Lions Tour 2025: will Super Maro skipper tourists to victory?

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The British & Irish Lions face Australia as they seek to win their first series since the 2013 tour down under

Transcript

00:00The Lions, for me, its beauty and tradition lies in its history.

00:05You're aware of some of the names that have worn the jersey.

00:08It's bigger than a World Cup.

00:09You're walking in the footsteps of giants

00:11and you get to rub shoulders with the best the home unions have to offer.

00:23I know that they're going to get it right because it means so much.

00:26For me, what's most impressive about Australia

00:28is how steep their resurgence has been.

00:30You know, they've gone from being a real dark place

00:32to becoming serious, serious operators under Joe Schmidt.

00:36Obviously what we saw in November, particularly in the England game,

00:38they have lots of firepower and they will be good, I guarantee you.

00:42Joe Schmidt, my old coach, will have them humming.

00:46You're playing against Australia in Australia.

00:48With it for any sport, it's never easy.

00:51I anticipate it will be nothing like the landslide

00:54that some people are anticipating.

00:58Joe Schmidt knows Ireland.

01:00He knows Andy Farrell as well,

01:02the close relationship that he's had there.

01:04Everything's ramped up.

01:05The microscope you're under, the pressure you feel.

01:09He's got a playbook that has dated over 20 years

01:12and he plucks different plays from different eras

01:15and drops them in when he sees fit.

01:17So you can be sure that there'll be no shortage of intel

01:20and knowledge around what way to crack this line's defence.

01:27It's an awful lot.

01:28It's a tremendous honour.

01:31This is a guy who I think all players across the British and Irish Isles

01:36look at and just admire as a rugby player.

01:39Mauro, 30 years of age, two tours behind him.

01:42It makes sense that he has all of the qualities

01:44to be able to deliver what's expected as captain.

01:47It's a wonderful ability to deliver when it matters.

01:50I think that alone is leadership for me.

01:53I think what I'd love to see is it go down to the wire in the final test.

01:59So I'm going to say 2-1 to the Lions.

02:03I want it to go to the third test.

02:05I don't really care.

02:06Obviously I want the British and Irish Lions to win.

02:08There's no doubt about that.

02:09But I want to see a decider in Sydney.

02:12It would be amazing if Australia managed to win the first test

02:15because it would really put it up to this Lions team.

02:18So I'm going to say Lions 2-1.

02:20Tommy Freeman tried to win it in the 78th minute.

02:23Green stuff.

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