Two Englishmen and a Welshman have been voted as the best, worst and most disappointing players of the 2021 British & Irish Lions touring party.
With the final game of the eight-match tour scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Saturday, Lions fans have been asked to reflect on the tour and rate the players’ overall performances in South Africa. And the results are now in, with two of England’s star players singled out as well as one of Wales’ young, up-and-coming talents.
Lions team for third and final Test
Best player: Maro Itoje
With a whopping 66% of the vote in this category, Itoje was voted as the best-performing Lion to date. The England lock has been in excellent form at the set piece and one of the few Lions forwards to have consistent success clearing out and living with the physicality of the South African players.
Most disappointing player: Louis Rees-Zammit
‘Rees Lighting’ is regarded as the one of the best young wings in the world and much was expected of him on this tour. But he played just four games and started in only three of those. And because he was overlooked for selection in all the Test teams, Rees-Zammit led the way with 44% of votes as most disappointing Lions tourist.
Worst player: Owen Farrell
Farrell, one of the most recognisable and influential players in the game, has had a surprisingly flat tour and was therefore singled out as the worst-performing Lion on this tour. He has started in three games and played off the bench in the two opening Tests. But with the series level at 1-1, Farrell was dropped from the Lions match-day 23 for the deciding third Test.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
