Waratahs v British & Irish Lions - Saturday, 5 July @ SFS

[Hogan]

With Edmed being drafted in by Schmidt to train with the Wallabies, surely it would make good sense to start him at 10 against the Lions. Bowen is a club player at best. Not that it’s going to make a difference to the overall result though I guess.

 

[FullContact]

maybe he is on the bench as punishment for signing with the Taxpayers XV for 2026

 

[Wilson]

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (c), Finlay Bealham, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith

Beirne named captain as British & Irish Lions name three debutants to face NSW Waratahs

www.rugby.com.au

 

[molman]

Fair rotation, though some players need to get some minutes to make their case. Marcus Smith for example hasn't clocked up many yet and will be itching to get on early. James Ryan will need to impress. Furlong has looked off his best, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes when he comes on.

Kinghorn I believe flew in the other day, so I'll be curious to see how he slots in, though the Scottish partnership of Jones and Tuipulotu will sure help.

This is a pretty dynamic lineup.

 

[molman]

If you've had Bowen running the show while Tane's been with the Wallabies it might not, not to mention you'd selfishly want to invest in the player who will still be with you next year. But agree, it will likely not make a lick of difference in the scheme of things.

 

[molman]

I really want to see Tupou show up for this game, not in his random explosions of effort followed by sloppiness bordering on reckless (like that lovely leg out in the Force game), but rather just some sustained, consistent effort like we've seen with Bell. Similar for Leota too. He had that potential to be almost Bobby V-esk, was consistently pushing for Wallabies contention, but he's really just not seemed to had the drive. Another who doesn't feel at his potential.

Also keen to see Philip off the pine.

 

[Yoda]

Wishing the Tahs the best but I’m tipping 60 plus to the Lions. It will be touch football for the ‘Lairns’!

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Yep expect the lions to win easily but certainly some key individual performances to keep an eye on, Tupou and Kellaway at risk of missing the wallabies 23 so need a big performance.
I think Pietsch, Canham and Salakaia-Loto have shown a good performance in a losing team can push your case

 

[rugbyAU]

I assume Kailea is injured?

Barrett is a big concern, played zero minutes of Super Rugby this year, had to go off early last year v Rebels after getting dominated at scrum time

 

[Brumby Runner]

Kailea appeared on Rugby Heaven with a knee brace last night. Says he will be back later on during the latter stages of the tour.

Will be interested in seeing how Fin Smith performs. He looked well off the pace from the bench against the Reds.

 

[Dan54]

Personally don't think Fin Smith really suits the Lions style, which to me is very like the Irish system, of keeping ball moving, and support. F Smith played well in 6Ns but in an English system?
I can almost see this as the kind of game Lions may struggle to really get up for? They would've seen Tahs results etc over season, and try as coaches want I still believe the last 2% you need to be desperate, is not something you can talk into players.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Given the history of Tahs/Lions matches, must be a pretty good chance of a red card in this one. My thought is that FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) might be a likely candidate if he goes in too hard.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

So they wouldn’t have taken the Force seriously either then?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Needed Swinton for a Hoskins type appearance.

 

[Marbig]

Genuinely can't see the Tahs putting up the same kind of fight for the first 40 as the Force & the Reds did.

Also the only game of the tour where I'll actively cheer for the Lions.

 

[drewprint]

The hell you are! Team Australia baby.

 

[Crashy]

jeez thanks mate. Team Australia and all.. Next time your crappy city gets flooded, remind the rest of Australia that we're not paying for your cleanup...

 

[Rob42]

Now now, no need to get cranky at those Queenslanders. The Tahs only perform at their best when powered by pure, unalloyed hatred flowing from the north. At times, we've tried replacing that with anger from Canberra or Melbourne, but it's turned out to be just poor quality whinging. Let the hate flow, Marbig, I say.

 

[Dan54]

So they wouldn’t have taken the Force seriously either then?

Maybe Ghost, or maybe they were hurting from loss to Pumas? Could be wrong and maybe wishful thinking that it maybe a close game.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Also the only game of the tour where I'll actively cheer for the Lions.

This is some next level NSFW Waratahs hate.

I salute you.