This is the World XV that will play Japan

The only home nation to win a 6 Nations title(s) since the last tour should be well represented. Not to mention a slam and multiple triple crowns.

The fact that same nation has won their last 4 against Australia may have played on Farrells mind? Not least as he was part of the coaching set up for those games.

Lions to win the first game and Australia to settle into it and then view it as a 2 test series. I see them winning the next 2.

The touring schedule is too unkind to the lions.

Unfortunately two of Ireland’s top forwards have been ruled out by injury. I’m not sure they have enough depth to cope with that in the latter stages of the WC.

The performance of France at Twickenham was a surprise, you never know which French team will turn up. Having said that, for most of the match they were second best, but some slack tackling, complacency?, and their Gallic pride got them close on the scoreboard. I was there and whilst eventually grateful for the final whistle, we never felt their late flourish would prevail. When the Mexican wave starts after 25 minutes, you know the crowd thinks it’s already all over. You are right though, do not write off the French, they have strong forwards and flair in the backs. Give them an inch and they will take a mile. On their day they are a real handful for any team.

In England I think they give players more leeway to showboat and scream a bit. It’s just a cultural thing. I do understand that players are exuberant and they should be allowed to express themselves after scoring a try but, for me, players cross a line when they taunt the crowd.

You’re right - America is a different beast. Showboating is expected (and it works in NFL). Can’t see rugby ever going down that road.

The fact the penalty failed was because the Saints learned their lesson after two.

Oof, that Stormers comment..as a Stormers fan, it hurts to be a Stormers fan. We can be so good, but also we can collapse like a house of cards. I do think that there is a line, I would agree with you. But I also very much think that the rugby public blows it out of proportion when someone gets exuberant (Lowe annoys the daylights out of me, but that’s his game and he is good at it. I am sure plenty of people find Faf annoying too). I’m not sure rugby will go the way of the NFL though, I do think that on a cultural level rugby playing nations (and the cultural demographics that go into playing rugby) differ vastly from the US. The US as a nation is very much about bravado. Similarly, the argument about rugby devolving into football, it is a sport that rewards theatrics so naturally theatrics enter into the culture. I don’t see rugby going that way, there is something different about rugby and the people that it attracts. Perhaps it is the gladiatorial aspect, or the lack of insultingly large paychecks. I am not sure, it would be interesting to conduct a study on this to be honest.

Yes, my examples go back quite far and are sporadic inbetween. But this makes me wonder - does rugby not have so many showboats because it doesn’t attract showboats or because it doesn’t allow showboats?