Former British and Irish Lions centre Will Greenwood has thrown down the gauntlet, claiming that the Lions, fresh off their series win against Australia, could have held their own against rugby giants New Zealand and South Africa. Despite a setback in Sydney with a 22-12 loss to the Wallabies, Greenwood hailed the 2025 squad as a 'vintage' team, capable of squaring off against the world's best.
After a rocky start to the year with a defeat to Argentina, the Lions roared back to form in Australia, clinching the series 2-1. Even though they missed out on a clean sweep in the final Test, Greenwood insists the squad's valor isn't diminished. "This group might have lost in Sydney, but that does little to diminish their achievement,” Greenwood noted in his column.
"You are always a vintage Lions group if you win a series – no matter the opposition."
Greenwood's confidence in the Lions extends beyond their performance down under. He firmly believes that the team would have been competitive against the top-ranked All Blacks and Springboks. "The 2025 Lions are an awesome bunch of lads and there is no doubt in my mind that they would have gone toe-to-toe with the likes of New Zealand and South Africa," he asserted.
The squad boasted notable talents like Dan Sheehan, Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Finn Russell, all of whom have previously triumphed over these formidable rivals with their national teams. Greenwood highlighted the depth and quality of the Lions, saying,
"Players who have beaten both the All Blacks and the Springboks with their respective countries."
Despite the loss in the third Test, Greenwood is confident that history will remember the Lions as champions, not for the conditions or controversies, but as a squad that overcame adversity to triumph. "The Lions lost tonight but they will be remembered as series winners," he concluded, emphasizing the lasting legacy of overcoming challenges and clinching victory against tough opposition.