1
'We've had a lot of choir practice, a few questionable song choices'
Warren Gatland’s Lions squad flew to Edinburgh from their Jersey training base on Thursday evening satisfied with the bonds that have been developed by Conor Murray and co during their near two-week stay on the Channel Island ahead of this Saturday’s match against Japan prior to their departure for their South African tour.
ADVERTISEMENT
Twenty-five of the 37-strong assembled for day one training on June 14, a number that increased to 33 at the start of this week. Only the four-strong Exeter contingent have yet to link up with the Lions but the players that have been in the camp have been busy getting to quickly grow the bonds among a squad drawn from across four rugby nations.
Singing, beers, FIFA championships and WhatsApp group mischief were all mentioned as off-field activities that have gotten the Lions off to a positive start in gelling together as a group. Third-time Lions tourist Murray reckoned the bond already felt really good – even though some of the songs that were being sung weren’t too easy on the ear.
“We have had a lot of choir practice, a few questionable song choices from the nations but we are getting there,” said Murray, the Lions scrum-half for this Saturday’s game in Scotland. “We had a few beers the other night and it was our best rendition yet. Tadhg Beirne fancies himself as a singer. Tone-deaf. Tadhg Furlong. I know I’m picking a few Irish but they are the lads I stand beside when we have our choir practice. No, it has been good fun.”
“We have got four songs,” explained assistant coach Gregor Townsend. “Each country had to nominate a song from their country so we have Loch Lomand, Zander Fagerson was in charge of us. Wyn Jones, Calon Lan from Wales, You’ll Never Walk Alone was Courtney Lawes’ contribution for the England squad and Jack Conan was in charge of Ireland and that was Wild Rover. We sang that a few times together.”
There were originally four Scots chosen to start for the Lions versus Japan but that representation has been halved #LionsRugby #LIOvJAPhttps://t.co/gcw43o7g3x
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 24, 2021
Asked who the practical jokers have been so far, Townsend wasn’t fully sure but he suggested the backs in the squad were getting up to most of the antics. “It’s hard to tell just yet,” he said. “Liam Williams has got that (prankster) side to him. I have seen a few messages on WhatsApp and I can see him coming through. Bundee Aki. I think it will be a back. They have not emerged fully yet but they are a great bunch.
“They are getting on really well with each other. We have a couple of sociable occasions but outside of the social occasions you see them sitting after meals together, you see them bonding on the training field so they are forming that squad togetherness very quickly.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They arranged a FIFA championship. I walked into the team room yesterday [Wednesday] and Josh Adams was winning quite easily against Ali Price and Toby Faletau. That was what was arranged on their day off. They have been quite active on their days off playing golf, boat trips, some history trails so they have made the most of this wonderful place we are staying in. We have had a couple of good nights together and there has been a lot of singing.”
A tourist in 2013 and 2017, Murray has been inspired by what he has seen so far from the class of 2021. “Chris Harris is a bit of a funny guy, getting to know him quite well off the pitch. There are loads of relationships forming, the bond is really good.
“Having us in a bubble is aiding that. We all realise how close we are going to live together for the next while so we have to realise we have to get along and lads have been making that effort. Having been on a couple (of tours) this time it feels really good. There is a natural bond and a bit of craic about the place.”
Breaking up the Irish midfield off the pitch will be a test, however. “Being Irish getting Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw to separate is going to be a massive challenge,” quipped Murray. “If one comes in the door the other one is sure to follow. But genuinely there are good bonds all over the place.”
ADVERTISEMENT
TEAM NEWS:
"The spine of that team were those who were very successful in Japan"#JPNvBIL #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/hRpm0T3fXy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 24, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
that backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
24 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
24 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
24 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
24 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
24 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
24 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to comments