No doubts for Owen Farrell after late call to Lions tour
Farrell captains the Lions for the first time in Tuesday's match against the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium, 17 days after arriving in Australia as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly.
The former England captain had just finished a testimonial golf day for former Saracens team-mate Jackson Wray when his father Andy called with the invitation to join the squad.
Mechanical issues with his car meant he was able to disappear to answer the phone without raising the suspicions of his golf partners.
"When I got asked to come, the first thing that popped into my head was 'yes'," Farrell said.
"It wasn't a discussion. Elliot got a knock and I got a phone call. 'Can you get ready?' and I said 'Yeah.'
"That was it. I wanted to take the opportunity and I'm glad I'm here."
Until his cameo against AUNZ on 12 July, his most recent international appearance was at the 2023 World Cup, after which Farrell (above) stepped back from England to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing.
It was a response to the vitriol that ensued after he was banned for a high tackle against Wales in the build-up to the tournament and the booing he received during England's march to the semi-finals.
The 33-year-old struggles to comprehend why he is such a polarising figure but has learned to deal with the darker moments by retaining perspective, while "making sure I look after myself and giving myself a break".
"I understand that times are different now," he said.
"Sometimes it catches fire and just takes a life of its own and goes wherever it goes and there's momentum behind it. But no, I don't always understand it.
"The good and the bad – both are a poison. That's not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us.
"If you go and knock on someone's door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn't really listen to their answer.
"The people that I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people. Your mates.
"Not to say that people will just pat you on the back because you have people who will tell you how it is, but they'll give you a real answer.
"If you do that and you're in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it.
"Because there are times where people can say this, that and the other and it just go over your head.
"And there's times where you're not in the best place of all time and you're almost waiting for something to set you off."
Farrell – the Lions' most experienced player – roomed with the squad's youngest in 20-year-old Henry Pollock (above) when the squad were in Canberra to face the ACT Brumbies.
"He's fascinating, fascinating," Farrell said of the rising star of English rugby.
"What did I learn about him that I can tell you? He's brilliant. His energy is nuts. He's always on.
"He's always taking the mick out of people.
"He's got no regard for what anyone's done in the past or anything like that. He looks like he's being himself, which is brilliant."
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The 42
25 minutes ago
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Extra.ie
2 hours ago
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Schmidt feels the heat as Aussie critics turn on former Ireland boss
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James O'Connor was called up at the 11th hour. Pic:O'Connor, who played all three Tests against the Lions in 2013, has enjoyed something of a late career revival with the Crusaders in New Zealand. To many Australians, having the 33-year-old in the camp was a no-brainer. Schmidt didn't feel that way, instead backing the home-based No10s in his squad. When O'Connor was belatedly brought into the Wallabies squad, it was too late to get him up to speed to face the Lions. It's the reason why 22-year-old rookie Tom Lynagh was pitched in for his first Test start. Tom Lynagh during the first Test. Pic:Lynagh did well in difficult circumstances but O'Connor or Western out-half Ben Donaldson have been widely tipped to start the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday. Staying on the subject of bizarre calls, Australia's build-up to this series has been perplexing. 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Schmidt can't take the brunt for every bad call. However, the New Zealander needs to take responsibility for getting some key selections wrong. While Farrell won widespread praise for backing Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry, his rival head coach didn't get the balance of his starting line-up right. Andy Farrell won widespread praise for backing Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan There have been widespread calls for changes this week. Rob Valetini and Will Skelton were sorely missed and both key forwards are set to be back on board at the MCG. Valetini has been Australia's best player for the best two years and the powerful ACT Brumbies backrower will bring a bit of ball carrying ballast to the home ranks, something which was sorely lacking last time out. Skelton would be another huge addition but as Ronan O'Gara cautioned last week, the giant La Rochelle lock needs a few games to get up to speed. O'Gara has worked closely with the Wallabies giant for a long time. 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Pic:'You talk about Queensland Reds combination, Hunter at 12. Now Hunter in the Queensland Reds v Lions game was the best performer on the field,' he said.'He was awesome in that game, superb, so you put him straight into 12, Len (Ikitau) to 13, and then you put the big man, Joseph (Suaalii), out onto the wing.'Deploying Suaalii, the rugby league superstar who had a quiet game in Brisbane, would allow Australia to go after the Lions in the backfield. First, the Wallabies will need to fix the breakdown. Whatever about the way he prepared his team or the selection calls he made, Schmidt will be livid with the way his team were outmuscled in the collision zone. That has been this obsessive coach's USP throughout a trophy-laden career. In Brisbane, Schmidt's men were blown away at the contact area. Can he fix it in seven days?
