Lions banking on flyhalf Farrell
TOURISTS TAKE ON UNBEATEN CRUSADERS Gatland’s backline looks like first-choice Test combination.
Flyhalf Owen Farrell knows he must recreate his sparkling form for England to get the faltering British and Irish Lions back to winning ways against the Crusaders today.
The young playmaker has helped Saracens to European Champions Cup glory and guided England to the Six Nations title in each of the last two years.
But he faces one of his biggest challenges today, his first start of the Lions’ New Zealand tour against an Crusaders side studded with All Blacks and unbeaten this year in Super Rugby.
The 25-year-old is under pressure to turn around the Lions’ fortunes after a shock 22-16 loss to the Blues on Wednesday.
If he can do so, Farrell would cement his position as one of the Lions’ key men for the three-Test series against the All Blacks.
Despite this week’s loss, Farrell said the Lions were improving but admitted they needed wins before the first Test on June 24.
“To concede (a late try) the way we did having fought back twice was disappointing,” he said yesterday.
“I don’t think we would want to go into the Test series having lost five games. Apart from the result, the Blues game was a step in the right direction.”
Farrell, rated “one of the top players in northern hemisphere rugby” by Lions coach Warren Gatland, begins the game alongside Conor Murray at halfback, with Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies the centre pairing.
Wales wing George North also makes his first appearance in a backline that looks very much like a first-choice Test selection.
A second consecutive defeat would hit the Lions hard and they face a tough challenge against a Crusaders side who top the Super Rugby ladder with a perfect record of 14 wins.
Gatland’s side are without injured skipper Sam Warburton, who has a slight ankle strain, as well as Ross Moriarty (back) and Dan Biggar (head). – AFP