely?

qed..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2wqp1n5w7o

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:12 amI wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

I could get behind the idea of having a neutral coach, but I'm not sure about Edwards who has always been better as a specialist coach rather than being the main man.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 2:01 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:12 amI wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

I could get behind the idea of having a neutral coach, but I'm not sure about Edwards who has always been better as a specialist coach rather than being the main man.

Puja

Maybe, but even having someone like Edwards, with no recent affiliation to a Lions nation, in the coaching team in some capacity might be useful as a devil's advocate for close calls which might be swayed purely by familiarity.

Of course, one difference to Farrell Sr 2029 Lions is what he does afterwards. After this tour he'll be back as Ireland coach, and despite everyone saying what a pragmatic, no- nonsense type he is, he'd be mad not to consider how his decisions might affect his day job. Winning the test series would have be the priority, but keeping the players and public back in Ireland on side doesnt do any harm. After 2029 he may not return to Ireland, so might not feel constrained by keeping his regular charges happy.

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:07 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 2:01 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:12 amI wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

I could get behind the idea of having a neutral coach, but I'm not sure about Edwards who has always been better as a specialist coach rather than being the main man.

Puja

Maybe, but even having someone like Edwards, with no recent affiliation to a Lions nation, in the coaching team in some capacity might be useful as a devil's advocate for close calls which might be swayed purely by familiarity.

Of course, one difference to Farrell Sr 2029 Lions is what he does afterwards. After this tour he'll be back as Ireland coach, and despite everyone saying what a pragmatic, no- nonsense type he is, he'd be mad not to consider how his decisions might affect his day job. Winning the test series would have be the priority, but keeping the players and public back in Ireland on side doesnt do any harm. After 2029 he may not return to Ireland, so might not feel constrained by keeping his regular charges happy.

Henry lost the welsh changing room after his lions stint, so it’s a fair point to consider.

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 12:28 am It will depend very much on 2027, I think. Ireland could suffer from an aging team...

Puja

Bit surprised to see just about half the 45-man squad were 30 or over, with Aki the most senior at 35 ( hence presumably Chief Judge etc.. )
The age-ceiling this time seemed to be 33 with 5 Test players at that age - Beirne, Conan, Gibson-Park, Lowe and Farrell.
with Furlong and Russell near at 32.
With this as a marker therefore for 2029, we may be saying "Valete" to the following ( all else being equal ) :

>> Bealham, Beirne, Conan, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Genge, George, Itoje, Schoeman, Sutherland, Van der Flier.
>> Aki, Daly, Farrell, Gibson-Park, Graham, Jones, Lowe, Ringrose, Russell, Van der Merwe, Williams..

though Itoje, Russell and Genge may have other ideas.

Itoje is on track to be the first pro drawing his state pension while still playing. Absolute machine.

Alun Wyn?

Didn't even make it to a midlife crisis

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:07 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 2:01 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:12 amI wonder if someone like Shaun Edwards would be good to ne involved. His France contract expires in 2027, so would have 2 years to plan. He would have huge international experience but wouldn't be able to pick any of the players from his current team, and would still see B&I players close up. Yes, he has Wales links but those will be long gone by 2029 (unless he returns to Wales in some capacity after France). He could provide a balance to the natural urge of picking players familiar to the head coach.

I could get behind the idea of having a neutral coach, but I'm not sure about Edwards who has always been better as a specialist coach rather than being the main man.

Puja

Maybe, but even having someone like Edwards, with no recent affiliation to a Lions nation, in the coaching team in some capacity might be useful as a devil's advocate for close calls which might be swayed purely by familiarity.

Of course, one difference to Farrell Sr 2029 Lions is what he does afterwards. After this tour he'll be back as Ireland coach, and despite everyone saying what a pragmatic, no- nonsense type he is, he'd be mad not to consider how his decisions might affect his day job. Winning the test series would have be the priority, but keeping the players and public back in Ireland on side doesnt do any harm. After 2029 he may not return to Ireland, so might not feel constrained by keeping his regular charges happy.

Very solid point.

You know who would be perfect? Joe Schmidt. He's likely going to take short-term peripatetic jobs over the next 4 years while looking after his family, but the next tour is New Zealand, so he would only have to spend some time away for the scouting and meetings and the actual tour could be spent without much travelling. We know he's expert at getting results from a group in a short period of time, he's familiar with the machinations of the NH club scene, he's experienced at working with NH players - if he's willing, we should be booking him now.

We won't, cause King Farrell still reigns, but we should.

Puja

Try picking some specialist, wrecking ball no.8s for staters - Farrell Senior had more than one to choose from and looked the other way - I know they only have one loose forward in rugby league but JEEZ!