“Rob won’t be happy with me. I’ll be getting a text about that.” Over the past six weeks, during the House of Rugby Lions Series, Alex Goode and Seán O’Brien have debated and, ultimately, selected their greatest Lions XV. We have already seen the pack decided upon – with four Irish players, two English and […]

5 years ago

At least the England star left Cape Town Stadium with a decent memento. In the end, after a fractious Test Series and two games that even the purists would not have enjoyed, the Springboks beat the British & Irish Lions 2-1. Owen Farrell got something decent out of the night. The Lions players are back […]

5 years ago

“I just know what he’s about. Good player to have on the field.” In selecting a combined XV from South Africa and British & Irish Lions players, you ruefully consider how the tourists’ backline failed to have any huge say on matters. The 2021 Lions Tour to South Africa is now in the history books. […]

5 years ago

A lot of gas in that backline. After the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand, we took a crack at selecting a starting XV for the 2021 jaunt to South Africa. We got five players right, so we are not chancing a Lions 2025 selection. Will Greenwood, on the other hand, has […]

5 years ago

Plenty of contenders, on both sides. When it came to the crunch, Maro Itoje and Robbie Henshaw really stepped up for the Lions. Tadhg Furlong, Courtney Lawes and Jack Conan were not far behind. The 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is now in the history books. The Springboks are the victors […]

5 years ago

“I don’t think anyone had as near a colossal mess up that I had.” Ronan O’Gara will know how Liam Williams and his Lions teammates will be feeling tonight. Back in 2009, O’Gara gave away the late penalty that Morné Steyn pumped over from long-range to give the Springboks a series win against the British […]

5 years ago