"One of the world’s best" - Will Greenwood picks his five 'nailed-on' players for 2025 Lions XV

Here’s who England legend Will Greenwood believes is a certainty for British & Irish Lions XV to face the Wallabies in four years time.

Writing in The Telegraph, the former centre pundit gave considerable praise to these five exciting players.

Greenwood said: "He only had time for one appearance, but the outrageous, audacious manner in which he inspired Harlequins to their second Premiership title proves he is developing wonderfully. By 2025, he could be one of the world’s best fly-halves.

Greenwood said: "I am convinced that Redpath would have toured South Africa this year were it not for the serious knee injury sustained while in action for Bath. He was absolutely off-the-charts for Scotland in their historic Calcutta Cup win at Twickenham and I expect him to return to that sort of form when he returns to full fitness."

Greenwood said: "As things stand, there is simply no one else who could captain this side. Australia will be his third Lions tour and he will be just 30 in 2025. Itoje could quite easily match Alun Wyn Jones and play on four straight tours – and 12 straight Tests. Comfortably the Lions’ best player in South Africa."

Greenwood said: "The Welshman saw his opportunities limited on the tour to South Africa but in the short periods he did feature you could tell there was a star in the making. He must have been in the conversations for Test selection despite the excellence of other back-three players – his lightning gas is his point of difference, as showed last season for both Gloucester and Wales."

Greenwood said: "Curry was not at his World Cup best in South Africa, but he was not far off. People forget he is still just 23-years-old and that he is only going to get better. And no other 2021 Lions openside will be in the mix come 2025."