Lions squad named

[Puja]

So a new plan to play the Sharks again, four days after the last game, is being formulated. Apparently there are some Lions tourists that have declined and continue to decline the offer of vaccination. Lions managing director and noted virologist Ben Calverley says:

"“I think everyone has a right to make their own decision on whether or not they want to be vaccinated,” said Calveley. “I think it’s wrong for anyone to think that vaccination is some sort of universal panacea. I’m afraid it’s not. So we have an approach which is multi-layered where, as well as having a majority of the party being vaccinated, we are also exhibiting all of the right behaviours."

All of the right behaviours. Like flying into a locked down country with unvaccinated individuals to place them in close physical contact with dozens of locals. This is totally FUBAR, but does reinforce that there is no cure for being a cunt.

What the actual shit. "Will you accept being vaccinated?" should have been a non-negotiable selection criteria. Being vaccinated might not be a universal panacea, but it's a) a fuck of a lot better than not being vaccinated and b) a pretty good indicator of who can be trusted to "exhibit all the right behaviours" and who the fuck can't.

If someone thinks that they know better than virologists and doctors about science, then I don't trust them to maintain COVID protocols properly.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

So a new plan to play the Sharks again, four days after the last game, is being formulated. Apparently there are some Lions tourists that have declined and continue to decline the offer of vaccination. Lions managing director and noted virologist Ben Calverley says:

Well if you do choose players from Exeter...

Personally, I'd so only deselect anyone who refused to be vaccinated - and would have done so before announcing any squad. The lions is invitational. You can put any requirements you want on who is invited.

Of course, personally I'd have cancelled the tour 6 months ago, but that's not a selector's decision.

[morepork]

And now, here is Clive Woodward with the weather...

[Mr Mwenda]

Exeter lads?....

[Puja]

Exeter lads?....

Have you not heard? Harry Williams is full-on tin foil hat conspiracy to take away our freedoms, Henry Slade has made a decision not to take the vaccine because he's looked at it and decided that he's not convinced about how safe it is (despite him being a type 1 diabetic and thus at a much higher risk), and Rob Baxter has made a couple of unfortunate comments shortly before the last lockdown, suggesting that there was no need to continue doing testing and COVID restrictions because the worst was past, as well as being on record as finding Williams's conspiracies as amusing and occasionally thought-provoking rather than idiotic.

It may be overblown and an unfair reputation (Slade in particular has protested that he wasn't advocating not getting the vaccine or being anti-vaxx, he himself just happens to know better than doctors and scientists about his situation and it was a throwaway comment in an interview about other things anyway so it's unfair that he's being portrayed as a science-avoiding, plague-spreading dotard), but it's hard to escape the feeling that the culture there isn't good, especially with all the racist branding, the "we've investigated our branding thoroughly and decided that we don't think it's racist and therefore it isn't," and the whining about their players being harshly treated by high tackle laws that apply to everyone.

Puja



As a Mod note, there has not been any suggestion that LCD, JHill, SSimmonds, or Hogg are Covid-deniers, conspiracy nuts, or vaccine-dodgers. It's perfectly possible to play in the same team as people whose views you don't agree with, so we should make sure (for Hammy's legal liability, if nothing else) that no accusations or assumptions are chucked about. Lie down with dogs and get fleas may well be true, but let's make sure we stay on the right side of the libel laws here.

Mod

[fivepointer]

I assumed that everyone in the tour party would have been vaccinated. It beggars belief that vaccination wasnt a requirement to travel.

[Puja]

And now, here is Clive Woodward with the weather...

"You know, this weather forecast reminds me of the time when there was also weather back in 2003, back when I won the World Cup - did I mention that I won the World Cup, with my good friend Jonny Wilkinson here..."

"Don't fucking touch me."

"...my great friend Jonny, who I personally inspired so that we won the World Cup under my management which was the reason we won the World Cup that I made us win. And that's something that I think the current England team can learn from."

Puja

[morepork]

Scientific illiteracy is not limited to Rugger Buggers.

US swimmer Michael Andrew, a gold medal favourite at the Olympics, said he has not been vaccinated and has no plans to do so before the Tokyo Games, which begin on 23 July.

Andrew, 22, told reporters he did not want to risk taking time off training because of any vaccine side effects.

"I didn't want to put anything in my body that I didn't know how I would potentially react to," he said.

Andrew is the most prominent US athlete so far to reveal vaccine hesitancy. There is no provision demanding Olympic athletes to be vaccinated, even amid concerns about the pandemic-era games.


Fuckin ace.

[Which Tyler]

What a brilliant way to mix all the variants together, and see what emerges

[Mr Mwenda]

Only two backs on the bench, right? Seems to be fashionable...

[francoisfou]

Marcus Smith apparently called up. Surely George Ford would have been next in line?

[I R Geech]

Marcus Smith called up. More top trolling by Gats on Eddie.

[morepork]

Yeah. Send another one in. Its vital. Jesus fuck.

[Mikey Brown]

Any dodgy links going?

[Adder]

Any dodgy links going?

https://www.viprow.me/sharks-vs-british ... e-stream-1

[Mikey Brown]

Cheers. God knows what I'd have done if I'd had to miss this. Certainly not pay for Sky.

[Mr Mwenda]

Just turned this on to see the best of the Isles drawing with the people they humped last week. Anyone care to hazard a synopsis?

[Buggaluggs]

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playbac ... 3e5e83a3ef

[Buggaluggs]

Just saw the first half tries. A few sloppy giveaways from the Lions.

[Buggaluggs]

Dumbass. Sharks were right in this.

[Mr Mwenda]

Farcical kick clear there.

[Spiffy]

It was all over when that meat-head of a scrum half got himself sent off. Lions still much too sloppy and will pay for it against better opposition.

The commentary duo of Greenwood/Warburton hard to take. They seem to be having a head to head competition on who can spew the most turgid verbal bilge over 80 mins.

[morepork]

It was all over when that meat-head of a scrum half got himself sent off. Lions still much too sloppy and will pay for it against better opposition.

The commentary duo of Greenwood/Warburton hard to take. They seem to be having a head to head competition on who can spew the most turgid verbal bilge over 80 mins.

Can't be as bad as Grant Nisbett attempting to speak Fijian. Jesus.

[Puja]

It was all over when that meat-head of a scrum half got himself sent off. Lions still much too sloppy and will pay for it against better opposition.

The commentary duo of Greenwood/Warburton hard to take. They seem to be having a head to head competition on who can spew the most turgid verbal bilge over 80 mins.

Greenwood is terrible as a pundit. He must have the lowest words to insight ratio in the game - terrific player, but he's just got nothing to say and he takes forever to say it.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

It was all over when that meat-head of a scrum half got himself sent off. Lions still much too sloppy and will pay for it against better opposition.

The commentary duo of Greenwood/Warburton hard to take. They seem to be having a head to head competition on who can spew the most turgid verbal bilge over 80 mins.

Greenwood is terrible as a pundit. He must have the lowest words to insight ratio in the game - terrific player, but he's just got nothing to say and he takes forever to say it.

Puja

The Swedish service had no commentary, so we got to listen to Barnes' breathing throughout.