'That's a ridiculous selection' - Healey and Stringer pick their 2025 Lions XV
On the eve of the Guinness Six Nations, former British & Irish Lion Austin Healey and Ireland legend Peter Stringer has selected their 2025 Lions XV over a year early.
Peter Stringer: 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadgh Furlong
I’m going to be biased and go for an Irish front row: Porter, Sheehan and Furlong. Furlong certainly has to play his way in, in terms of that form. A couple of years ago he was unbelievable. Looking at it now, I think the combination of those three in that scrum and the dynamism of Dan Sheehan has been phenomenal, and just the power of the other two guys. So I’ll go with those three.
Austin Healey: 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadgh Furlong
I too am going to be biased, and I’ve gone for the same front row! My middle name is Sean. That’s the Irish in me!
SECOND ROW
Healey: 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Maro Itoje
I’ve gone for McCarthy and Itoje. I think people will think, ‘Hold on a sec, he could have some of the other second rows around’. But when Itoje’s on his game and I think when he’s in the Lions shirt… He’s had a bit of an illness, he’s claimed, over the previous couple of seasons. McCarthy we spoke about earlier – he is going to be one hell of a player. He’s so young and so talented. And that’s a tough position. There’s load of strength there. Thankfully you asked me to do this before we did this call because it is so hard to select.
Stringer: Tadhg Beirne, 5. Maro Itoje
I couldn’t argue with that. I picked Itoje and I picked Tadhg Beirne in the second row. Just looking at the combination of the back row, you could easily have had McCarthy in there as second row, but I just went with Tadhg Beirne. The more I watch him up close and see the detail of how effective he is in that second-row position, I think he’s phenomenal.
BACK ROW
Stringer: 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Caelan Dorris
Back row I’ve gone for Lawes, I’ve gone for Caelan Dorris at No.8 and I’ve gone for Ben Earl at open-side. Just looking at Van der Flier when he’s come back since the World Cup, he’s been a bit off the boil. You could put O’Mahony in there. But Courtney Lawes and Ben Earl during the World Cup – for me they were just phenomenal. And Caelan Dorris at No.8 is absolute star at the moment and for the foreseeable future.
Healey: 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Dorris
Well, that’s a ridiculous selection to be honest. I’ve gone for Courtney Lawes at 6, bringing him out of retirement from international rugby. I’ve gone for Dorris at 8 and Van der Flier at 7. Obviously we should be on the selection panel. It would be very, very quick and we could go straight to the pub! I think Van der Flier over Ben Earl. I’d bring Ben Earl off the bench as impact. And also you have to think about who you’re playing against. I wouldn’t potentially have picked that team if I wasn’t playing against Australia.
HALF BACKS
Healy: 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Finn Russell
Gibson-Park and Finn Russell. It’s easy. I say easy, it’s probably going to be Owen Farrell because you’ve got to pick his son. Otherwise, Christmas Day is going to be an absolute nightmare for the next couple of decades, isn’t it? I think Farrell will be there some place. But the Lions needs to be exciting this time. I think it’s been boring the last few trips to watch as a fan, and if you want excitement, you want Finn Russell. And if you’ve got Finn Russell you want the ball in his hands quickly, and Gibson-Park is the best at that.
Stringer: 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Finn Russell
Easy, easy, easy. I’d go with the same. Gibson-Park, since he’s come into that Irish side, massively impressed by him. Everything he does, his energy, his work rate, the way he reads the game, controlling tempo, knows when to go, his vision. And also with Finn, I think he’s that kind of maverick, but he’s she’s shown a lot of maturity in the last number of months.
Every time I’ve seen him play for Bath recently, Spencer and Finn Russell, the half-backs have just controlled things. The top half-back pairing for me in the Premiership at the moment. And I’ve just been really impressed with, not only that kind of control of the game that he has, but also defensively just getting stuck in is something that you wouldn’t have expected from him in the past. He doesn’t shy away from anything coming down his channel. He’s been putting his body on the line, which is something that you need to do as an international 10 and potentially a Lion as well in that position. So it was easy for me.
CENTRES
Healey: 12. Robbie Henshaw, 13. Ollie Lawrence
I’ve gone for Henshaw and Lawrence. Again, there’s loads of people, you could have picked Ringrose in there in the 13 shirt. I just think Lawrence, he’s so young still, he’s just getting better and better and stronger and stronger. You put him in with good players around him, this season playing with Finn Russell, he’s really excelled. You put Henshaw next to him as well, he’s going to go a stage further. You’ve got a good back three outside that I think it brings the best out of. I think he could potentially be world class. You need a big guy in the midfield. I did think about picking Aki. I just think Henshaw is better for the Lions.
Stringer: 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Ollie Lawrence
I’d go with Lawrence in there definitely as well. He was a guy I saw at Worcester early on and is an unbelievable talent, seeing him up close and what he’s done. I know he’s struggling with a bit of an injury at the moment, but I picked Aki and Lawrence in the centre. Aki massively impressed me in the World Cup. He’s a guy who kind of comes in and out of form a small bit, but for big games he’s always produced. He’s been Ireland’s go-to guy for the last number of years, Ireland’s stand out player in the World Cup. Again, you could go with Henshaw. Henshaw has been struggling with a bit of injury, but two quality guys which are Aki and Lawrence for me.
BACK THREE
Healey: 11. James Lowe, 14. Tommy Freeman, 15. Marcus Smith
I think we’ve only had two disagreements so far, but I think this might lead to one more here. The back three I’ve gone for Lowe on the left wing. You have to have him in the team. He’s a great finisher, but also you’ve got his boot, which is just phenomenal. Freeman on the right wing, who I think is going to be this season’s bolter in the Six Nations as well and will bolt for further forward if he keeps progressing. And then at full back, I’ve gone for Marcus Smith, just to take a little bit of the pressure off Russell in the game and, if he’s on the same wavelength as him, those two in combination could just be dynamite in that back line. But at full back, it’s so difficult.
Stringer: 11. James Lowe, 14. Duhan van der Merwe, 15. Hugo Keenan
Yeah, I disagree. I’ve gone with Lowe, I’ve gone for of Gone for Duhon van der Merwe and I’ve gone for Hugo Keenan. Hugo Keenan, for me, is one of the first guys on the teamsheet. Seeing how he operates, backfield coverage, under the high ball, this guy never makes a mistake. Going forward, coming from a Sevens background, also has that ability to step in as first receiver. I think when a game opens up and you’ve got the likes of Finn Russell and Hugo Keenan alternating between sides. This guy just has this ability to take guys on, draw guys and put guys into space. So for me, he’s that other playmaker. Not too much disagreement, Aus, but I think we could have picked another XV there and they could do equally as good a job.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Healey: I didn’t pick Van Der Merwe because of his defensive qualities. He often gets done for one try a game. And the Lions, particularly in Australia on the tours that I’ve been on, have always come down to one defining moment. Whether that’s Jonny Wilkinson throwing an intercept pass to Joe Roff or Nathan Gray knocking out Richard Hill with his elbow, which no Australian seemed to see. You need to have a tight defence first and foremost, and that’s why I went for Lowe over Van Der Merwe.
But there’s no Welsh players in that team. So, I can only apologise, but this could be the first Lions team ever in history that hasn’t had a Welsh guy in the starting 15.
Rowlands maybe in the second row, but it’s so competitive in the second row. In the back row, who else could you have? Tommy Reffell, maybe, if you want a jackaler in the team? But Van der Flier does that, Ben Earl does that. It is so hard to get in this Lions squad because the Irish side is so strong. It’s never, ever been this strong.
Austin Healey’s Lions XV:
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Maro Itoje
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
9. Jamieson Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Robbie Henshaw
13. Ollie Lawrence
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Marcus Smith
Peter Stringer’s Lions XV:
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Maro Itoje
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Ben Earl
8. Caelan Doris
9. Jamieson Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Ollie Lawrence
14. Duhan van der Merwe
15. Hugo Keenan
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments