Farrell has right credentials to lead the Lions, says O’connell
Tour captain supports England man over Wyn Jones forwards coach may be given late line-out role
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Paul O’connell believes England captain Owen Farrell’s competitive fire makes him the “standout” candidate to lead the Lions against South Africa this summer.
Farrell’s credentials as England captain came under scrutiny following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Six Nations as he failed to get a grip on his side’s discipline.
O’connell, who led the Lions in their previous series against the Springboks in 2009, however views Farrell very differently.
He sees the figure who sets the tone with his defensive aggression and acts as a de facto coach in imposing the game plan upon the team as well as the veteran of two previous Lions tours. So, while Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones remains odds-on favourite to follow in a long line of second rows, including O’connell, to lead the Lions against South Africa, the former Ireland captain argues that Farrell is best placed to
provide the bite needed to take on the Springboks.
“I like Owen Farrell, he’s a real standout leader for me,” O’connell said. “With matches being played without crowds, you can hear so much of what the players are saying during games. You can hear Owen barking at his own players and encouraging them. A lot of it is about getting off the line and the physical side of the game, but a lot of it is also coaching people into position as well.
“He’s pretty experienced, he’s been on two tours already and he has a big leadership role with England. It wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory for him. There are plenty of guys who could do the job, but for me in terms of experience and an appetite to lead, he’s the real standout. When you pick a captain or leaders for the Lions tour, it’s about picking guys who are willing to take ownership of what the plan is. Owen is a guy who enjoys leading and enjoys taking ownership. He’s almost coaching.”
Regarding England’s poor form during the Six Nations, O’connell was prepared to cut Farrell some slack. “As a team England didn’t play as well as they’d have liked in the Six Nations,” O’connell said. “Is that a reflection on Owen Farrell? I don’t really think so.” The other benefit of giving the captaincy to Farrell would be allowing second row candidates Jones and Maro Itoje to focus on their roles.
“If Alun Wyn Jones isn’t captain, he doesn’t change how he behaves,” O’connell said. “He’s still the same character. He’s another standout candidate, but you just sometimes wonder if a guy who has captained an awful lot and who didn’t have an awful lot of games coming into a fantastic Six Nations, if it would be good for him not to be captain for once.
“He’d be able to concentrate on his own game and support someone like a Farrell. I’d love to see Maro playing great rugby. He’s already a line-out caller. Wyn Jones captains Wales but doesn’t call the line-out, it’s a stress they take away from him which allows him to do his job better. You might think the same of Maro Itoje.”
O’connell could yet be involved in the tour of South Africa. While Gatland announced his wider coaching team on Tuesday, he confirmed that he is still looking to bring in a specialist coach, widely assumed to be a line-out coach.
O’connell would certainly seem best qualified to assume that mantle having had an immediate impact as Ireland’s forwards coach in the Six Nations. “We may bring someone else in a bit later on – somebody who comes in before the tour or maybe during the tour,” Gatland said. “I’m looking to see what the final schedules are for the international sides.
“They haven’t been finalised. Are teams going on tour, are they playing at home, who do they play? I think it’s got to be finalised sometime before the end of the month.”
Gatland’s original plan was to have Steve Borthwick look after the line-out and Graham Rowntree concentrate on the scrum. But after both coaches pulled out, Gatland turned to his former Wales forwards coach Robin Mcbryde, who largely specialises in the scrum.
Much then will depend on whether Ireland’s tour to the Pacific Islands is confirmed.