Lions Tour 2025

[Adam84]

I'm ok if he is selected because he is the best player for that position(which is debatable), but I don't want selection to be about "Folau"...

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm ok if he is selected because he is the best player for that position(which is debatable), but I don't want it to be about Folau...

He's started 5 games in the last 3 years over in Japan. Even Tom Banks has managed to find 30 starts over that period with several major injuries

 

[Wilson]

The only folau I want to see for the Indigenous/Pasifika XV is Kyren Taumoefolau.

Actually Folau Fainga'a would be fine too, though I'd play him in the combined Aus/NZ side instead (or possibly as well).

 

[Heavyd]

Have RA given Any insight as to how many players it’s going to put in cotton wool leading into the tests? Surely we cannot deny players outside the 1-23 from participating in the State based games vs Lions…ie 24-35 cannot miss the opportunity to play just because we “might” need them.

 

[Adam84]

I’m sure they have a plan, but wont release it until close to the date at risk of impacting on ticket sales for those super rugby matches vs the lions

 

[Strewthcobber]

Have RA given Any insight as to how many players it’s going to put in cotton wool leading into the tests? Surely we cannot deny players outside the 1-23 from participating in the State based games vs Lions…ie 24-35 cannot miss the opportunity to play just because we “might” need them.

Only a couple of national squad members played for each of their states in the 2013 Lions tour.

Id imagine it will be pretty similar this year.

 

[Wilson]

There was some mention on it on Inside Line tonight. Didn't sound concrete, but the impression I got was there's a pretty solid push to make sure the squaddies are released.

 

[Heavyd]

I’m sure they have a plan, but wont release it until close to the date at risk of impacting on ticket sales for those super rugby matches vs the lions

So you are telling me to offload my Waratahs Vs Lions tickets as I won’t have heard of most of the team!! Do we have the depth to rest 35-40 Super players without getting flogged in every lead up game?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Lions coaches have been announced

 

[RebelYell]

There was some mention on it on Inside Line tonight. Didn't sound concrete, but the impression I got was there's a pretty solid push to make sure the squaddies are released.

Schmidt has been very conservative on this in the past - e.g. Reds vs. Wales - so I would expect similar

 

[Braveheart81]

So you are telling me to offload my Waratahs Vs Lions tickets as I won’t have heard of most of the team!! Do we have the depth to rest 35-40 Super players without getting flogged in every lead up game?

It's been the same on every previous tour.

Here's the Waratahs team from 2013. Rob Horne and Dave Dennis were the only Wallabies squad players released for the match.

HSBC Waratahs team to play The British & Irish Lions

Saturday June 15, 2013

Allianz Stadium, Sydney (AEST 7.30pm)

1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University, vice captain)

2. John Ulugia (Eastern Suburbs)

3. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University)

4. Will Skelton (Sydney University)

5. Ollie Atkins (Sydney University)

6. Jed Holloway (Southern Districts)

7. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University)

8. Dave Dennis (Sydney University, captain)

9. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)

10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University, vice captain)

11. Peter Betham (Sydney University)

12. Tom Carter (Sydney University)

13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts)

14. Cam Crawford (Northern Suburbs)

15. Drew Mitchell (Randwick)



Replacements

16. Luke Holmes (Warringah)

17. Richard Aho (Randwick)*

18. Sam Talakai (Sydney University)**

19. Lopeti Timani (Southern Districts)

20. AJ Gilbert (Northern Suburbs)*

21. Matt Lucas (Manly)

22. Ben Volavola (Southern Districts)

23. Tom Kingston (Sydney University)

 

[Dctarget]

It's been the same on every previous tour.

Here's the Waratahs team from 2013. Rob Horne and Dave Dennis were the only Wallabies squad players released for the match.

HSBC Waratahs team to play The British & Irish Lions

Saturday June 15, 2013

Allianz Stadium, Sydney (AEST 7.30pm)

1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University, vice captain)

2. John Ulugia (Eastern Suburbs)

3. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University)

4. Will Skelton (Sydney University)

5. Ollie Atkins (Sydney University)

6. Jed Holloway (Southern Districts)

7. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University)

8. Dave Dennis (Sydney University, captain)

9. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)

10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University, vice captain)

11. Peter Betham (Sydney University)

12. Tom Carter (Sydney University)

13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts)

14. Cam Crawford (Northern Suburbs)

15. Drew Mitchell (Randwick)



Replacements

16. Luke Holmes (Warringah)

17. Richard Aho (Randwick)*

18. Sam Talakai (Sydney University)**

19. Lopeti Timani (Southern Districts)

20. AJ Gilbert (Northern Suburbs)*

21. Matt Lucas (Manly)

22. Ben Volavola (Southern Districts)

23. Tom Kingston (Sydney University)

Foley, Skelton or Mitchell weren't Wallabies at the time?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Foley, Skelton or Mitchell weren't Wallabies at the time?

They weren't in the Wallaby squad in 2013.

Skelton and Foley yet to debut and Mitchell was on the outer because he'd signed with Toulon

 

[Braveheart81]

Foley debuted at the end of the 2013 Rugby Championship against Argentina.

Skelton was the 2014 series against France.

As Strewthcobber said, Mitchell was not only heading to Toulon but was also slowly coming back from the horrible leg injury he suffered in Super Rugby 2011. He returned to play in 2012 but I can't remember whether he played tests that year (and frustratingly, ESPNscrum.com which used to be great for historical team lists and match stats has basically become defunct).

 

[Highlander35]

2013 was a long time ago folks people forget the specifics

 

[Heavyd]

Schmidt has been very conservative on this in the past - e.g. Reds vs. Wales - so I would expect similar

Schmidt also has a responsibility to fringe Wallaby players and supporters in this country not to burn the good will this tour can bring in his search for victory.

The public are being charged extortinant prices to see their state teams play the Lions touring party. Therefore there can be no reason why RA would allow the coach to bench 17 players from the list for 7 warm up games just in case someone in the 23 gets injured. That would deny players the once in a life time opportunity the Lions presen, playing in front of a packed stadium. Lets hope Phil Waugh has to rocks to think about the big picture.

Forwards: Allan Ala'alatoa, Angus Bell, Angus Blyth, Josh Canham, Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea
Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Noah Lolesio
Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Nic White, Tom Wright.

 

[Adam84]

The public are being charged extortinant prices to see their state teams play the Lions touring party. Therefore there can be no reason why RA would allow the coach to bench 17 players from the list for 7 warm up games just in case someone in the 23 gets injured. That would deny players the once in a life time opportunity the Lions presen, playing in front of a packed stadium. Lets hope Phil Waugh has to rocks to think about the big picture.

Maybe my perspective has been twisted after paying to see Metallica and Green Day this year, but ticket prices for the Oz Super Rugby Teams vs Lions don't actually seem that bad. Tahs, Reds and Brumbies are all starting at $59 for adults & $39 for children. Force have tickets starting at $39 for adults, albeit in the largest stadium. Out of that, only the Tahs are sold out of the cheapest ticket prices.

I agree some of the platinum packages are ridiculous, but I woulnd't say $59 to see the Lions is extortion.

 

[Braveheart81]

Schmidt also has a responsibility to fringe Wallaby players and supporters in this country not to burn the good will this tour can bring in his search for victory.

The public are being charged extortinant prices to see their state teams play the Lions touring party. Therefore there can be no reason why RA would allow the coach to bench 17 players from the list for 7 warm up games just in case someone in the 23 gets injured. That would deny players the once in a life time opportunity the Lions presen, playing in front of a packed stadium. Lets hope Phil Waugh has to rocks to think about the big picture.

The public are paying a premium to attend premium sporting events.

I get where you're coming from but I don't really agree that the bulk of players should be released. Certainly more could be released for the Force game right at the start of the tour but the closer it gets to the tests the less likely and less players that should be released.

I don't think it works to have a player in the Wallabies squad for most of the week and then releasing them to the Super Rugby side for the captain's run the day before the game. You either have them prepare with the team all week or you keep them in the Wallabies squad. Otherwise you're compromising both sides.

I also think if you are releasing the bulk of your players outside of the 23 you're basically locking in a matchday 23 when the squad assembles and making it hard to change that until after the first test. Is that really the best preparation for the series?

Why should this time be any different to previous series? I want Rugby Australia to prioritize winning the test series. Everything else is secondary to that.

 

[LeCheese]

The public are being charged extortinant prices to see their state teams play the Lions touring party.

Most tickets are like +30% on top of usual Super prices for a once-in-twelve-year event.

I'd take that over the Eras Tour pricing any day (which I also happily paid for, mind you).

 

[Wilson]

The public are paying a premium to attend premium sporting events.

I get where you're coming from but I don't really agree that the bulk of players should be released. Certainly more could be released for the Force game right at the start of the tour but the closer it gets to the tests the less likely and less players that should be released.

I don't think it works to have a player in the Wallabies squad for most of the week and then releasing them to the Super Rugby side for the captain's run the day before the game. You either have them prepare with the team all week or you keep them in the Wallabies squad. Otherwise you're compromising both sides.

I also think if you are releasing the bulk of your players outside of the 23 you're basically locking in a matchday 23 when the squad assembles and making it hard to change that until after the first test. Is that really the best preparation for the series?

Why should this time be any different to previous series? I want Rugby Australia to prioritize winning the test series. Everything else is secondary to that.

The main reason for the difference here is the role it will play in contract negotiation when we're in a much worse position than 12 years ago - there's a real risk of losing players out of the middle tier/wallaby fringe if they are denied the chance to play the Lions at all because they've been held in reserve for the wallabies. That doesn't necessarily mean releases to play for the super sides though, for some it will probably be the Au/NZ combined side or the Pasifika/Indigenous one.