Everyone Shares One Complaint About Sir Clive Woodward’s ‘Top 50 Lions’

“Number one had to be Sir Gareth Edwards. Arguably, the greatest rugby player of ALL TIME,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “Surprised he didn't have Jonny Wilkinson at No.1. It shows how good Gareth Edwards was that second place feels like an insult.”

"In 2005, I didn’t have much hesitation in handing him the Lions captaincy. There were plenty of options, but O’Driscoll’s form and leadership for Ireland, combined with his Lions heroics in Australia, made him the obvious choice."

"His famous try against the Wallabies in 2001 sealed his place in the game’s history."

"I loved working with O’Driscoll and when he was the victim of a spear tackle right at the start of the first New Zealand Test in 2005, it sent shockwaves through our camp. It was a reflection of O’Driscoll’s quality that the Lions never really recovered."

"Twelve Tests for the Lions, captain in South Africa four years ago, and a modern-day Willie John McBride. Jones set the standard both with Wales and the Lions and it was up to everyone else to follow."

"He won in Australia in 2013 and was a key figure in the drawn New Zealand series of 2017, forming a great partnership with Maro Itoje."

"The only man in Lions history to captain the side into at least two Test series and never end up on the losing side."

"He was a brilliant player, but arguably an even better captain. I loved his calm leadership style and the way he empowered the players around him. Today, I like his television punditry too."

"Barry scored 188 points in 21 tour games for the Lions, including 190 in 15 games in 1971 when he was dubbed the ‘King’ in New Zealand. It was a deserved moniker."

"He really was that good a player, the sort of back who was worth the admission fee alone."

"He was one of the rocks on which the 1974 Test series success was built, anchoring the scrum in South Africa."

"He returned to South Africa as tour manager in 1997, when he was crucial in setting the right tone and atmosphere for the first professional tour."

"If you’re immediately recognisable by your initials, you must have done something right."

"The latter series in South Africa was made for Williams, taking on the Springboks without a backward step."

"‘Geech’ essentially represents the Lions in human form, often referred to as ‘Mr Lions’ or the ‘saviour of the Lions’."

"He sums up what the Lions means and you see that on television even now, when he’s covering the tours with Sky Sports."

"Probably the greatest Lions captain of all-time and the man who has played more games and more Tests for the touring team than anyone else."

"The 1971 and 1974 Lions are the greatest of all-time and McBride was at the heart of both packs."

"I loved Edwards. He just misses out on being No 1 and I appreciate the view of those who would say he should be top of the list."

"A true Lions icon and one of the best players to ever do it."

"His leadership was on another level. He was the McBride of the professional era and the first man to captain the Lions twice."

"Some might say there is some bias involved here, but Johnson, for me, stands above the rest."