WE’RE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL
Farrell return a massive boost for Lions as George reveals confidence growing of a shock series victory
OWEN FARRELL was last night passed fit to start the Test series for a Lions team convinced it is on the verge of “something special”.
Farrell missed the 32-10 win over the Maori All Blacks with a muscle strain in his non-kicking leg and there was concern the Lions’ most influential player could be ruled out of Saturday’s Auckland opener.
But boss Warren Gatland quashed those fears by declaring: “I have no doubt Owen will be 100 per cent fit.
“He will train Monday and, in fact, could have played on Saturday.
“If it was a Test match he would have done. We just made a decision that it wasn’t worth taking that risk.”
The Lions are now fully into Test match mode, even if a couple of bench places could be up for grabs in tomorrow’s game with the Chiefs.
And despite the odds being stacked against them, hooker Jamie George (below) insists they head to Eden Park in expectation rather than hope.
“I think that performance against the Maori sends a message,” he said.
“We put down a marker with the way we played, the way that we defended and with our setpiece in general.
“We are still developing as a team and are still finding our identity. But I think we are really pushing towards doing something special.”
Selection for the Chiefs game suggests Alun Wyn Jones, who is named on the bench, has fallen behind Maro Itoje in the Test team pecking order.
The absence of Sam Warburton means the Lions’ captain definitely has a part to play in the All Blacks clash, though it may well be off the bench.
The big unknown is whether Gatland is keeping a 10-12 midfield of Farrell and Johnny Sexton up his sleeve.
The game evidence suggests not, with centres Ben Te’o and Jon Davies having struck up a useful partnership.
But they have worked together behind closed doors and it very much remains an option.
That apart, Gatland’s biggest poser concerns wing selection as no player has made an irresistible case to be picked.
The wide men have not been helped by the illegal blocking tactic employed by Kiwi opponents, which the Lions condemned last night.
But Gatland still expected more, particularly from George North, who scored tries in both Test wins during the 2013 series triumph in Australia.
“I would like to see George get his hands on the ball a bit more and use some of that footwork and power he has,” the boss admitted.
“He is a player who needs to get his hands on the ball as much as possible. We are going to have some lengthy debates in terms of finalising that back three.”