RugbyRebels

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Friday, 20 June Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Argentina: Carreras; Isgro, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy; Albornoz, Garcia; Vivas, Montoya (c), Sclavi, Molina, Rubiolo, Matera, Gonzalez, Oviedo
Replacements: Bernasconi, Wenger, Coria Marchetti, Grondona. S, Moro, Benitez Cruz, Moroni, Cordero

BBC painfully slow as always to realise the Lions team is out, but can’t be arsed to paste a social media link.

Lions XV
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England)
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (c)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens/England)

Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
17. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
21. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
22. Elliot Daly (Saracens/England)
23. Mack Hansen (Connacht

Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

Available on S4C - including English commentary.

Personally, I've not been looking to the Lions yet; with the domestic season having only just ended; and Gatland having done his best to kill my interest in the Lions (and Aus being the lest interesting opponents)

This game is a funny one. Possibly the toughest game outside the tests, but doesn't really feel like part of the tour proper. Decent looking team. With different players becoming available at different times, I wouldn't read too much into it though.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:16 am Available on S4C - including English commentary.

Personally, I've not been looking to the Lions yet; with the domestic season having only just ended; and Gatland having done his best to kill my interest in the Lions (and Aus being the lest interesting opponents)

Excellent nod, thanks. How do you get the English commentary?

Puja

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

Centres look interesting... has ST played 13 often?

I'm mostly looking forward to Cummings getting on and shoring up a pretty weak* looking pack

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:43 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

Centres look interesting... has ST played 13 often?

I'm mostly looking forward to Cummings getting on and shoring up a pretty weak* looking pack

Seems like he was back and forth between centre positions his whole career, but I don’t think it’s a fluke he really found his feet and became a truly world class player when focussed on 12.

I don’t really like the combo to be honest, though people seem pretty excited about two big powerful centres.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:10 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:16 am Available on S4C - including English commentary.

Personally, I've not been looking to the Lions yet; with the domestic season having only just ended; and Gatland having done his best to kill my interest in the Lions (and Aus being the lest interesting opponents)

Excellent nod, thanks. How do you get the English commentary?

Puja

I think there's an English commentary option from reading this article: https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/news/s4c- ... lions-tour

Typically it's at the very bottom..

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

I must confess I hadn't realised it was on. Decent looking side, intriguing to see if they can gel at all. That centre partnership looks horrific to tackle.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:31 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

I must confess I hadn't realised it was on. Decent looking side, intriguing to see if they can gel at all. That centre partnership looks horrific to tackle.

Would prefer them playing other way round but I guess bundee is gone too slow for 13

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:31 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

I must confess I hadn't realised it was on. Decent looking side, intriguing to see if they can gel at all. That centre partnership looks horrific to tackle.

You'd've thought having 9 English in the starting lineup wouldn't hurt with getting early continuity. Curry and Morgan is a phenomenal pair of flankers to be able to bring to bear - going to be a cracking battle with Matera and Gonzalez.

Puja

Feels like a stronger 23 than I expected with all the players needing to rest and a few injury niggles…

Whilst the pack might lack a bit of ballast, the backs make up for it in spades… Now they just need to get their lines right!

even better S4C is also broadcast live on BBC i-player - nice to have a free to view option for the first game at least.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 11:59 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:31 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:12 am Am I missing something? Zero discussion on the first Lions team being announced? Is there another thread somewhere?

I must confess I hadn't realised it was on. Decent looking side, intriguing to see if they can gel at all. That centre partnership looks horrific to tackle.

You'd've thought having 9 English in the starting lineup wouldn't hurt with getting early continuity. Curry and Morgan is a phenomenal pair of flankers to be able to bring to bear - going to be a cracking battle with Matera and Gonzalez.

Puja

I do think this is a great pairing and their playing styles are remarkably similar. My issue is pairing them with Earl at 8, another great flanker albeit more in the Wing Forward 2.0 quasi threequarter style. The challenge is Argentina have a big ( and reasonably tall) pack back 5 and which could be quite brutal if they decide to take a route 1 hard carrying approach. It does concern me that only Beirne could really be classed as a big carrier for us and I’m not sure that’s necessarily even his strong suit? This Lions squad has CCS and Tom Willis sized holes in it imo.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:16 am Available on S4C - including English commentary.

Personally, I've not been looking to the Lions yet; with the domestic season having only just ended; and Gatland having done his best to kill my interest in the Lions (and Aus being the lest interesting opponents)

I'm not desperately interested in this tour but with free S4C coverage (not sure if just for this match or all of them?) I can't really say no.

Numbers wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:59 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:10 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:16 am Available on S4C - including English commentary.

Personally, I've not been looking to the Lions yet; with the domestic season having only just ended; and Gatland having done his best to kill my interest in the Lions (and Aus being the lest interesting opponents)

Excellent nod, thanks. How do you get the English commentary?

Puja

I think there's an English commentary option from reading this article: https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/news/s4c- ... lions-tour

Typically it's at the very bottom..

Found the instructions, although they seem a touch paradoxical: https://www.s4c.cymru/en/how-to-watch-s ... -allow-it/

"Turn on Welsh language in order to access the English commentary"? Well, I guess we'll see if it works.

jngf wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:31 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 11:59 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:31 pm I must confess I hadn't realised it was on. Decent looking side, intriguing to see if they can gel at all. That centre partnership looks horrific to tackle.

You'd've thought having 9 English in the starting lineup wouldn't hurt with getting early continuity. Curry and Morgan is a phenomenal pair of flankers to be able to bring to bear - going to be a cracking battle with Matera and Gonzalez.

Puja

I do think this is a great pairing and their playing styles are remarkably similar. My issue is pairing them with Earl at 8, another great flanker albeit more in the Wing Forward 2.0 quasi threequarter style. The challenge is Argentina have a big ( and reasonably tall) pack back 5 and which could be quite brutal if they decide to take a route 1 hard carrying approach. It does concern me that only Beirne could really be classed as a big carrier for us and I’m not sure that’s necessarily even his strong suit? This Lions squad has CCS and Tom Willis sized holes in it imo.

I... don't disagree with you. Wild.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:34 pm

Numbers wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:59 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:10 pm

Excellent nod, thanks. How do you get the English commentary?

Puja

I think there's an English commentary option from reading this article: https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/news/s4c- ... lions-tour

Typically it's at the very bottom..

Found the instructions, although they seem a touch paradoxical: https://www.s4c.cymru/en/how-to-watch-s ... -allow-it/

"Turn on Welsh language in order to access the English commentary"? Well, I guess we'll see if it works.

jngf wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:31 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 11:59 pm

You'd've thought having 9 English in the starting lineup wouldn't hurt with getting early continuity. Curry and Morgan is a phenomenal pair of flankers to be able to bring to bear - going to be a cracking battle with Matera and Gonzalez.

Puja

I do think this is a great pairing and their playing styles are remarkably similar. My issue is pairing them with Earl at 8, another great flanker albeit more in the Wing Forward 2.0 quasi threequarter style. The challenge is Argentina have a big ( and reasonably tall) pack back 5 and which could be quite brutal if they decide to take a route 1 hard carrying approach. It does concern me that only Beirne could really be classed as a big carrier for us and I’m not sure that’s necessarily even his strong suit? This Lions squad has CCS and Tom Willis sized holes in it imo.

I... don't disagree with you. Wild.

Puja

For my part I’m strangely reassured

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:34 pm

Numbers wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:59 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:10 pm

Excellent nod, thanks. How do you get the English commentary?

Puja

I think there's an English commentary option from reading this article: https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/news/s4c- ... lions-tour

Typically it's at the very bottom..

Found the instructions, although they seem a touch paradoxical: https://www.s4c.cymru/en/how-to-watch-s ... -allow-it/

"Turn on Welsh language in order to access the English commentary"? Well, I guess we'll see if it works.

Any luck? I'm struggling but not using a smart TV.

I am using a "smart" TV - no luck

Right, got it - for me, S4C HD (120) on fressat automatically goes to English commentary

Very lions at the moment, scrappy with hints of potential in the new combos.

English comms from irish tv.

https://www.viprow.nu/union-lions/briti ... e-stream-2

You'd have to be some wanker to think LCD scored there

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 8:13 pm You'd have to be some wanker to think LCD scored there

Is this a comment on the ref? I dont understand how he's given that. Is he a wanker?