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'That's not going to suit Finn, a bloke that is just going to kick the nuts off the ball': Surprise Lions XV calls as RugbyPass Offload co-hosts agree on only nine picks
The latest episode of RugbyPass Offload has seen regular co-hosts Ryan Wilson and guest Mike Phillips agree on the identity of nine players who should be in the Lions XV to play the Springboks following the recent completion of the Guinness Six Nations, but the half-dozen differences in their respective selections are eye-catching – including their feelings about Finn Russell.
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Whereas current Scotland back-rower Wilson, who featured off the bench last Friday in Paris following an emergency call-up for the Six Nations back match, has gone for a Lions XV containing a half-dozen Scots with tour captain Alun Wyn Jones losing out to Jonny Gray, ex-Wales and Lions scrum-half Phillips has Jones captaining a Welsh-dominated line-up featuring eight of Wayne Pivac’s title winners and just a single Scot, full-back Stuart Hogg.
Wilson provoked debate when quizzed on whether he was picking Ali Price ahead of Conor Murray at scrum-half just because he is his friend, but the one trend the pair were in agreement on was the lack of England representation, Wilson picking only Mako Vunipola while Phillips included just Anthony Watson and Maro Itoje.
The Lions’ Test series against the Springboks is set to begin on July 24 in Johannesburg and the country by country breakdown of the respective XVs suggested on RugbyPod Offload read Scotland 6, Wales 5, Ireland 3 and England 1 for Wilson while Phillips’ consisted of 8 Wales, 4 Ireland, 2 England and 1 Scotland. Here is how the respective XV announcements unfolded on the latest RugbyPass Offload in the company of host Christina Mahon, starting with Wilson picking his loosehead:
RW: It’s really hard, really hard, I have gone Vunipola, The Sherriff, Ken Owens, because he is class and he still looks like a darts player. He’s like old Gezzy Price. You could see him down the pub playing darts, playing pool and then suddenly…
Voting is now open on our Instagram story! ??? #Lions #LionsXV pic.twitter.com/CawJezlsFJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 1, 2021
MP: Gerwyn Price has got a better shape than Ken.
RW: You’re right, he has. So right, Vunipola, Ken Owens, Tadhg Furlong because he has been bloody good, Tadhg Beirne, Jonny Gray slash Alun Wyn Jones. This is bloody hard this bit – 100 per cent I am putting Hamish Watson in a No7 shirt, (Taulupe) Faletau at No8 and I am going (Justin) Tipuric at No6. I know he is not a six but you can put him anywhere across that back row, he is a bloody good lineout option as well for a pretty short guy. Imagine him and Hamish Watson turning over ball against the Saffers? The other thing you have got to think of is this is South Africa. You starting sticking big blokes in there trying to smash them up, it isn’t going to work, you need a little bit of finesse, a bit of pace, jackalers, turnovers. Now let me explain this bit, Finn Russell at No10.
MP: Who’s No9?
RW: Well, that’s the thing, Finn Russell is at No10 so he needs his little side-kick Ali Price with him. Centres, I haven’t got a clue. I don’t really know centres but I have gone (Robbie) Henshaw and Jon Davies, the Fox. They are the questions marks there because the other one is Huw Jones. He is so good in attack and he would do well, plus he had a gap year in South Africa so he would be alright. Louis Rees-Zammit on one wing at 14, Hoggy (Stuart Hogg) at 15 and my other winger to add a little balance, Duhan van der Merwe. I wouldn’t have said it until I saw the nick of him when I was in camp and he is the top try scorer of the Six Nations. He is a powerful bloke so then you have got speed and power.
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MP: Gats (Warren Gatland) would love that type of player as well.
RW: So Zammit on one wing, because I’m telling you, Finn Russell putting those crossfields with that fella chasing after them, all day you are scoring tries against the South Africans, and then bring in Duhan van der Merwe off nine, little tucks, smashing them up, using him as a back row basically.
CM: Are you only picking Ali Price because he is your friend?
RW: But why Conor Murray? Everyone is picking Conor Murray, why? That is not going to suit Finn, a bloke that is just going to kick the nuts off the ball. Nah, that is not going to suit Finn Russell. You have got to think of Finn Russell here, you have to think what does he want? He wants someone who is going to give him the ball early, quick, speed of ball. Right, Mike, you’re up mate.
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BREAKING:
Incredible story emerging about Finn Russell and the lengths he is going to to secure Lions tour selection #LionsRugby
https://t.co/wmngvPhvZu— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 1, 2021
MP: I have gone Wyn Jones.
RW: Mate, you can’t just name the whole Welsh squad.
MP: Ken Owens, Furlong, Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones and then Tadhg Beirne at six with Tipuric and Faletau and that’s the starting Test pack. Myself at 9, obviously. No, I thought Tomos Williams, I still think he will be going, he will be pushing. I like him but I have put Murray in there. He came on my podcast a few weeks ago…
RW: You’re going to name Finn Russell, aren’t ya?
MP: It was close. It’s (Dan) Biggar. I have got Zammit and then Henshaw, Jonathan Davies, Watson and Hogg. I put Hogg because I haven’t got a Scotsman in.
RW: What? You tosser.
MP: But on the bench, I have got van der Merwe, Finn Russell… the bench is full of Scots.
RYAN WILSON’S LIONS TEST XV
15. Stuart Hogg; 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ali Price; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. Jonny Gray/Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Justin Tipuric, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Taulupe Faletau.
MIKE PHILLIPS’ LIONS TEST XV
15. Stuart Hogg; 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Louis Rees-Zammit; 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Taulupe Faletau.
Andy Goode finds room for just 1 England player in his Lions XV while his old @TheRugbyPod mucker Jim Hamilton voices jolting opinions regarding Owen Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones #LionsRugby
https://t.co/1yAfKLU5SI— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 30, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments