FARRELL: HOLD NOTHING BACK & WE CAN WIN
RUGBY UNION
OWEN FARRELL insists the British and Irish Lions will be a match for anyone – providing no player holds anything back.
Farrell and his 40 team-mates left London for New Zealand yesterday for what boss Warren Gatland has billed as the “toughest” ever rugby tour.
Ahead of them are 10 matches, the first on Saturday, including three Tests against the world-champion All Blacks.
Only one Lions team has won a series in the land of the long white cloud and that was 46 years ago.
Two of the three Tests are at Auckland’s Eden Park, where the hosts are unbeaten since rugby turned professional in 1995, winning 36 in a row.
But don’t tell Farrell this is mission impossible, not with a squad boasting Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones and captain Sam Warburton.
“It’s all about the team,” said the England playmaker.
“You’ve got to back yourself, but be as open as you possibly can, and put everything out there. That’s what all the best players do.
“They’re not scared of sharing anything. Because, ultimately, if someone pushes you or is in front of you, that’s going to make you better.
“We know you can get punished at any point by New Zealand if you’re not in the game, not focused on what’s in front of you, or get caught up in something that’s just happened.
“Those boys can pull away from you, or claw something back, in an instant.
“But nobody’s going out there just to take part, everybody’s going there to win. It’s a brilliant squad, one full of world-class players.
“If we get it right, I think this squad will challenge anyone.”
England boss Eddie Jones last night added Exeter’s Premiership Final man of the match Don Armand (above) to his squad to play two Tests against Argentina next month.
Armand is joined from England’s champion club by Ollie Devoto, Harry Williams, Jack Maunder and Henry Slade.
Owen Farrell was speaking on behalf of Land Rover, a Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions.