Monday 4th Aug: 08:40

Well, that’s it for another four years. New Zealand up next for The Lions. The landscape of rugby could be vastly different by then if this rebel league gets off the ground but lets assume the tour is still viable and goes ahead. Learning from this tour would indicate the length of the trip is about right. A pre-departure game makes sense, piques the fans’ interest. Keep the length of the tour the same with six ‘warm-up’ games and three tests. The five New Zealand franchises will offer up a significantly better quality of opposition than we saw in Australia. The sixth game could be a combination of the two South Sea Island franchises or one of the South Sea Island nations. That’s all way off in the distance. Before that we have the inaugural Women’s Lions, and the Women’s World Cup.

As the dust settles on the tour and the entourage heads home there are still some things to be discussed. Dan Sheehan’s fate is not yet known. He was, as expected, cited for the clash with Tom Lynagh. The Lions coaching team has been criticised for their laissez-faire attitude during the lightning break on Saturday. Australia were focussing on keeping moving and tactics, The Lions were on their phones or lounging around on bean bags. The media have put together their final player ratings. They are pretty consistent with Tadgh Beirne, who did play more minutes than anyone else, topping the charts. Fair call. Bottom in some cases is Bundee Aki, with Farrell being criticised for misplaced loyalty. As an aside however, congratulations to the Aki family, their fifth child arrived in the back of a car on the way to hospital. This was in New Zealand. Team Manager Ieuan Evans has gone on record stating that Welsh players need to aspire to being on the 2029 tour. Have a ‘I want a piece of the action’ mentality. For those who have been to Australia you will know what an amazing country it is. For those who have been to Australia on a Lions tour will know what an experience that is. I am sure as people pack out the airports and head home all will be eulogising about what a special time in their life it has been, despite getting drenched on Saturday.

What’s next? The Women’s World Cup, which I will turn my attention to from tomorrow, and the Rugby Championship. We also get closer to the start of the domestic season. Up and down the land clubs will be desperately trying to get their grounds in order. With the weather we have had it is proving difficult. The Premiership will be interesting as it always is, and before you know it the Autumn Internationals will be upon us.

Going back to the World Cup Wales got put in their place by Australia in the second of their warm-up games. Having won the first confidence was high but a raft of changes highlighting the paucity of strength in depth for Wales put Wales at a disadvantage from the off. Wales inspirational captain Alex Callender limped off with a nasty looking injury in this one. Wales nervously await an update

England strolled past Spain by a lot to not many on Saturday. This was nothing more than a training run for the Red Roses. Stand-in skipper Marlie Packer had a storming game by all accounts only to be sent from the field for dangerous play in a ruck. The panel deemed it low-end and with a one match discount she is free to play in the World Cup opener but not in the game against France next Saturday. That will be a game worth watching. 20:10 kick off. I’ll look for TV coverage.

Ireland beat Scotland in their warm-up fixture. This wasn’t as convincing as I had expected but keep an eye on the Irish.

So it came to pass that Louis Rees-Zammit’s dream of NFL success hit the buffers. It was no surprise. The NFL is a tough place to break into, and with a myriad of highly talented college kids who’ve played since they could walk vying for places, it was always the longest of long shots for Rees-Zammit. Where he goes now is up in the air. The French clubs will have spotted his availability, so I understand have Bristol and Gloucester. Going back to Wales is unlikely due to the severe salary restrictions in place, but you never know. Wherever he goes he is eligible for the Welsh national side.

The RFU have a women President for the first time in their 154 year history. Deborah Griffin takes over the role at the perfect time. Women’s rugby is on the up, and the World Cup is here in England. She has a mighty impressive CV. Let’s hope she can bring some sanity to the game and keep the old farts in line. The governance of the game is now in her hands and she is determined to improve what has been seen as an old fashioned way of working. I wish her well.

Sunday 3rd Aug: 09:45

Good morning. Looking back at Thursday’s missive I am happy to say I got a couple of things right. Yesterday’s third and final test was definitely rain soaked. It was also one-sided, to a degree, but not in the way I expected. It was all a bit of an anti-climax, or am I being miserable because the Lions lost?

After what the Aussies are still calling a disgraceful end to the 2nd test they were always going to be fired up for the 3rd and final game. A 3-0 whitewash would have been extremely dispiriting for the game as a whole, and certainly a serious worry going into the Rugby Championship in two weeks time. They were worthy winners. Yes, I think with the series won, and bodies creaking, The Lions were not as fired up as they could have been but let us not take anything away from the way the green & gold marauders took the game to their guests. The weather was a leveller, as was losing skipper Maro Itoje, James Ryan and Tommy Freeman all to HIA, but the home win was more than justified.

Where did the Australians win this one. Team selection. Nic White was a right royal pain in the ass, but absolutely outstanding bearing in mind the conditions. Will Skelton was another who was quick to wind up The Lions, but when not doing that he was doing his job brilliantly. Taniela Tupou was awesome both at scrum time, his main job, and around the park. They got their tactics right and stifled clean possession for The Lions. A telling moment was during the lightning break when soon to be Leicester Tigers coach Geoff Parling was analysing the lineout. When play recommenced Australia started to steal plenty of Lions lineout ball. Finally a sheer bloodymindedness not to suffer the whitewash.

It could be argued that Andy Farrell’s selections were a contributing factor. Bundee Aki was poor to say the least. This all the time while Sione Tuipoltu sat cold and wet in the stands. Tom Curry had a good game, but that was by sheer guts. He was running on empty. Could young Henry Pollock or Van der Flier have been an option. We’ll never know now. The Lions were flat and the game as a consequence was flat. Too many basic errors and at times poor discipline.

I’m pleased for Australia, they were the better side on the day, often by a big margin. In the back of my mind too is the thought a 3-0 whitewash and not losing any of the ‘warm-up’ fixtures would have seen this Lions team elevated to a position of greatness I don’t think they deserve. The pre-test opposition was definitely sub-optimal. The Wallabies were undercooked in the first test, lost by the narrowest of margins in the second. This was a very good Lions squad but not a great one.

There was one incident that piqued my interest and that was Dan Sheehan’s hit on Tom Lynagh. Unlike the Morgan - Tizzano controversy I think this was a clear cut case for Sheehan to have seen at least yellow, if not red. There is no clear wrap, Lynagh’s head is exposed, and in my opinion, Sheehan’s actions were reckless at best; a cheap shot. There is still time for it to be reviewed. By the way I am very surprised it wasn’t picked up by the all seeing TMO.

Will Greenwood states this Lions team would have gone toe-to-toe with the ‘Boks and the All Blacks. I’m far from convinced by that. Let me pick out a few positives. Maro Itoje led from the front. He captained well while playing very well. Finn Russell showed what a class act he is. Tadgh Beirne was awesome pretty much every time he played, as was Tom Curry. Jac Morgan needs a ton of praise for the way he carried the weight of Wales on his shoulders, and for delivering every time he took to the field. Tadgh Furlong bows out with a loss but a huge amount of credit in the bank. There are some negatives such as Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman failing to make any impression. There are some disappointments too. Tomas Williams going home early. I remain convinced he would have pushed for the starting berth if he had stayed fit. Then you have Darcy Graham. Wrongly overlooked at the outset but then given a chance only to limp off after just 14 minutes. A tearjerker of a moment.

Two points before wrapping up today. Should Australia remain on the tour agenda? Absolutely yes. I would however think about adding in tests against one of the South Sea Island nations to spice things up a bit. Secondly Chichester Geoff has asked whether the inclusion of players such as Schoeman, Lowe etc is degrading the kudos of the Lions shirt. I’m no fan of the residency rule for qualification but state if a player has qualified to play for any of the three nations, or the island of Ireland, e.g Gibson-Park, then yes, they should be eligible to play for The Lions. It is a distraction to think anything else. I think where it gets messy is when someone like van der Merwe gets selected ahead of say Graham and then fails pretty spectacularly. It of course will raise questions. It is a red herring however because that is all about form and not nationality. Back tomorrow with more guff.

Thursday 31st July: 07:55

Just a few words this morning as yet again I have the M+Ms to look forward to. Andy Farrell has gone ‘all in’ to win the series 3-0 by making just a couple of changes for the third and final test. In comes Blair Kinghorn onto the wing with James Lowe out of the match day squad altogether. That is no surprise. James Ryan is elevated to the starting berth alongside Maro Itoje with Ollie Chessum dropping to the bench. It is otherwise ‘as you were’ for those who started in Melbourne. There is one change on the bench with Ben Earl coming in to replace Kinghorn. With Earl’s ability to play in the centre as well as across the back row this makes sense. Yes, Jac Morgan is on the bench. Hoorah!

None of this is a real surprise. Farrell Snr obviously feels Tom Curry has one more big game in him and with two fine back row forwards on the bench it is a chance worth taking. Having Ellis Genge come off the bench worked extremely well so I can see why he has stuck with that plan. The only change I would have been tempted to make would be Sione Tuipulotu for Bundee Aki but I’m in my armchair, actually at my mum’s dining room table, so what do I know?

Australia by comparison have made a number of changes. Rob Valetini’s calf issue has flared up so he misses out. Nic White, the master of sledging, comes in at #9 with Jake Gordon missing out altogether. White has announced his imminent retirement from international rugby but his selection is based on practicality not sentimentality. ‘He has a great kicking game and it is expected to be wet on Saturday’ says Joe Schmidt. Dylan Pietsch replaces the injured magician. Taniela Tupou comes into the starting XV for the injured Alaalatoa. The headline in some people’s minds is Carlo Tizzano out of the squad. Hooper comes in alongside Wilson and McReight. A bold call that but perhaps with close to 40,000 Lions fans expected at the stadium him getting the bird from minute one would not be great.

I think this could be an anti-climax to a sometimes disappointing tour. There are many like me who as objectively as possible have stated the lead up fixtures were underwhelming with only FNP offering up any sort of challenge, the 1st test was a damp squib, and with the series won, and a number of key Aussie injuries this final test could be a one-sided rain soaked affair. I sincerely hope not.

One other bit of news. The takeover of Newcastle Falcons by Red Bull is just about done and dusted. Newcastle Red Bulls will take their place in the Premiership with a renewed vigour. The BBC have the full story.

Before I hit the road a comment on yesterday’s blog and an offsetting comment. I stand by my view that Israel has a lot to answer for in the ever worsening Gaza situation. However it must be said that Hamas also has to be brought to account. With the people they are supposed to be representing close to starvation, they are allegedly looting the aid conveys for their own selfish benefit. Their atrocious acts of terrorism and their ongoing fight with Israel will lead to more unnecessary deaths, particular of young children and old women.

I’ll leave it there as the first of the Ms beckons. The M5. Back on Sunday - walking rugby tonight, Friday Club tomorrow, the test on Saturday.

Wednesday 30th July: 08:35

The countdown is well and truly underway. Just a few days left before the final Lions test, and still the Aussies are whingeing. I thank my Friday Club friends for the bottle of Australian Whine made from sour grapes. Very apt! Despite an overwhelmingly positive response to the referee’s decision regarding that clear out, it still won’t go away. Joe Schmidt has led the charge against the call, but I guess as Head Coach he has to do that to keep his troops on side. He has now come out defending Tizzano’s histrionics saying the mouthguard data confirms the intensity of Morgan’s hit on him. I’m sure it does, but that isn’t enough to justify what I think is pretty clear, he tried to milk it. Whilst I’m no fan of Eddie Jones he has said it was a clean and fair clear out and if it wasn’t allowed to stand the game of rugby union as we know was dead.

Ok, enough of that, what lies in wait. Certainly not a dead rubber. The Wallabies will be desperate to avoid the whitewash, whilst The Lions will be hungry for that clean sweep. Three test wins and no defeats elsewhere. Being somewhat of a cantankerous old bugger, it must be noted the opposition in the lead up games to the tests were not of the highest quality. Andy Farrell has some huge calls to make. Who has still got gas in the tank, who is running on empty? What to do about the back three. Despite Keenan’s last minute heroics should Kinghorn be given a go, or could Kinghorn go onto the wing. It seems McCarthy, Tuipulotu and Hansen are all fit, and ready to go. One player who is definitely missing out is Garry Ringrose. He has to miss this one due to the concussion protocols. I don’t think Farrell will make many changes, but as you know….. what do I know.

With the series done and dusted it will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like. The Olympic Stadium is mighty impressive and should be packed to the rafters, with the red of the Lions hordes dominating. There is likely to be an end of term feel to proceedings as those who have made the arduous journey to, and around Australia in support of the team as they get ready to head home. The funds will have dried up, and for many work beckons next week. For some it is back to the sedate pensioners life, and I’m sure for some it is back to the benefit office to justify why they haven’t been in for a few weeks!!

Come Sunday morning it will be over and we can start to look ahead to the Women’s World Cup. If that generates as much interest as the Women’s football then happy days.

Plenty of warm-up fixtures to look forward to. Australia v Wales on Friday at 10:00. Can Wales get back to back wins. It will be quite some achievement if that were to happen. Ireland host Scotland on Saturday with England hosting Spain on the same day. I’ll keep my powder dry on the World Cup as come next week I’ll need something to bleat on about.

Not sure what TV coverage is available but the NZ Championships and SA Currie Cup is underway. SKY Sports definitely have some of the Currie Cup.

Going back to the Lions, there is an interesting piece about the logistics of the tour on the BBC Sport website.

Is the future of rugby union in jeopardy. Despite my earlier dismissal of the R360 project being lead by Mike Tindall, it seems to be getting traction. With talk of salaries for an 8 game season of £740k I’m not surprised. WalesOnline are suggestion a number of top Welsh internationals have been approached and have expressed an interest. This again is not a surprise with the game in Wales in a shambolic state and the growing sense that two regions are about to be axed. This will be something to watch as it develops. I really am not sure of the attraction but based on the media reports there are some big hitters involved, e.g. Red Bull, and the Fenway Sports group (owners of Liverpool FC) it could become a reality.

As I have time before I get into the chores for my dear old mum I thought I’d pick up on a couple of the proper news stories. Whilst I found it irksome that Donald Trump had the temerity to be telling us what to do I did agree with his view that Sadiq Khan is doing a very bad job. Only last week he agreed to spend £500k on another woke vanity project, all this while crime remains a real problem on the streets of London.

I was sickened by pictures of starving children in Gaza, and hearing the mealy mouthed excuses from Israeli politicians, in essence denying there is a problem. I have very strong feelings on the subject but have decided to keep them to myself, for the time being.

Likewise I am growing increasingly frustrated by the pathetic way this Government, and the previous one, is failing to deal with illegal immigration. I genuinely fear that there will be serious civil unrest on the streets unless something more proactive is done to stop the boats.

Monday 28th July: 08:55

It’s a different shaped ball but I have to start with England’s penalty shoot out win over Spain. There was something about how the team had got to the final: late goals, an earlier penalty shoot out, that seemed to indicate they were heading for glory via this most stressful of routes. It was quite a game with Spain the better side for long periods but you write England off at your peril. Women’s sport is on the up, and this is another massive boost for them.

Returning to rugby, the furore continues. Australian Rugby’s Phil Waugh is demanding answers to the question: why was that try allowed to stand? Simple Phil, if you stop actions like Jac Morgan’s then the game is doomed. Player safety is paramount, but rugby is a contest, a physical contest. As I stated yesterday, what was Morgan supposed to do? Stand there applauding while singing Waltzing Matilda? Having read Wayne Barnes view, writing in The Torygraph, it is clear he agrees. He also points out the theatrics of Tizzano. If it wasn’t for the amateur dramatics this would have been a non issue.

The whole episode does highlight the vagaries or rugby’s laws and how jackling and the ruck area might need a review. The strict interpretation of the ruck states players should have head and shoulders (I didn’t know you had dandruff) above the hips. On this basis Tizzano should have been penalised. Let’s move on.

Looking ahead, the final test awaits. Back to Sydney head the red horde. The challenge that faces Andy Farrell is what to do with the team. Does he rest some of the most battle hardened giving those who have seen less action an opportunity, or does he go for the jugular. Brian Moore, also writing in The Torygraph, states he must go for the win with the best team possible. I agree with him.

What would I do? James Lowe out with Blair Kinghorn in on the wing. Tuipulotu and Jones OR Aki and Ringrose. Not a mix and match. Morgan to start, possibly, or keep him as a dynamic weapon from the bench. Likewise, Genge to start? Then you have Joe McCarthy to return if fit? It’s Farrell Senior’s decision so we’ll know soon enough.

As a footnote to the fuss being made about that try, I personally think the Aussies have more of a case about Dan Sheehan’s effort. He dived to avoid the tackle. Debate.

Concussion. Garry Ringrose missed possibly the biggest game of his career with concussion, something that he has been plagued with of late. It begs the question: are the players who are exposed to the most intense impacts given the least protection. My good friend Colin has asked the very sensible question: why isn’t the 21 day rule applied across the game. A very good question indeed. I guess the answer is top flight players have access to much better medical care, and therefore more sophisticated testing. Is this enough? Quite clearly it isn’t if Ringrose is self-diagnosing. If he hadn’t spoken up he would have played with a very dangerous condition. That would have been unacceptable. I think Colin is right. It should be 21 days for all, and even that might not be long enough. By the way, if we start to treat the whole game the same, lets get rid of the pathetic tackle school option, and reduce the number of subs at the upper echelons of the game.

The travelling fans will not be short of things to do in Sydney, but I rather hope some might explore further afield such as The Blue Mountains. The stunning national park with its amazing views, including the three rocky outcrops known as the Three Sisters. We stayed on the edge of a bustling town called Katoomba. In essence the tourism centre for the region with its old fashioned streets, ancient train station and wonderful attractions such as the cable car, the Skyway, over the gorge.

Back in Sydney there is a plethora of places to visit such as Bondi, Darling Harbour, Paddington and The Rocks. A short walk from Circular Quay are a maze of small streets built under the rugged cliffs. The Harbour Bridge towers over the area and just beyond it you’ll find the Lord Nelson Pub. Many a pint of their on-site brewed beer was consumed here. My good friend Ken quite independently of me made the very same point. Not only is it noted for its beer, the lamb & mint pie with mash and peas was fantastic. The Rocks weekend market is amazing.

Ok that’ll do. No blog tomorrow as the motorway network beckons, another flying and packed visit to Bridgnorth. Back on Wednesday.

Sunday 27th July: 09:10

It is hard to think of any better opening line then: that was a proper test. Two sides giving their all for the cause, with one triumphing over adversity at the death. It was a game that ebbed and flowed with moments of brilliance, moments where under 12s could have done better, and just a smattering of controversy. Yes, we’ll get to that in a moment.

The wounded Wallaby came out of the blocks with bared teeth and claws sharpened. Big Will Skelton and Rob Valetini made their mark early on and soon had The Lions on the back foot. Looking somewhat off their best The Lions aided the hosts by doing exactly the opposite of what was required. They were doing the basics poorly, the kicking was wayward, and discipline was patchy. The half time stat that showed the number of missed tackles by the visitors highlighted the quality of the Australian effort and how far below par The Lions were. The sense of everything being ‘flat’ had gone, the atmosphere coming through the TV was palpable. Could a shock be on the cards, bearing in mind The Lions went into this game as overwhelming favourites. 23-5 at one point and 23-17 at the break. All bets were off. What a first half, six tries and plenty to talk about

The 90,000 present were in for a treat as the rollercoaster ride continued into the second half. The Lions defence was better but the early exchanges went the way of the hosts. Discipline improved, coinciding with the Wallabies tiring. The often abrasive Skelton left the field, and with the Aussies having to play a second scrum half on the wing due to the early injury to magic man Harry Potter, the tide started to turn. Then came the cavalry. Ellis Genge, Blair Kinghorn, Owen Farrell and Jac Morgan (the latter to one of the biggest cheers of the tour, let alone the day). It wasn’t long before their impact was being felt. The ship steadied and the passes were sticking. Genge and Kinghorn made inroads, as did Morgan. Bundee Aki who had been very quiet suddenly awoke from the his hibernation and began barrelling forward at pace.

Was it possible that Australia could hang on? Yes it was, they simply wouldn’t go away. Plenty of good rugby from them keeping The Lions honest. The Tadgh Beirne try came and hopes were raised of a series win. Certainly the morass of red in the stands became even more animated, if that was possible. Those in yellow did their best to roar on their charges but it wasn’t be. The clock ticking relentlessly toward 80 minutes and Hugo Keenan goes over for the winning score. Or was it. Harry Wilson has a right go at the referee, and in comes the TMO. There is a quietening among the throng before Caesar stretches out his hand and turns his thumb skyward. Its a try, and that is that.

At the conclusion of the game I sent a WhatsApp saying ‘you had to feel for Australia. That was a proper test and it wouldn’t have been unfair if they had won’. I stand by that. I did get a lot responses, most disparaging. The general consensus was you shouldn’t feel sorry for Aussies when they lose as they have a tendency to whinge, as is the case right now.

So to the reasons for the whinging. Dan Sheehan’s try. He has leapt over the would be tacklers to go in for the score. The debate centres around was he simply diving to score, or was he diving to avoid the tackle/tackler and as consequence scored. It is semantics in every respect. Charlie Morgan writing in The Torygraph sides with the Aussies on this one. He has dived to avoid the tackle and therefore in breach of the laws. The officials saw it differently and allowed the score.

Then we have the outcry, and some of it is pretty vitriolic, about the awarding of the Keenan try. Was Jac Morgan’s clear out legal. I go off at a tangent here and state the law makers have got themselves in knots by allowing jackling. If good old fashioned rucking with players on their feet with shoulders above their hips was in place this wouldn’t have happened. So we have Tizzano and Morgan arriving almost simultaneously. Tizzano is bent over double with his head and neck in line with his ankles. What was Morgan meant to do. He could not go any lower and if he had gone for the body and rolled the player that would have been a penalty. He could have stood there and applauded as the Aussies would imply he should have done, and quite frankly that would have been the end of rugby. You are allowed to compete for the ball. Despite Wallaby complaints Morgan did wrap so lets take that out of the equation. There are plenty saying if Tizzano had not tried for ‘best supporting actor’ with his theatrics post contact this would never have been an issue. It was Jac, so I’m biased, but trying to be objective I think it was a good, clean and fair clear out. Try stands.

What next? Farrell Snr will be happy but the clean sweep and 3-0 in tests has to be the objective. There has to be changes. James Lowe was again less than good for example. What does he do about the centre pairing. Aki was pretty quiet for long periods, Jones was less than perfect. Should Genge start. What to do with Jac? Curry was ok but eclipsed by Morgan, in my mind. Your views most welcome.

Before I go a quick ‘HOORAH’ for Wales Women beating Australia. Against all expectations they won 21-12 in Brisbane.

Thursday 24th July: 09:00

The countdown to the 2nd test is on. Just a few days to wait, a few days to mull over the selection changes, and what both sides need to do win. Lets look at the teams first.

As expected Rob Valetini and Will Skelton return, and both start. This comes as no surprise as both are substantial players in every sense. Dave Porecki comes in at hooker. The back line remains unchanged with Tom Lynagh keeping the #10 jersey. Australia have to come out of the blocks with the fire and attitude they showed in the last 10 minutes of the 1st test. Having watched how FNP took the game to The Lions, and contested fiercely at the breakdown, should give a template to what is needed.

Andy Farrell has made some big calls with more changes than I expected on the one hand, and less on the other. Running through the starting XV I had expected to see changes to the back three. Farrell has kept faith with Keenan, Lowe and Freeman despite them being less than spectacular last weekend. There are changes in the centre with Bundee Aki now partnering Huw Jones. That was not the original selection. Garry Ringrose got the nod originally, but very worryingly had to withdraw with a recurrence of concussion symptoms. Huw Jones therefore was reinstated. Sadly Sione Tuipulotu misses out altogether as he has a tight hamstring. That’s a shame as Melbourne is his home town. The media are saying he was probably going to miss out regardless. The half backs are unchanged, unsurprisingly! As widely expected Joe McCarthy is unfit so Ollie Chessum comes in. He goes to second row with Tadgh Beirne keeping his back row spot. The only other change sees Andrew Porter starting ahead of Ellis Genge. That surprises me, but plenty are saying it is a shrewd move as the scrum has ‘struggled’ late in the game.

Plenty of movement on the bench. In addition to Genge, in come Owen Farrell, Jac Morgan (hoorah!!), James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn. Kelleher, Stuart and Mitchell make up the rest of the 5-3 split. Out go Smith M, and Ben Earl. There will be plenty of debate about Earl not in the squad, and plenty about Farrell Jnr being in the squad. With Kinghorn covering the back three, Farrell was the obvious choice to cover #10 & #12. Ryan’s inclusion is a bit of a surprise, as is the exclusion of Earl. Morgan is worthy of a spot in the squad, and if there is one area where The Lions have been weak it has been the breakdown. Late on as the opposition tire he will bring serious competition to that area of the game.

The men in red will need to be at their precise best across the park on Saturday. Do the simple things brilliantly, kick wisely, and maintain discipline. The lineout will now be hotly contested, as will the scrum. Skelton and Valetini will make sure of that. The breakdown will be seen as a Lions weakness by the Aussies so the starting trio will have to be on their A game in that area. It should be a cracker with the MCG rocking.

A short walk along the banks of the Yarra River and the edifice affectionately known as The G comes into sight. Over 80,000 are expected to pack the stands on Saturday night, many of them wearing red. I’ve not been to a game at the stadium but did do the tour in 2013. Even empty there is a real sense of you being in a gladiatorial arena. The Young & Jackson pub will be packed, as will the The Boatbuilders bar & restaurant, one of our favourite watering holes. Just off Flinders Street are small pedestrianised side streets packed with small bars, cafes, and eateries. A great place to fortify yourself ahead of the game.

A couple of other snippets before wrapping up. The Torygraph brings us news that Steve Borthwick is looking to develop hybrid players. Players like Earl who can as easily play in the centre as in the back row. Players who can play across the front row. His thinking is a 7-1 split on the bench with just scrum half as the specialist back. Me, I think it is a cracking idea, but an idea that could finally lead to a reduction in the number of subs for each game.

There is significant criticism of the legal case being brought against both rugby union and rugby league governing bodies. In essence a leading judge has gone on record to state the case is being poorly managed with the ambulance chasers failing to disclose evidence, being sloppy in their submissions, and most interesting the absence of medical assessments for a significant number of claimants. The judge has criticised the tick box nature of the self-assessment. I do not want to undermine the issue of head injury and the long term affects. I refer you back to my concerns about Ringrose. However, I am sure there are many players who have jumped on the band wagon seeing an opportunity for a pay day. Of course the real drivers are the lawyers who see it as an opportunity to line their pockets. They are the biggest problem.

Friday Club tomorrow so back on Sunday as always.

Wednesday 23rd July: 09:00

What a game. End to end, non stop drama. Late, late goals. It had everything. Yes, of course I’m talking about Italy v England at the Euros. Getting ready to hit the sack and wow England score a last minute equaliser. Then came that penalty in extra-time. What a sporting contest and an hour later to bed.

I’m guessing not all of you were engrossed in that so lets talk about First Nations & Pasifika (FNP) vs The Lions. Well, it was a game that put me well and truly in my place. Owen Farrell is only on tour because dad is Head Coach BUT he more than justified that decision with a consummate display. As an individual he had a rock solid game. Nothing fancy, just everything done well. As a captain he was great, leading from the front, leading by example. I’m not sure about running into the early melee but even that shouted ‘leadership’. It looks increasingly likely he will be on the bench on Saturday.

Finally we had a proper contest. A game that could have gone either way right up until the final whistle. Despite The Lions going out to an early lead FNP would not go away. Playing with their hearts on their sleeves, and a determination to do their various heritages proud, they came storming back. In part, the fire in their bellies was a contribution to a rip-roaring game (sort of), in part, the lack of quality from The Lions allowed the game to develop. Looking at the papers this morning there were only a few Lions ‘winners’. FNP’s Charlie Gamble on the other hand was immense. The post match interview with Kurtley Beale was classy too.

For The Lions there were too many basic mistakes, and over complication of what should have been simple added to their woes. Discipline was a problem at times too. Before looking at the implications for the test side, I’ve got to mention Darcy Graham. Only on for 14 minutes but in my view 14 minutes that highlighted he should have been on the tour from day one. What a heartbreaker to see him limping off so soon into the game, and in tears.

The back three. Did they do enough to move the current incumbents. Blair Kinghorn did some things very well, but at other times made poor decisions. Duhan van der Merwe didn’t do enough in my mind. Actually, he was pretty average again. Young Jamie Osborne had a half decent game but test material. Not yet.

Elsewhere Fin Smith did some good things, especially early on in proceedings but there is no way Finn Russell is not starting. Ben White had a very good game but is unlikely to make the bench. What do you do with Garry Ringrose? He came on early and made a pretty decent impression. It would be harsh in the extreme for him to oust Huw Jones however, and if that were to happen would do you do with Tuipulotu. Scott Cummings and James Ryan played well. Cummings in particular was excellent but is that enough? Ryan might be in with a shout, especially as he got the shepherd’s crook early on. The other player who was taken off early was Jac Morgan. He was having a good game with plenty of carries, tackles and ‘dog’ in the contact areas. The media are suggesting that, with Joe McCarthy looking doubtful, he could be destined for the bench. Jamie George did ok but is it enough to leap frog both Kelleher and Cowan-Dickie? Not in my view.

So, we finally had a contest, but with most of the actors failing to impress the choreographers in the stands, I think tomorrow’s team announcement will be very much as expected: very few changes. It is fingers crossed for the Wallabies to step up to the plate and a vast improved performance from last week. Having watched FNP take it to The Lions, can they use that as motivation and a template. We’ll know soon enough.

It was a shame to see large swathes of the Marvel Stadium empty yesterday. It is a magnificent roofed coliseum by the way. Those in red were there in force but the locals clearly have the test in mind, or after the Rebels demise apathy rules.

The show moves now to the MCG, more on this immense sporting edifice tomorrow. In the meantime I believe, but yet to have it confirmed, that the Wallaby Legends versus their Lions equivalents will be shown on SKY tomorrow morning. Lets hope so!!!

Another day where our Government who promised change are certainly delivering change. The economy is changing for the worse. The illegal migration situation is changing, there are more and more arrivals. The cost of such migration is also changing. It is going upwards. Social unrest is increasing, and union anarchy is growing. Yep, that is exactly the change we all voted for. It is no wonder the odious Nigel Farage and his very unpleasant acolytes are gaining traction.

Perhaps I shouldn’t say this but I am ever more horrified by the outrageous acts of war we are seeing in Gaza. These are Israeli war crimes which by some could be considered akin to genocide.

Tuesday 22nd July: 08:34

Well, here we are, the last midweek game of the tour, and with it comes plenty of controversy. Maybe controversy is a bit excessive but certainly plenty of talking points. In no order, so let me start with Owen Farrell. In an interview yesterday the headline reads ‘Farrell “doesn’t understand” social media poison’. Put to one side the fact over the years he has been a divisive character on and off the field, I have written here, which is classed as social media, that his arrival on tour smacks of nepotism, and do you know what, I stand by it. Until last week he hadn’t played any rugby for many weeks, and certainly no international rugby. He was brought in ‘as cover’ for the injured Eliot Daly but his skills didn’t match those of Daly. There were plenty of players in good form who would have been a direct replacement. As always, my opinion.

Next up is the Lions insisting the franchises pick the strongest teams possible, then refusing to allow Pete Samu to play today for First Nations & Pasifika because of, in my opinion, an eligibility technicality. This at the same time as fielding third choice Irish players who have just been flown in for this one game. It smacks of hypocrisy.

In a similar vein Andy (S) has been in touch stating the whole fanfare about selection, and the honour of playing in the shirt, has been compromised by bringing in players just for today. The squad was substantial when it left Dublin, and injury’s to one side, should have been more than capable of getting through the tour without the need for additional numbers, especially as a couple are not first choice internationals at home. Who is Tom Clarkson??

I wrote on Sunday it all felt a bit flat after that first test. I was concerned that was some sort of subliminal Welsh jingoism creeping in due to the absence of Jac Morgan. I was somewhat relieved to read that plenty in the media felt the same and it had nothing to do with Wales or Morgan. The tour has been flat. Games that haven’t been scintillating, a first test which in the main was one way traffic, and the overall reality not matching the hype. I am sure the thousands who have travelled will be having an amazing time, especially if they are making the trip with exploring the wonders of Australia as the priority, and the rugby as incidental.

Andy, and many others, are asking whether going to Australia has run its course? I can’t answer that because who know what the strength of Australian rugby will be in 12 years time. I do think there are alternatives. South America, the South Sea Islands spring to mind, but then again would the opposition be robust enough. I for one don’t think a series against France holds the same lure as the longer ‘trips of a lifetime’.

Anyway, I have bleated on about this long enough, lets move on.

The WRU have announced Steve Tandy will take on the poison chalice as Wales Head Coach. It is a good choice in my view. The comments coming out of Scotland augur well. He was well liked, made a very positive contribution, and they were reluctant for him to go. A Welshman in charge of Wales is no bad thing at this moment in time. His back room staff is yet to be decided, and here is a concern already. Some of those might not be his choice. Lets hope the WRU get the rest of the shambles that is Welsh rugby sorted soon too.

It is not all good news in the rugby pages. England Rugby have made representation to World Rugby about incidents of racial abuse coming from a very small section of the crowd during the second Argentinian test. Sadly the culprits have not been found. No form of abuse is acceptable in our game, and especially racial abuse. It is not acceptable in society. If we all took the stance that we should treat others the way we want to be treated ourselves then the world might just be a better place.

WalesOnline are reporting that it is alleged damage was done to the hotel in Revigo, Italy where Wales Under 20s were staying, and players allegedly ran amok in the town with drunken and lewd behaviour not in keeping with the game. Yet another embarrassment for the WRU to deal with.

On a positive note the BBC have announced in addition to their comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Women’s World Cup they will show live at last one Women’s Premiership game each week of the season. That is good news.

Talking of women’s sport, there is the matter of England v Italy in the Euros tonight. Yes, me, Mrs Bleater, my son and my grandchildren will be watching that one.

Don’t forget, despite my negativity above, 11:00 the Lions are on SKY….if you have it.

Monday 21st July: 08:00

I’ll start with the Lions who have now arrived in Melbourne, a vibrant, multicultural city with sport very much at its heart. Sadly that doesn’t now include rugby union. More on this in a moment. This week however it will be taking centre stage with the Pasifika & First Nations hosting the Lions, and then the 2nd test at the MCG.

It is a very long shot but if anybody who reads this guff and is in Melbourne there are 3 Hospitality Tickets for that test available via peteradkershaw@gmail.com. Peter’s health precludes him from now going so he is looking to offload the tickets. Send him a mail titled ‘Lions Tickets’ if you are interested. Yes, I know it is a very long shot but Peter is a mate!!

Andy Farrell has announced the side for Tuesday’s game to be captained by his son Owen. I thought they only did that in junior rugby where the dad was the coach so the son ends up being captain!! Anyway, Farrell Junior starts in the centre partnered by Jamie Osborne. Darcy Graham gets a start as does Duhan van der Merwe. Blair Kinghorn is at full back. Fin Smith and Ben White are the half backs. The front five is basically the ‘forgotten’ men of the tour: Schoeman, George, Bealham, Ryan and Cummings. Where it looks tasty is the back row where Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock all start. The bench is basically the late comers plus Earl, Mitchell, Smith S and Garry Ringrose.

The Torygraph reckons just five of the 23 are in with a chance of making the squad for the second test. Kinghorn as none of the back three from Saturday nailed it. Jamie George as Cowan-Dickie is still injured and Kelleher was somewhat wayward. Jac Morgan if Joe McCarthy is injured. Chesshum starts so a bench spot becomes available. Garry Ringrose because he is Irish!! Finally Owen Farrell, especially if Keenan and Kinghorn start. Farrell Jnr does offer versatility and fire from the bench, and he is the coaches son. Yep, I still don’t see how he justifies being on the tour except as a ‘nepo baby’.

So to Melbourne. A fantastic city with the iconic Flinders Street Station a feature of all tourist brochures. Aussie Rules is massive here, as is rugby league. Soccer has a decent foothold played at the amazing AAMI Stadium. This is where the now defunct Melbourne Rebels had their home. The union franchise went bust a season ago and with the coffers of Australia Rugby being empty they went to the wall. A city of sport where rugby union is now almost non-existent. Cricket is also huge. The city is home to the Australian Open tennis, and the Australian F1 held in the lovely Albert Park.

Melbourne has a population of just over 5 million, many of them from South East Asia. The city is a blend of the modern such as the Rialto Towers, and the old such as the State Library, St Paul’s Cathedral and the station. Directly opposite the station is the Young & Jackson pub, a great 19th century watering hole where Mrs Bleater and I spent many an hour. Rehydration is important you know! Further afield you can get the tram to St Kilda, a beautiful beach, and even further afield is the famous Great Ocean Road. We did that in 2017 and it was magnificent. Two other places well worth a visit are the Old Melbourne Gaol and Queen Victoria Market first opened in 1837. Go on the interweb and read about its fascinating history. Finally if you are ever in the city jump on the Circle Line tram. Its old and rickety but free, and it takes you around the entire centre of Melbourne.

Before wrapping up England’s tour finished with a fine win over the USA. Whilst it was only the USA it was still an excellent result in a weather interrupted contest. According to the media Joe Carpenter made an impression as did Guy Pepper. England could have won by more except for a couple of tries chalked off by the TMO. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso got through the game unscathed which is a real bonus for Steve Borthwick with the Autumn series coming up. Have England finally realised the depth of talent at their disposal and now have a coach who can release the full potential from said talent. For the good of the game in England, I hope so.

The Lions kick off at 11:00 on Tuesday. The Marvel Stadium is where it’s at!

That’ll do for today as I need to catch up on the pathetic way this country is being run and how it seems crime is allowed to pay, the bone idle get better treated than those in work, and don’t get me started on illegal immigration and the amount of money showered on them.

Sunday 20th July: 10:10

Unlike some Welshmen I donned my Lions shirt and settled in to watch the game, of course supporting the warriors in red. I understand there were plenty who couldn’t be bothered, and others who were secretly supporting the Wallabies. In the stadium there were plenty of Welsh flags, with many fans sporting Jac Morgan face masks. This of course was a sideshow driven by jingoistic sentiment.

What mattered was the game and the result. As it transpired two men stepped up and more than justified their selection. Tom Curry and Tadgh Beirne were outstanding. Both immense with, and without the ball, both superb in attack and defence. Beirne was deservedly man of the match. The game started brilliantly with the Lions playing some good rugby going out to an early, and to be frank, an easy lead. There lies the problem with yesterday’s game and yesterday’s result. It became very flat. The Aussie fans quickly became subdued, some would argue disinterested. The Lions fans hoping for a rip-roaring and hotly contested game saw nothing more than a training run for long periods. This was a poor Australian side missing many of its big guns. Only in the dying embers of the game did the Aussies come alive. The Lions had made changes and were coasting. The men in green and gold exploited this making the last few minutes something of a contest.

There were times when I got exasperated with the Australians, willing them to stop kicking, urging them forward, wanting them to score. This was a Lions test, it should have been nail biting, it wasn’t. My opinion of course.

As Ronan O’Gara suggested in his piece for SKY, Andy Farrell will be delighted with the result but less so about the performance. Who failed to deliver? Sadly both men out wide were less than impressive. Neither James Lowe nor Tommy Freeman had their best games. Failing to get into the game despite plenty of Lions possession, looking decidedly rocky at times in defence, and making poor decisions when a calm head was needed in attack.

Across the board however there was much to be pleased about. The Jamison Gibson-Park / Finn Russell axis controlled proceedings. The centre partnership delivered. The back row was immense. Some of the attacking play was superb with good lines of running and decisive decision making. The defence was excellent in the main. There were some discipline blips which on a different day could be costly, but overall it was a well disciplined performance.

What will Farrell have on his mind this morning as they arrive in Melbourne. Joe McCarthy has plantar fasciitis, which is a tightening of the muscles and tendons around the feet….. apparently. Has Tom Curry suffered a wrist injury? He was clearly in pain after he went off. What to do about the wing. Mack Hansen and Blair Kinghorn perhaps. What about Hugo Keenan, did he do enough to keep his place. I don’t see too many changes in the starting XV but he might freshen up the bench. Will Stuart looked less than impressive. Would, as much as it would drive me nuts, Owen Farrell warrant a place on the bench. For you Welsh fans out there, Jac Morgan is now unlikely to see test action unless one of the three current incumbents gets injured. Even then van der Flier, Pollock and Earl would also be in contention. Tuesday is the next game. This will be a Lions side packed with those who are now, sorry to say, surplus to test requirements, or have been flown in as emergency cover.

Elsewhere England beat the USA in a lightning disrupted game. More on this tomorrow. New Zealand completed a whitewash over France in what was an enjoyable contest. Wales U20 were pretty woeful against Italy and England got hammered by Australia. South Africa beat New Zealand to lift the trophy in what was at times brilliant to watch, at others turgid.

Yet again the dreaded 20 minute red card was present, plus a woeful act of thuggery which went unpunished. A yellow card was not enough. In my view the game has to scrap the bunker nonsense, along with the 20 minute red card. The referees have to stop relinquishing responsibility and make the call.

Could the few of you who read this guff let me have your views of the Lions performance, plus anything else that comes to mind. Bleater@crowboroughrugby.com.

Enjoy this soggy Sunday, I’ll be back tomorrow.

Thursday 17th July: 08:40

The conjecture is over, the team has been announced. It is much as expected with Tuipulotu and Jones in the centre. Keenan starts, this as a result of Kinghorn being injured. The back row is where the surprise comes. Conan was always going to start. Beirne starting ahead of Chessum was not what I expected. Disappointingly Tom Curry gets the nod ahead of Morgan, van der Flier, Pollock and Earl. In both instances I feel those not included have shown better form but I’m not head coach so what do I know!

I guess the one surprise on the bench is the inclusion of Marcus Smith. That said the Kinghorn absence forced Farrell Senior’s hand in some respects. Chessum and Earl make it, which is based on form. Bundee Aki makes up the 3rd backline cover. I’m therefore guessing Hansen also failed his injury tests. England’s Stuart makes the bench ahead of Bealham.

Yesterday I said Wales have been represented in every Lions test since 1888. Slightly out, it was since 1896. Well, that goes out of the window with Jac Morgan missing out completely. It is a sad day for Welsh rugby and it will be bitter sweet to watch a Lions test without a single Welsh player included. It would be easier to accept if Morgan had failed to deliver. In my, yes rather biased opinion, he has been the most consistent of the #7s so missing out is hard to take. Curry is a Farrell ‘favourite’ so his form would have had to drop off a cliff for him to be excluded. I do defy anyone to say he has been the best #7 on tour to date, because he hasn’t. Likewise Beirne gets the nod ahead Chessum, in my view not on form, but on past reputation.

Anyone who has read this drivel regularly will know my stance on discrimination and wokeism. I am fed up of reading about how inferior candidates are selected for jobs in order to meet some sort of notional quota, or diversity requirement. To include Morgan in the squad as a token gesture would have been absolutely wrong. If the Lions coaches have picked the best team to beat the Wallabies then so be it. By the way, you could argue equally vehemently that van der Flier and young Henry Pollock are unlucky not to get selected. The one person I am relieved not to see on the bench, despite suggesting he might have been, is Farrell Junior. His inclusion and Morgan’s exclusion would have stuck in the craw.

As trailed yesterday Australia’s curve ball is the inclusion of Tom Lynagh at #10. A bold move. Nick Champion de Crespigny will win his first cap, and the side is captained by Harry Wilson. No place in the squad for James O’Connor. Also missing as they recover from injury are Will Skelton and Rob Valentini. Two big losses, yes, they both are big boys!!!

Not long to wait now. 11:00 on Saturday live on SKY.

England have picked a very inexperienced side to play USA. The headline is the return of Feyi-Waboso. Max Ojomo, Joe Carpenter, and Arthur Clark will all make their England debuts.

Moving on, Chichester Geoff has been in touch and asked about injuries. Is the injury situation worse now than it has been on past tours. In all honesty I don’t know, but it got me thinking. If it is worse, and intuitively I think it is, then why. Size and speed of the game is a significant factor. England fullback Freddie Steward is 6’5” and close to 17st and has a decent turn of speed. In the early 90s the starting fullback, who I know pretty well, was just under 13st and 5’11”. If you make the same comparison across the entire squad you will see that dramatic increase in size is consistent. It is not only at the elite level. Players are getting bigger, stronger and faster. The forces exerted on players is now significantly greater than in the past. That is just one factor.

When you add in the number of games players are exposed to, this problem is exacerbated. I don’t have the exact data, but looking at Maro Itoje and the games he has played for England, his club, and now the Lions, multiply that by the increased forces he has been exposed to injuries seem inevitable.

Finally, I throw in from left field, the quality of pitches being played on. More games are now played on artificial surfaces, which by their nature tend to be harder. Likewise, hybrid pitches as you find at Twickenham, or swansea.com stadium, are firmer than a traditional grass pitches. That said pitch maintenance has improved massively, even at grassroots level, and pitches are firmer. This has to be a factor surely. You could argue we need to consider overtraining. Too much time in the gym turning muscles, and tendons into highly tuned violin strings but easier to break could also be a factor.

I’m not sure I have answered Geoff’s question exactly but I hope my opinion has given some possible answers to why injuries occur.

Back on Sunday.

Wednesday 16th July: 09:30

As many in the media are saying: ‘the tension mounts’. Yes we are just a day away from knowing who will be given the coveted starting berth in the test team, who will run on from the bench and who misses out altogether. There are really only three areas that seem unclear. Who plays at #15. Blair Kinghorn or Hugo Keenan. Who partners Huw Jones in the centre, Bundee Aki or Sione Tuipuloyu. Finally who gets the highly contested #7 shirt. Pick from any number. Most are suggesting Tom Curry will get the nod ahead of both Josh van der Flier and Jac Morgan. We’ll know tomorrow for sure.

There is much in the press about the bench too. The Torygraph and The Guardian are both stating neither Owen Farrell nor Henry Pollock will make the 23 man squad. It seems Marcus Smith will be the utility back option, especially if Kinghorn doesn’t make it.

Being totally jingoistic it will be a crying shame if Morgan isn’t in the 23. It will be the first time since the Lions inception in 1888 that a Welsh player has not featured in a Lions test. What a sad indictment of how far the game in Wales has fallen.

There is plenty of chat that suggests Joe Schmidt will throw a curve ball by selecting Tom Lynagh at #10. Son of the great Michael will win just his fourth cap, his previous three were off the bench. The injury to Noah Lolesio has forced Schmidt’s hand. I have to say I’m a little surprised but Schmidt is the wiliest of old foxes.

In other news I see Rassie Erasmus is up to his old tricks. This time getting his charges to deliberately force a scrum from the very first kick off. The ball deliberately not going ten metres and a player in front of the kick. It worked this time but the laws are quite specific: any player who deliberately infringes is subject to a penalty. The next time they try it it should be a penalty against them. There was also an interesting tactic of throwing a player in the air at a maul to create a lineout set up in mid-field. The Boks scored from it.

Elsewhere England now head to the USA for their final test. This should be a stroll giving Steve Borthwick the opportunity to give those players who have not yet featured a run out.

Scotland face Samoa with a very much depleted side. The Scottish contingent in Australia grew this week, and with Tom Jordan and Jamie Ritchie now injured Gregor Townsend will be scraping the barrel for players.

Wales and Ireland don’t have games. New Zealand host France for the third time. South Africa host Georgia. Argentina face neighbours Uruquay.

Don’t forget the Under 20s. The final should be a cracker. That kicks off at 19:30.

Oh, before I forget, there are talks about to take place that might result in a Lions tour of France. I don’t see the merit in that. If you were to expand the remit beyond the usual suspects, a North America tour, or a South Sea Island tour would be better.

I expect the number of Lions supporters has grown significantly now the tests are here. Brisbane will be awash with the red (actually it is more of a maroon) of the Lions. In 2013 the city embraced the event with plenty of activities for the fans to enjoy. For those who want a more sophisticated day out there are the botanic gardens, the university grounds, Government House and The Mansions. A gentle stroll around the banks of the Brisbane River is also very pleasant. In 2013 the Lions stayed at the Hilton Hotel on Elizabeth Street. If it still exists, just over the road is the Irish Club, cheap beer and great food. There is also Pie Face, the shop that sells any and every type of pie you can think of, all with a distinctive face. Go on the interweb thingy and look them up. Yep, Brisbane is well worth a visit, and like Perth has free bus routes around the city centre.

Before I go, today’s political comment. I’m a bit daft at times so can someone please explain to me how people can come to this country illegally, get free health care, be given benefits, and free housing, all this while my dear old mum is having to pay through the nose for social care.

While I’m on a roll can someone also explain why a young girl was sent home from school for wearing a Union Jack dress to celebrate social and cultural diversity. In the UK does our culture no longer count? As it happens a child who was wrapped in a Welsh flag was also sent home. Surely that is racism!!!!

Tuesday 15th July: 09:10

Not a great deal to catch up on this morning but here goes.

Lions up first. Is Mack Hansen injured or not. He sat out training yesterday with one coach denying any form of injury while later another said he picked up a knock to his foot during the AUNZ game and it is being monitored. He was always unlikely to start on Saturday, or was he. I’m getting very cynical but being Irish of course he was in contention.

Wales have been awful of late but I’m sensing a distinct anti-Welsh sentiment amongst the Irish coaching team. I have tried hard to rationalise the inclusion of Jamie George ahead of Dewi Lake but can’t. The only conclusion I came to was being big mates with Owen Farrell meant young Owen had someone to play with while daddy went to work. I struggle to see why Blair Murray was not considered as versatile back line cover. He’s not Irish. Talking of call-ups that require scrutiny how has Tom Jackson, a third string Irish prop got the nod ahead of any of the England props in Argentina lets say. It smacks of bias, and long term self interest, by Farrell snr and his team.

It is looking increasingly likely that Jac Morgan will not be included in the test match day squad. No Welshman in a Lions test squad. What a sad indictment of how the game has declined in the Principality.

Talking of which there is much in the press about the process now under way in Wales to finally define a way forward. It is about structure, which means how many regions. It is about player pathways, which focusses on the second tier of the game, and development programs for identified talent. It is of course about money, of which there is very little. For what its worth, I see the merit of reducing the regions from four to three, or even two, but my preference would be to keep the current four regions in play. We’ll know soon enough.

There has been plenty of chat about going to two regions and those regions moving out of the URC and into the Premiership. The Premiership is unsustainable with just ten teams. Whilst on paper this seems very attractive for both the Premiership and the WRU, better quality fixtures and great supporter appeal for a start, there would be an outcry from the second tier of the English game, who are already up in arms. I can’t see this happening. I would like to see the URC getting shot of the South African franchises. That never made sense and has added nothing but cost.

Changing tack, I watched England Under 20 v Wales yesterday afternoon. A game of two halves. Wales looked like World Champions in the first half playing some excellent rugby, England looked like startled rabbits in the headlights. In the second half Wales fell apart and England got their act together producing a stunning second half display to romp home with ease. Ultimately it was big men, with top team experience against small boys who play in the second or third tier of the Welsh game.

The contest reinforced my opinion that the 20 minute red card is a thugs charter. During the game the Welsh #5 quite rightly saw yellow for a fairly innocuous side entry into a maul causing it to collapse. Ten minutes on the naughty step. By contrast the big English prop attacked a defenceless Welsh player lying in a ruck with a direct, and deliberate shoulder to the head. He ultimately saw red but was replaced after just 20 minutes by a leviathan. It is not right. There is no bias in this view, it was a disgraceful act of thuggery which warranted more than a 20 minute suspension. The officials have to grow a pair and show more immediate red cards. It was as clear as day this was a deliberate act of foul play.

Rant over.

England now face Australia for 5th spot. Wales face Italy in their ‘placement’ match. As expected South Africa go head to head with New Zealand in the final. This all unfolds on Saturday. RugbyPassTV for the action.

Plenty of other action on Saturday but more on this later. A busy morning with an early start lies ahead tomorrow. I will blog but it will be later than normal.

Monday 14th July: 09:15

The obvious place to start is down under and The Lions. Learning from Warren Gatland 12 years ago Andy Farrell has bolstered his squad with players who are likely to play in the final mid-week game on Tuesday 22nd: First Nations & Pasifika XV, k.o. 11:00. Yes, Scotland’s Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Asham have all been called up as cover. The loss of Tomos Williams and Eliot Daly, the doubt over Blair Kinghorn, and the absence, at least for next weekend, of Luke Cowan-Dickie and Garry Ringrose highlight the fragility of the current squad. The versatile Irishman Jamie