Jeremy Guscott Says Snubbed England Star Should Be On Lions Tour – Reckons Borthwick’s Lost The Plot
Rugby NewsTuesday, 15 April 2025 at 12:39
Bath's Ben Spencer might be one of the most consistently overlooked players in English rugby — and Jeremy Guscott has had enough of it.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
Writing in his latest be included, fitness permitting.
Rugby Paper column, the Lions legend expressed his disbelief at the continued omission of the 31-year-old scrum-half from Steve Borthwick’s England squads.
Despite being one of the Premiership’s most reliable No.9s, Spencer has remained firmly out in the cold, and Guscott believes it’s a baffling blind spot.
“I would definitely pick Ben Spencer,” Guscott wrote. “He is a world class scrum-half, but has inexplicably not been picked by England.”
"He has to tour" – Guscott demands Feyi-Waboso Lions call-up (if fit)
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia is inching closer — and Guscott has put forward a name he believes must
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the explosive Exeter Chiefs wing, burst onto the international scene in 2024 and was even nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year. The 22-year-old’s raw power and finishing ability turned heads everywhere.
However, since January, Feyi-Waboso has been sidelined with a string of frustrating injuries, leaving his Lions hopes hanging by a thread. Guscott, though, is adamant: if he’s available, he should be on the plane.
“If Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is fit, he is a match-winning wing who cannot be ignored,” he insisted.
Guscott's final word: Give the outsiders a shot
With the Lions selectors set for a brutal few months of choices, Guscott also urged them to look beyond the usual suspects.
“I would also like to see some players on the outer fringes of Lions selection given a chance to tour,” he wrote — adding weight to his Spencer and Feyi-Waboso endorsements.
The message is clear: forget reputation, pick on form — and don't sleep on England's hidden gems.
Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions
The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.
Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…
Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.
Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne
5. Tadhg Beirne
England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.
Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)
6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.
Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
10. Finn Russell
Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.
Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn
11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn
14. Blair Kinghorn
Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.
Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
13. Huw Jones
The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.
Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan
15. Hugo Keenan
No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.
The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith
It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at scrum-half.
Can You Name These 10 Legendary British & Irish Lions?
Test your rugby knowledge and see how many of these iconic Lions players you can name! You’ve got 4 minutes on the clock—think fast!
Let’s see if you can nail this quiz and prove you’re a true rugby expert. Ready? Let’s go!
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