Sexton under huge pressure to show Lions can thrive without Farrell

INJURY to Owen Farrell does not have to spell disaster for the Lions – not if Johnny Sexton rediscovers his form. I understand the concern ahead of today’s Test dress rehearsal against the Maori All Blacks. Owen’s team-mates enjoy his authority, his understanding of the game, his fiercely competitive attitude and the direction he brings to proceedings. They love his goalkicking percentage, they love his aggressive defence. Forwards love the fact that, when they come out of a ruck or maul, he invariably has positioned play downfield. For Saracens and England he has done that expertly for the past two years. He has been a joy to watch. Of course his absence will be felt. But all the qualities that make him the fivestar general he is are exactly those showcased by Sexton (above). People forget what Johnny did for the triumphant 2013 Lions and that he was at the helm when Ireland beat the All Blacks last autumn. They forget how outstanding he was when the Irish denied England a Grand Slam in March. With Farrell on the pitch. The question is whether Sexton can deliver that level of performance today. He’s probably not played under this much internal pressure since he first battled Ronan O’gara for the Ireland No.10 jersey. Since then, wherever he’s played, he’s been a shoo-in – for the Lions, for Ireland, for Racing and for Leinster. That is not the case here. Regardless of whether Farrell gets back in time, Sexton is being pushed every step of the way by Dan Biggar. He knows he needs the game of his life. When you play the Maori, as I did with the 2005 Lions, you feel you’re playing the All Blacks. They wear the same kit and have a lot of similar players. There is the added difficulty that, being a scratch side, they have the freedom to be a bit looser and more unpredictable than the All Blacks. My message for Sexton is “less is more”. Don’t try to do too much yourself. Make sure the Lions are playing in the right areas and you’re feeding the right players and making the right calls. Your team does not need you chasing into rucks or forcing things, exposing yourself in the line of fire. You know Ben Te’o from Leinster, use your hard-running No.12 and Jonathan Davies outside him. Because if you don’t you’re not the right man for the Test team. But if you do get the balance right, if you manage the game coolly and effectively, then whatever the news on Farrell in the coming week, the Lions can sleep easy.