Danny Cares selects his 2025 Lions XV

byRugby Rucker

Danny Care has lavished praise on Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, highlighting the emotional and tactical brilliance that makes Farrell a standout figure in rugby coaching.

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"A Brilliant Bloke"

Reflecting on his time with Farrell during the latter’s tenure as England’s defence coach, Care shared:

"I loved working with Andy Farrell when he coached with England. Firstly, he’s a brilliant bloke, he’s someone who’s honest. He tells you what he expects from you and then you go out and deliver it for him."

For Care, Farrell’s unique blend of empathy and expectation sets him apart from other coaches.

"He Cares for You as a Person"

Care emphasised Farrell’s ability to connect on a human level, something that resonates deeply with players:

"He cares for you as a person, which I think is massive for the players. You feel like you’re cared for and you’re fighting for someone that genuinely really likes you and wants you to do well."

Emotional and Tactical Genius

Farrell’s knack for inspiring players is another quality that left an indelible impression on Care:

"He’s a very emotional coach, he’ll use that a lot. He knows what it’s like to represent your country. He’s a brilliant tactical coach, but also I’ve never really had a coach as good at Faz as delivering messages in a meeting that makes you want to run through brick walls for him. He’s incredible at that."

Lions Aspirations and Squad Selection

While Care has never experienced a British and Irish Lions tour firsthand—a fact he admits "still hurts a little bit"—he expressed confidence in Farrell’s ability to assemble a cohesive squad:

"You need good tourists and team-mates, so a lot of that plays into squad selection. I think Faz is a great judge of character, and I’m really excited to see the squad that he’s going to put together because there are some brilliant players knocking around that will all be putting their hands up."

Danny Care’s Lions XV

Care also offered his take on who could make Farrell’s Lions starting XV if the tour happened today:

Front Row: Porter, George, Furlong
Second Row: Itoje, McCarthy
Back Row: Doris, Van der Flier, Earl
Halfbacks: Gibson-Park, Smith
Backline: Van der Merwe, Tuipulotu, Jones, Feyi-Waboso, Kinghorn

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