British and Irish Lions tour: Winners and losers as Finn Russell showcases ‘beautiful subtlety’ but ‘uncharacteristically poor’ duo ‘leave with questions’
Finn Russell (left) and James Lowe (right)
Following the conclusion of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, here is our ultimate rundown of the winners and losers.
Winners
Andy Farrell
His stock rose like it was new issue day on Wall Street this summer, so much so that the job is already virtually his for the 2029 tour to New Zealand. Farrell faced some tough calls right across his time with the Lions, be it through his initial 38-man selection, drafting in replacements following injuries to the likes of Elliot Daly and Tomos Williams, or backing his proverbial ‘Test players’ to go out and perform, but it seemed he was vindicated at every turn. His selection got the job done by Test Two and the injury replacements came in and only revved up the tour even more, notably the hype around Owen Farrell, but Ben White and Jamie Osborne both impressed. While there might still be lingering question marks over this iteration of the Lions, it wasn’t down to A. Farrell, who certainly returns to the Emerald Isle a winner.
Maro Itoje
After heroically leading his side to a series victory, a rare feat, Maro Itoje now enters the hall of rugby immortals. His leadership was absolutely pivotal to this series win, and he led from the front with his actions on the pitch as well. Itoje was always regarded as a world-class player, be it with England, Saracens or the Lions, but to lead the Lions to just their fourth series victory of the professional era, he now very much puts himself among the likes of Willie John McBride, JPR Williams and Barry John as he is etched into rugby folklore.
Finn Russell
The Bath and Scotland magician was already having a spectacular season, but this was the ultimate cherry on top. Finn Russell was in delicious touch all tour, but crucially, it served as his true coming of age at Test level. Russell is an outrageously good rugby player, but he’s now added that extra bit of control to his game that just allows him to become the ultimate number 10 and that change was on full display this series. Don’t get us wrong, he still also got them playing that sort of attacking rugby he’s known for, but it wasn’t all-out flamboyance; there was a beautiful subtlety to his performances as he found the right way and the right time to inject himself into the game.
Tadhg Beirne
The official Player of the Series didn’t have it his own way this tour, but he came out of it a great. There were possibly some question marks over his place in the Test side, given the sheer quality of the back-row options and the emergence of Joe McCarthy across the tour pushing him out of that starting lock conversation, but he more than answered those lingering questions with three steely performances against the Wallabies. His defensive work was a vital cornerstone of their series win, notching 51 tackles across the series (16 in Test Three, 12 in Test Two and 23 in Test One) and coming up with a try to help secure that famous win in the MCG.
Tom Curry
Possibly a surprise selection for the series, given his quiet performances in the warm-up games, but goodness me he shone in the Tests. He was at his absolute rampaging best across those matches, smashing anything and everything in his path in defence, hitting rucks with no thought for his own body and carrying like an angry freight train, and when Curry is in that sort of form, there is hardly anyone in the world who can stop him. It’s even more impressive considering he was nursing a wrist injury heading into the tour that already needs surgery.
Jac Morgan
He carried the hopes of a nation on his back, but if anything, that brought the best out of him. The back-rower came under heavy criticism following the defeat to Argentina, but upon landing on Australian soil reminded everyone of his genuine world-class talent with some unbelievable performances, and that was rewarded with a spot in the Test 23. Around his performances, he also became a major fan favourite on this tour too.
Ellis Genge
Immense is a word that gets thrown around a lot in our industry, but that’s exactly what Ellis Genge was all tour. He was simply immense. His scrummaging has really come on this past year, but he hit new heights in that department in the red jersey as he tore through tightheads with ease. Around the park, he also carried with pure hatred, becoming a major part of this Lions attack in the process. Is he the best loosehead in the world right now?
Jack Conan
Glorious moustache aside, Jack Conan was quietly brilliant all tour as he made the eight jersey his own. There were some question marks over number eight heading into the tour, with Ben Earl and Henry Pollock also viewed as possible candidates, but Conan’s industrious work really suited what Farrell wanted out of this side, and added some balance to his wider back-row as a result. He just seemed to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to make something happen.
Ex-ref boss slams South African official after ‘disgraceful’ Dan Sheehan ‘cheap shot’ is missed
Ex-All Black: This B&I Lions team would have got a ‘bloody hiding’ from Springboks and New Zealand
Joe McCarthy
Arguably the biggest stock riser of the tour, so much so that he potentially changed the make-up of the pack. His brand of unrelenting physicality came to the fore in the warm-up games, bashing everyone aside to force his way into the Test side, and he did a number on the Wallabies pack in Test One too. It’s a shame his Test series was ended prematurely, but either way, he should be incredibly pleased with his efforts.
Huw Jones
13 was a very strong area for the Lions, with Garry Ringrose also impressing, but Huw Jones was right at his silky best this tour. He seemed to take every chance afforded to him, be it in the Test series or in the warm-up games, which is exactly what Farrell would have wanted from him. In his game too, his desire to carry in those wider channels and in space complemented the Lions’ attack, and he became one of their principal weapons as a result.
Owen Farrell
There was SO MUCH HYPE around his call-up for Daly, but he answered his critics and made it into the Test 23 as a result. Yes, he came into the tour undercooked and off a tough season with Racing 92, but within minutes of his first outing of the tour, he showed why he belongs in a red jersey. He also grew into the tour as it went on and had some excellent flashes in the Test series as well. He showed he belongs at this level, which could see him thrust back into the England squad sooner rather than later.
Losers
Injured stars
Daly and Williams were both on course to make the Test side; however, injuries sent both men home prematurely. Their replacements, Farrell and White, came in and also did a fine job too, which would have only left them rueing their injuries even more. Nonetheless, they were both fantastic in their appearances. Elsewhere, Luke Cowan-Dickie also saw his tour ended by a sickening head injury.
James Lowe
An uncharacteristically poor tour from James Lowe, as he found himself dropped from the Test 23 by the end. When he was on it, he was superb; take his efforts in Test Two as the prime example of this, as he sent Beirne over for a crucial score. But, that was quickly marred by poor defence and simple errors, which we’re not used to seeing from him. Not his tour.
Bundee Aki
Another usually classy player who had a poor tour, but in hindsight, he might have had other things on his mind given the birth of his child. Bundee Aki has become known for his direct, punchy carrying, but on this tour he was tasked with adding some playmaking skills into his game, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work at all. When he was allowed to carry hard through the middle, he had a good effect on the game, but far too often the attack died when the ball got to him as his pass was either off target or spilt. He was also caught out in defence, as Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaalii got good change down his channel. Possibly leaves the tour with more questions than answers.
Marcus Smith
This might seem harsh, given he cracked the Test side for the opener and did a decent job in his appearances, but he just found minutes hard to come by. His one and only start came in the opener against Argentina and was then used sparingly off the bench upon arrival in Australia. The England ace would have also been frustrated at his lack of game-time at fly-half, his preferred position, as he often found himself deployed at full-back. He didn’t do much wrong on the pitch, but will still be leaving with a feeling of ‘what if’.
Ronan Kelleher
The gulf between him and Dan Sheehan has never been more obvious, as he endured a tough tour. Yes, he featured off the bench in all three Tests and trucked well in the loose, but the lineout should be a Test hooker’s bread and butter and it simply failed to function when he was on the pitch. He will no doubt feel frustrated at that.
Duhan van der Merwe
Blew incredibly hot and cold all tour. He ended the tour as the top try-scorer, nabbing five tries, but that was marred with major defensive and high-ball errors as well. You felt this was a good chance for the Scottish international to silence those doubts over his defensive game; however, it has only put the spotlight on them even more.