Keith Wood: No Time For Passengers On Andy Farrell's 2025 Lions Tour
Keith Wood: No Time For Passengers On Andy Farrell's 2025 Lions Tour
Keith Wood questions Lions selections, says Ireland and Leinster are off pace and warns there's no time to play into form on Andy Farrell’s 2025 tour.
Former Ireland skipper Keith Wood believes several British & Irish Lions squad selections are “lucky to be on the plane” — and says there’s no room for passengers when it comes to a Lions tour.
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Speaking to Genting Casino, Wood offered a frank assessment of Andy Farrell’s squad, questioning the form of key players and suggesting Ireland and Leinster have failed to keep up with tactical evolution since last autumn.
Wood emphasised the importance of players embracing the collective identity of the Lions.
“The players selected are no longer English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh – they are Lions,” he said. “That requires a mindset shift. If players carry national allegiances into the camp, it becomes problematic.”
He added that while emotional reactions to squad make-up are understandable, bonding and unity are essential within the first weeks of the tour.
Wood singled out the recent performances of Irish provincial side Leinster, which suffered a shocking loss to Northampton in the Champions Cup semifinals, as evidence that both club and country have failed to evolve.
“In the light of what happened when Northampton absolutely outperformed Leinster, the overwhelming favorite, Leinster had gone into the game having nilled two big teams in the previous matches.
“They looked incredibly comfortable, until they weren’t! Northampton plotted a route with some very young players who had the rugby IQ to do things a little bit differently.
“The game has been changing since last autumn, and I don't know that Ireland and Leinster have changed as much with it, and it actually looked like Northampton had.
“So, the idea of running at pace onto a ball, looking for a gap, not looking for contact, not looking to go through phases to get to the next one. That totally destabilized Leinster, and they looked undercooked and a little bit shell-shocked by the manner in which Northampton played.
“So, that becomes important when you're discussing the Lions, and some of the players that are on the tour. But, still on that, I would have said that there would have been a lot of Leinster players on the tour anyway.
“But there are cases where some players might not have been picked. I do think it has gone to the element of Andy knowing how the players are, how he wants them to play and how they fit into the plan.”
Wood didn’t hold back when discussing some of the more contentious squad inclusions, namely James Ryan and Mack Hansen.
“James Ryan has barely played," Wood said. "He’s been injured, and while he’s a leader, we haven’t seen enough of him recently.
“Mack Hansen, up to the World Cup, was sensational — but he’s not been in top form this season. Both are lucky to be on the plane.”
He also warned that the compressed nature of a Lions tour means there’s no luxury of easing players into form.
“There’s no time," he added. "You hit the ground running, or you're not picked. It’s that simple."
While acknowledging Farrell’s deep knowledge of his players, Wood expressed disappointment that Scotland winger Darcy Graham was left out of the squad.
“He’s got X-factor," Wood said. "He can win you a test. These are the types of gambles I’d like to see — not picking players based on past performances.”
Wood noted that more changes are inevitable throughout the tour due to injuries and attrition.
Despite his criticisms, Wood praised Farrell’s leadership and believes the Lions have the potential to deliver something special.
“He builds a culture where every player has a voice," Wood said. "If they enjoy how they’re playing, this could be one of the great tours."
Wood concluded by highlighting the emotional and physical toll of the Lions' experience, calling it the pinnacle of any player's career.
“It fills your tank until the last whistle of the last game," he said. "Then, you’re wrecked for five months. But it’s worth it.”
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