The Lions best and worst players from the 2009, 2013 & 2017 tours

2009 tour of South Africa (Bleacher Report)

BEST PLAYERS:

1. Mike Phillips (Wales): Great scrum-half. Willing to carry, line break and help out at the rucks. Scored a try. Also played at centre and acquitted himself well there too. 9.5/10
2. Simon Shaw (England): Made his first ever Lions test appearance despite this being his third tour! Showed what a true Lion he was and what the shirt meant to him. Great countermauling, huge hands, great breakdown work at the ruck. 9/10
3. Jamie Roberts (Wales): He always guaranteed more than a few yards with his running/carrying. Kept the Springboks on their toes constantly.  9/10        

WORST PLAYERS:

1. Ronan O'Gara (Ireland): His performances against the Emerging Boks and Southern Kings were woeful. 2/10
2. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales): Found out. Couldn't compete with the bok pack. Lost the ball numerous times when carrying. Anonymous for most of the proceedings. Looked terrified at times. 4/10
3. Lee Mears (England): Went AWOL in the first test, disappointing throwing. Didn't help at the scrum. 4.5/10

2013 tour of Australia (Wales Online)

BEST PLAYERS:

1. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales): Scored three tries and put over 21 conversions and 18 penalties for a 111-point haul, his marksmanship the determining factor in the Lions winning the opening Test. Defence and attacking play also of the highest order. 10/10
2. George North (Wales): What a tour! Sensational individual first Test try, a fireman’s lift on Israel Folau in the second while still holding the ball and series-sealing score in finale. Joint top tour try-scorer. 9/10
3. Paul O'Connell (Ireland): The 2009 Lions captain was one of the tour leaders with his high work-rate, experience and inspirational presence. Sadly missed on the pitch after fracturing his arm in first Test. 8/10

WORST PLAYERS:

1. Christian Wade (England): Called up to play in Brumbies game but stole the show for his hair-combing on the field, not his rugby. An abundance of speed and can finish but is raw and doesn’t relish defensive duties. 2/10
2. Billy Twelvetrees (England): Summoned from England duty in Argentina but part of a makeshift side which flopped against the Brumbies. Yet to justify hype about him. 2/10
3. Manu Tuilagi (England): Had hugely disappointing tour with shoulder injury costing him any chance of challenging for Test spot. Surprisingly installed on bench for final rubber. 3/10

2017 tour of New Zealand (Talking Rugby Union)

BEST PLAYERS:

1. Jonathan Davies (Wales): A magnificent tour in attack and defence. Won the Lions players' player award, and impossible to disagree. Outstanding. 9/10
2. Maro Itoje (England): England's 22-year-old lock went up another gear with the Lions. Relished the big occasions and taking on New Zealand's revered forwards. 9/10
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland): A scrummaging rock for the Lions, he performed with a maturity beyond his years. Already approaching world-class status. 8/10

WORST PLAYERS:

1. George North (Wales): Failed to make a mark and fell well below the blistering standards of his Lions tour to Australia four years ago. 5/10
2. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland): Travelled to New Zealand with his expectation, but things did not materialise, and then he suffered a tour-ending injury in the Hurricanes game. 5/10
3. Greig Laidlaw (Scotland):  Never really got going, and while an important midweek performer, he did not stand out. 5/10

EDITORS PICKS:

• England drop the Saxons name because it is ‘inappropriate’
• Transfer Round-Up: Tadhg Furlong, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson…
• ‘Overhyped plodder’ – Alun Wyn Jones blasted by South African media
• LIST: 5 rugby players you didn’t know played for other countries
• Sam Warburton names his revised back-row to dominate the Springboks