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#Post#: 136038--------------------------------------------------
Smith vs…
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: April 1, 2025, 6:18 am
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HTML https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/01/the-breakdown-rugby-union-champions-cup-lions-marcus-smith-sam-prendergast
#Post#: 136054--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: April 1, 2025, 10:37 am
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Interesting article but as always, never really goes into the
strengths and weaknesses of all the choices. I'd like to think
that Faz snr has already picked his attacking weapons in his
mind so one game won't make a difference but we've seen Lion's
sides picked on the strength of one game before, so....
I hope Marcus has sat down with the Quins coaches and said under
no circumstances, am I stepping back into 15 anymore so start
getting Big Irne ready for the high ball.
#Post#: 136064--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: BedfordshireBoy
Date: April 1, 2025, 4:39 pm
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What none of us knows of course is Farrell`s view on the number
10 spot, I suspect he might well surprise the pundits out there.
#Post#: 136081--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: April 2, 2025, 6:59 am
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Sadly the Gatland years have taught me not to get too excited
about the Lions as it starts to become a coaches play thing.
Would love to be proved wrong...
#Post#: 136083--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: QuincyJones
Date: April 2, 2025, 10:36 am
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Different point altogether but with a potential backline
featuring Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki and James Lowe, I'm
not overly interested this year. There will be more kiwis in the
side than Welsh.
If individual countries want to pick them to play then that's up
to them but a B&I Lions tour shouldn't feature project players,
in my opinion. They almost always go back home the second they
retire!
#Post#: 136086--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 2, 2025, 12:25 pm
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Don't forget van der Merwe, Tuipolutu, Jordan, Dempsey,
Schoeman, etc. Strongly suspect this will break records for a
Lions tour featuring players who are residency qualifications
for their national sides...
#Post#: 136091--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: Yareet
Date: April 2, 2025, 2:53 pm
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Don't forget van der Merwe, Tuipolutu, Jordan, Dempsey,
Schoeman, etc. Strongly suspect this will break records for a
Lions tour featuring players who are residency qualifications
for their national sides...
>
--- End Quote ---
Doesn’t Tuipulotu have a Scottish granny?
#Post#: 136093--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: KiltedQuin
Date: April 2, 2025, 5:21 pm
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--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Doesn’t Tuipulotu have a Scottish granny?
>
--- End Quote ---
He does indeed, born in Greenock. Also Dempsey has a Scottish
grandfather.
#Post#: 136095--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 2, 2025, 7:01 pm
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My apologies. I should have been clearer - and more accurate -
regarding my point. The Sydney-born Dempsey played for Australia
u18s & u20s, lived in and played all his professional rugby in
Australia until the age of 27, played for Australia ten times,
and had to qualify for Scotland via a standing down period. He
does of course have a Scottish grandparent.
It's a very similar story for Sione, though he didn't get a full
Australia cap and moved to Scotland a couple of years younger. I
did forget he had a Scottish granny, though, which was stupid of
me.
Anyway, to be clear, I'm not saying they shouldn't be playing
for Scotland. I'm not even particularly bothered by the concept
of Aussies, Kiwis, and Saffers playing international rugby for
countries they've spent barely any time in and haven't grown up
in or become top tier professional rugby players in. I'm not the
type to start yelling about mercenaries, and I'd be very happy
if Tyrone got an England call up, for example. But the Lions are
a weird anachronism that only exist because of tradition and the
insanity of bringing together four nations that generally do not
like each other very much to travel to the other side of the
world to take on a completely different rugby culture (okay and
the money). The likely presence of so many players who are from
the Southern Hemisphere in the touring party, and probably in
the test side, seems jarring and off putting in a way that isn't
true for me when it comes to regular international rugby. Given
the Lions relies so much on the emotional bond from the fans, I
can't help but think it'll further damage an ailing concept.
I'd happily be an outlier here, though.
#Post#: 136096--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smith vs…
DIR By: KiltedQuin
Date: April 3, 2025, 1:02 am
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> My apologies. I should have been clearer - and more accurate -
regarding my point. The Sydney-born Dempsey played for Australia
u18s & u20s, lived in and played all his professional rugby in
Australia until the age of 27, played for Australia ten times,
and had to qualify for Scotland via a standing down period. He
does of course have a Scottish grandparent.
>
> It's a very similar story for Sione, though he didn't get a
full Australia cap and moved to Scotland a couple of years
younger. I did forget he had a Scottish granny, though, which
was stupid of me.
>
> Anyway, to be clear, I'm not saying they shouldn't be playing
for Scotland. I'm not even particularly bothered by the concept
of Aussies, Kiwis, and Saffers playing international rugby for
countries they've spent barely any time in and haven't grown up
in or become top tier professional rugby players in. I'm not the
type to start yelling about mercenaries, and I'd be very happy
if Tyrone got an England call up, for example. But the Lions are
a weird anachronism that only exist because of tradition and the
insanity of bringing together four nations that generally do not
like each other very much to travel to the other side of the
world to take on a completely different rugby culture (okay and
the money). The likely presence of so many players who are from
the Southern Hemisphere in the touring party, and probably in
the test side, seems jarring and off putting in a way that isn't
true for me when it comes to regular international rugby. Given
the Lions relies so much on the emotional bond from the fans, I
can't help but think it'll further damage an ailing concept.
>
> I'd happily be an outlier here, though.
>
--- End Quote ---
Fair points JG and I can see where you’re coming from. One point
I’d make about team, and fan, bonding is that national sides are
made up of players who week in, week out play against each
other. Though I accept the argument that national sides will
have a common bond by the very nature of representing one’s
country (or adopted country). That national pride should
transfer to the Lions as playing for the Lions is probably one
of the pinnacles of a player’s career.
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