My Matchday 23 for the British & Irish Lions 1st test!
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- Опубліковано 25 гру 2024
- The British and Irish Lions tour Australia next year.
So I’ve picked my matchday 23 for the 1st test against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.
It will change after the 6 Nations but what do you make of my picks?
Sorry but 7 English players in the squad is ridiculous.
Sorry but putting Lake on the same barometer as Sheehan is absolutely laughable, he’s not even better than Kelleher never mind Sheehan.
Yeah the Lake pick is total nonsense in fairness
People are just desperate to make it so they aren't just picking the Irish 15.
Both of them in top of their games, playing and on form - you may be right. That’s just not how things are right now though.
@@Macron87 No no no, it’s very simple. Dan Sheehan and Roman Kelleher are streets ahead of Lake. You can actually add Gus Mccarthy to that list aswell
And that doesn't even include gus McCarthy who is starting to push Kellaher.
Beirne at 6 is actually military medium. He’s the first lock on the team sheet though
Beirne - if at 6 - ahead of Courtney Lawes? I just don’t see it.
How often do Lions coaches pick players who dont play international rugby. Would be very surprised if Lawes is picked and i think Lawes is unreal! One of the best!@Macron87
would love to see you do something with that wall behind you. (not sure if that's your home/office?)
like rugby photos, couple of shelves of memorabilia, jerseys.
love your content but feels like I'm sitting in a police station interrogation room 😂
My team-
1. Porter
2. Sheehan
3. Z.Fagerson
4. Itoje
5. McCarthy
6. J.Willis
7. Van Der Flier
8. Doris (C)
9. Gibson-Park
10. Russell
11. Lowe
12. Tuipulotu
13. Jones
14. Feyi-Waboso
15. Keenan
16. Kelleher
17. Schoeman
18. Furlong
19. Beirne
20. Earl
21. Mitchell
22. Smith
23. Kinghorn
4. Martin
5. Beirne
15. Kinghorn
@@Macron87 Either you pick Beirne or Itoje to start and I went with Itoje for the experience, plus Beirne can cover the back row from the bench if required. Martin could/should tour but is still young and prone to mistakes. Don't think he's consistent enough currently to start for the Lions.
@@Macron87 I love Kinghorn and could see him starting but Keenan is very solid, the kind of sensible player that Andy Farrell loves. Kinghorn will be in the 23 if he's fit, he either starts at fullback or you have in the 23 shirt for his utility and impact. Don't think there's another utility player available that could do as good a job as him.
No ringrose aki or henshaw , remind me what big games tuipuloto and jones have won lately? Ireland scored double the amount of tries of any team in the 6 nations and conceded lest than half of any teams in the 6 nations, conceded 5 in the autumn internationals. Only 1 tier 1 nations beat SA scored more than one try against them in 2024 . Yet you believe their centre’s should be excluded from farrells 23 😂
If the rest of the season goes as well as the previous few weeks for Sam Prendergast he could well make the squad and if he does who will miss out.
You cannot write off Robbie Henshaw still World Class and no team complete if you have a fit Dan Sheehan available.
Henshaw is a great player. There are just several better players.
I would have kept the Scottish centre pairing but like the team. Interresting wrt vd Merwe. But cannot fault the back three
I find it hard to believe that Farrell will pick a 23 which does not include James Lowe - the winger's importance to Ireland is underestimated - he fits the 'dirty winger' concept so well. I could see both Scottish centres being selected though and Kinghorn coming in at full-back. I agree van der Merwe is very unlikely to be on the plane (Farrell won't pick dodgy defenders.) Russell is the best Home Nations fly-half but is not a Farrell-type player (and neither is M Smith of course.) Seems likely that a Frawley-type player will be selected in the 23 - but not Frawley. Jamie Osborne is perhaps a dark horse because he has been so good for Ireland in different positions (and Farrell obviously loves him.)
Having a laugh with Lake and Morgan ahead of Sheehan and VDF, not in the same league
He explained that he was picking on form.
@@Macron87 Have you seen VDF's form? He was the Player of the Autumn Series, and has been tearing it up for Leinster. And he also said he was taking everyone being fit...Sheehan fit is the NH's best Hooker by a country mile.
@@Macron87so lake and Morgan lost all their games with wales, where’s the form in that.😂
Lake and Morgan are pretty close in my opinion. People are always biased towards winning teams, but all weaker teams have world class players
No question JVF will be on the team, he is world class, not NH class
Picking Lions sides is always fun but fairly pointless fun until we have seen what happens in the 6 Nations. At the moment its who would make the Ireland side and there aren't many from the other home nations. Hopefully after England's grand slam things will look very different.
It feels like anything less than about half the team being the Irish team is not going to look very meritocratic. Not envious of Farrell being in a position where he'll feel he has to include some Welsh players, but hard to justify it.
I think six Irishmen are shoe-ins.
If the selectors have any sense, then they will consider overseas players - there's no justification for not doing so. Therefore, Jack Willis has to be in the 23, as will JDF. Sheehan must start and Doris has to be captain.
Lake & Morgan may make the squad but they are not the best options in those positions. I also don't think IFW is even Englands best wing never mind lions starter. He needs to show he can produce it in the 6 nations.
Lowe?
I feel like people are a bit too desperate to make sure that their starting 15s aren't just the Ireland team. If I'm picking the strongest side possible then I'm going with the Irish side with Beirne at 6 and Itoje for Ryan, Russell for Crowley, maybe Fagerson for Furlong and Feyi Waboso for Hansen. Then my bench would be
16. Lake
17. Genge
18. Furlong
19. Ryan
20. Earl
21. White
22. Smith
23. Hansen
A lot of Scots and English in the outer squad though. Can't justify many Welsh players I'm afraid.
I disagree. I think there’s not strong enough an argument for more than six starting from Ireland.
VDF, Beirn, Furlong, McCarthy, Keenan, Aki, Ringrose, Doris, JGP, Lowe, henshaw , can you say which 5 don’t deserve to be in the lions starting team , bearing in mind they all won a second back to back 6 nations beat SA twice including in the World Cup played against all tier 1 nations in 2024 with the exception of Fiji , while Scotland were beaten by Ireland Italy France SA and played their summer tests against tier 2 an 3 nations.
@@davidwalker2402 And Ireland went home in the quarters. Tbf, this isn't relevant - but neither are your points. Let's see what happens between now and the spring, shall we?
@@damianbylightning6823 hey clown what’s your point. Or are you all mouth and no trousers 🤣
Are you Welsh? Have you even watched wales. Lake, no. Morgan is miles off his World Cup form. Tuipulotu best centre in NH atm.
Yeah, I don't think right now, there is a Welsh player in the whole squad.
I’d probably go for VDF at 7. Really not sure about Lake at 2? I’d have Chessum instead of McCarthy
I’d have 4. Beirne and 5. Martin
@ yeh that would be a great 2nd row too
Would love to see at 12 Tuipulotu and 13 Aki
Tuipulotu would make a better 13 than Aki no? Aki is bigger and Tuipulotu seems more agile.
@@liamwilliams6651100% but, also, Jones must be the best 13 in the world.
@@StopTheRot I'm an advocate for Ringrose myself I'm afraid but Jones is definitely pushing him.
The Lake and Morgan picks feel like pity picks to appease Welsh fans. Both are good players who should be on tour but given Van Der Flier is a former World Player of the Year who just won Autumn Nations player of the series, you simply can't not have him in the 23. Sheehan is the best hooker available and probably the third best in the world after Mauvaka and Marx so if he's fit, he starts. No Kinghorn in the 23 is crazy too given he's in the form of his life at fullback. Even if you think Keenan is better which is valid, you surely have Kinghorn in the 23 shirt cos he can play anywhere but scrum half in the backline.
Alfie isn't picking French based players.
Regardless, one thinks that Aus is gonna get pumped.
On the Forward front, I would only agree with you on 3 positions (4 players)
- Porter at LHP
- Itoje at 5
- Doris at 8
- Beirne MUST be there, but at 5
For me, Sheehan is clearly the best hooker in the NH - and arguably 1= with Marx in the world.
Furlong, if fit, takes the THP,
Jack Willis unquestionably takes the 6 shirt
Darge JUST ahead of Underhill for the 7.
In the backs, Russell - when his head is in the right place - IS the man to line up alongside JGP; Aki & Jones will be an awesome centre combo; and Keenan, Feyi and Graham will give Joe Schmidt nightmares at the back.
Which makes Lowe probably the unluckiest guy not to make the 23.
So STARTERS :-
Porter. Sheehan. Furlong.
Beirne. Itoje.
Willis. Darge. Doris.
JGP. Russell.
Aki. Jones.
Graham. Feyi-W. Keenan.
BENCH :-
Genge. Lake. Fagerson.
McCarthy.
Earl (or Underhill?)
Mitchell.
Marcus.
Ringrose.
Can’t have Itoje and Beirne in the row. Needs to be Beirne and Martin.
I honestly wouldn’t pick a Welsh player for the starting 23. Think the only three that get into the wider squad are Lake, Morgan and possibly Tomos Williams.
1. Porter
2. Sheehan
3. Fagerson
4. Itoje
5. Beirne
6. Lawes
7. J.V.D.F
8. Doris
9. J.G.P
10. Russell
11. Lowe
12. Tuipolotu
13. Ringrose
14. Feyi-Waboso
15. Keenan
16. Cowan-Dickie
17. Genge
18. Furlong
19. McCarthy
20. Earl (J.Willis/C.C.S very close)
21. Mitchell
22. M.Smith
23. Henshaw
Jamie George will be another English captain not to make a Lions tour. I wouldn't even have him in my England Squad (I am an England fan).
Good team. I would have gone with Marcus at 10, I think he has been one of the best players in the world in the last few months.
Yea, George seems to be selected for England because he's the captain and is living on credit in the bank from previous years. Hooker seems like a weaker position for the Lions though outside of Sheehan, the other options are solid yet unspectacular.
I pray Farrell gives the rfu the biggest middle finger and selects Jack willis.
He’ll never select his son.
Porter gives out penalties like confetti. If a ref locks into him, he’ll be off after less than 30 minutes.
I think looking a form, you judge Scotland on the teams they played, so 6 nations they were poor, they then won some games against tier 2 nations and beat Australia. This year Scotland beat two tier one nations both of them below them in the rankings Australia and England , they were beaten by Ireland France SA Italy so strange so many Scot’s in the first team. Wales lake and Morgan look great because every other player in the welsh team look really bad, at international level they have won nothing. I’d pick Russell but not smith smith plays his own individual game can’t see Farrell loving that, smith was terrible in the champions cup last week and can win games but can also lose games, prefer fin smith.
They beat Australia... where are the lions touring again?
@@djbu88they lost to Italy finished a lucky 4th in the 6 nations and will be lucky to maintain that place again in 2025.
Not sure your point makes any sense. So the lions are touring Australia, Ireland and Scotland both beat Australia, wales and England lost. Scotland also beat England and wales. But they had a poor year. So should it only be Ireland players that tour in your opinion?
@ I think it should be the best players, full stop , beating a poor England team and a poor Australian team is nothing to write home about. If Scotland win the six nations then they can make their case for more players to be included, and I think that will be the case for all home nations and Ireland .
@ so why even start by saying there’s too many Scottish players in the 23 when there’s only 4😂😂 you’re just coming across anti Scottish and like you don’t really know what you’re talking about
I think Farrell will look at the French contingent. Willis and Kinghorn (Both Brilliant in champions cup final) I would also have Courtney (Lawes) captaining the tour. I would suggest that there are few players that could be made available, that demand the same respect
You think top 14 will be happy to release these players , they don’t do it normally.
VDF over Morgan. Don't think you should break the centre partnerships tbh, so Aki/Ringrose OR Tuipilotu/Jones depending how 6N goes.
Smith feels a wasted pick on the Bench, would take Kinghorn instead.
If you select Porter you need a TH that can mill his opponent as much as Porter does. Otherwise he gets pinged by clueless reffs.
Otherwise go with the usual stacked with welsh and swap out farrell for gats... 😂😂
Joe Mc Carthy won't be a starting lock imho
I agree. I really don’t see what other see in him. On carrying and defence, if you want a big lock, it’s Martin
If Australia can get under Finn Russell's skin they could pull a surprise.
@@noelpucarua2843 Finn beat Australia in Australia by himself a few years ago. Getting under his skin is not going to work.
@@iansinclair7581 I'm sure you've seen him having a few shockers.
The Lions won't be playing the Australia of "a few years ago".
@@noelpucarua2843 Owen Farrell tries to get under his skin every time he plays him. Finn just gets up dusts himself down and gives him a smile and gets on with it.
@@iansinclair7581 Your argument is getting worse.
Owen Farrell won't be playing for Australia.
@@noelpucarua2843 now I know you are thick.
Can Lake throw the ball in accurately?
No Ben Earl? No Josh VdF? No Underhill???? Marcus S over Fin Russel
There are so many good back rowers its a headache.
I think Willis is the best flanker availible but do you pick a guy who doesnt play internationally?
Think hes being political getting Morgan in the back row, not many people giving the Glasgow back row a shout and they have all been amazing the last year
Oldie chessmen 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
When you take into account the French contingent, The B&I Lions could field 3 world class teams. There will be some serious star quality that will miss out. With Australia enjoying a bit of a rennaissance, then this makes for a mouth-watering test series. Can't wait. Your team is very strong, I think I would go french though and have Jack Willis in their and or alternatively Van der Flier. Looking good in a poor team can be, perhaps, misleading.
That’s always true of lions teams. The talent is invariably there to produce several great looking teams. As always though, the challenge is forming them into a great playing team, over a matter of weeks
Lake? Over dan sheehan? 😅 Wth
Don’t hide your bias. Yes why not use French based players only England have this madness. Don’t forget Fin Russell saved the last tour from being an unmitigated disaster and his team are sitting at the top of the Premiership.
I think it’s pretty simple. Matchday 23 should be.
1-9 Ireland
10-15 Scotland
Bench:
Lake
Fagerson
Schoeman
Itoje
Morgan
Williams
Smith
Ringrose
James lowe 100%has to go.
Hope get released from the prison cell soon Alfred !
I think you were far too polite and political here. Pick the best of the best in their position. England will be lucky to have 1 in the starting 15. Wales will be lucky to have 1 in the squad. Berine is a lock. Sheehan is 100 times better than Lake. Morgan is a nice player but he's not at Willis or JVDF who won the best autumn player. Be honest. Don't be trying to fit them in just cos' Wales are awful for example. Pick the nest.
I think this bloke is welsh because he keeps picking inferior welsh guys over better Irish and english
I don’t get it about McCarthy. The big English lad, Martin (?) is a stronger option; he is a monster in defence. I’d go him and Beirne in the second row.
He's also monstrously poor in defense...
Morgan and Lake ! Lost me there, mate. Far too optimistic to think they'll look better with a better team around them. They need to show far more than they have especially Morgan - living on memories pre-injury
Lake and Morgan can only be political selections. Decent players,but nowhere near the calibre of Irish counterparts -
For me
1 Genge
2 sheehan
3 fagerson
4 McCarthy
5 cunmingham south
6 Beirne
7 JVF
8 Doris
9 Gibson park
10 Marcus Smith/finn russell
11 Lowe
12 Aki/henshaw
13 Rimgrose
14 fey waboso
15 steward
I know the team is irish heavy but that's just the nature of things I think the Irish have the best centres and back row at the moment.
This is a genuinely hilarious team
Aki is done
This will probably the weakest Lions team in a long time. Better to just pick the entire Irish team and let them do their best.
so irish bias it’s ridiculous smfh
yk it’s called the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS NOT THE IRISH LIONS…
Do you not hear a pretty english accent mate?
Also we going to act like ireland bavent been top 2 in the world for like 3/4 years
@SVAgxlxxi
Are you a proponent of DEI practices?
The players still have to be good enough to be picked
@@SVAgxlxxi Doubt you were all that bothered in reverse when there only a couple of Irish men in the squad. Ireland have been the top ranked NH team *under Andy Farrell* for the past 3 years...if you don't think it'll be a majority Irish team, you weren't paying attention when Gatland was in charge.
A decade ago there were no Irish in the team....shoe is on the other foot, Lions need to build this team totally around Scotland and Ireland, with England in a supporting role,and Wales with a couple....helping out...
I pray Farrell gives the rfu the biggest middle finger and selects Jack willis.
He’ll never select his son.
Porter gives out penalties like confetti. If a ref locks into him, he’ll be off after less than 30 minutes.