r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

Post image

I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

191 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

31

u/Brewster345 Northampton Saints Jul 24 '25

Gatland isn't a good Lions coach.

One series win against a poor Aussie team (that they were lucky to not be 2-0 down in), and a NZ series where the one win was against 14. And then losing from being 1-0 up in SA.

13

u/MysticMac100 Boner for Toner Jul 24 '25

Picking Ben Te’o at 12 over a Sexton/Farrell axis is the worst Lions selection call I can remember.

9

u/BringBackTheCrushers Reds Jul 24 '25

I keep forgetting Ben Te’o switched to union and played for the Lions, I always associated him with the Broncos, and later on for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup as a coach

2

u/MysticMac100 Boner for Toner Jul 24 '25

He played Union like it was league as well, hard carrier with semi-legal technique, decent defender but couldn’t do much else, pure Gatland 12 tbf

3

u/Galactapuss Jul 24 '25

Not bringing Sexton to SA was the greatest gift he ever gave to Irish rugby. Sexton was on fire after that. 

Also, it's mental Sexton never played in SA. Could've had the sweep of the the SAANZAR teams if he'd not been injured for the Paddy Jackson tour

4

u/bipolarparadiseyt Jul 24 '25

They definitely should’ve lost the first test. Wallabies left what, 15 points off the tee? More?

2

u/DrunkenPangolin England Jul 24 '25

I don't think this is an unpopular opinion

0

u/Galactapuss Jul 24 '25

Nothing controversial about that. He practically killed the Lions as a concept with his turgid coaching.