It’s a blow, but at least there’s an able deputy
The Lions have been relatively unscathed by serious injuries so far but there is no disguising the fact that it would be a massive blow if Owen Farrell were to miss the first Test. he is the only player in the squad who is almost irreplaceable.
There’s no need for panic yet. Quad strains can come and go and I still believe this Lions squad is better equipped than most to cope with injuries because of its strength in depth. They can shuffle the pack and still play some very strong cards.
If fit, Farrell is clearly a nailed-on starter and it would seem that Warren Gatland had him inked in at 10 ahead of Johnny Sexton.
The good news, if that is the right expression, is that if Farrell is ruled out next week Sexton is showing every sign of returning to his best, something he will be keen to underline against the Maori All Blacks when he should feel at home with his Ireland partner Conor Murray at scrum-half.
And Dan Biggar has impressed me on tour, so the Lions still have two top quality Test fly-halves in good nick to select from.
Depending on what the medics are saying about Farrell you do wonder though whether Gatland might ask for a replacement to be flown in, or perhaps one of the utility backs will be pressed into service at outside-half in Waikato on Tuesday.
If Farrell is a non-starter for the Test, you wouldn’t want Sexton and Biggar involved in midweek.
Finn Russell is over in Sydney with Scotland and looked very good against Italy last week, while George Ford enjoyed an absolute stormer for england in Argentina against the Pumas. Geography and travel time might be the factor here if the Lions decide they do need back-up.
If Farrell is unavailable the thing the Lions would most miss — apart from that hard mental edge that marks him out as a winner even against the very best — is his world-class goal-kicking under pressure.
The instinctive thing to do would be bring in Leigh halfpenny at full-back, but the Lions must not blunt their attacking edge in the back three. They will face an exceptional All Black back three and they need to be picked on merit with that in mind. Anthony Watson and Liam Williams are inked in and the choice is between North or halfpenny.
Sexton is a front-line Test goal-kicker, show faith in him, but you would certainly want halfpenny and Biggar on the bench.
halfpenny has the opportunity against the Maori tomorrow to show that his all-round game is in good shape as well as his goal-kicking.
elsewhere, Gatland’s selection for the Maori offers some big clues as to his thinking for the Test. Jonathan Davies and Ben Te’o are teamed up at centre and this is Maro Itoje’s big chance, alongside George Kruis who has emerged as the nailed-on lock, to press for Test inclusion for the position in the squad with the most competition.