"No Brian O'Driscoll" - Warren Gatland selects his greatest Lions XV

Gatland, the head coach of the Wales national rugby team, has decided to step aside from the position for the upcoming tour.

Gatland, originally from New Zealand, praised Farrell for the "fantastic job" he has done with the Ireland national rugby team. The endorsement comes as a testament to Farrell's coaching prowess and his potential to lead the Lions to success in their 2025 tour to Australia.

As rugby enthusiasts await the official announcement of the new head coach, Warren Gatland has also made headlines by revealing his dream Lions XV in an exclusive piece for The Telegraph.

He began: "I have gone through my notes of each of the four tours – my first as an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan to South Africa in 2009, then as head coach for Australia in 2013, New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021 and made what is undoubtedly the toughest selection I have ever had to make.

"To give it some context, I have made my selections based on a snapshot of all the players when they were at their best for the Lions when I was involved. It does not take into account what they achieved over the course of their careers but when they pulled on the red shirt."

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland) 

13. Jonathan Davies (Wales)

Garland wrote: "This was the most difficult selection for many obvious reasons. I know a lot of people will ask why I did not select Brian O’Driscoll here. If you were to pick a Lions team that included the tours when he was at his best, 2001 and 2005, then he would come into that calculation because he was an unbelievable player.

"But when I was head coach in 2013, his best days were behind him whereas Jonathan Davies was in his prime. He played in the series winning Test in 2013 and went on to become player of the series on the 2017 tour against the world champions New Zealand."

12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)

11. George North (Wales)

10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

9. Mike Phillips (Wales)

1. Mako Vunipola (England)

Garland wrote: "Mako in his prime was simply world class with his ball-carrying and defence and would often make tackle contributions of a back row forward. He was also a highly intelligent rugby player who spoke well and made impactful contributions in team sessions and with the forwards."

2. Jamie George (England)

3. Adam Jones (Wales)

4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

6. Tom Croft (England)

Garland wrote: "This was the hardest selection, given the quality of player I worked with here. I still wonder what a player Stephen Ferris could have been for us if he had not picked up a knee injury on the 2009 tour. I am also a big fan of Courtney Lawes.

"But Tom at his best was an incredible athlete, quick and explosive and a brilliant line-out operator. Not originally selected in 2009 but forced his way into the Test side, scoring twice against the Springboks in the first Test. We didn’t see the best of him in 2013 because of injury."

7. Sam Warburton (Wales) - Captain

8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

Tom Youngs (England)

Garland wrote: "One of the players who grasped the spirit of the Lions more than most. I can remember telling him I was going to drop him for the third Test against Australia in 2013 and start with Richard Hibbard. He told me it was the right call because he was absolutely shattered but he would give me everything he had off the bench. That is the type of person I want on my team. A physical and hard-working hooker who made a great impact off the bench."

Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Maro Itoje (England)

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

Conor Murray (Ireland)

Owen Farrell (England)

Garland wrote: "Like all the best 10s he is unbelievably competitive and could cover the midfield as well. His goal-kicking under incredible pressure in the second and third Tests in New Zealand was phenomenal. He just relishes the pressure, thrives in it. Coming off the bench he would bring energy."

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)

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