All Blacks great Jeff Wilson has laid into the 2025 British and Irish Lions after they escaped with a 2-1 series victory over the Wallabies.
Andy Farrell’s men emerged victorious in the first two Tests to wrap up the series prior to the third game, but they failed to become the first Lions side in almost a century to whitewash their opponents.
They were poor in Sydney as Australia powered to a 22-12 success, preventing Farrell’s side from matching the achievement of the 1927 squad.
Although the Lions’ performance would have probably been better on Saturday if the series was on the line, Wilson doesn’t think it would have been enough to take the contest had the hosts got that final decision in the second Test.
“I think the Lions should count themselves very, very lucky because I don’t think they would have won the third Test if they had lost the second,” he said on The Breakdown.
Weaker Lions team
Wilson ultimately believed that the 2025 Lions were not that strong, suggesting that the results of the Home Nations over the past couple of years have not been that impressive.
“France won the [2025] Six Nations, there was only one team out of the four nations that was in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup and that was England,” he said.
“The Lions then lost to Argentina to start their tour and they beat Australia, who won one game of the Rugby Championship last year.”
There was also implicit criticism of head coach Farrell having, in Wilson’s view, made the Lions worse than the Ireland team he coaches.
“For me, this Lions team wasn’t a great team. The fact that I think Ireland and England are better sides than this team…” he said.
“I think they should count themselves very, very fortunate that they’ve come away with the win. They were disappointing on Saturday.
“Whether they were on the plane or not is irrelevant. Everyone knows they were lucky to win the second Test and then they got well and truly beaten [in the third Test].
“It’s great for Australian rugby. Australia should be incredibly proud of where they’ve got to. They’re a different team but this Lions team… it wasn’t a great side for me.”
Another ex-All Black’s view
Wilson’s fellow former All Black, Stephen Donald, felt that the Lions were not in the right frame of mind in Sydney after securing the series victory the week prior.
“I just thought it was a difference in attitudes. There was one team that was sky high and up for it, and there was one team that looked like they had the job done,” Donald said.
“The impact of Tupou, Nic White added attitude. They were up for a scrap and I just didn’t think the Lions were there.”
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