British and Irish Lions call up former England captain Owen Farrell

New Straits Times

6 days ago

SYDNEY: Owen Farrell received a shock British and Irish Lions call up Thursday after utility back Elliot Daly was ruled out of their Australia tour, with his father, head coach Andy Farrell, citing experience in defending the decision.
The 33-year-old former England captain, a three-time Lions tourist, earned the last of his 112 Test caps at the 2023 World Cup and has not played any rugby for nearly nine weeks after suffering a concussion.
But the fly-half is a proven international performer and his father said the call-up was justified.
"When you look at the experience that Elliot's had, I mean the experience isn't just the playing side, it's how you make the group feel, the little chats that you have around the place to make sure that everything's gelled together," he said.
"And obviously Owen would bring a lot of that into the group."
While Finn Russell is the clear favourite to start the three-Test series against the Wallabies at fly-half, Farrell can also operate in the centre and has a trusty boot for goal-kicking.
But his call-up is a surprise with the Lions having plenty of options in the backs and the likes of Scotland's Tom Jordan and Wales' Blair Murray also seen as in the running as replacements.
"Well, he's fit otherwise he wouldn't be picked," said Farrell when asked about his son's lack of recent rugby after an injury-plagued season with Racing 92.
"I know that the guys have been keeping in close touch with him ... and he's been training full ball for quite some time now.
"If he didn't have a chance (of playing), then what's the point," he added. "Everyone should be competing.
"That's what everyone in the group would want but along with that the experience brings the support that you need for the group, and again, how you make the room feel."
The versatile Daly, a 72-Test England veteran, was forced off during the second half of the Lions' 52-12 victory over Queensland Reds on Wednesday, with X-rays revealing a fractured forearm.
"It's disappointing for all of us, he's an unbelievably popular bloke amongst the group," said Farrell. "So very sad."
It is their second injury setback since arriving in Australia for their nine-match tour on June 22.
Experienced Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams pulled a hamstring during their opening clash with Western Force and is also out of the tour, with Scotland's Ben White joining the squad as replacement.
The first Test is on July 19 in Brisbane, with three more warm-up games before that, starting in Sydney on Saturday against the NSW Waratahs.
Ireland's Tadhg Beirne was appointed skipper for the match, with tour captain Maro Itoje given the night off. He is joined in the second row by James Ryan.
Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham pack down in the front row while Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier and Ben Earl fill out the backrow.
English pair Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith start at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, with Scottish duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres.
Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Mack Hansen.
British and Irish Lions (15-1):
Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Finlay Bealham, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman