LIONS 2025
Brendan Gallagher picks his XV... and coach to tour Australia
TRYING to anticipate a Lions starting fifteen is difficult enough four days before its announcement let alone four years but it’s also fun to try and envisage what the starting line up might look like for the First Test of the 2025 Australian tour even if that Test might actually be against Fiji rather than the Aussies. Let’s hope that talk of the Fijians being brought into the tour is not too far from the mark.
I’m starting with the premise that the Lions, in order to survive and fight off the clubs and Unions who are loath to lend their prime assets to an independent organisation, must slightly reboot themselves as a brand. Although the greybeards will wheel out the ‘winning is everything’ mantra that doesn’t really, and has never, applied to the Lions.
The 2009 Lions were a success despite losing that series, the 1959 tour of New Zealand was hailed as a game changer despite the Lions losing and the 1955 tour party were revered for years to come after their dramatic drawn series against the Boks. With the Lions it matters how they play and how they reach out to that romantic notion that many fans want to see maintained.
It’s not the World Cup or the Six Nations, it’s a celebration of rugby every four years and although winning is important, there is almost equal kudos in epic defeat. It must never be just another tournament or just another Test series.
So with all that in mind I would ask – beg – Pat Lam to take over for a year and work his magic, just as he did at Connacht and Bristol. I’m not quite sure where the clamour for a British or Irish coach has come from, it’s the best fit the Lions need to look for, not that which ticks any political boxes. With Pat in charge the Lions would have a license to thrill as per Bristol recently and indeed Harlequins in the last few months of the Premiership. The Lions Tests would be the “must watch” games of the year, possibly the decade.
Attacking rugby is very often successful rugby, they are not mutually incompatible, although it’s best to also select a pack that is capable of controlling affairs at vital stages of the game.
Much will alter in the next four years, there is going to be a big changing of the guard. Only four players who started the last Test in New Zealand in 2017 – and that team seemed fairly young at the time – started the final Test in South Africa last week. Namely Liam Williams, Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje and Tadgh Furlong.
There will unquestionably be a bolter or two and it’s impossible to predict those – they are probably still playing schoolboy rugby – but as of now, Sunday August 15, 2021 this would be my best punt at a starting Lions XV, with that important caveat of Pat Lam being in charge. If the Lions go for a more conservtive choice the team could vary markedly.
My 2025 Lions starters 15. Freddie Steward (England)
The strapping Leicester youngster is an immense talent, imperious under the high ball and has plenty of gas although Tigers have not fully tapped into that yet. The high ball is a fact of life in Test rugby and Steward is the best at dealing with it.
14. Louis Rees Zammitt (Wales)
This last tour was possibly a year too early for the Welsh wizard although I would still have risked him in the final Test. By 2025 he will be a modern day legend and the back division I have selected is designed to give the gas on the wing the maximum chance to do their stuff.
13. Cameron Redpath (Scotland)
Brilliant all-court centre with the skills of a ten, the wheels of a wing and a tough cookie to boot. Will be lighting the place up by 2025 if he can steer clear of injuries.
12. Ioan Lloyd (Wales)
Wonderfully gifted tougherthan-he-looks will-o’the-wisp Welshman who has been quietly nurtured by Pat Lam at Bristol. I’ve seen more than enough; this guy is class. He has played ten, wing and full-back but I see him causing absolute chaos in midfield alongside Redpath.
11. Adam Radwan (England)
Gas, gas and more gas. Radwan is poised for take-off as an England wing and by 2025 will be ripping it up. And like Rees-Zammit, he possesses another super power. With Rees-Zammitt it is the chip and chase, Radwan meanwhile has a great old fashioned swerve. Both can score from 80 metres out.
10. Marcus Smith (England)
I want this back division playing at 100mph so no better man than the Harlequins magician. I am willing to accept a few mistakes and the occasional missed tackle from my three quarters because 99 times out of 100 they will score more tries than the other lot.
9. Jack van Poortvliet (England)
To launch this all singing, all dancing back division I want the nine with the quickest service. The competition will be hot – Tomos Williams and Harry Randall will push all the way – but Van Poortvliet’s service is lightning, he is deadly on the break, and I reckon he might just nip in ahead of the others.
1. Ellis Genge (England)
The raw edges and volatile temperament are beginning to disappear and what we are seeing is a great athlete, a dynamic carrier and a tenacious scrummager beginning to enter the prime of his rugby life. Could cause some major damage down in Australia.
2. Alfie Barbeary (England)
An untutored force of nature who will eventually settle at hooker and make a startling impact at Test level. My one worry is his injury count, and he has already picked up some big ones with his uncompromising physical approach. Fingers crossed.
3. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Immense unit and athlete who was making waves in the Six Nations before Tadgh Furlong returned. Loses almost nothing in comparison with Furlong and has age on his side. Will just get better and better.
4. Ryan Baird (Ireland)
Athletic all round lock who was in contention this time round. By 2025 he will be taking the Test arena by storm and have overtaken his Ireland colleague James Ryan in the Lions stakes.
5. Maro Itoje (England capt)
Will be aged 30 and approaching 90+ Test caps and at his absolute peak. He will possibly be the England captain as well but even if he isn’t I fancy he would be the ideal Lions captain. Barring injury will still be around for the New Zealand tour in 2029!
6. Tom Curry (England)
Started all the Tests in
SA but didn’t quite fire. Gave away too many important penalties and is not quite the force at No.7 that he is at six. A superb player nonetheless who at the age of 23 has time to absorb the lessons and go again.
7. Sam Underhill (England)
Surprised he didn’t make this year’s tour. The Lions missed his destructive first up tackling and Curry plays much better – at six – when he is complemented by Underhill at seven. Will be very hungry having missed out this time around.
8. Calean Doris (Ireland)
Seriously injured at the wrong time last season, this guy is going to be a star, loads of gas and good hands which will see him shine in Australian conditions. Should be reaching his pomp by 2025.
Coach
There seems to be a hue and cry for a British or Irish coach next time and if the right candidate emerges fine... but what is really needed is a coach who can get the Lions playing in the style that has made them so beloved in the game. My nomination would be Pat Lam.