Lions Tour 2025
- Thread starter KevinO
- Start date
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Cale too, depending on how 'long term' his back issue is. Uru is just about a dead cert at this point though, as long as he stays fit.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Frost's defence is absolutely terrible. He gets sat down constantly. He's good for a rangey run/intercept/charge down every 15 games but he ain't denting the line. Skelton's link play is great, he takes in three defenders and offloads in the process to a McReight/McDermott etc. The genius thing about playing Skelton is if you can also play Bell, Valetini with him, they run out of defenders after the three hit ups then you can spin it out with an overlap. Whereas you only need one adequately talented defender to chop Frost.
Skelton definitely has his weaknesses but it's not his ball in hand nor his tackling. I haven't even touched on what it must be like to scrum with him behind you.
Derpus
Phil Waugh (73)
Frost also straight up misses his fair share. I think you are underselling his work rate in tight though.
Edit: It's kind of hard to see how a scrum with Tupou, Bell and Skelton could ever lose.
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Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
If Hooper keeps going the way he is I'd pick him at 6 or as the bench backrower
The Ghost of Raelene
Michael Lynagh (62)
Frost is always getting in there and trying but it's not effective. It's just not his game to be a physical presence. If he's to start and he has been very good over the last 6 months it has to be with an abrasive partner. I'd also have Swain in that category. Looks like he would be physical but I don't think he shifts a game with it. Theyr'e technical guys who are very good at line out time and positional play but not bullies and you do need a couple out there or the likes of McReight and the 9, 10 are able to be pressured.
The bullies at Lock in Aus are Skelton and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). Williams is almost there but doesn't have the same size. You could make a case for Ryan Smith being one of the most well rounded Locks in the country as well but he is a victim of being a 7/10 in every aspect and not having a glaring feature.
Starting to use and figure out whats effective. The fact we chucked him in a 7 jersey...
Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
Would allow us to pick another lock on the bench as McReight is playing out the 80mins. I'm keen of Skelton, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) or Swain (one to start and one on the bench) along with Frost or Williams (either to start).
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
I got them impression from the most recent comments made by Phil Waugh that when the lions series arrives RA will be instructing Schmidt to pick his best squad from any players available, including those that are leaving next year, insisting that the number 1 priority is winning the series. I could understand why Schidt might leave a player like Gleeson out of the January meet up (instead opting to bring another young player into the tent) but that doesn't mean Schidt won't select players like Gleeson and Hooper come July if they're good enough.
dillyboy
Colin Windon (37)
Like someone said a few pages ago (or possibly in the Wallabies thread), I think it's a bit rich for a coach who hasn't committed beyond this year to not pick players who are leaving at the end of the year....
I kinda get it in a regular season with a WC looming but for the lions you pick your best 23 irrespective of where they're based & where they'll be next year
I agree with this. A camp in January is completely different to an actual test squad.
Makes sense that what is essentially a "planning camp" focuses on future planning and when you pick your test squad it's your best available.
Last year it made reasonable sense to prioritize players who were remaining in Australia because we were building towards the Lions series. This year that doesn't apply. The Lions series is now and we need to do everything we can to win.
After that I'd be pretty happy to start shifting towards a focus on the RWC. That said, I would still be focusing on the best available players. A RWC and in particular a home RWC does give you an opportunity to bring in more foreign based players and get the benefits of having a much longer lead time to get the squad to mesh.
I'd certainly be fine with using a player remaining in Australia as a tie-breaker over a departing player if the decision was very close.
dru
David Wilson (68)
I think the "concern" of the HC contract finishing this year, but not wanting to select players in the same boat - well, it's a bit of a beat up. At least if that is the end of the discussion. All coaches have an end to contract, all coaches will move on, all coaches will (or should) carry out selections based on policy set by their employer.
OTOH if RA don't open up selection policy in a Lions Tour year, when we have been crawling out of a nadir - well that would be silly. And actually likely damaging to the game.
OTOH if RA don't open up selection policy in a Lions Tour year, when we have been crawling out of a nadir - well that would be silly. And actually likely damaging to the game.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
There is no official policy from RA to not select players under contract as far as I'm aware. At least none published. It's up to the coach to select who he wants - it appears the previous choices to not select contracted players is just Schmidt's decision (and I don't think that's wrong to date)
Lions is clearly a different kettle of fish
A bit like his decision to not select many, if any, players elegible under the current Giteau law. You only need 5 seasons of Super Rugby to qualify these days, which would cover heaps of additional players, if they were wanted by the coach
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Thinking the same & regardless of whether Hooper goes overseas or not, Uru is playing a blinder in 2025
Wilson
John Eales (66)
He's also playing the role if we're talking about the job being pairing Valetini and McReight in the back row. Hooper is offering back up for Valetini, but not synergy.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Minor addition.
Derpus
Phil Waugh (73)
I reckon no one is displacing any of McReight, Wilson or Valetini in the starting side. Like Hooper and Pocock before, they are so clearly our best players that I don't think dropping one of them for Skelton is worth it.
For me I'd be bringing Uru and Skelton off the bench. Gleeson if we go 6-2.
For me I'd be bringing Uru and Skelton off the bench. Gleeson if we go 6-2.
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upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Derpus
Phil Waugh (73)
I doubt we'd bother. Odds of our third choice flyhalf appearing at all would be slim (assuming Noah and Donaldson at 1 and 2).