PRE SIX NATIONS LIONS SELECTION | THE FORM 23???
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- If you had to pick a Matchday Squad for the British and Irish Lions right NOW, who would you go for?
It will be fascinating to see how the pecking order changes based on the form of players during the 6N Championship. I will 100% track that too, but right here, right now, who would you pick if you were Andy Farrell? - Спорт
Sometimes I think you're the only thing holding this rugby life alive!.. legend!
Tim, superb selection. Should be a very exciting Lions tour. Such strong contenders available and right now many more ready and able to step up to the plate. My heart breaks for Wales. Munster and Ireland supporter.
That's a pretty scary team, best one I've seen so far. The aussies must be praying for miracles at this stage
10:01 really glad to hear Tim saying Jack Dempsey. No one seems to talk about him with lions and as a glasgow fan I can comfortably say he's the 2nd best 8 available.
He is front foot ball or a linebreak almost every carry and he plays like his life depends on it every game.
From the same cut as sione in just being a proper rugby player, an all around star.
This channel gets better and better, hope you make it to Australia
I like this team very much
I love this video Tim! Love the Lions! As a South African and Springbok fan, we love the Lions with all its history, tradition and of course the fans! Such a pity the ‘21 series was played with no fans!
My only question is whether you think the international combinations will influence selections? Some examples below:
Front row - do you keep the Irish front row together and bring the Scottish props on from the bench?
Lock and loose forward - do you keep the English locks together and the Irish back row? Although I love the idea of Itoje, Beirne, Willis, vdF and Doris!
Centre - do you keep Huipolotu or Aki/Ringrose together? Or are Tuipolotu and Ringrose simply the best in their positions and must start?
Such a pity Tuipolotu is missing the Six Nations!
Keep going Tim! We love your work and hoping you get to go to Australia for the Lions tour and to New Zealand for the Springbok tour!
100% agree with every pick. Excited to see who plays themselves into contention over the 6Ns
Andrew Porter is my #1 as well. Looking forward to the Lions tour but the 6N is tantalizing too. What a time to be a rugby fan
What a selection! Time will tell.
I think I agree fully with your selections.
Agree with most but would go with Henshaw. Class act
Fun format!
Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn might be kept busy with Toulouse until June 28th day of the Top 14 finale...
Besides your team is looking great, keep the record to compare with the one you will build AFTER the 6 Nations. I will be curious to see if there us any change...
@@marco-dn7kd That is three weeks before the actual Lions tests proper get going. Ample time.
@@Zveebo the first game is on june 20th ...
The first test is on 19 July. The preliminary games are pretty meaningless - just practice.
@Zveebo not sure if Farrell prefers waiting including some players "en route" instead of having his whole group working automatisms from the start. The provincial games are used to make working the players not knowing each other and getting more and more familiar to each other, experiencing new game launches etc
Neither will make it. You can't miss 3 weeks of training and selection, 2 games, then fly to Australia and get up to speed ready to play.
The number of options we've got now is incredible. One of the strongest lions squads I've seen.
Hello, I think you are wrong. If the best French players are not going to play in New Zealand because they will be playing in the semi-finals and finals of the Top 14, what makes you think that the Stade Toulousain will let Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn go to Australia on the same dates? It's a shame but I don't think they will let them, unless they join when the tour has already started. On the same day as the Top 14 final, the Lions will be in Perth playing against Western Force
They’re not going to let them miss the Top 14 final (if Toulouse make it there), and that will mean they join the tour slightly later.
But beyond that Toulouse is not going to stand in their way if they want to play (which they both certainly do) - it’s holiday time they would miss out on, and the main games are in the international window in any case. They are two players who have just signed long term contracts with Toulouse (to 2028 and 2029 respectively) - the club values them highly and wants to keep them happy and engaged, and having a couple of Lions would be a source of pride for Toulouse, just as Antoine and Nelson going off to take part in the Olympics was for the club in 2024.
No, he is correct you are wrong.
Great team you picked. I've gone slightly different.
1 Pierre Schoeman 2 Dewi Lake 3 Zander Fagerson
4 Joe McCarthy 5 Maro Itoje
6 Tadhg Beirne 7 Josh Van Der Flier 8 Caelan Doris (c)
9 Jamison Gibson-Park 10 Finn Russell
12 Sione Tuipulotu 13 Garry Ringrose
11 James Lowe 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 15 Hugo Keenan
Subs:
16 Dan Sheehan
17 Andrew Porter
18 Tadhg Furlong
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Jack Willis
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Blair Kinghorn
23 Bundee Aki
I want the Lions bench to completely obliterate the Australians. Irish front row will bring continuity off the bench. Lawes will bring some much needed nasty to proceedings. Jack Willis ability to play 6,7 & 8 makes him the ideal bench forward. Alex Mitchell and Blair Kinghorn. Kinghorn gets ahead of Marcus Smith by the smallest of margins. I think Kinghorn's ability to play 10,11,14 & 15 give him the edge. I want Bundee off the bench. I've gone with a really aggressive bench. Marcus Smith probably gets in ahead of Kinghorn but Blair has enough about him to do what Farrell needs him to do. I wouldn't rule out Owen Farrell getting into the Lions tour and if he does I think Father puts him on the bench.
great stuff Tim - I would move Kinghorn to 11 and Keenan at 15 but 6N as always is key to who goes on these tours - but agree that Jack Willis will be part of starting 15 regardless
No chance for Kinghorn or Willis. Top 14 playoffs go into the Lions tour. Semi final on the 20th (when Lions play Argentina) and final on the 28th (When Lions are in Perth).
if JGP hits good form this 6N, and Finn Russell keeps up his good recent stint I think they'll be on fire for the Lions. If T Williams has a good tournament -despite being in a struggling wales team - then he could be the 9, as he's been really good over the last year.
I do want to see Tuipulotu in there once he recovers, as he's been imperial for the last year. And if you turned the volume up for Scot vs Aus game in the autumn, you could tell what it meant for him to play against the Wallabies haha
Imperious.
Russell and JGP in top form together is something I'm very much hoping we''ll see. What Russell could do off the speed of ball provided by JGP could be sensational.
As a Scotsman il delighted that Willis currently doesn’t start for England…. Even more delighted when he starts a Lions Test . He will probably be on the bench to cover the entire back row ;)
1. Porter
2. Sheehan
3. Fagerson
4. Itoje
5. Beirne
6. J. Willis
7. JvdF
8. Doris
9. JGP
10. Russell
11. Lowe
12. Aki
13. Tuipulotu
14. Steyn
15. Keenan
16. Lake
17. Schoeman
18. Furlong
19. Lawes
20. Morgan
21. T. Williams
22. Kinghorn
23. Ringrose
Anthony Watson said on For the Love of Rugby podcast that he could see Liam Williams going as there "aren't any nailed on fullbacks"...
He's got no chance, and this is coming from a Wales fan.
Kinghorn and Keenan are the obvious choices.
Kinghorn and Keenan are both world class
@@SMacCuUladh Anthony Watson - arguably the most over rated winger/fullback in the professional age. Keenan is #1 pick with Kinghorn on the bench to cover every spot from 10, 11, 14 and 15.
Williams has absolutely no chance.
Jack Willis would be savage, making the lions but not your own nation. Farrell would love to do it
As an England fan i think you're pretty much spot on. I don't know too much about the selection process do there have to be a minimum amount of players from each nation that go? Obviously Ireland are the best team right now so you'd expect alot of Irish but do you have to take a certain amount of Welsh/Scottish/English players too? Otherwise it just becomes Ireland vs Australia when it's about bringing all the nations together.
No. There's no quota. There's been years when there's hardly been a Scot or an Irishman in the wider squad, nevermind the matchday squad. And no it's not really about bringing all the nations togeher, it's about bringing the best players from the nations together. And nationality doesn't really come into it. Wales and England normally dominate the squad, this time it's not as likely. It's all swings and roundabouts.
can't actually argue with that team you put together lol
Can't disagree with any of this. I would like you to list your bolters after the first round. I suspect there will be some surprising performances, or rather, I hope there will be.
i would have too many changes from who you have picked first up, agree with the either/or's
Strong team - even though you can quibble here and there with whether they will start, I expect almost everyone listed to be on the tour if they are fit. I hope Farrell does pick Willis - he’s absolutely good enough, and the outrage it would cause with the RFU would be very funny.
I don’t think that there’s a rule that can prevent him? I’ve got a memory that I read around the time of the last tour that the lions committee had no limitations of selection at all with regard to individual country’s policies ?
I’m interested to see whether he selects any bolters.
@@mhoppy6639there is no rule
@@mhoppy6639 Yep, Farrell’s main condition on taking the job was freedom to pick anyone he wants who is eligible. No quotas or interference from the unions, and he doesn’t need to adhere to anything other than World Rugby rules in terms of who is eligible.
Let's get Tim down under!!!🛫
Very strong Tim 💪 Van de Merwe would be one I would select instead. He is the Lions new George North but Lowe is excellent too.
Putting on my tin hat as I say this, but would Doris have gotten the statistics Tom Willis has if he was the Saracens 8?
I think we will see a breakthrough star emerge in Tom. The same would have been said for Opoko-Fordjour but sadly not this time around.
Doris would have got more I would imagine. No question the Lions 8 and captain. Itoji has no chance of captaincy. 😊
VDM will go, no doubt. But his defence is still a massive achilles heel, just as it was on the last tour. And AF likes his wings to work hard off the wing, another thing VDM doesn't tend to do. If Lowe is fit and firing, he'll start.
Fair points over VDM. Personally I wouldn't be surprised to see Tom Willis run through Doris. Always liked a big 8 and unlike Billy V, Willis is athletic too. We shall see.
Bot worried about England's line out on Saturday. Expect parity at scrum time but great match ups all over the park.
And dry January is over so the ale shall flow!
I appreciate Australia are improved but even the most ardent Aussie fan must look at that 23 and wince.
We'll get you to OZ!!!
Cheers for this lad 😂
Lions fixture dates mean anyone based in France has no chance of selection
The first fixture is June 20th against Argentina, the same day as the top 14 semi final playoffs. Top 14 final is June 28th, by which time the Lions are in Perth playing Western Force.
You have to assume both Willis and Kinghorn will be involved in those, and by default, won't be anywhere near the squad. You can't miss initial selection, weeks of training, 2 games, then travel to Australia and catch up. Wouldbt be fair on them, or any other player that is available. Only real possibility is as an injury replacement.
I’m not sure why you would think itoje should be captain, he was acting captain for England in almost every game they lost when George went off “ those last 20 minutes “ itoje really needs to prove himself as a captain but so far as a captain he hasn’t.
He didn’t say he should be captain, he said he could be in the debate. He clearly says Doris is most likely and should be
@ yeah but there should be no discussion because as a captain so far itoje has been abysmal, that may change when England win the 6 nations but when will that happen🤣
Good call on joe mcarthy. Be interesting to see how this differs in april.
Yes, Jack at 6!
Is the picture of Jamison GP from the end of a great night out or what?
Just pick Irish Team with Russel at fly half and Graham /Van de M in squad on wings,Tom Willis at 8 in case any injuries 😊
Noce mafch day squad, Tim. Agree with all of that, i think.
Side note, i love thay Matt Fag generally stays off peoplea radars. Probably scotlands best, most rounded back rowers.
Great content as usual. Very balanced.
taidgh byrne at 6 for me
Tim, genuinely interested, how do you rate Tomos Williams? Whenever JB or Phil mention him and his form for Gloucester you seem to go quiet on the pod? He also wasn’t in your top 10 scrum halves video and obviously you originally forgot to mention him in this video. Others have been raving about him so just genuinely curious to hear your take on him?
To shift the topic slightly, would the Lions not getting 3/3 wins in this tour be considered a failure? Honestly I think it could be
6 months ago, yes. But Aussie are looking pretty decent…obviously not anywhere near their “winning 2 world cups” peak, but a lot better than “crashing out of the pools with EJ”
It will be winter in Australia. Going by the past 4 years it will be rain heaps
Has a France based player ever got picked in any recent tours?
That's a solid team and i agree with most of it. Would possibly switch henshaw for ringrose and i think if Jack Crowley holds the 10 shirt for Ireland, he will start at 10 or back up to Finn Russell. Keep up the great work. Channel is 🔥🔥🔥
Perfect selection!!!
It would be cool if France could give B&I lions a go.
Not sure it will ever happen because of the 6 Nations. The idea of 4 of the other countries best lining up against 1 of the countries they already play annually would be...odd.
As a team to best Australia i get it, but also, genge, Dvdm, and keenan could be in there. Conan and Ryan will probably travel too.
I would love to see genge and o Mahony on the same mid week team playing together against a narly filthy auzzie club team. what a sight!
Just skipped Tomos Williams did we?🤣
Scariest Lions team since the 1974 Lions that went to South Africa.
can almost call the team ....The Irish Lions
@@bengormley2517 they should, they’ve called it the British lions for long enough. 🤮
Do you really think Farrell will take Willis, has this ever happened before in a lions squad selection, genuinely curious
@@28copland Yes, French-based players have been picked before. Finn Russell was at Racing last time round.
The only restriction on Willis playing internationally is a local RFU rule. That doesn’t apply to the Lions.
Tim, you picked Keenan as number 1 fullback in your player power rankings, why Kinghorn over him?
I said, in just about every power rankings video they are based on current form, and historic form. This isn't - it's purely picking right now. Form pick. And Kinghorn is above Keenan today. That may be different again 3 days from now :)
@ fair call. I still rate Keenan over Kinghorn, (probably bias 😁) but I wouldn’t be disappointed with that selection
@@EggchasersRugbyI think you weight your power rankings too much on historical form. They're your rankings but just saying 😊
Selection of “England, Wales, Scotland and English players”. Whooooops!
Beirne and Itoje versus Skelton? Good luck.
A genuine tighthead lock will be needed.
Firstly I don’t agree with the inference but secondly Skelton is yesterday’s man.
A tight head lock? That’s a novel suggestion…
On Waboso. Don’t think I’ve seen him do anything in an England shirt to the levels of Hansen and Lowe for Ireland and Duhan and Darcy for Scotland. Or even Josh Adams or Louis Rees zammit for wales. He’s just a good winger. I don’t think there’s anything super exceptional about him.
Therefore probably shouldn’t be in contention for a lions shirt. Should be the two Irish and Scottish
I don't like Exeter chiefs being a Gloucester fan. But if I could have any winger in the world right now, it would be Manny. If you watch enough prem games he's been not just good, but unbelievable.
@ nah totally disagree. I watch the prem all the time and champions cup. I’d say I’ve managed to watch about 80% of Exeter games and he’s been far from unbelievable, he might be the best in your opinion of the English wingers. But that says more about the quality of English wingers as opposed to him being a lions starter.
@@timealone7906I think you mentioning the prem there is probably not the greatest argument as they can’t defend
Any winger in the world is the biggest hot take I’ve heard when you’ve got Penaud, LBB, Kolbe, Arendse, Lowe, Duhan, Telea, Will Jordan. Caleb Clarke, He’s not at those guys levels.
I imagine you’re an England fan which is totally fair enough. Everyone is passionate about their country, but come on, any winger in the world😂😂 it kinda proves my point that he’s slightly overhyped
@@ConorOLeary-rl4bsrecently, Sale beat Toulon, Sarries beat Stade and Bath beat Clermont. Sure, England rugby has issues, but by no means are they trash.
So Keenan is the best fullback in the world but not in Britain and Ireland?
No, he's certainly not the best in the world, not even close.
@@speak_your_truth. He is you know. Head and shoulders better than anyone else in B&I. Even Tim has him as No.1 in his world Power Rankings.
@@LFire12 Tim said that was based on historic form, not current form. He thinks Kinghorn is better than Keenan currently.
@LFire12 Which leans heavily on past glories not current form 😆
I’m Irish still prefer to see Finn Russell star man
Owen Farrell over Smith any time. I feel with Russell at 10 and Farrell at the bench is like Libbok at 10 and Pollard at the bench.
Can't disagree with much of that. Feyi-Waboso has to go. He's the modern day Jason Robinson. And Lowe is quality. Having said that, is it possible to leave out van de Meurwe? And I can't argue against van der Flier, but for me Sam Underhill is right up there.
LET'S GET TIM & EGGCHASERS TO AUSTRALIA! Everyone subscribe and hit the like button!
Beirne and McCarthy for me. I think you pick either Itoje or Beirne as you need the enforcer and that’s McCarthy or George Martin. Beirne is better than Itoje.
Jac Morgan on the bench but great team
Keenan for me at 15, otherwise happy!
Nice of you to add some token Englishman! (I'm English)
what a perfectly shit time for Casey to get injured, no 6N and no Lions
He was playing his best rugby at club level too. Even as a Leinster man, I was impressed. He could've even pushed JGP for starting, if he kept up his form.
Indeed, he couldn't have timed it worse. Very unfortunate.
horrible for the guy, hope he heals up as soon as possible.
France 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Can we have Dupont at least
Pleeeeeeeease😂
A Europe team then... But Dupont should be busy late June with Toulouse if they reach the Top 14 finale, the same reason why France is sending for its Summer tour a more experimental group.
@@phoenixfridge1495 I would love for France to join the Lions - that would be a lot of fun. But the FFR/LNR rules would need to be changed.
how might someone like Sam Prendergast sneak in?
A pandemic of the 10's
In all honesty, I'd say he'd have to guide Ireland to the championship. You couldn't really leave the championship winning 10 behind.
Porter
Sheenan
Fagerson
Itoje
McCarthy
Chessum
Van Der Flier
Doris ©
Gibson-Park
Russell
Lowe
Tuipulotu
Ringrose
Feyi-Waboso
Kinghorn
Lake
Genge
Furlong
Cummings
Earl
Mitchell
M Smith
Lawrence
Tadgh Beirne?
@leofitzsimon6610 hard cut but couldn't have everyone. Maybe I'd have him for Chessum but went big for now
Basically Ierland
I thought Calen Dorris was in his 30s lol
bosh, merci Tim Farrell
1.20. Is it the ultimate for Ireland players too? ;P or just England twice
Only argument in the pack is Willis - no real evidence of ability at International level. Maybe Jones at 13 instead of Ringrose, keep the Scotland partnership. Darcy Graham ahead of DvdM (USELESS BIG DONKEY) maybe in place of Lowe if Kinghorn is at 15.
Ben Earl shouldn't be within a hundred miles of the squad.
If you want a back up fly half to control and close out games then Finn Smith is a better bet, otherwise what a team...
1. Porter
2. Sheehan
3. Fagerson
4. Itoje
5. Beirne
6. Underhill
7. Van der Flier
8. Doris
9. Gibson-Park
10. Russell
11. Freeman
12. Tuipolotu
13. Ringrose
14. Feyi-Waboso
15. Kinghorn
Not sure on the full bench but:
Genge
Chessum
Mitchell
Marcus as 10 or 15 cover
Jacque Willis (would love him to start but probably the bench is fair)
Keenan has to start at 15. Kelleher is the current starter at hooker for Leinster, and he doesn't make the bench?? Smith at 2nd choice 10 id agree with. Farrell likes Prendergast, and if he has a good 6N, he'll go. Doris is Farrells captain for Ireland, so unless he gets injured, he will 100% be captain.
@@andrewkelly7065 Need to take the green glasses off, mate. Farrell isn’t Irish, remember. He’ll be picking the best players, not the best Irish players.
V good squad - no mention of Courtney
@@markrobinson5780 Why would there be? He’s off in Pro D2 and a long way away from his international prime.
@@ZveeboIs he though?
@@speak_your_truth. Yes.
Hodnet and Coombes.
I get my meds next thanks!
so it’s ireland & friends…. ok tim.
Kinghorn ahead of Keenan, not in a billion years. Actually make that 100 billion years.
Kinghorn on a strong upwards curve, Keenan not so much. Kinghorn all day long and he has the better versatility.
@@fomora12 Keenan has not been on top form since last years Six Nations. Injuries, outclassed by Kinghorn in the Champions Cup final, a terrible run at the Olympics, a mediocre autumn. If you were picking last year he would have been clearly in front. Not now, unless he has an excellent Six Nations. Kinghorn showed in the autumn how his height and weight could be particularly effective against Australia.
No aki
He will do a good job in the midweek team.
Aki is on the World Team of the Year at 12, he'll definitely be there, it'll be scrap for the 12 shirt for certain.
@@LFire12 Lol, selected by who? Shane Horgan maybees 🤣
England, Scotland, Wales and England?
this could all change come saturday night if england win or if ireland win with any sort of points distance then beirne at 6 and aki and keenan at 15 is in as well just saying how keenan isnt in the squad is insane
No, not really. 1 game wont change anything..
Finn Russell would be obviously in the lions/Ireland team. 😊
Jack Willis. Pick him .
Just send Ireland. And Russell can tag along.
irish pack scottish backs
Henshaw > Huw Jones at 23
I hope my guy Jack Crowley shows some form again this year
I've spent my life around rugby if the 6 nation's go's behind a pay wall. GOOD BYE
TNT sport is £400 for the year sorry to expensive so won't be subscription
They won't be able to buy rights outside UK to my knowledge. People will just VPN it.
Why would you subscribe for a year for a month long tour? In any case, it’s on Sky, not TNT.
@Zveebo yes but the rest of the rugby is on TNT
Just pick the Ireland 23
Given Ireland’s poor performance against Australia in the autumn, while Scotland absolutely demolished them the weak before - nah, that would be phenomenally stupid.
Honestly, I think Ireland are often overrated. I will wait and see, but I think England will beat them and so will France. I expect Ireland to come 3rd this year and possibly 4th to Scotland.
Yeah, back to back 6N winners are “overrated”. Honestly, what team *hasn’t* won a series in NZ?
I agree that I think 6 is the weakest position for the lions, I think Matt Fagerson with a good 6 nations could play himself into the team. I also think Andy Christie could have played himself as a bolter if he was fit. What I think I would do right now is
Itoje Mccarthy at 4/5
Then Beirne at 6.
I don’t think Willis goes just because he doesn’t play for England, especially to then play him out of position.
Hes not realky out of pisition though
Doesn’t play 6 much does he? While he can I see him very much as a 7
When will RFU stop being so dumb and allow any qualified English player to play for England despite what club the choose to play for?
Every single pick is a good one. But Feya waboso might be a slight England bias😂😂 if it’s based on form. He missed most the autumn for injury and he’s not really been on top form for Exeter this season at all.
My personal opinion: think he’s super overhyped anyway. The way England like to play. Roebuck and Freeman all day on the wings for me. Then you play furbank at full bank.
But the Lions wont play the way England play thankfully.
If ireland win the 6 nations for the 3rd time, how can prendergast or Crawley not start for the lions. Russell is a loser, he can't manage a team to win something
Did you watch Finn when he came on the field during the last Lions tour? Absolutely transformed the team yes he did.
I would just change Keenan at 15, Kinghorn on the bench
Agreed. Kinghorn covers more positions as well so it makes more sense.
I love rugby but I really dont get the lions! What’s the point? Surely you want your own national team to beat Australia? Surely better to watch Northerm hemisphere against southern hemisphere?
The Lions tour is one of the great traditions of rugby. It is an institution that goes back over 100 years. It's part of the fabric of the game that dates back to when people played rugby for sport, not for money. If you don't understand why the Lions tours happen, you don't understand the history of the game .
On top of all the things the first commenter said, the Lions also have the big challenge of moulding a team from a scratch squad inside a few weeks, and play it all away from home. It is a fascinating challenge, and includes a very rare things these days - an international team playing provincial teams, not just test matches. It is one of the greatest things in sport.
If things don't change and unions and their clubs continue to struggle to get money and numbers playing and watching the sport begin decreasing, then it is likely that the England, Scotland, and Wales XV teams will follow the philosophy of the England, Scotland, and Wales rugby VII teams and merge into a Great British team for International competitions, with the clubs forming a Great British league. Of course, this will be the end of the Six Nations as we know it with all its traditions and the emergance of a new Six Nations with South Africa and Georgia joining and with promotion and relegation. Of course, the Lions tour may continue four years but instead of it being a England, Scotand, and Wales selection, it will be a Great British selection with Ireland.
@@Analytical2000 Which, in the end, it's exactly the same thing !😉
@@brianmsahin well the Lions tour would stay the same, but the six nations would not and the URC would not.