Steve Hansen gives Laumape and Retallick injury update

I like the Tahs willingness to attack from anywhere on the counter. Their structures are fairly simple and mostly off 9 not 10. There is potential when Jorgensen gets back from injury and as Foketi beds back in.

What I didn’t like about the Foketi ‘try’ was that the TMO did not present the footage as a choice, he just told the ref what to do. I prefer the ‘this is the best angle to see it’ approach and let the ref decide for himself. My understanding is that this is WR’s preference too.

Noah will be a great test of Joe’s ‘rule’. He could afford to drop Gleeson, Noah not so much.

If they go in without Lolesio, Gleeson and Skelton v the Lions, it will by a big mountain to climb.

Leinster have moved ahead of Ireland again, just as they did around 2018. They have found a way to gel Nienaber’s dominant D with a more stable, compact attack.

But Faz won’t implement Nienaber’s D, he’ll implement Ireland’s. And I doubt he will recognize the improvements England have made in 2025 in his selection. Doubts, doubts.

And yes I do beleive Leinster would beat Ireland atm. RG and Jordie are game-changers, and even Slimani is better than any other THP in Ireland than Jager, who isout of favour.

Pity Munster made so many basic errors, they the game to really trouble UBB.🙄

It may seem strange to say it, but I feel the Lions would benefit from more English players and maybe even coaches. I’ve never said this before, but England are currently the most creative of the four home unions!

Also not sure whether Skelton will make he first XV, prob on the bench?

I am going to keep a keen eye on Teddy W from now on!

If he gets back to his best, he’s a player.

I do agree it could be a very memorable series, as the WB’s under Schmidt are clearly on the rise. But Schmidt will have to pick the very best team he can, so he MUST, I believe, bring in overseas players. It is looking a pretty good bet that one of those players, Will Skelton, won’t be tied up to late in the Top 14 season, as LAR might not even make the playoffs this year.

I saw one comment post the weekend that Leinster are possibly better than Ireland at this stage. Now I think that is not correct, but what I think has happened is that the Leinster players have regained form they had lost going back to the England defeat in the previous 6N, and that slump was there in the defeat to the AB’s in Nov.

Outside Leinster, Craig Casey is looking in great form, but the defeat in France on the weekend may see he and Crowley not making the trip down here.