Finn Russell

[BFG]

It's not really fair to highlight that Russell might make errors without mentioning Hastings or even Hogg!
I have family in Scotland who are Glasgow supporters and they aren't best pleased about the Russell saga or Hastings performances.
Put simply a leadership group which came about with Hogg asking for the captaincy and then agreeing team rules without Russell's presence was a perfect recipe for a misunderstanding to occur.

[BFG]

Oh yes I agree LE18,he definitely deserves to keep his place!

As most older England fans should know, since the 1991 World Cup semi final anyone named Hastings should keep their place!

[biffer]

Major error prone, got too big for his boots, they did Ok with Hastings.

Russell has an ability to cut open defences in a way that Hastings doesn’t. He’s massively improved his game management and cut out errors since he moved to France, in that his poor games aren’t as disastrously poor as they were; when he has a poor game now he’s competent in the basics for the most part. The next four years is the peak for a player at 10, Im looking forward to seeing him for Scotland when he has another 10 pushing him for game time.

Sorry but I think the Scots selectors are a bit wiser than you.

I’m just glad they’re wiser than you.

[Traveller]

Russell has an ability to cut open defences in a way that Hastings doesn’t. He’s massively improved his game management and cut out errors since he moved to France, in that his poor games aren’t as disastrously poor as they were; when he has a poor game now he’s competent in the basics for the most part. The next four years is the peak for a player at 10, Im looking forward to seeing him for Scotland when he has another 10 pushing him for game time.

Sorry but I think the Scots selectors are a bit wiser than you.

I’m just glad they’re wiser than you.

The test for me as an England supporter is, would I rather England have to face Russell or Hastings? I'd much sooner we had to face Hastings. With the combination of players a Lions 10 will have around him, would the Boks rather face Russell or Hastings. I'd put a fiver (and that's a lot for me) on them preferring much Hastings.

[LE18]

Sorry but I think the Scots selectors are a bit wiser than you.

I’m just glad they’re wiser than you.

The test for me as an England supporter is, would I rather England have to face Russell or Hastings? I'd much sooner we had to face Hastings. With the combination of players a Lions 10 will have around him, would the Boks rather face Russell or Hastings. I'd put a fiver (and that's a lot for me) on them preferring much Hastings.

No way did I suggest Hastings would be selected for the Lions, nor would Russell, Biggar, Ford and Farrell would be their choice based on who the coach is and current form.

[Traveller]

I’m just glad they’re wiser than you.

The test for me as an England supporter is, would I rather England have to face Russell or Hastings? I'd much sooner we had to face Hastings. With the combination of players a Lions 10 will have around him, would the Boks rather face Russell or Hastings. I'd put a fiver (and that's a lot for me) on them preferring much Hastings.

No way did I suggest Hastings would be selected for the Lions, nor would Russell, Biggar, Ford and Farrell would be their choice based on who the coach is and current form.

Russell may well not make the Lions Test team, but I'd be astonished if he wasn't in with a shout to tour with the Lions.
Nonetheless, forget the Lions. As an England supporter I'd far sooner play Scotland with Hastings as their 10, than I would Russell. The later is in a different class - which is partly demonstrated by the fact that Racing chose to pay a fortune for him rather than Hastings.

[Scott1]

Be very surprised if Ford goes regardless of form with Gatland!

[teds]

Be very surprised if Ford goes regardless of form with Gatland!

If the Lions is on Sky few will know and even fewer will care.

[Scott1]

Be very surprised if Ford goes regardless of form with Gatland!

If the Lions is on Sky few will know and even fewer will care.

It will be and that's not the case,The Lions as well as the RWC draws the causal fans out

[teds]

Be very surprised if Ford goes regardless of form with Gatland!

If the Lions is on Sky few will know and even fewer will care.

It will be and that's not the case,The Lions as well as the RWC draws the causal fans out

A handful of casual viewers may watch it but as far as I can see Sky stopped publishing viewing figures for rugby because they were losing viewers at an alarming rate.

Same thing happened with cricket. Why do you think Sky agreed to sharing some cricket World Cup games with Free To Air.

[Scott1]

I'm not sure teds but local pubs in my village and the nearest town are always packed Lions times as are many pubs in Birmingham city centre so I'd hazard a guess youre wrong here,I'd probably guess you bear a grudge because its not free to air any more. Am I right?

[teds]

I'm not sure teds but local pubs in my village and the nearest town are always packed Lions times as are many pubs in Birmingham city centre so I'd hazard a guess youre wrong here,I'd probably guess you bear a grudge because its not free to air any more. Am I right?

If it’s not free to air I probably won’t watch it or take any interest in it, again. I don’t think that means I bear a grudge. It used to frustrate me when I couldn’t watch the Lions games but to be honest I got used to it. It’s just a simple decision based on what I spend my limited disposable income on. And I am hazarding a guess, based on what’s been seen with cricket, it’s fairly a good guess that many others will make the same decision.

But if you see a few thousand viewers in your locals, good for them. The Pub and Club audience is very important to Sky but that’s not because it’s brings in high audience figures, it’s only on revenue.

[JP14]

In my household, for the Lions we get the specific channel (Sky Sports Arena?) for a month on NowTV in order to watch the tour, plus the Super Rugby games too!

[Cardiff Tig]

If the Lions is on Sky few will know and even fewer will care.

It will be and that's not the case,The Lions as well as the RWC draws the causal fans out

A handful of casual viewers may watch it but as far as I can see Sky stopped publishing viewing figures for rugby because they were losing viewers at an alarming rate.

Same thing happened with cricket. Why do you think Sky agreed to sharing some cricket World Cup games with Free To Air.

Out of interest, do BT publish their rugby viewing figures?

[Mark62]

To the best of my knowledge The Lions has been pay to view since at least the 97 tour. If people don’t have Sky there are plenty of options in pubs or local rugby clubs.
It is all part of the sponsorship required for a hugely expensive tour.