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'We've had a lot of choir practice, a few questionable song choices'

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Warren Gatland’s Lions squad flew to Edinburgh from their Jersey training base on Thursday evening satisfied with the bonds that have been developed by Conor Murray and co during their near two-week stay on the Channel Island ahead of this Saturday’s match against Japan prior to their departure for their South African tour. 

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Twenty-five of the 37-strong assembled for day one training on June 14, a number that increased to 33 at the start of this week. Only the four-strong Exeter contingent have yet to link up with the Lions but the players that have been in the camp have been busy getting to quickly grow the bonds among a squad drawn from across four rugby nations. 

Singing, beers, FIFA championships and WhatsApp group mischief were all mentioned as off-field activities that have gotten the Lions off to a positive start in gelling together as a group. Third-time Lions tourist Murray reckoned the bond already felt really good – even though some of the songs that were being sung weren’t too easy on the ear.  

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“We have had a lot of choir practice, a few questionable song choices from the nations but we are getting there,” said Murray, the Lions scrum-half for this Saturday’s game in Scotland. “We had a few beers the other night and it was our best rendition yet. Tadhg Beirne fancies himself as a singer. Tone-deaf. Tadhg Furlong. I know I’m picking a few Irish but they are the lads I stand beside when we have our choir practice. No, it has been good fun.”

“We have got four songs,” explained assistant coach Gregor Townsend. “Each country had to nominate a song from their country so we have Loch Lomand, Zander Fagerson was in charge of us. Wyn Jones, Calon Lan from Wales, You’ll Never Walk Alone was Courtney Lawes’ contribution for the England squad and Jack Conan was in charge of Ireland and that was Wild Rover. We sang that a few times together.”

Asked who the practical jokers have been so far, Townsend wasn’t fully sure but he suggested the backs in the squad were getting up to most of the antics. “It’s hard to tell just yet,” he said. “Liam Williams has got that (prankster) side to him. I have seen a few messages on WhatsApp and I can see him coming through. Bundee Aki. I think it will be a back. They have not emerged fully yet but they are a great bunch. 

“They are getting on really well with each other. We have a couple of sociable occasions but outside of the social occasions you see them sitting after meals together, you see them bonding on the training field so they are forming that squad togetherness very quickly. 

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“They arranged a FIFA championship. I walked into the team room yesterday [Wednesday] and Josh Adams was winning quite easily against Ali Price and Toby Faletau. That was what was arranged on their day off. They have been quite active on their days off playing golf, boat trips, some history trails so they have made the most of this wonderful place we are staying in. We have had a couple of good nights together and there has been a lot of singing.”

A tourist in 2013 and 2017, Murray has been inspired by what he has seen so far from the class of 2021. “Chris Harris is a bit of a funny guy, getting to know him quite well off the pitch. There are loads of relationships forming, the bond is really good. 

“Having us in a bubble is aiding that. We all realise how close we are going to live together for the next while so we have to realise we have to get along and lads have been making that effort. Having been on a couple (of tours) this time it feels really good. There is a natural bond and a bit of craic about the place.” 

Breaking up the Irish midfield off the pitch will be a test, however. “Being Irish getting Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw to separate is going to be a massive challenge,” quipped Murray. “If one comes in the door the other one is sure to follow. But genuinely there are good bonds all over the place.”  

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J
JPM 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

13 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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