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Who are the guys with maori heritage in the team? Messam, all three halfbacks (?), Romano, Carter (a wee bit), Coles. Any others? I know Mealamu has led it before, but I think they quite rightly prefer to give the role to a maori bloke.

I'd heard Russia was meant to be up after Japan. That would be a real experience.

Has this been posted already? Shane Williams... The Brumbies have to be in with a chance. This is a really cobbled together Lions side. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8802138/Shock-Lions-callup-for-Shane-Williams

Don't know about 3-0, but the wallabies would definitely be favourites if Flood et al get anywhere near the match-day squad. I don't get to watch much northern hemisphere rugby, but I'd always heard that we in the antipodes had never seen the best of Sexton. This tour he has started to really...

I'd prefer a bit less passion and a bit more throwing-practice. But you're right, he seems like a good guy.

Pretty exciting squad. I've learned my lesson about having scoreboard-based hopes when playing France, so I'm hoping for some other outcomes instead. If Luatua and/or Coles show a hard edge and that they can step up, then I think we can consider the series a success. I'm not too worried about...

Aware this is a Wallabies supporters site, but this is still pretty relevant. A few of you guys are going to need a new reason to throw shit at your TVs during the Bledisloe: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/8712429/Williams-calls-time-on-All-Blacks-career

I agree with all of that, except with Barnes at 23.

Scott made the point in his article today that the lack of a 4th lock could be to intentionally give Dennis plenty of time scrummaging in that position. If Dennis is going to be on the bench, then he'd better get used to packing down at 4/5 (probably 4, I imagine). It's probably lacking in a bit...

You think they'll get their act together for more than one test?

You need enough guys for proper opposed training (particularly for scrums I imagine - though I'll defer to a forward on that one), and if you named a match-day 22 (23 now?) this early, you'd promote complacency. I agree with you that it would be better to just name a squad of 30-odd already, but...

Mate disagreement aside, I'd actually appreciate that message.

I find that pretty difficult to believe. A lot of the guys in that 7s set-up are super rugby players (Lucas, Stubbs, Stannard etc.) and as you said they play and train together all year. Unless your mate is Quade Cooper, I doubt he could just pitch up and smash them.

That has to be the most depth any province/club in the world has in a single set of positions (backrow/outside backs/front row, etc.).

Damn it. Normal service resumed.

FFS. Sometimes I feel sorry for these blokes having the spotlight on them for having one or two beers. But at the end of the day, is it really that hard to just keep your head down when you're already in the shit?

Fair, I remember that now. Still think it's a hard-sell for a top five spot.

Who are the three? And who else rounds out the five? Smith's been out of it for three years, and Gill has never played test rugby. And then there's Warburton, SOB, Robshaw, Brussouw, McCaw, Louw, Dusautoir, Armitage, Tipuric, that Scottish guy (Denton?).. Etc.

The ARU won't let them go under, but it'll be interesting to see whether the other SANZAR unions lend a hand. The NZRU is flush at the moment, but you'd have to think SARU would spy an opportunity to bring the Lions back in. Has this been looming for a while? Why the big signings?

I've had a theory for a while (which has probably been expressed by others elsewhere in this thread) that the Brumbies are a really good chance to beat the Lions this year, which would just be amazing to see. They're a good team, without a stack of superstars who are going to be poached by the...