OWEN GOES RIGHT INTO LIONS’ DEN
FARRELL GETS NOD FOR JAPAN
OWEN FARRELL will play for the British & Irish Lions just six days after he turned out in English rugby’s second division.
Any doubt as to the England captain’s importance to Lions head coach Warren Gatland was dispelled yesterday as the Sarries star was thrown straight into the matchday squad to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Gatland, below, then revealed that Farrell had come out on top in a vote by the whole Lions squad for who they wanted in their leadership group.
“I asked the players all to vote and pick four for the group,” the New Zealander said. “It was interesting that Owen ended up with the most votes of anyone. It speaks volumes for the wide respect in which he’s held, not just by the England players.”
No sooner had playmaker Farrell pitched up at the Lions training camp in Jersey than he was given a shirt and told he would play off the bench in the Edinburgh opener.
“The chat was that it wasn’t the greatest Six Nations from him,” said Gatland. “A lot was made of the Sarries boys looking under-done, which is probably a fair criticism. But we picked Owen on the leadership he has and the experience he can bring. He’s a competitor, and what he’s achieved in the game, the success he has had, speaks for itself. “Knowing him, he’ll go out and make the most of his opportunities. I expect him to have a great tour.” Farrell played almost an hour of Saracens’ promotion-clinching win over Ealing Trailfinders on Sunday, which had delayed his Lions attendance by a week. But 24 hours later he was in camp, along with clubmates Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Elliot Daly and Mako Vunipola. “They fitted in extremely well,” said Gatland. “They’re all Lions players from the last tour, so it was pretty seamless.” Gatland has opted to start with a team entirely of Celtic Lions, not least because the match is being played in Scotland. Tour skipper AlunWyn Jones leads the side. One potential blow for the Lions coach is that he will not be able to call upon Manu Tuilagi in the event of injuries. The England centre is crocked again.