Crusaders record big win over Moana Pasifika

The Boks grew into it and forced Ireland into mistakes and conceding penalties and bossed the 40-70 min period. That’s test rugby. A game of two halves.

They got drilled by France without doubt. The best team around bar none.

Italy??? Ironically Ireland managed a bonus PT win (22-17) so even had it been 50-nil the win would have been worth no more or less.

Again, it’s fair to raise the issue with Leinster. A team that probably would have beaten the ABs at one point and had gone 4/4 in finals are now a byword for choking. Totally right. It’s a remarkable turn around.

Yet plenty of those players have the recent history of overturning an 8 PT halftime deficit the last time they played Australia. And won. Under pressure.

I’d just add that thankfully Leo Cullen won’t be involved in coaching the Lions.

That’s the assignment ahead of them.

My only issue is if Leinster and by extension, Irelands decline is measured by lack of Euro Cup medals and World Cup success, does that imply that English, Welsh and Scottish world cup winners have been left at home???

If Saints don’t kick on and win their final should they all be dropped from the squad?

They simply haven’t replaced Sexton. They can’t settle on a box office 10 to lead the team. That’s the obvious issue the last 2 seasons and explains some of their current hiccups. England are on the up but have no sliver ware to show for it.

Ireland’s most impressive recent performance against a big 3 was Durban last July. It’s only 9 months ago when they used a depleted squad to beat the most capped Bok team ever fielded. The intensity of Durban would be comparable to what’s coming especially as the game started to drift from them.

I think the most troubling thing for the Lions is that in some real crunch games, Irish and Leinster players have shown mental fragility.

But they can pick a pack with an awful lot of size and power if they want, which is unusual for Aussie. Frost and Skelton would tower over any combo the Lions can select!

I’d say it is dangerous basing your planning on a team which is clearly on the slide. Ireland have been great, no argument about it, but I don’t think they are relatively better now compared to where they were in 2022 for example. They looked to be casting around for a new direction at the 6N.

If the Lions need a template of how to beat the Wallabies they can watch the two Rugby Championship games between the Boks and Australia in Australia last year. Brute strength did the trick - easily - especially in the second test when Australia had no clue against the rolling maul. Perhaps the Lions don’t have the monsters the Boks have and, as you point out, there is limited time for coaches to move away from what they know, but I reckon grunt over guile is the road to 3-0 for the Lions.

That said, as a neutral, I hope it’s a run-fest.