Lions tour to Australia

Agreed with Furlong at TH, and Beirne (along with O'Connell) as 2nd row. At the moment, you could flip a coin between Doris vs Heaslip and Keenan vs Kearney, but I expect both the current players to be considered ahead by the end of their career.

But whatever about the rest, I don't think JGP comes close to Murray in any discussion around our best ever in their respective positions.

In the context of head injuries and player safety too getting rid of jackaling would be a big help. Lots of bad head injuries and lower limb injuries over the years from players torpedoing the jackler as it's so difficult to remove them from the ball.

The contest for possesion should probably be limited to the ruck only, counter ruck to win the ball back. Much safer and far easier to referee.

The torpedo is a bugbear of mine - watching players take a short run up and launch themselves recklessly into the ruck is immensely frustrating.

But I do think you need to keep the jackal. Safe in the knowledge that they can't be turned over, attacking teams would just turn the game into grinds of pick and goes otherwise. The ruck does need rethought, though. I wonder what difference it might make if you limited the numbers that could join.

Team announced for the third test:

Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan

reps: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell

6-2 split ok the bench, and unfortunately no places for Joe McCarthy, Mack Hansen or JVDF.

Delighted for James Ryan getting a test start!

No Lowe, JvdF, Hansen but at least Ryan gets a start.

Lowe must surely be injured as he's another favourite of Farrell's

Don’t think Lowe can feel too hard done by, his performances haven’t been great on the whole.

Delighted for Ryan.

Ffs .... Never mind Dan Sheehan or Keith Wood, we all know Shane Byrne is Ireland's greatest ever hooker. And he started twice for the Lions which I only realised recently

I think Farrell has actually shown less loyalty and sentimentality in this selection than he has done as an Ireland coach.

Disappointed for VdF. Lowe played himself off the team last week I'd say.

and kinghorn played himself in, made big yardage with outside breaks on at least 2 occasions.

But I agree, Farrell could have also pointed towards Lowe's assist for Beirne's try as a reason to keep him.

Aussie Legends v Lions Legends on YouTube now. Some big names playing, including Munch the Mullet himself, looks like a bit of craic for the lads!

Been a decent game so far

Very tough on him. He wasn't at his best during the 6N but was super for Leinster at the end of the season. Think AF really likes Tom Curry and Jac Morgan almost has to be picked as the token Welshman. Not to disparage Morgan, he's a fine player but VdF should have a lot more credit in the bank than him.

Epsom salt doesn’t bind and stay in the ground. 80% vinegar in the mix, kill anything without harming the ground.

disappointed for VDF but hopefully he’ll have a chip on his shoulder come the England match in the 6N. Overall this tour was OK but generally hard to get excited about. Lions is a bit anachronistic when all these teams play each other so often.