Eddie Jones: Andy Farrell’s ‘Aston Martin’ was my Vauxhall Viva and is one of six ‘glue players’
Eddie Jones picks out six 'glue players' for Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions team.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, all eyes turn to the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia with Eddie Jones selecting his six ‘glue players’.
I was never fortunate enough to have a formal involvement with the British and Irish Lions. But as head coach of one of the four union sides you’re always in conversations with the elected coach, who in my time was Warren Gatland.
You always want to do the right thing by the lads in your squad, but equally, there’s a wider responsibility to give honest feedback, both about playing ability and off-field character to the Lions coach, a fine balance.
One thing I do believe is that every successful Lions team has players that bind their team together. In 2017 it was Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, Sean O’Brien and Johnny Sexton. In 2021, Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry could be added to that group in the place of O’Brien and Warburton – all players who essentially are the rocks of the selection.
With 2025 approaching, Andy Farrell is spoiled for choice in many positions, with Ireland, England and Scotland all in good positions in performance terms.
Here are the six players I believe will form the glue that binds the Lions together in Australia, the cornerstones of the key units and the guys who will offer key leadership within their units.
Jac Morgan (Wales)
Jac is a really special player. For a man to be putting in the performances in adversity and to keep growing when others around him are withering on the vine is remarkable.
He is as tough as teak, punches so far above his weight it’s untrue and keeps putting in world-class performances. I also believe that great British and Irish Lions teams have a strong Welsh influence; whilst it’s hard to see many of their squad touring, Jac will provide an important cultural voice and, as a leader himself, some support in that regard. Few new entrants into Test rugby have impressed me as much as this guy and I believe he’s a nailed-on Test starter.
Maro Itoje (England)
He was once my Vauxhall Viva and now he’s Andy Farrell’s Aston Martin! Maro is a mature and brilliant Test performer.
If he plays in the first Test, or in the match versus Argentina in Dublin, that will be his 100th Test at the age of 30, which is a remarkable testimony to his fitness and consistency. Like Morgan, he’s not the biggest in his position but his attention to detail, work-rate and sheer accuracy sets him apart.
Six Lions Tests means he knows what it’s all about and I expect Itoje to elevate himself to the pantheon of truly great Lions locks during this series. And, with Caelan Doris the likely Lions skipper, Itoje’s Lions experience and leadership qualities with England will make him a wonderful support mechanism for the brilliant Irishman.
Tom Curry (England)
Tom has evolved his game into new arenas this year. His hip injury was a shocker and it’s maybe removed half a yard of gas from his armoury. But moving across to the blindside has extended his Test career and, for Steve Borthwick, the man is undroppable.
What he brings is sheer relentless suffocation to all aspects of defence. The pressure he places around the breakdown is tireless and he’s been working on new aspects of his game, like his lineout work, to really help with playing as an out-and-out six. For me, a shoo-in to the Test side.
Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
In an era where every halfback is judged against Dupont, I always feel that Jamison doesn’t quite get the plaudits he deserves. He is a world-class nine in his own right and a lot closer to Dupont in his ability than people give him credit for, as we’ve seen in Tests when Ireland play France over the last four or five years.
His box-kick and narrow side work are superpowers, his disruption of his opponent out of the highest drawer and his pace is electric. He’s a real asset to Farrell and, crucially, his presence takes pressure off a 10, as so many of the plays can be off nine rather than 10.
Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
A remarkable player – almost a centre in a hooker’s body. He is absolutely key to Ireland and, on that measure, extend that to key for the Lions.
Super mobile, big and aggressive, he knows the game of his halfback and back jumper inside out – a really important nuance as the back throw is the hardest- a ‘relationship’ throw, and the interaction between hooker and scrum half an often overlooked quality of great Test sides. Most of all, he score tries, lots of them. World-class and getting better all the time since his injury return.
Will Stuart (England)
Every Test side needs a rock at tighthead. Will was capped under me and I always felt he was a proper size for a world-class prop, and I knew he had the footwork and ball skills to thrive away from the scrums.
People forget that Stuart suffered an awful injury for a prop – the dislocation of his left (binding on hooker) elbow. This held him back for a good 12 months but now the confidence is back he’s thriving.
He’s gone on record as saying that working with South African props at Bath has propelled his improvement and I believe he’s the best tighthead in the northern hemisphere at the moment. And, of course, when Stuart leaves the pitch, Farrell will have the hugely mobile Tadhg Furlong to stride on and continue – the perfect combination of tighthead props in the modern era for a 23-man game.
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