Lions must ‘strip back’ tactics after ‘rubbish’ against Waratahs – Ashton

The British and Irish Lions would benefit from “stripping things back” and adopting a more simple style of play, says former England wing Chris Ashton.

The Lions made nine unforced errors in their unconvincing 21-10 win against New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday.

Head coach Andy Farrell has yet to fully integrate the attacking system of complex pre-rehearsed moves that has been so successful with Ireland.

“It was rubbish. If that was their first game, OK,” Ashton told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast, after the 2025 Lions’ fourth match.

“Why have the Lions not stripped things back? There were so many changes and so many games, why not just go really simple against the Waratahs.

“Then it gives people more of a chance to show off their X-Factor and bring their personality to the game. Instead of all these intricate plays. There isn’t time for it. “

Farrell, who won back-to-back Six Nations titles playing in this style with Ireland, included 15 Irishmen in his initial touring squad.

However handling errors continue to haunt the Lions’ attack – and even the Ireland players who know Farrell’s system have struggled to gel alongside their new team-mates from other nations.

Former Wales coach Warren Gatland led the last winning Lions tour in 2013 and with the series poised at 1-1, started 10 Wales players in the deciding Test.

“Gatland played it simple and had a big Welsh contingent that he coached and trusted,” said Ashton, who narrowly missed out on selection for that tour.

“It seems now that would be easier to implement, as you have a relationship and gameplan that is flowing.

It will be intriguing what Farrell does with his selection for Wednesday’s game against the Brumbies.

On paper it will be the Lions’ toughest game in Australia outside the matches against the Wallabies and it has been suggested he could include most of his Test team in order to build cohesion.

He paired Scotland centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones together in the midfield for the first time against the Waratahs.

It was a success, with Jones scoring two tries – the first of which was set up by his Glasgow Warriors team-mate.

Farrell has yet to pair Ireland centres Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose together on tour, but Ashton feels they have the edge over the Scotland pair.

“Bundee Aki has been very good,” the former Saracens wing said.

“There is a lot to be said for that 12-13 axis to have played together, to know how each other run lines.

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe started every game of Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam-winning campaign and the trio are on the Lions tour.

Despite their level of collective cohesion, Ashton says England wing Tommy Freeman has been the best back-three player so far in Australia and should start the first Test.

“Freeman is carrying all over the pitch and is scoring tries – only he is doing that so far out on the wing this tour,” Ashton added.

“He is hitting lines in the middle of the pitch as they want to use his carrying.

“He’s got a yard more pace compared to Hansen and a bit more size. “

The selection at full-back is another call to be made after Keenan, who played his first game in more than a month on Saturday, struggled to impose himself on his Lions debut.

Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn started on the wing against the Waratahs and lacked ball to show off his attacking prowess on his Lions debut.

The 28-year-old joined the tour late after starting the Top 14 semi-final and final on the left wing for Toulouse, leaving only two games to get a start in the number 15 shirt before the first Test.

“The full-back Test spot is open,” Ashton said.

“Kinghorn has hardly played full-back for his club, which takes a bit of time to adjust back to.