Lions Tour 2025

[Homer]

To be fair it is starting to look like a cluster f**k. Team thrown together, lacking real talent and given three training sessions together to take on the lions. Sort of like those club rugby Baa Baa teams they throw at the Australian U21 teams.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Quite a few kiwis now available that missed out with a point to prove.

Blackadder, Tele'a, Papali'i, Havili, Sotutu, would be great to see them in there mixed with some fringe wallabies players and some overseas players.

 

[Strewthcobber]

To be fair it is starting to look like a cluster f**k. Team thrown together, lacking real talent and given three training sessions together to take on the lions. Sort of like those club rugby Baa Baa teams they throw at the Australian U21 teams.

It's an exhibition game, like hundreds of similar games in the history of rugby union.

I can't understand why anyone thought this was ever going to be anything other than a bit of fun for players not selected for anything else

 

[Wilson]

Looking at the schedule it's basically going to be an Australia A game with the Brumbies players replaced with Kiwis. I imagine that means they have a much better idea of the bulk of the side internally, with just that kiwi availability remaining to see who they can slot in where. Given how strong ticket sales have been across the tour I don't think it matters much that they haven't announced who's playing yet either.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Bit of history for the previous ANZAC game in 1989. While it was a pretty good and close game, the concept itself was a bit of a flop, which is probably why it has never been repeated..

The Anzac XV was supposed to be a Barbarian-style side combining large numbers of All Blacks and Wallabies but, in the end, the New Zealanders refused to fully support the concept.

A total of 12 All Blacks dropped out of the squad and only one of the three who did turn up was a current international.

 

[Spamnoodle]

Bit of history for the previous ANZAC game in 1989. While it was a pretty good and close game, the concept itself was a bit of a flop, which is probably why it has never been repeated..

In 1989 everyone had to hold down a real job to be able to afford to play rugby. It was most likely lambing season in NZ.

 

[Strewthcobber]

In 1989 everyone had to hold down a real job to be able to afford to play rugby. It was most likely lambing season in NZ.

It was because the ANZAC game fell on the spare weekend between two test against Argentina. The Bled was then the week after

 

[Spamnoodle]

It was because the ANZAC game fell on the spare weekend between two test against Argentina. The Bled was then the week after

Well there's your answer, it's hardly a similar scenario this time around.

 

[rugbyAU]

Lions warn Rugby Australia about breaking 'agreement' by resting Wallabies stars

The British and Irish Lions have no interest playing against anything but full-strength line-ups in their lead-up to the first Test against the Wallabies in July.

www.abc.net.au

 

[John S]

To me that reads the BIL see themselves as a more important match than Aus v Fiji. I get them wanting to play the best team they can, but surely RA can want to put best team for an international match onto the pitch.

Or am I reading too much into it?

 

[Adam84]

Well the shit kicking off in the Middle East might impact on barmy army tour numbers, flights getting cancelled and I’d expect a few Poms reconsidering their plans if it needs to go via Qatar/UAE

 

[Wilson]

Well the shit kicking off in the Middle East might impact on barmy army tour numbers, flights getting cancelled and I’d expect a few Poms reconsidering their plans if it needs to go via Qatar/UAE

I wonder if any British or Irish players have booked holidays for Australia just in case there's a late squad call up. Wouldn't be the first time they've called in players in the region on short notice and it'll be even more likely if last minute flights are tricky to organise.

There aren't many kicking around super rugby right now - Adamson is the only one I'm aware of, though there are technically eligible ones like Lambert, Dolly and Sotutu, I'm not sure what lions selection would otherwise mean for they're eligibility. I imagine the handful of so in Japan also come into consideration.

 

[Wilson]

Barbarians squad to face the Springboks has been announced, feels like the Kiwis (in bold) included are a good indication of those we could call up for the Au Nz game:

Barbarians squad
Forwards: Josh Beehre, Ricky Riccitelli, Hoskins Sotutu (all Blues), Cian Healy (Leinster), Will Collier (Castres), Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92), Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais), Camille Chat (Lyon), David Ribbans (Toulon), Ruben van Herdeen (Stormers), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Sam Cane (Tokyo Sungoliath), Shannon Frizell (Toshiba), Lachlan Boshier (Wild Knights)

Backs: Melvyn Jaminet, Leicester Faingaʻanuku (both Toulon), Tawera Kerr Barlow (La Rochelle), Santiago Arata Perrone (Castres), Josh Jacomb (Chiefs), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes), Mark Telea (Blues), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)

The New Zealand based ones are probably the most likely, followed by the Japanese and then the French.

Also, Paul Alo-Emile might make for a good inclusion in the Pasifika/Indigenous game, if it's workable with Stade.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lions warn Rugby Australia about breaking 'agreement' by resting Wallabies stars

The British and Irish Lions have no interest playing against anything but full-strength line-ups in their lead-up to the first Test against the Wallabies in July.

www.abc.net.au

Lick a bag Lions.

 

[WoodysRFC]

Barbarians squad to face the Springboks has been announced, feels like the Kiwis (in bold) included are a good indication of those we could call up for the Au Nz game:

The New Zealand based ones are probably the most likely, followed by the Japanese and then the French.

Also, Paul Alo-Emile might make for a good inclusion in the Pasifika/Indigenous game, if it's workable with Stade.

Some serious talent in there, past and upcoming ABs, could put a proper international standard team out between AU/NZ.

 

[rugbyAU]

the first group of players for the Pasifika/Indigenous team are set to be announced today

some of the players in the wider Wallabies squad that won't be selected for Fiji will also reportedly be released for the AUNZ game

 

[Adam84]

Wallabies icon Kurtley Beale and 21-cap back-rower Rob Leota are amongst the five players announced for the First Nations Pasifika Invitational XV squad to face the Lions on July 22.

They are joined by Reds backrower Seru Uru, Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble and Brumbies winger Andy Muirhead as part of the first group confirmed for the inaugural match.

Beale headlines first wave of players announced for First Nations Pasifika squad

Wallabies icon Kurtley Beale and 21-cap back-rower Rob Leota are amongst the five players announced for the First Nations Pasifika Invitational XV squad to face the Lions on July 22.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[JRugby2]

It's an exhibition game, like hundreds of similar games in the history of rugby union.

I can't understand why anyone thought this was ever going to be anything other than a bit of fun for players not selected for anything else

Because they told us from the start that it was going to be taken seriously.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Because they told us from the start that it was going to be taken seriously.

No team with "invitational" in its name is going to be taken very seriously, especially one inside the test window

 

[Heavyd]

Looks like Reds & Waratah games on track for sellouts. Force officials hoping for a late influx of ticket sales for a crowd of 40k which is a pretty good result. Still plenty of Brumbies tickets left but should pick up once the tours officially kicks off. Whoever scheduled that game to go up against the State of Origin decider should be shot.