Sir Clive Woodward reveals his Lions XV – no place for Fin or Marcus Smith

Tuesday, 18 February 2025 at 09:14

byRugby Rucker

England’s 2003 World Cup mastermind, Sir Clive Woodward, has unveiled his dream British & Irish Lions XV – and it comes with a shock twist!

In a move that’s raising eyebrows, Woodward has handed the captaincy to an Irish legend to lead the charge against the Wallabies.

Woodward’s captain choice for the Lions? Ireland’s powerhouse No.8, Caelan Doris. Explaining his decision, Woodward noted in his Mail Online column:

"The 2025 Six Nations will be the acid test for Lions selection. However, based on the Autumn Nations Series I would opt for Irish No.8 Caelan Doris as my Lions captain.

`'He would form part of a strong Irish contingent in my team. I would urge Farrell to double down on this and not be tempted to select a captain from another nation just for a sense of appeasement."

A tough state for English rugby
Woodward also didn’t hold back when discussing the current state of the game in England:

"The brutal reality is that in the last four weeks, only a handful of England players have put their names up to be Lions starters. It sums up the state of English rugby both on and off the pitch.

"I don’t think there have been many players across the home nations who have really made themselves Lions certainties, which is a worry."

Scotland to step up?
While English players may struggle, Woodward sees a bright future for Scotland in the Lions mix:

"In previous tours, Scotland have had underwhelming representation. But I’m sure that will change in Australia next year. Their captain Sione Tuipulotu is by far the best inside centre available. I thought his midfield combination with Huw Jones went really well.

"Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy were on the last Lions tour of South Africa as assistant coaches, and I think they should certainly be in the frame again. To me, Scotland look a very good team. They brushed Australia aside, and don’t forget, the Wallabies beat England and hammered Wales."

Rugby’s intellectual property challenge
Woodward also addressed a unique challenge of Lions tours, one that has long been debated:

"It is close to impossible, in my opinion, to escape the feeling you are giving away some of your rugby intellectual property by passing on your knowledge to coaches and players from other teams."

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Sir Clive Woodward's Lions team to face Australia

15 - Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

14 - Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)

13 - Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

12 - Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)

11 - Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)

10 - Finn Russell (Scotland)

9 - Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

1 - Andrew Porter (Ireland)

2 - Dan Sheehan (Ireland)

3 - Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

4 - Maro Itoje (England)

5 - Joe McCarthy (Ireland)

6 - Jack Willis (England)

7 - Josh van der Flier (Ireland)

8 - Caelan Doris (Ireland, captain)

Replacements: Dewi Lake (Wales), Ellis Genge (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Tomos Williams (Wales), Marcus Smith (England)

onny Wilkinson didn’t hesitate when naming his toughest opponent

England legend Jonny Wilkinson went head-to-head with some of the greatest rugby players of all time, but who did he find the toughest to play against?

The 2003 World Cup hero, who earned 97 caps for England and the British & Irish Lions between 1998 and 2011, has revealed the five players he most "hated" facing during his career.

#5. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Lomu's one of a kind and the impression he left on so many lives while playing for the All Blacks was vividly illustrated by the reaction to his death in November 2015.

WILKINSON SAID: "One of the most recognisable characters in World Rugby and a man who sparked fear in the eyes of opposition defences. The guy is quite a remarkable rugby legend and deserves to be so. No list would be complete without him.”

DID YOU KNOW? Lomu scored seven tries during the 1995 World Cup and added a further eight in 1999

#4. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Holds the Six Nations record for most tries with 26 and was chosen Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009, leading Ireland to one Grand Slam and three Triple Crowns. Europe’s finest.

WILKINSON SAID: “The ability to change the game in a second, a heartbeat, with his movement, with his skill, his game reading but also his leadership.”

DID YOU KNOW? O’Driscoll is the all-time Irish try scorer and has led his country more times than any other player

#3. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)

WILKINSON SAID: “Someone incredibly fierce but very very down to earth” and “at times he’s exactly what a team needs,” according to Wilkinson.

DID YOU KNOW? Botha is regularly listed in 'greatest ever' sides and coach Bernard Laporte said he was the greatest player he ever coached

#2. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.

WILKINSON SAID: "“A guy that stood the test of time and has remained at the best, the highest level of the game for that time. Finishing second best was never an option."

DID YOU KNOW? McCaw led his country to World Cup glory in 2011 and 2015

#1. Christophe Dominici (France)

Dominici played 67 times for his country and won the French championship five times with Stade Français before retiring in 2008. In recent years he had worked as a pundit for French radio and TV before his death in 2020.

WILKINSON SAID: "His opportunism, his flair, his game reading, his sheer explosivity to really change a game is something that sticks in my memory.”

DID YOU KNOW? Dominci appeared in three World Cups for his country in 1999, 2003 and 2007, scoring eight tries over that time.

Can you name the entire British & Irish Lions squad from their tour of New Zealand in 2005?

The British & Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2005 remains one of the most talked-about campaigns in rugby history.

Despite facing a formidable All Blacks side, the squad was packed with legendary talent representing England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

From unforgettable tries to moments of controversy, this tour had it all—and it’s time to see just how much you remember!

Can you recall every player who pulled on the famous red jersey during that iconic tour? Dive into this quiz to test your Lions knowledge and relive a piece of rugby history!

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