Richie Mo'unga not the only new face in All Blacks team to play Lions

Jim played pretty well 2025/26…one of the leading metres and turnover merchants in SR for last 2 years. Just needs more than 10 mins in a black jersey

Rens never sleeps, thats for sure.

Uh uh, its showing he had no real plan or foresight. Kneejerk reactions. These players should have already been here and now we have to get lucky that he hasn’t hindered our chances for the rest of the tour.

Hi Bazz - what a game - AB’s out AB’ed themselves. Lots of humble pie indigestion this side of the old Indian Ocean.

Rassie has never been tested like this - I really think he began to believe his own PR.

Our question. Will he continue to pursue Tonyball or will he go back to the safety of the physical dominance - goal kicking closet.

For Rennie - real problems at scrum time. The second string front row that came on will not stand up to a fresh first string Bok front row - it’s not a good thing to have the hooker as the strongest scrummer - it is a recipie for disaster as you can imagine.

So if Rassie brings Pollard in and just kicks every scrum penalty - not guaranteed to happen, but the Georgian ref who is in charge next gives a lot of old school credibility to the scrum - that’s what the Georgians understand - they are strong men, then what does Rennie do.

His much talked about quick ruck balls never materialised because they were going backwards in the tackle with very little go forward so it’s all very well to have aggressive cleanouts but not much cop if they’re taking place two meters behind the tackle point.

Hey - I’d rather be Rennie than Rassie right now because the AB’s have figured out a way to win without set piece and collision superiority and Rassie hasn’t figured out a way to win with it.

Jeez Bazz - it’s gonna be a great series, but of you read my posts I did see it coming and predicted a massive upset - I just felt something was off.

But the balls are all in the air. Who is going to catch them?

Rennie won’t be thinking the same imo.

unless you mean the Baltimore test, he could play horses for course conditioning wise then. I’d be happy for this team to run out of they click against the Lions.

Agree, we need to bring some freshness without major chgnages. Id love to know where Wallace has been told he needs to improve. If Segner out, Wallace would be a great replacement. Moorby mighty get a rest. Carter would probably come in , but Id rather see Fehe and Narawa come in.

Slater is such a shithouse pick from Barnes who is all filla no thrilla as a coach. TT would have been a much better option.

Rona off the boil a bit? Poor Naki? Rova has taken over form wise this year imo. Sinton has looked good again imo.

The gaping hole is a front row that can match SA. Williams for all his size has never been dominant. Tosi has probably been disappointment of the tour. It comes down to basic physics in the front row…our props are 10 kgs lighter. We need a couple of big guys to start then bring the Numias off the bench. Leicister and Caleb are the big names not there who must be in the 23 for the big games next year

Trouble is how shot Dmac is under the surface imo. I don’t want BB needing to come into the test team and if Richie is physcially upto it, Jacombs not yet ready for the biggest challenge anyone could ever face in a rugby match. Give him another couple of years to get up for it.

Cant wait. This will be end to end attack fest. Jim will be sending players skittling in all directions

I can’t wait for any ABs game but I was aware that number of pundits were kicking this one as a tuff one mainly on they not missing Boks will have had more time together planning for this and a challenging time between test matches gor ABs with potential attrition and so on ( which has proven true 2 guys off a plane onto bench the old body clicks you would imagine still in NZ time or somewhere between )

Have seen some highlights of Lions they like to have a go …will Pead play?

Yea remember the Lions near the end of Suoer were the “ outlier” SA side with lots of ambitious play off 10 cut outs snd attacking kicks with generally smaller mobile forward pack

We do essentially, a shame ABXV is not a thing this Nov as well. I guess rest for the WC year is important too.

Did you mean you just want to see them take on more clubs like Munster? The French ones are still playing through Nov I think.

Hundred percent. They should bring in mid week games for every tour.

Yup it is a big pack and powerful backline so looking forward to them playing really interested in the 10-13 mix that midfield is very different to the Jordie QT and Richie Mo is possibly more of a “conductor “ at 10 imo here is hoping they get enough cohesion to show what they got the ball carrying ability of this team looks very strong

RI experience including from Leinster will be important here. He seems to be improving match on match as he brings his new experience back towards his old game.

Can’t wait to see it …I imagine they chomping at the bit

I have a feeling that’s where we’re heading for the second Test. Parker at 6, with Va’ai back in the second row.

With either Tuipulotu or Darry on the bench.

A classic 5–3 bench, with Mo’unga included.

Lions are altitude specialists. Watching how Lions play at altitude will add to the ABs folder from Jo-burg for the next Jo-burg test. My favourite teams outside of Ireland are SA teams. And I have a soft spot for these guys. Tough but with excellent running rugby, creating “fatigue” holes in the altitude. I remember the Connacht pack just about holding a Lions scrum and probably delighted to see the ball going wide. Next thing the Lions double back and a couple of Lions fliers run straight through the ghost of the Connacht scrum! NZ will win but this will be good fun.