Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, it’s time to name our Team of the Series after the three Test matches.
Nine Lions have made the cut, meaning that the Wallabies have six in our team, with four of those coming in the backline.
Without further ado, here’s our Team of the Series.
The backs
15 Hugo Keenan (British & Irish Lions): Kicking off with one of the toughest calls of our line-up, Keenan sneaks the jersey from Tom Wright, who impressed with ball in hand and with the boot for a large part of the series. However, Keenan provided similar consistency for the Lions, and what swayed this one was that crucial try in the second Test, which sealed the series. He wrote his name in Lions history that night in Melbourne.
14 Max Jorgensen (Australia): A youngster with massive potential, Jorgensen played with a swagger beyond his 20 years and finished with two tries in the series. He looks a real talent who is born to play Test rugby and cruised to our 14 jersey with Tommy Freeman struggling to find his mojo as the Lions tour played out.
13 Joseph Suaalii (Australia): Huw Jones started the series in impressive fashion, but then seemed to taper off, while in contrast, the rugby league convert got better with each game. Suaalii is such a physical specimen, and while he didn’t get much chance to impress aerially, he was solid defensively and with ball in hand for Australia.
12 Len Ikitau (Australia): Another to grow into the series, the soon-to-be Exeter Chief was the standout 12 over the three games. It might have been different had Sione Tuipulotu been injury-free – he was excellent in Test I – but overall, Ikitau packed a real punch in midfield and is forming a blossoming partnership with Suaalii.
11 Dylan Pietsch (Australia): The only player in our team to make the cut despite playing just one game, this inclusion says a great deal about how well Pietsch played in Sydney. Why he wasn’t included for the duration of the series, we will never understand, as he looks a Test match animal and proved it again over the weekend. A physical wing who rarely makes an error, he grabs this jersey from James Lowe, who blew more cold than hot in the series.
10 Finn Russell (British & Irish Lions): Came of age on this tour as the errors of years gone by look to have been eradicated from his game. Russell sees the game incredibly clearly and that assist for Tuipulotu in Test I is certainly proof of that. His kicking game too put the Lions in perfect positions as he enjoyed a wonderful series against the promising Tom Lynagh.
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (British & Irish Lions): We came close to rewarding Tate McDermott for his all-action performances off the bench both at nine and on the wing. However, Gibson-Park’s poise at the base in Tests I and II simply could not be ignored, as alongside Russell, the Ireland scrum-half steered the Lions to glory.
The forwards
8 Harry Wilson (Australia): A real captain’s knock in this series as Wilson proved not only that he is Joe Schmidt’s man at eight but also as skipper long-term. Jack Conan once again stood up well in a Lions Test series but Wilson’s leadership, incredible work-rate and doggedness around the field nudged him to this jersey.
7 Tom Curry (British & Irish Lions): Despite being under pressure for the shirt going into the series – after Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock all impressed in the warm-ups – Andy Farrell backed his 2021 openside and it paid off in droves. Never took a backwards step and scored two tries in the series, he silenced his doubters with massive shifts against the tireless Fraser McReight.
6 Tadhg Beirne (British & Irish Lions): Another 2021 tourist backed to come up trumps by Farrell and boy did Beirne answer the call. After leading the Lions against the AUNZ Invitational XV while others were rested one week out from the opening Test, some wondered if Beirne would miss out on the starting XV in Brisbane. How wrong they were as Beirne starred in all three Tests and subsequently picked up the Player of the Series award as he once again delivered big moments in big games.
5 Will Skelton (Australia): Speaking of big, there are few bigger than the mighty Skelton and what an impact he made in Tests II and III after missing the opener due to injury. His carries and work around the ruck skittled Lions galore and he was rightly lauded for his performances and how he lifted Australia to another level as a team. He will be vital to the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.
4 Maro Itoje (British & Irish Lions): A series victory as skipper will taste extra sweet to Itoje as he joins a select group of Lions captains to travel home with the spoils. He was his typical all-action self while being a nuisance to the opposition as he led the team to an unassailable 2-0 lead. While he’ll be disappointed to have his night cut short in the third Test, his and the team’s mission was already accomplished.
3 Tadhg Furlong (British & Irish Lions): Concerns over a problematic calf clouded the build-up to his tour, but thankfully for the Lions, he regained his fitness and rediscovered top form at the perfect time. While Taniela Tupou had a strong outing in Test III, Furlong’s work over the series set the perfect platform for Will Stuart to come on and do his thing in the closing stages.
2 Dan Sheehan (British & Irish Lions): Out on his own here due in part to Australia’s injury struggles at hooker. However, take nothing away from Sheehan’s performances as he impressed with two tries to his name and a 98% record at the lineout in the first two Tests. While that set-piece went to pot in the third Test, his work around the field never wavered in a staggering series effort.
1 Ellis Genge (British & Irish Lions): Outstanding throughout the tour, which kicked off with an eye-catching display against Argentina in Dublin. He backed that up game after game in Australia to earn his start in Test I before becoming the perfect impact man a week later. Genge might have better served reverting to starter for the finale to get the Lions on the front foot, such was his influence on games but hindsight is a wonderful thing. One of the players of the series and tour.
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