Robert Giannotti

Prophetic

Prophetic stuff, this.

I knew Jac Morgan would single-handedly win the series

Enjoyed both the Aussies coming out swinging and the pluck shown by the Lions in the last 10 minutes. Super entertaining if not of the highest quality. #AUSvLIO

The scrum half will be devastated at his effort in defence!

Harry Potter off to see Madame Pomfrey now... #AUSvLIO

6⃣4⃣ DAYS TO GO. Major season is over - all eyes are now officially on the Ryder Cup!
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🌟Scottie is a shining star
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿English and Fitzy the big movers
🐴Gotterup a true bolter option
🖋️Captain's agreement signed - Keegan's going to play
🏌️‍♂️The show goes on

Person visits popular tourist destination and is surprised to see so many other tourists. The tripe that algorithms kick out masquerading as journalism these days is truly shocking...

So does Jac Morgan. Is he shit too? So does Tomos Williams - the Premiership player of the year.

a man with a mullet and a mustache is wearing a wig and making a funny face . ALT: a man with a mullet and a mustache is wearing a wig and making a funny face .

The Irish Times appear to un-ironically be reporting James Ryan had a good game today and is up for promotion to the test 23 if Joe McCarthy is ruled out.

The pick of the late call-ups by a mile.

Blair Kinghorn with the look of a guy who might have played his way of out test contention there.

James Ryan was properly, properly shit today.

A penny for the thoughts of injured George Martin or Daf Jenkins, or even Adam Beard, sat at home watching him spew chunks all over Adelaide.

That's the last we'll see on this tour of a number of those players.

Jac Morgan departing early tells me he's going to be involved in the test 23.

It's frustrating to see Jamie George have a poor game and Ewan Ashman replace him when Dewi Lake is sat at home.

More than anything this Lions tour has felt un-meritocratic and that's always been one of the best elements of the entire concept.

These replacement players are playing like it's the first and last time they'll ever wear a Lions shirt.

This now has a very ACT Brumbies 2013 feel to it.

SA 2021 - double world champions
NZ 2017 - double world champions
AU 2013 - RWC finalists
SA 2009 - reigning RWC winners
NZ 2005 - generational best
AU 2001 - reigning RWC winners
SA 1997 - reigning RWC winners

This 2025 Australia vintage is nowhere near as strong.

This is a cake walk for the Lions. Unfortunately this Australia team are easily the weakest opposition we've seen decades.

Be shocked if the Lions don't win by 20-30 today and the series 3-0.

1 sleep until The Open, but just 70 until the Ryder Cup!
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Gotterup the Renaissance man; Euros contend
👦Kids dominate the ISCO
🫧Rasmus losing ground on bubble
🍕It's Chicco time
⛳️The Open Championship previewed

Which is both good and bad - very 2005 "protect the test team at all costs" vibes.

The next midweek Lions team rests just about all the reported test 23 for Saturday:

Hansen, Graham, Ringrose, Aki, Duhan, Fin, Mitchell; Schoeman, George, Stuart, Cummings, Ryan, Pollock, Morgan, Earl | Ashman, Sutherland, Clarkson, Chessum, vd Flier, White, Marcus, Farrell

Reflecting on the Lions, can we all be in agreement that it's shit the test team has been leaked?

The Lions support is entirely built on nostalgia thanks to the 1971 and 1974 tours for one generation, and that 1997 documentary for another.

New fans to rugby must wonder what the fuss is about. It's so sanitised and curated with zero romance.

It's so hard to be objective and not parochial about this Lions test side if reports are true. So disappointed for Jac Morgan - the squad's form player in the most contestable position.

This year's test XV has always been pretty pre-ordained.

The romance of the Lions dies a little more.

If the Lions lose this series with a fading Irish team that's already peaked, it's going to be 2005 all over again but without RWC winners.

Plenty of training call-ups this time who haven't played. Rather it not be Blair Murray who's holding tackle bags for test XV drills as Wales need him.

Sam Warburton really loves Tom Curry, doesn't he?

The second I saw 6 locks and 6 back rows in the squad I thought 6 would probably be a hybrid. Assumed it'd be Beirne but increasingly looks like Chessum. Tom Curry always first choice at 7 despite the other two's merits - a bad game and he's out because Morgan has been excellent.

I'm leaning Scottish centres because it's Finn Russell at 10. Wouldn't surprise me if they go 6-2 bench and that gives Kinghorn advantage over Keenan for versatility in backline.

Specialists like Keenan, Morgan, JvdF, Fin Smith might lose out to utility options like Earl or Marcus Smith.

Which is why it all feels very 2005 where CW was always going to lean on his trusted internationals two years after they'd peaked.

You can't help but feel some players have not been given a fair crack either: Marcus Smith has started once in five games - out of position in the scratch squad of whoever was left. Henry Pollock's one start. Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart one start.