I’d pick Farrell as Lions No 10, says All Blacks legend Carter

DAN CARTER believes England’s selection strategy could harm Owen Farrell’s chances of wearing the No 10 jersey on this summer’s Lions tour. The World Cup-winning All Black claims Farrell (below) should be Warren Gatland’s first-choice fly-half in New Zealand but fears he may not get a fair trial. With stiff competition from Ireland’s Johnny Sexton, Carter says Farrell’s prospects would be boosted if Eddie Jones stopped picking him at centre. ‘Owen Farrell’s been in fantastic form for a year or two and he would be my pick at fly-half,’ said Carter. ‘He’s worked out a good partnership with George Ford for England. ‘Warren Gatland’s been pretty open that selection will come down to form and the Six Nations is the perfect platform. But you could question the fact Farrell’s been playing 12 for England. That might work against him.’ Despite starting at No 10 for England, Farrell’s midfield partner, Ford, is not being tipped as a Lions starter. He is unsettled at Bath and Leicester coach Aaron Mauger — a former team-mate of Carter — last night refused to rule out a move for the playmaker after Owen Williams secured a £300,000 switch to Gloucester. ‘We would like to have kept Williams,’ said Mauger. ‘We haven’t spoken to George at all and as far as I’m aware he’s still contracted to Bath, so I’m not sure if it’s possible. ‘If he was available it’s potentially something we’d look at. George came through the academy here. He has ties here but we’d still look at him even if he didn’t.’ As well as playing alongside Mauger for New Zealand and the Crusaders, Carter was also coached by the 36-year-old before he moved to Racing 92 in 2015. Racing face Leicester on Saturday — Mauger’s second game since taking over from Richard Cockerill — and Carter believes his countryman could be a perfect mentor for Ford. ‘Even when we were playing Aaron was basically coaching the team,’ said Carter. ‘It was quite bizarre to have a 24-yearold taking charge and I knew he’d make a coach one day.’ Elsewhere, England duo Joe Marler and James Haskell will miss this weekend’s European action. As revealed by

Sportsmail, Marler has been ruled out for four to five weeks with a broken leg and Haskell is still suffering from concussion. Wasps coach Dai Young said: ‘This is first time James has suffered concussion and we have told him to take extra time with the aim of being fit for Zebre in the final pool round.’ Bath yesterday confirmed the signing of Ospreys flanker Sam Underhill, who could make his England debut this summer when he is no longer considered an overseas player by the RFU. Underhill said: ‘Bath have a world-class coaching set-up, who I know will help me develop into the best player I can possibly be.’