Lions Tour 2025

[Dctarget]

I'd think a semi-final at least, and a few pool games, would make the most sense to me. Setting aside the $$$'s for a second, imagine running two semis and a final on the same surface, not to mention the numerous pool games. Can't imagine Homebush surface would hold up that well.

also for the same audience. Melbourne does not like the Rebels but they do like any other foreign rugby team. As evidenced by the 50,000 kiwis at the Bledisloe 'G.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'd think a semi-final at least, and a few pool games, would make the most sense to me. Setting aside the $$$'s for a second, imagine running two semis and a final on the same surface, not to mention the numerous pool games. Can't imagine Homebush surface would hold up that well.

Don't really need to imagine it.

Stade de France hosted 2 quarters, 2 semis, the bronze match and GF last year

 

[Wilson]

Oh yea, feel that is obvious. WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) would have been furious to pose potentially ~ $20 - 30min in ticket and hospo by not hosting in Melbourne.

World Rugby are the ones that have been handling the talks from the start, if they were furious it would've been with Victoria for not bidding, but I don't think they're massively worried about ticketing and hospo which they'll be expecting to sell out for most games wherever they are. There's only a few that would've been able to get any sort of boost from the MCG's capacity. The reason both parties are back at the table is because of pressure on the Victorian government to bid for games. They've come back to World Rugby with some sort of offer:

MCG officials were fuming that their chances of not only potentially hosting the final but also of having any involvement in the mega event were scuttled by politics, so began lobbying Jacinta Allan’s government to get back to the negotiating table.

The government listened and went back with a new offer. And while the talks are ongoing and highly sensitive, people familiar with the discussions said there had been a positive shift in the discussions.

 

[Adam84]

Sounds like polling from the leaked articles didn't go down so well, or WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) have cracked the almighty shits.

Getting loads of popcorn to see how this plays out.

Would love to know how they are still in contention.

Or…. More likely Vic Govt heeded the warning and came back to the table with more money

 

[oztimmay]

Don't really need to imagine it.

Stade de France hosted 2 quarters, 2 semis, the bronze match and GF last year

True, but Stade de France doesn't host a fair chunk of a NRL season which can only be brutal on the surface. Can't imagine Soccer would be that brutal on the surface condition.

 

[Adam84]

Positive all round if it works… more money for RA/WR (World Rugby) and Victorian fans get RWC matches in the home state

…well maybe not positive for vic taxpayers, but not without its economic benefits

 

[oztimmay]

Last RWC down here was wonderful. Tickets for AUS v IRE were so hard to buy I had to meet a guy at TAB in Knox City for some over-priced seats.
Ifs that not a red flag for trouble I don't know what is...

 

[Dan54]

After first couple of weeks of 6Ns, you would think the Lions will be made up of at least 14- 15 Irish players,
8-10 English , 7-9 Scots and a couple of Welsh?
Not sure of touring number, usually 35 or something?

 

[Elfster]

I fear the main issue with this year's Lion tour is that the main coverage with it is with STAN/ Nine Network.

The Herald still has no coverage of this weekend's 6-nations. And that media organization is so far into league and the PVL fan club (with club Albo) that they won't dear cover anything else to upset their sycophantic, always independent, league commentators. And on 2GB - what sporting excellence!

 

[LeCheese]

I fear the main issue with this year's Lion tour is that the main coverage with it is with STAN/ Nine Network.

The Herald still has no coverage of this weekend's 6-nations. And that media organization is so far into league and the PVL fan club (with club Albo) that they won't dear cover anything else to upset their sycophantic, always independent, league commentators. And on 2GB - what sporting excellence!

If they're playing well, it'll be another Matildas situation where it becomes too big a story to ignore

 

[Braveheart81]

The Herald still has no coverage of this weekend's 6-nations.

This doesn't really seem like something they should cover in my opinion.

There's plenty of rugby content that is relevant to their audience.

A big aspect of news mostly being online now is that people aren't restricted to a single source like they were when everything they read was in a physical newspaper. What's the point of Nine/Fairfax taking coverage away from more relevant rugby stories to cover something that is available from a litany of sources that are covering it for their own audiences?

I think it's safe to assume that any rugby fan who wants to read about the Six Nations isn't going to miss out purely because it isn't on SMH.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Super League in the UK starts this week. Despite how much league coverage will be in SMH I can't imagine there's much Super League coverage.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

1 Angus Bell
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Alex Hodgman
4 Nick Frost
5 ?
6 Charlie Cale?
7 Fraser Mcreight
8 Rob Valetini (this loosie trio does look a wee bit undersized.....)
9 Ben Donaldson
10 Tate Mcdermott
11 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (too risky asking him to defend in the centres)
12 Hunter Paisami
13 Len Ikitau
14 Max Jorgensen
15 Tom Wright (seems to have eschewed the rocks from the rocks and diamonds)

 

[HogansHeros]

1 Angus Bell
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Alex Hodgman
4 Nick Frost
5 ?
6 Charlie Cale?
7 Fraser Mcreight
8 Rob Valetini (this loosie trio does look a wee bit undersized.....)
9 Ben Donaldson
10 Tate Mcdermott
11 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (too risky asking him to defend in the centres)
12 Hunter Paisami
13 Len Ikitau
14 Max Jorgensen
15 Tom Wright (seems to have eschewed the rocks from the rocks and diamonds)

Id maybe swap 9 and 10, but also up for an experiment

 

[cyclopath]

1 Angus Bell
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Alex Hodgman
4 Nick Frost
5 ?
6 Charlie Cale?
7 Fraser Mcreight
8 Rob Valetini (this loosie trio does look a wee bit undersized.....)
9 Ben Donaldson
10 Tate Mcdermott
11 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (too risky asking him to defend in the centres)
12 Hunter Paisami
13 Len Ikitau
14 Max Jorgensen
15 Tom Wright (seems to have eschewed the rocks from the rocks and diamonds)

Cale is a real talent, and I am a big fan, but I suspect they might want someone with a bit more weight at 6. Not saying that's right, but just my thoughts.

 

[Derpus]

Presumably be the incumbent captain?

 

[upthereds#!]

1 Angus Bell
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Alex Hodgman
4 Nick Frost
5 ?
6 Charlie Cale?
7 Fraser Mcreight
8 Rob Valetini (this loosie trio does look a wee bit undersized.....)
9 Ben Donaldson
10 Tate Mcdermott
11 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (too risky asking him to defend in the centres)
12 Hunter Paisami
13 Len Ikitau
14 Max Jorgensen
15 Tom Wright (seems to have eschewed the rocks from the rocks and diamonds)

1. Bell
2. Faessler
3. Ala'alatoa (Hodgman is a LHP)
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. Mcreight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Lolesio
11. JAS
12. Paisami
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. BPA 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)/Williams 20. Cale/CDC/Uru 21. Mcdermott 22. Donaldson 23. Kellaway

 

[Dctarget]

Skelton will be straight in. La Rochelle won't make the Top 14 finals at this rate let alone the GF. His last match will be same time as some of our boys if they make the Super final.

I also think Joe will be tempted by Kerevi again at 12, he'll at least make the squad. Then if not that, he'll revert to 12. Ikitau 13. Sua'ali'i before Paisami starts.

Williams deserves to start with Skelton in the row. Then probably Frost on the bench.

 

[Slim 293]

I also think Joe will be tempted by Kerevi again at 12, he'll at least make the squad. Then if not that, he'll revert to 12. Ikitau 13. Sua'ali'i before Paisami starts.

I'd say either one of those scenarios is most likely, and the Wallabies' backline functioned significantly better without Paisami last year...

 

[Derpus]

I thought Kerevi looked good in his cameo last year... until he didn't