Blues lose captain for South Africa tour

Steve Hansen will be a better coach at 85 than I’d be at 45, just as Ma’a Nonu will be a better player at 70 than I’ll be at 30. Steve Hansen at 65 is a better coach than most professional coaches are now. Nonu at 42 is better than a lot of professional centres.

That’s a very flip response FL.

Tom Coughlin won the SB at the age of 76, and NFL does not suffer coaching fools gladly. Gregg Popovich is 75 and has been coaching the San Antonio Spurs since 1988 and he’s won five NBA title in three diff decades. Andy Reid is 67 and won the last two SBs with the Chiefs.

And in regard to Les Kiss’s age, well Nick Nurse got his first crack at the NBA in 2019, promptly winning a championship with the Raptors!

Rugby won’t go down the Soccer road and hire-and-fire like it’s the Wild West. It will find the value in older coaches as time passes. And even the manager of Real Marid is Carlo Ancelotti - aged 65!

The debate was in the context of the Lions squad. Multiple club and national coaches have chosen him (considerably) more often at 7, so there’s enough people fancy he’s good in the role.

The win rates are vitally important for this Lions tour. ‘01/’05/’09 were losses. ‘17 was a draw and ‘21 was a utter disgrace that stained the game. And a loss. They’ve won one test series in 24 years. And just 12 months ago people were worried about how uncompetitive Australia might be. Talk about added pressure.

Farrell is a straight forward, no nonsense type of guy. He’ll probably pick conservatively and with guys in their proven positions. He hasn’t the time for bolters or shock calls. Not with the touring schedule they have.

You haven’t remotely offended me, chief. Not at all.