Le Stade français s'installe au Camp des Loges

All eyes now on Queensland this weekend, certianly. Been a good while since they started a season this strong on paper..

Willis fought a relatively effective rearguard action against a France team that should have been 20-30 points clear by halftime.

Please let’s at least try to keep these articles somewhat measured.

The problem, as we’ve all seen repeatedly across a number of years now, is that either professional sport has a tendency to employ less than a sufficient number of self-respecting medical professionals - or as likely, they don’t get to make the final decision.

Wales were guilty of effectively ignoring a collision that caused a player to become knocked out in a recent game. Play was stopped long enough for the player to receive medical attention. But despite clearly having been unconcious, he was not substituted.

Similarly, Ireland notoriously lied about one of their players receiving a ‘stinger’ injury, despite video footage showing said player receiving two blows to the head in very short order. Said player was unable to walk straight when he finally regained his feet. But as his team were defending and under severe pressure, the medical staff essentially simply helped him back to his feet and directed him towards the next ruck.

The ‘win at all costs’ mantra of professional sport feels decidely hollow when measured against a lifetime of crippling pain, early onset dementia, or worse.

Besides, based on the stats presented, if all four maintained their current level then Morgan wouldn’t be competitive as a Seven. So might only tour because his PR is being pushed high enough by articles like this one not to ignore; (and of course to placate support West of the Severn).

The fact he’s not managed a single turnover across two games, one of which being Italy, is a standout failing for a Test Match Seven.

No matter how effective he is at gaining post-contact metres, a Lions squad wont be short of ball carrying options. What they will need - especially against Australia, are players who can get the job done around the breakdown. Morgan’s stats (as presented by the Author), highlight how ineffective he actually is in that area.

I suspect given Farrell is in the Coaching box, it’s VdF’s jersey to lose. However, much like Morgan’s stats, the lack of even a single turnover from two games is a standout deficiency for a dedicated O/S Flanker. Australia will compete there hard - and VdF seemed to struggle at times against that level of competition in the Autumn.

Curry has been excellent over the first two games. Probably the standout O/S of the four so far. It’s then a toss up between Darge and VdF this 6N, with Morgan at the tail end and realistically playing more like a B/S - or even a quasi-Eight ball carrying role, rather than an as a dedicated O/S Flanker.

He’s one of Wales’ principle carriers, and he’s effective enough in that role. But that’s not the role of a Test Match Seven. It simply isn’t.

In fact, given one of Wales’ games has been against Italy, yet Morgan has a tackle completion rate of only 85% - and worse not one single turnover to his name, if anything those stats actually spell out the reasons why Morgan SHOULDN’T be the Lions Test Seven - or even in competition for that spot.

The series will be against an Australia team keen to compete hard on the deck. The Lions will have their pick of ball carrying B/S Flankers, Eights, and Twelves. Indeed, due to the way the modern game is played even Props and Hookers in that Lions squad will be ferocious ball carrying options. So they simply do not need a dedicated carrying option off Seven.

I’m actually rather surprised the author used those stats to support his argument as that table achieves the complete opposite of the desired effect.

I’m afraid tackle completion rates alone, especially without indicating if they were single vs double tackles, or dominant, are next to useless.

I would be curious to see ‘dominant tackle’ stats, as well as tackles completed one-on-one vs as a pair. I get the impression Wales are sending two/three tacklers into the contact area each time - and even then not necessarily stopping their opponent.

As for Slade, I think his position is probably one of the ones being most at risk and there’s a suggestion Dingwall may/could come in. That said, if F. Smith can bring the Slade/Lawrence partnership to life, then Slade could hold his position.