Lions Tour 2025

[The GroundsKeeper]

First time poster - from Wales - so please go easy on me!

I toured Australia with the 2001 Lions but am unable to make it this time. Are printed match Programmes still produced for Wallaby home matches? If so - does anyone know who has the contract for printing them for the upcoming tour? I'm a collector of Lions and Wales programmes but seem to find them harder to get hold of these days.

Probably not , they were always great to have and to be able look back on. But now days there seems to be a QR code which leads to a website. However for such an event like the Lions they might have physical programs available but I wouldn't think they'll be expensive.

 

[dru]

First time poster - from Wales - so please go easy on me!

I toured Australia with the 2001 Lions but am unable to make it this time. Are printed match Programmes still produced for Wallaby home matches? If so - does anyone know who has the contract for printing them for the upcoming tour? I'm a collector of Lions and Wales programmes but seem to find them harder to get hold of these days.

Welcome to Green and Gold.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Reprinted from SMH:

"Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions have agreed to use the 20-minute red card in their upcoming test series, and, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the anti-climactic drawn Lions-All Blacks series in 2017, RA are also pushing for golden point to ensure a winner."

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

20-min red card good, GP WTF?

 

[Omar Comin']

Reprinted from SMH:

"Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions have agreed to use the 20-minute red card in their upcoming test series, and, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the anti-climactic drawn Lions-All Blacks series in 2017, RA are also pushing for golden point to ensure a winner."

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

20-min red card good, GP WTF?

I think it's better to have a winner than a drawn series, and something like golden point is better than most alternatives.

But I don't like the rugby penalty shoot out as the decider if no one scores in the golden point period. I'd probably prefer something like a golden try, where every 3 minutes both teams have to lose 2 players. Imagine 9 minutes in and you're down to 9 a side, it'd be awesome.

 

[Micheal]

I think it's better to have a winner than a drawn series, and something like golden point is better than most alternatives.

But I don't like the rugby penalty shoot out as the decider if no one scores in the golden point period. I'd probably prefer something like a golden try, where every 3 minutes both teams have to lose 2 players. Imagine 9 minutes in and you're down to 9 a side, it'd be awesome.

I may be in the minority here but I actually thought the drawn series against NZ was a fantastic outcome and probably reflected the series really well.

For me a drawn series is peak cinema and far more interesting or rare (+ a far better story for future generations) than one team winning in gamified-arcade-karaoke-style via golden try or some other nonsense.

 

[Braveheart81]

For me a drawn series is peak cinema and far more interesting or rare (+ a far better story for future generations) than one team winning in gamified-arcade-karaoke-style via golden try or some other nonsense.

I think draws are fine too.

You only need extra time/golden point etc. when you have to have a winner (knock-out games).

 

[hawko07]

Keen to see this game, the coaching panel is a real 'who's who':

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Kepu is about 2 more injuries away from being asked if he's sweet for 20 mins in a Test.

 

[Mick The Munch]

Who's in Melbourne for this?

 

[Omar Comin']

I may be in the minority here but I actually thought the drawn series against NZ was a fantastic outcome and probably reflected the series really well.

For me a drawn series is peak cinema and far more interesting or rare (+ a far better story for future generations) than one team winning in gamified-arcade-karaoke-style via golden try or some other nonsense.

I agree it's a decent and fair sporting outcome, but I don't think it's ideal from an entertainment perspective. Surely peak sport is a super close high jeopardy match or series that ends in extreme elation and devastation in equal measure! A draw takes away that emotional climax. There's a reason viewership peaks when say a big soccer match goes to a penalty shoot out, or grand slam tennis final reaches the latter stage of a 5th set.

In my mind the only real exception is something like a tie in test cricket, where the result is so improbable it's probably the coolest outcome.

 

[Dctarget]

Do we have any dates for squad announcements for the two invitational teams?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Do we have any dates for squad announcements for the two invitational teams?

Will have to be after the Aus + NZ squads are named wont it?

 

[Sword of Justice]

If Wilson’s mail re the eponymous’ wrist injury from the quali match thread is correct then it seems we may not have our captain for this series.

While I don’t think Wilson has been lights out this year these are enormous shoes to fill, either by a very green player such as CDC or Hooper or an out of form Leota possibly.

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 might not be the worst option with Valetini moving back but he’s only just now coming back himself.

 

[The Ruckening]

If Wilson’s mail re the eponymous’ wrist injury from the quali match thread is correct then it seems we may not have our captain for this series.

While I don’t think Wilson has been lights out this year these are enormous shoes to fill, either by a very green player such as CDC or Hooper or an out of form Leota possibly.

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 might not be the worst option with Valetini moving back but he’s only just now coming back himself.

Highly rate Salakaia-Loto, great player great work ethic. Definitely could be a smart option.

 

[Major Tom]

If Wilson’s mail re the eponymous’ wrist injury from the quali match thread is correct then it seems we may not have our captain for this series.

While I don’t think Wilson has been lights out this year these are enormous shoes to fill, either by a very green player such as CDC or Hooper or an out of form Leota possibly.

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 might not be the worst option with Valetini moving back but he’s only just now coming back himself.

We actually have the cattle in this position to cope. Wilson's leadership would be missed though. Langi, Hooper and Uru are all capable at test level. I'd make McReight captain in Wilson's absence.

 

[Strewthcobber]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 might not be the worst option with Valetini moving back but he’s only just now coming back himself.

I still have nightmares about LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 in his last stint for the Wallabies there when good teams simply ran around him. He's probably less mobile now than he was then too.

 

[Wilson]

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.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

God no, not the double 7 thing. Especially if Frost is starting. Neither are have Pococks physical attributes to hold it.

 

[drewprint]

Dammit. I’m having Hooper at #6 then for sure. Edit: and start Skelton.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I still have nightmares about LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 in his last stint for the Wallabies there when good teams simply ran around him. He's probably less mobile now than he was then too.

Thanks for the reality check Strewth, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at Lock off the bench is his go.