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Lions Tour 2025

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
Which is silly because the AUNZ will bring in so much more money than South Africa v Barbarians.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kerevi's D-Rocks are playing silly buggers and named a prohibitive price.
I wondered if it was how RA budgeted for the AUNZ game Dc? Like you I would imagine it will bring in a lot more coin. Perhaps either RA have to give a percentage to Lions (quite possible as they have no national union paying the players) or even the Saffas were just using it as a warm up/promotional game for Boks etc. I sure there a reason.
I do wonder if RA(or NZR etc) has to pay some of wages for Lions, as I not sure where else the money comes from. (something that I just thought of so don't yell at me:eek:
 

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
I wondered if it was how RA budgeted for the AUNZ game Dc? Like you I would imagine it will bring in a lot more coin. Perhaps either RA have to give a percentage to Lions (quite possible as they have no national union paying the players) or even the Saffas were just using it as a warm up/promotional game for Boks etc. I sure there a reason.
I do wonder if RA9or NZR etc) has to pay some of wages for Lions, as I not sure where else the money comes from. (something that I just thought of so don't yell at me:eek:
Yeah clearly the ~$80,000 for Kerevi isn't worth it for RA. May as well pocket that money and select someone cheaper, won't change the money brought in anyway. Koroibete has been selected so methinks Kerevi is more expensive than normal.
 

Strewthcobber

Michael Lynagh (62)
I wondered if it was how RA budgeted for the AUNZ game Dc? Like you I would imagine it will bring in a lot more coin. Perhaps either RA have to give a percentage to Lions (quite possible as they have no national union paying the players) or even the Saffas were just using it as a warm up/promotional game for Boks etc. I sure there a reason.
I do wonder if RAor NZR etc) has to pay some of wages for Lions, as I not sure where else the money comes from. (something that I just thought of so don't yell at me:eek:
RA and the Lions have a JV with a revenue share model.


The Lions players get paid for the tour, plus a share of the tours profit out of the Lions portion
 

Wilson

Tim Horan (67)
With the last of the Super v Lions games done I expect we'll see some more names dropping for the First Nations/Pasifika squad soon. Currently it's got Beale, Muirhead, Gamble, Uru, and Leota. I'd expect heavy Brumbies representation with them having missed out on Au/NZ. I had a crack on naming a 23 (assuming no wallabies releases, working with guys I'm pretty sure are eligible, but there's definitely room to have missed some.):

1 Pearce
2 BPA
3 Fotuaika
4 Salakaia-Loto
5 Tualima
6 Leota
7 Gamble
8 Uru
9 Goddard
10 Pasitoa? Edit: Debreczeni
11 Reilly
12 Feliuai
13 Foketi
14 Muirhead
15 Beale

16 Asiata
17 Ieli
18 Toomaga-Allen
19 Vest
20 Uru
21 Thomas
22 Isaac Henry
23 Heremaia Murray?

Very light on at 10 with Pasitoa the only guy I'm aware of who qualifies, it might see Beale play there. Henry is the only other guy I could see who even covers it, unless I'm missing someone.

Prop, lock and surprisingly back 3 are also a little light, but they could be fine with fringe wallabies released - Swain, Nonggorr/Tupou, and Pietsch/Daugunu would make a pretty big difference. Paisami and Gleeson might also come in if they are outside the wallabies 23, but there's less need there.

There are some other guys who'd fit in well for the squad but probably aren't first choice to include in Fa'agase, Amone, Vailanu, Saumaisue, Talaitina, Ekuasi, Fines-Leleiwasa, and Pakeho (if fit). Possibly some guys form the under 20s might come in to fill out the squad if timing on their return from Italy works. Also wouldn't mind seeing a few fringe guys like one of the Oates brothers given a crack, particularly on the First Nations side of things
 
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Tomikin

Michael Lynagh (62)
With the last of the Super v Lions games done I expect we'll see some more names dropping for the First Nations/Pasifika squad soon. Currently it's got Beale, Muirhead, Gamble, Uru, and Leota. I'd expect heavy Brumbies representation with them having missed out on Au/NZ.
You gone full Australian players there, but maybe they will pick some Fijians Tongans etc, and get them involved in the game. Could be worse.
 

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
I'm pretty pleased with the provincial teams' performances. Went the opposite way to what I expected. I thought they'd get exponentially better with each game but it was the opposite. Proper games from 'Tahs and Brumbies means that they can't claim that the Aussie teams left them undercooked.

We don't have an answer to Sheehan, Itoje or Russell. Everywhere else I think we can match them.
 

Wilson

Tim Horan (67)
You gone full Australian players there, but maybe they will pick some Fijians Tongans etc, and get them involved in the game. Could be worse.
My understanding is the squad will be all players contracted to Australian super sides, though I'm not sure if they have said that definitively or just implied it.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Rod McCall (65)
I'm pretty pleased with the provincial teams' performances. Went the opposite way to what I expected. I thought they'd get exponentially better with each game but it was the opposite. Proper games from 'Tahs and Brumbies means that they can't claim that the Aussie teams left them undercooked.

We don't have an answer to Sheehan, Itoje or Russell. Everywhere else I think we can match them.
9s an issue for us. Gordon hasn't played a game yet and not played since the 24th May v the Force.

Tate didn't sell himself as a starting option although I think owns a bench spot with his impact.

The Lions with Gibson-Park and Mitchell really have a dominant set of 9s behind a big pack. Finn getting constant quality ball is a worry.
 

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Now that the Lions have played the four Oz Super sides with a 47 point margin over the Force, 40 over the Reds, 12 over the Brumbies, where does that put the Tahs with their 11 point loss? I would hope some of the irrational opprobrium directed towards the Tahs here and elsewhere might abate a bit. If any of the tour matches shone a pathway how to beat the Lions it was the Tahs match with their rush defence.

One remains hopeful.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Rod McCall (65)
I think the Tahs rush was effective but the Brums also exposed an avenue to attack which is get it past 13. The Lions want to shoot up and pressure a tackle for a loss. Tom Wright may be on for a lot of try assists if the 10 can pop out the back and he takes space and loops it to the wing like O'Donnell did for Tooles try.

The Force also found space out wide when they got the chance. I think we saw a bit of this plan with how JAS was used to suck in defenders v Fiji. Make space out wide and get the Lions having to run around the field instead of defend in a channel for long periods, not get tired and eventually dominate a breakdown through sheer size and skill.
 
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