LIONS SET FOR BIG BLUES TEST
JUST three weeks ago, Ken Owens was fearing his Lions dream might be over.
Now he finds himself captaining the best of Britain & Ireland.
By any standards, it has been something of a rollercoaster ride for the ‘Sheriff.’
Having achieved his goal of earning selection for the tour of New Zealand, Owens’ world was then rocked when he damaged his ankle in training with the Scarlets last month.
“It was a massive worry and a nervous 72 hours icing my foot,” he revealed.
“It was a long three days with a lot of Netflix watched and a lot of time spent on the couch.
“I was worried just after having the scans, speaking to the specialist. I spoke to the doctor and the physios about an hour later and they just said I had to do everything I could to get right for the trip.
“It was three days of icing and feet up and thankfully everything settled down to a point where it was good enough to join the second camp out in Dublin and it progressed really well.
“Once I got over to Ireland, I was a lot more confident of making the trip then.
“The work the physios have done has been incredible. I am just thankful to be on this trip and looking forward to putting a marker down.”
The 30-year-old hooker certainly has a chance to do that now having been handed the captaincy for Wednesday’s second tour match against the Blues at Auckland’s Eden Park.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said, reflecting on his appointment by Warren Gatland.
“Just before having some dinner, Gats asked me if I would captain the side and it was a massive shock being my first game for the Lions. It was one it didn’t take me too long to answer.
“You look at the experience and the quality in the side, I am just really proud to have been asked and given this opportunity.
“Becoming a British & Irish Lion is the ultimate in the northern hemisphere as a player, but to lead out the side is just a massive honour for myself.
“It’s a challenge I am relishing, leading the boys out and hopefully putting a massive performance in that the Lions shirt deserves.”
So what does Owens feel are the qualities required from a Lions captain?
“I think a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and leads from the front by his actions on the field,” he said.
“Some are a lot better speakers than others, they make a lot more speeches and things like that, things that go down in history.
“But generally I think every Lions captain has been right in the thick of the action and leading by his actions on the field and the way he plays and hopefully I can do that justice on Wednesday night.
“As a player, I always try and put my best foot forward and try and show the way by the way I play. There’s a lot of experience in the side so there’s not going to be a need for too much shouting and big inspiring speeches. It’s just about showing direction and hopefully the boys will follow me.
“Obviously there’s slightly more pressure because of the enormity of playing for the Lions, but I don’t think you can generally try and change the way you play or the way you lead or captain the side by what side it is.
“I think you’ve got to try and adapt where you need to, but try be yourself and play and lead and speak the way you would if you were back with your club or with your country. I think you shouldn’t change your philosophy as a player too much.”
Owens’ injury meant he missed out on the semi-final and final of the PRO12 as the Scarlets beat first Leinster and then Munster on the road to be crowned champions.
But he was on hand to share in the trophy presentation at the Aviva Stadium and now, as he prepares to make his Lions debut, he is able to cross off the two key items on his rugby bucket list.
“I had two big targets left in my career,” he revealed. “Winning the PRO12 was one of them, the other was touring with the Lions. Thankfully I have managed to do both.
“What we have achieved at the Scarlets is a real highlight. I am so proud of what the boys have done this season. Becoming a Lion is right up there too as one of my biggest achievements in rugby.”
But, of course, there are some things far more important than sport and Owens admits the mood in the camp has been pretty sombre these past few days following the terrorist incidents in London.
“It’s been horrendous to have another terror attack on our Islands back home,” he said.
“I think a lot of the boys who live in London have been very concerned with having friends and family who live in the city.
“Thankfully all their friends and families are safe and haven’t been caught up in the troubles. It was just been hugely sombre for the squad waking up to that the other morning, it’s terrible what’s happened and obviously Sam spoke very well after the welcome up in Waitangi. Our thoughts are going out to the families and everyone affected by them terrible scenes in London.”
Now the attention turns to the game against the Blues as a completely new Lions team looks to step things up from the hard-fought win over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in the tour opener.
“We know we have to create momentum game on game and improve leading into the Test matches,” said Owens.
“It is 15 new guys starting with an opportunity to put their hands up. It’s about raising the standards week on week because that’s what we are going to need to do to beat the All Blacks.
“There are plenty of experienced combinations in this team that will give us some stability and there will be understanding in key areas of the pitch. We are just looking forward to the challenge. It’s the first opportunity for most of us in putting that Lions shirt on.
“As a 15, we’ve got the opportunity to set a marker, raise those standards which we’re going to have to do week on week the closer we get to the Test series.
“Obviously there is excitement for everyone who pulls on that jersey for the first time on this trip. It’s managing that, but the quality in the side and the experience there, I’m pretty confident every one of us can do that.”