SAints all over Bath atm. Butchered a chance just now, already 7-0 up but they look a lot better so far.
Lions tour specific talk to here please: →
Is he first choice ?
He is as much in the conversation as every player who will play 10 in this year's 6 Nations. But you have stuff above like "He is probably up against Owen Farrell and Finn Smith for the third spot" which is very premature.
the lad has barely played for Leinster and has only had a few glorified friendlies for Ireland.
That's exactly why the term "potential bolter" is being used. A bolter is someone who comes from nowhere and stakes a claim very close to the squad being picked.
If Prendergast gets decent gametime in the 6N and performs well, and/or gets a few more big games for Leinster in Europe, then of course he'll be in the conversation. If he doesn't, then it's probably Crowley in the mix for the Lions and Prendergast goes to Georgia and Romania with Ireland which will still be good for his development
Out-half is a position that is wide open. I would assume assume Russell is a cert, Marcus Smith a probable and after that, who knows?
Of course it's not bollocks to say it with all those caveats (as both you and I did). To say he has a chance of being a bolter (an unlikely player who plays themselves into contention in the Lions year), is perfectly reasonable to wonder about.
He's the first choice 10 for one of the 4 teams the Lions are selected from. He is, by default, in the conversation for the squad.
Saw the Google translate of this, fairly excoriating.
That's kinda what everyone is saying, no? If he plays well for Leinster, and then is selected at 10 for Ireland and also does well there, he enters the conversation?
No one is saying he's a definite, they're saying he has an outside chance if everything goes his way. Is it pure bollox to say that?
Pure bollox talking about him being on the Lions team at this stage.
It may come to pass but the lad has barely played for Leinster and has only had a few glorified friendlies for Ireland.
Any talk of this right now is overhyped nonsense.
Joey back w Bordeaux so his injury can’t be too bad. Got a yellow on 60 and was replaced subsequently. Not sure if that was tactical or injury related.
Yeah, particularly as Farrell had been injured since November.
They have a flops list? That harsh!!
Antoine Frisch is no 3 on the Midi Olympique flops of the season list as well.
Owen Farrell has had a season to forget so far. On form, there's no way he should travel with the Lions. Even Midi had him in their Top 10 transfer flops this season.
Could see it. Russell and Marcus Smith pretty much nailed on bar injury. He is probably up against Owen Farrell and Finn Smith for the third spot imo. Would take Farrell as things stand but a long run in Europe and strong 6 Nations might change things for Prendergast.
Squidgy Rugby talked bit Sam Prendergast as potential Lions bolter. Makes sense.
Assuming he gets a lot of 6N and Champions Cup time, he could well be in contention. It's far more likely he'll have a solid season that outlines his potential for the future rather than becoming the best 10 in the British Isles straight away. But if it went better than expected, he could well be a Lions bolter
That's the readers' team. The writers' one is a bit less rubbish.
Is that team of the year 2024 or team of the season 23/24? Looks like it should be team of the year 2023.
Some bizarre picks in the pack, tbh.
15 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), 13 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 12 Jordie Barrett (New Zealand), 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France), 10 Thomas Ramos (France), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 6 Francois Cros (France), 5 Emmanuel Meafou (France), 4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Peato Mauvaka (France), 1 Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Hmmmm …..
The L'Equipe team of the year is bizzare, well from the Irish guys picked anyway. Furlong barely played, Aki was fine I guess and Porter is consistently good but there's a guy called Ox Niche playing rugby at LH these days.
I would of had Doris as probably the only Irish player , maybe Beirne too.
Exactly, that's why im talking about the test matches!
I doubt Farrell will risk Russell in any of the midweek matches, even for 20 minutes.
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He's a fantastic player.
You have to ask yourself when Prendergast comes off after an hour for the Lions who would you trust more to see out a game/change the game, Russell or M.Smith? No brainer really.
"Really hard to gauge the actual quality of the league."
If you have to ask yourself this question at this stage you already have your answer.
Agreed. Russell is also bringing up the level of the players around him. A joy to watch.
He has a reputation he'll never shake in the eyes of many but 2024 Finn Russell is a brilliant player. Possibly the best passer and tactical kicker in the world, and far better work rate and commitment in defence than in his Racing years.
Really poor showing from Sarries.
Commentator (Flatman) lauding Sarries Captain Itoje for continuing to 'leave a shoulder' on Bath players 'despite the scoreline'.
Awesomely moronic comment.
