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10th May 2025
06:16pm BST
After the news that Lions head coach Andy Farrell had 'left the door open' for his son Owen to be called up, Sunday Times writer Stuart Barnes was not particularly pleased.
He took to X to write: "Shame....no form and as for Lions `experience', SCW belief in past it World Champs, the selection of BOD over Jon Davies was an awful error for the 2013 1st test and AWJ was past it in 2021. What has OF done to suggest he has what the Lions need?"
The tweet references the fact that Farrell has been not been in great form for Racing 92, while also not playing for England.
He counters the 'Lions experience' argument by referencing 2005 Lions head coach Clive Woodward and his decision to pick experienced but out-of-form players.
These are fair points, but Barnes made quite the error when stating that 'the selection of BOD over Jon Davies was an awful error for the 2013 1st test'.
Welshman Jonathan Davies did in fact start all three tests against Australia in 2013.
He played inside centre alongside Brian O'Driscoll in the first two tests, with O'Driscoll dropped for the third when Jamie Roberts returned to full fitness.
Furthermore, while he was past his best and not as good as the younger Welsh centres in 2013, BOD was still a world class operator.
And the Irish legend duly responded to Barnes' tweet, writing: "A touch inaccurate on some of the details Stuart!"
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