The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Finn roars.
‘Battle-hardened’ flanker could squeeze in to Lions side for opener with New Zealand
Scot Finn Russell practises his kicking during British & Irish Lions training at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday, ahead of today’s clash with the Chiefs.
Andy Farrell believes Sam Warburton is “battle-hardened” and improving day by day as the British and Irish Lions captain inches towards the Test match squad.
Wales flanker Warburton suffered an ankle injury in the tour-opening 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians and has been scrapping for match sharpness ever since.
The Lions have left Warburton out of today’s squad to face the Chiefs in Hamilton however, and now he is edging ever closer to a spot in Saturday’s line-up for the first All Blacks Test.
Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Taulupe Faletau have excelled as a backrow combination, but Cardiff star Warburton could yet even squeeze into the first Test starting XV.
“Sam by his own account will tell you that he might have been a little rusty at the start, but he’s getting better and better every day,” said Farrell.
“His body’s in good condition, and he’s battle-hardened like the rest of them.”
Leigh Halfpenny is continuing through return-to-play protocols after a suspected head injury but the Lions assistant coach Farrell believes the Wales full-back remains on course to face New Zealand on Saturday.
Fly-half Owen Farrell is now expected to be fit after a thigh concern too, leaving the Lions approaching full strength for the Test series opener.
“We don’t see too much of a problem with that for Leigh, it’s just the process we have to go through,” said Farrell. “And Owen seems to be all good, that seems to have settled down.
“The boys who aren’t playing the Chiefs will have a light hit-out today (Monday), an orientation day for the rest of the week, and Owen seems fine enough to take part in that.”
Defence coach Farrell believes the Lions are forging a bullish identity as the first Test against the back-to-back world champions hurtles into view.
He tipped the Lions to be “a hell of a side” come the series opener at Auckland’s Eden Park.
“I’m sure you’ve seen some physical hits, some strong defensive breakdown work from us,” said Farrell.
“We’ve put some pressure on the ball, so we’ve earned the right to give line speed. And on the back of that we’ve also been good at adjusting. So again we’re still developing that – it’s coming good.
“The players enjoy the physical defence, they buzz off one another. They want to show their intent, and that’s building nicely.
“The All Blacks are the best team in the world and rightly so, they’re an unbelievable side. But our squad is full of winners, it’s full of guys who are used to winning and know how to win.
“They’re in a new side that’s been developing over the last four weeks. And I think we’re going to be a hell of a side.”
Greig Laidlaw starts today’s game with fellow Scots Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell and Allan Dell likely to see action from the bench.
Lions XV: L Williams; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, G Laidlaw; J Marler, R Best (capt), D Cole, I Henderson, C Lawes, J Haskell, J Tipuric, CJ Stander.