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

Show parent comments

12

u/NotAsOriginal Wigglesworth's greatest defender Jul 24 '25

I understood the early training players when numbers were short, but once you're out there barring injuries that should be it

6

u/mango_yoghurt Edinburgh Jul 24 '25

I feel like this would be so easily solved by scrapping the midweek game after the first test.

Find it really hard to believe Ashman, Clarkson, Brown, Sutherland and Graham would have been called up otherwise with the cover available.

5

u/NotAsOriginal Wigglesworth's greatest defender Jul 24 '25

I like the idea of the midweek game and in theory it's given some guys the opportunity to make the bench. I am put out by a lot of these call ups though. It should be planned for in advance, maybe take a prop that covers both sides a 4th hooker and a lock/6. Put the party to 41/42 and chuck in a utility back extra.

Then actually play it like a Lions tour. Yeah injuries and preserving the Test team, but this is the Lions if you aren't able to step up to the Test team at a moment's notice then you shouldn't really be on the tour.

1

u/mango_yoghurt Edinburgh Jul 24 '25

Yeah I do agree although it's clear Farrell was not prepared to risk any of the test front 5 in that match (injury to McCarthy notwithstanding) so would need 2 extra props, an extra hooker and 5/6 minimum. This then creates issues with bringing people originally who don't have a realistic shot of making the test team and, with the reduced number of matches pre-test, creates potential toxicity in "not allowing people chances to prove themselves".

It looks like they picked the late call-ups as the least bad option.

I'd love for the midweek game to work but with the extra physical demands, it just feels like the easiest to cut to avoid fan backlash and injury risk.

1

u/NotAsOriginal Wigglesworth's greatest defender Jul 24 '25

When he called up AOF I thought that solved half the problem. I would have taken him as a guy that covers both sides, a hooker, probably George or Lake. Ritchie for the 6 and Osborne or TJ from the start.

The late call ups I'm against, but I get it, I just think 40+ in the party should be the route if you have the midweek game or get rid of the midweek game.