Lions Tour 2025

[Strewthcobber]

I think tate should have the starting 9, hes dangerous around the ruck. Although if he goes on with 20 mins left he would be more dangerous as the Lions forwards are tired.

Cheers,
D.F

Go and watch the 1st and third (?) tries from the Hurricanes v Red's game two weeks ago and you'll see why Schmidt can't start McDermott.

Terrible exits from terrible box kicks directly result in tries. Test team can't afford it.

Love him coming on for 30 mins though

 

[Wilson]

Kerevi has just picked up Urayasu's player's player award for the season with 14 tries from 16 games. Not sure where he stands with Joe after the EOYT, but I don't think he could've put forward a much better case for selection in a one of our weaker positions this season.

 

[LeCheese]

Go and watch the 1st and third (?) tries from the Hurricanes v Red's game two weeks ago and you'll see why Schmidt can't start McDermott.

Terrible exits from terrible box kicks directly result in tries. Test team can't afford it.

Love him coming on for 30 mins though

The #TATEY4EIGHTY movement would like a word

 

[Dctarget]

Kerevi has just picked up Urayasu's player's player award for the season with 14 tries from 16 games. Not sure where he stands with Joe after the EOYT, but I don't think he could've put forward a much better case for selection in a one of our weaker positions this season.

View attachment 22247

That is exciting and won't hurt but I just scanned his teammates and it's not a premium team. Not many test players. He beat out Jasper Wiese, Folau and some brave Blossoms with a handful of caps.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Not many notes on this tbh - I reckon this is pretty close to the pin.

Can't see why they would have chased Samu home if not to include him.

Our THP depth is a concern. Those names scream "Penalty: Lions". Nongorr is a few years away - Tupou couldn't push in a straight line if he was attached to a string, Robertson is OK but just a rung below international rugby. Kids pools hold more water....

Tell me which LHPs have dominated, or even got yhe better of, Rhys Van Nek at scrum time this year. And he's as good as any getting over the line from a metre out.

 

[Dctarget]

Tell me which LHPs have dominated, or even got yhe better of, Rhys Van Nek at scrum time this year. And he's as good as any getting over the line from a metre out.

He should probably crack the Brumbies 23 first.

 

[drewprint]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKeKHsEz3fY/?img_index=2&igsh=dTZ0Z2ZoeDFxM3h5

Hooper explaining why he’s not putting his hand up for the AUNZ match. Geez he’s a good speaker, made for a life in the rugby media. Kind of the anti-Harrison.

 

[Ignoto]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKeKHsEz3fY/?img_index=2&igsh=dTZ0Z2ZoeDFxM3h5

Hooper explaining why he’s not putting his hand up for the AUNZ match. Geez he’s a good speaker, made for a life in the rugby media. Kind of the anti-Harrison.

Haaaaaahhhh Doran / The Roar have taken down his piece on this saying Hooper pulled out due to the shit show of it only coming together now.

Showpiece Lions match in danger of lacking star power after Test great pulls out, officials sweating on All Blacks star

The AUNZ Invitational match could be short of some serious firepower and household names after Wallabies great Michael Hooper turned down an invitation to…

web.archive.org

 

[Brumby Runner]

He should probably crack the Brumbies 23 first.

Hmmm. Would definitely help, but that's not to say his performances have ben in any way inferior to the other names being put forward.

 

[LeCheese]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKeKHsEz3fY/?img_index=2&igsh=dTZ0Z2ZoeDFxM3h5

Hooper explaining why he’s not putting his hand up for the AUNZ match. Geez he’s a good speaker, made for a life in the rugby media. Kind of the anti-Harrison.

Truly one of the great ambassadors of the game. Reflecting back on the discourse around the time of his big contract is pretty funny in hindsight.

It really is devastating that he didn't get his deserved sendoff - but part of me suspects that he would prefer it that way, anyway.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

good to hear Kerevi is in good form and injury free

a centre combo of Kerevi and Ikitau with JAS and Potter on the wings could be pretty devastating and provide a lot of threats especially with the 2 wingers chasing bombs out wide.

Kerevi would need to play the Fiji game to assess where he is at

 

[JRugby2]

Haaaaaahhhh Doran / The Roar have taken down his piece on this saying Hooper pulled out due to the shit show of it only coming together now.

Showpiece Lions match in danger of lacking star power after Test great pulls out, officials sweating on All Blacks star

The AUNZ Invitational match could be short of some serious firepower and household names after Wallabies great Michael Hooper turned down an invitation to…

web.archive.org

Maybe this was a part of the reasoning and fair enough too. It's the pinnacle non-test of the tour and an awesome PR opportunity to connect with fans across both sides of the ditch, particularly in adelaide. There should be player leaks and announcements, planted media coverage, the works and we are getting crickets. Ask Dutton what happens when you leave all your announcements to the last minute.

Apparently Drew Mitchell and Issy Dagg offered to be water boys for the game but were turned down cause they "wanted to take it seriously" - and fair enough but please, start doing something with this once in a decade chance please for fucks sake.

What do the kids say these days? Holyfknairball...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lonergan and Tate will be the pair for 2027 for sure.

Lonergan is a very good player but I have been impressed by Kalani Thomas this year and the leap he seems to have made.

Won't be surprised to see a guy like Teddy Wilson do similar over the next couple of years and a group of Tate, Thomas, Wilson, Gordon to just shade a consistent Lonergan. He may push into the top 3 but I just see the younger guys coming up have a higher ceiling.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Plus, Gordon (in a good side) can play - and we've got evidence of this from the Wallabies last year. He's not going to make a WXV anytime soon, but he's got a decent pass/kick and can do the job. Lonergan a smokey

Tate's main asset which is speed feels extra valuable off the bench. Gordon brings a running game as well so I like them as a pairing because the game plan doesn't have to shift with a change at 9 like it would with others.

Both buy time for our 10s because first defenders have to be locked on them and you find the second defender is also wary of the run threat giving the 10 that extra second which is huge.

 

[PhilClinton]

That is exciting and won't hurt but I just scanned his teammates and it's not a premium team. Not many test players. He beat out Jasper Wiese, Folau and some brave Blossoms with a handful of caps.

Yeh when I saw how many meat pies Kerevi had scored this season I was skeptical about the quality of the team.

He's always been a good attacking player, but I generally haven't seen him as a high volume try scorer, more a player who gets everyone on the front foot and can offload to setup the next phase of attack which hopefully results in points.

 

[Wilson]

Maybe this was a part of the reasoning and fair enough too. It's the pinnacle non-test of the tour and an awesome PR opportunity to connect with fans across both sides of the ditch, particularly in adelaide. There should be player leaks and announcements, planted media coverage, the works and we are getting crickets. Ask Dutton what happens when you leave all your announcements to the last minute.

It could be the reason for other players, but Hooper was asked this directly on inside line and he was unequivocal in saying it wasn't part of his reasoning.

 

[JRugby2]

It could be the reason for other players, but Hooper was asked this directly on inside line and he was unequivocal in saying it wasn't part of his reasoning.

Not like Christy to jump the gun...

 

[Dctarget]

Hooper's comments about needing 8+ weeks to get to test match fitness after playing in Japan has me questioning their league's standards and if Kerevi can seamlessly slot in. Was Hooper pounding more Asahis and onigiris than the Japan based Springboks do?

 

[Wilson]

Hooper's comments about needing 8+ weeks to get to test match fitness after playing in Japan has me questioning their league's standards and if Kerevi can seamlessly slot in. Was Hooper pounding more Asahis and onigiris than the Japan based Springboks do?

He kind of suggested he was (or at least that he hadn't shied away from them), but there's also the fact that he had to build back to fitness and didn't have a contract to go on to so didn't have any off season fitness plans. I think the thing with a guy like Hooper is that he's been so devoted to his fitness and preparation all career that it's mentally hard to turn that back on once you've taken a step away from it. I don't think he's the sort of guy who would feel comfortable phoning it in out there.

The idea with Kerevi would be to get him out asap and training with the squad, maybe even playing a bit of club with Fiji and the invitational games to bridge into the Lions tests. I think he's also off contract so it might be easier to work out if he's open to coming home and in negotiations.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He kind of suggested he was (or at least that he hadn't shied away from them), but there's also the fact that he had to build back to fitness and didn't have a contract to go on to so didn't have any off season fitness plans. I think the thing with a guy like Hooper is that he's been so devoted to his fitness and preparation all career that it's mentally hard to turn that back on once you've taken a step away from it. I don't think he's the sort of guy who would feel comfortable phoning it in out there.

The idea with Kerevi would be to get him out asap and training with the squad, maybe even playing a bit of club with Fiji and the invitational games to bridge into the Lions tests. I think he's also off contract so it might be easier to work out if he's open to coming home and in negotiations.

And to the standard he keeps for himself if it doesn't feel right, you cant do it.

I remember Adam Gilchrist talking about knowing exactly when he didn't have it or the same drive to perform at what was required and occupying a spot isn't the right thing to do.

He knows his body as well. He gave the 7s a crack and it couldn't keep up with what he asked of it which is understandable after 294 Super Rugby games/Tests in the backrow as a relatively undersized guy... He knows his body. Got 10 games for Verblitz to play over 300 pro games. Some player.