Lions Tour 2025

[Brumby Runner]

If we end up running a lock at 6 (I don't think we will) it'll be Williams. He's the most mobile of our current crop and has spent a bit of time there more recently. I still think we'll go to one of Uru, Hooper, Gleeson and probably CdC before that happens though.

Possibly even Tizzano at 6, (whose role for the Force is more like Wilson's than McReight's) might come into play too, but that might hurt our lineout too much.

Have we not learnt the pitfalls of playing two No 7s? Didn't work with Smith/Waugh or Hooper/Pocock and they were all a big step up on McReight/Tizzano.

The other option at 6/8 if he comes good injury-wise is Charlie Cale.

 

[Dctarget]

It worked really well with the Pooper. The Fooper was a great trio.

 

[Braveheart81]

Have we not learnt the pitfalls of playing two No 7s? Didn't work with Smith/Waugh or Hooper/Pocock and they were all a big step up on McReight/Tizzano.

You could argue that it worked pretty well given we got to RWC finals with both of those combinations.

I don't think we are at all likely to repeat it anytime soon because we have a lot of strength across the backrow and while Tizzano is good, he's not a generational sort of player like Smith/Waugh/Pocock/Hooper.

 

[Wilson]

Have we not learnt the pitfalls of playing two No 7s? Didn't work with Smith/Waugh or Hooper/Pocock and they were all a big step up on McReight/Tizzano.

The other option at 6/8 if he comes good injury-wise is Charlie Cale.

Look, I'm not advocating it but I also think it's wrong to say that previous dual 7 setups didn't work in the absolute. For the most part they worked quite well, until other teams adapted and were able to exploit the weaknesses it created. That is more or less true of any tactic though, if you stay still long enough teams will pass you. I could definitely see it being used judiciously for parts of this series to pretty good effect, particularly against a Lions side just coming together.

On Cale, he's potentially also an option, but will need to get back on the field first, he's been out way too much this past season (or 2) for me to have an idea of where he's at and where he stands in Joe's thinking.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Look, I'm not advocating it but I also think it's wrong to say that previous dual 7 setups didn't work in the absolute. For the most part they worked quite well, until other teams adapted and were able to exploit the weaknesses it created. That is more or less true of any tactic though, if you stay still long enough teams will pass you. I could definitely see it being used judiciously for parts of this series to pretty good effect, particularly against a Lions side just coming together.

On Cale, he's potentially also an option, but will need to get back on the field first, he's been out way too much this past season (or 2) for me to have an idea of where he's at and where he stands in Joe's thinking.

Charlie played 10 Super Rugby matches in 23/24 and two test matches. He played only 4 Super Rugby matches this year but accumulated 10 points (I think) in the POTY Award with votes from opposition coaches and captains. I have no doubt at all about his talent to thrive at test level, but current fitness is certainly a huge concern. Hoping he can get some runs in the final(s) and lead up games against the Lions.

 

[Adam84]

Charlie Cale has missed the Lions window surely, if he were a lock in the position at test level with runs on the board then maybe they could parachute him in, but he is far from that and there's plenty of other competition from in-form blindsides/backrowers ahead of him it wouldn't make sense too...

Maybe later in the year if he returns to fitness

 

[griffins]

Charlie played 10 Super Rugby matches in 23/24 and two test matches. He played only 4 Super Rugby matches this year but accumulated 10 points (I think) in the POTY Award with votes from opposition coaches and captains. I have no doubt at all about his talent to thrive at test level, but current fitness is certainly a huge concern. Hoping he can get some runs in the final(s) and lead up games against the Lions.

BR I actually agree with a lot of your takes, and we're both on the same team, but it does detract from your credibility when you advocate so hard for a Brumby like Cale when unfortunately a lot of blokes have jumped the queue while he's been injured. While I don't think theyr're seriously in contention Champion de Crespigny and Brial have shown plenty of form this season while Cale has been in rehab, for instance.

If you had to push the case for a Brumbies outsides, albeit only because he's signed elsewhere next year, it has to be Hooper. In any case it's great that Schmidt has plenty of options in the back row at least.

 

[HogansHeros]

Can we go uncontested and put on a backrower at tighthead?

 

[Major Tom]

Can we go uncontested and put on a backrower at tighthead?

We have one at LH

 

[Wilson]

No Hooper for the AU/NZ team:

No final fond farewell: Wallabies legend Hooper out of Lions clash

Michael Hooper will not play for the AUNZ XV, but Richie Mo’unga is racing against clock with a broken hand to play in the showpiece game.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au