Sonny Bill Williams, a rugby legend from New Zealand, recently shared his thoughts on the greatest rugby players he has played alongside or against. Surprisingly, he excluded former teammates Dan Carter and Richie McCaw from his dream team. Instead, Williams praised England legend Jonny Wilkinson, whom he played with at Toulon.
Williams highlighted Wilkinson’s commitment to his craft and the valuable lessons he learned from playing alongside him. In return, Wilkinson spoke highly of Williams, emphasizing his strength, ball-handling skills, and game awareness. Another player on Williams’ list was French flanker Thierry Dusautoir, whom he admired for his leadership and performance in big games.
Looking ahead, the British & Irish Lions are gearing up for their 2025 tour, which will include matches against a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV. The series will culminate in test matches against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The tour promises to be historic, with record-breaking attendance expected at venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney’s Olympic Park.
The proposed Lions squad for 2025 features talented players like Duhan van der Merwe, James Lowe, and Hugo Keenan in the back-three, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in the center, and George Ford, Marcus Smith, and Finn Russell as fly-halves. These players are favored based on current odds and are expected to play key roles in the upcoming tour.
As the excitement builds for the 2025 Lions tour, rugby fans are eagerly anticipating the clash between the Lions and the invitational XV in Adelaide, followed by the highly anticipated test matches against the Wallabies. With a lineup of talented players and iconic venues set to host the matches, the 2025 tour is shaping up to be a thrilling and unforgettable event for rugby enthusiasts worldwide.