British and Irish Lions Tour 2025 - Australia

Arthur Wedge

Arthur Wedge

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So today is the day the Squad is announced

Don’t think there will be too many surprises

Will be dominated by Irish players with a good mix of English and Scottish as well - tough to see too many Welsh there but Tomas Williams should go

Don’t be surprised if Owen Farrell does go

Pollock got himself on the plane at the weekend

Captaincy - depends on Doris injury , if he is fit he will get if not then prob Itodje

www.bbc.co.uk

British and Irish Lions: Squad selection issues before announcement

BBC Sport pundits analyse the conundrums Andy Farrell and his staff will be chewing over with the British and Irish Lions squad poised to be announced.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Schedule

www.lionsrugby.com

2025 Tour Fixture List - The British & Irish Lions Website

www.lionsrugby.com www.lionsrugby.com
 
I think Pollock will be classed as a surprise - was unknown at the start of the season but fully deserves a seat, maybe not for the test side but certainly in the Wednesday squad.
 
Neilds said:
I think Pollock will be classed as a surprise - was unknown at the start of the season but fully deserves a seat, maybe not for the test side but certainly in the Wednesday squad.
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I agree and who knows if he continues to impress could well a place on a test bench. I am not sure I'd play him in a test side - would you?
 
Neilds said:
I think Pollock will be classed as a surprise - was unknown at the start of the season but fully deserves a seat, maybe not for the test side but certainly in the Wednesday squad.
Click to expand...

Yeah in years gone by if the prem wasn’t as televised you wouldn’t have seen Pollock play so would see him being a surprise when announced but anyone who has seen him play won’t be surprised

Also can see him certainly forcing his way onto the test bench
 
It will be an interesting announcement - will it be quite as Irish heavy as some have suggested or will Farrell be painfully aware of the start of a sticky slope? will Scotland's attacking players be given fair consideration or tarred with the failure of their pack? Will Farrell A want Farrell O as a loyal lieutenant? What about the French players in general - will Willis, Kinghorn and Sinckler make the trip?

For me, Itoje has to captain. He has risen to the job where Doris has somewhat shrunk from it, and is one of the few absolute definites in the side.
 
Doris being injured has cleared the way for Itoje to captain. Fynn Smith must be nailed on fur a fly half spit, not sure how the Sexton/Russell relationship will impact but if Prendegast goes that hints at Irish development over Lions success. Owen Farrell is a possible due to covering 12 but I would like to see George Ford given another tour, he is on top form. Pollock offers something different but the challenge is that the options at back row are strong. Honestly do not see the France based players being selected as they need club permission and their season finishes very late.

The interesting one will be if any risks are taken on the currently injured players, at least 3 or 4 prospects are currently on the treatment bench.
 
Also need to wonder if politics will be involved. There are maybe 4 Welsh players who are in consideration but they are pushing it to be considered 3rd choice in their positions. Is there any push to have a level of Welsh representation beyond probably Jack Morgan
 
GB72 said:
Also need to wonder if politics will be involved. There are maybe 4 Welsh players who are in consideration but they are pushing it to be considered 3rd choice in their positions. Is there any push to have a level of Welsh representation beyond probably Jack Morgan
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Tomas Williams I think should go

Maybe Murray for one of the wings

Gareth Thomas ? Tompkins ?

But it’s a stretch
 
Arthur Wedge said:
Tomas Williams I think should go

Maybe Murray for one of the wings

Gareth Thomas ? Tompkins ?

But it’s a stretch
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Nicky Smith a possibility. Tomas Williams or Dewi Lake also but not many choices. Not many would be high on the list of choices but I can see pressure to take at least 3 or 4 so as all of the unions have an interest
 
The worst years of Scottish rugby they got 2 or 3 so I would imagine minimum of two. Problem is, their three best bets are in three of the best resourced parts of the field.
 
Always interesting to see how the team you predict to play the tests differs to the actual one as the tour unfolds.

Regarding Welsh representation. I'd imagine 5 or 6 at most are under serious consideration. Of those a couple are playing in stacked positions so would be fortunate to get the call. Murray may go if Kinghorn's club commitments are deemed too much of a risk. 2 in the initial squad for me (Morgan and one other). A few will end up travelling as injury replacements I'd guess (Tomos Williams, Lake, Jenkins perhaps)

Love the Lions tour. Last one didn't quite feel the same. Would love to go on one at some point. Seems to be going the way of the top courses now though and becoming very pricey
 
I went to Australia 12 years ago, it was a great experience but even then it was a lot of money and took over the whole summer. I looked at the prices once for this year and thought, yeah but no.

Looking at the Welsh calls, I think there are good arguments for five to be on a long list - Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake. If there is reluctance around the French contingent then Williams goes ahead of Ben White (he arguably does on merit anyway - Mitchell just might get a bump from being Fin Smith's preferred foil), and Morgan would be very unlucky if he were to miss out, though our options on the flank are extensive (Two Currys, Earl, Pollock, Underhill, Van Der Flier, Mahoney, Darge, Watson as well as hybrids in Chessum, Lawes and the Irish lad whose name escapes me). If one of them misses out, I'd expect Smith or Faletau, who play in less stacked positions, to get the rub to make up a contingent.
 
Grizzly said:
I went to Australia 12 years ago, it was a great experience but even then it was a lot of money and took over the whole summer. I looked at the prices once for this year and thought, yeah but no.

Looking at the Welsh calls, I think there are good arguments for five to be on a long list - Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake. If there is reluctance around the French contingent then Williams goes ahead of Ben White (he arguably does on merit anyway - Mitchell just might get a bump from being Fin Smith's preferred foil), and Morgan would be very unlucky if he were to miss out, though our options on the flank are extensive (Two Currys, Earl, Pollock, Underhill, Van Der Flier, Mahoney, Darge, Watson as well as hybrids in Chessum, Lawes and the Irish lad whose name escapes me). If one of them misses out, I'd expect Smith or Faletau, who play in less stacked positions, to get the rub to make up a contingent.
Click to expand...
Could be worse, could be like the first tour in 1888 - They played 19 games in New Zealand, 16 in Australia, and then played another 19 matches of Victorian Rules - Aussie Rules, in effect. Fifty-four contests for just more than 20 players on a tour that lasted 249 days. This included sailing there and back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cy0x076gd9lo
 
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