Catt: Farrell can be perfect 10

Of all the fascinating subplots at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, few will be as intriguing as the match-up between the two fly-halves, Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell.

On the line will be potential Grand Slams and personal supremacy — but above all, both will be looking to lay down a marker for the Lions’ No.10 jersey for next summer’s tour to Australia.

It is astonishing how quickly things can change. Heading into England’s game with New Zealand, Farrell was not even his country’s first-choice; but two superb displays, against the All Blacks and Scotland, have changed perceptions of this teak-tough 21-year-old.

Now, he is being openly compared to another Jonny — Wilkinson — by England attacking skills coach Mike Catt, who also insists Sexton is not guaranteed to start for Warren Gatland’s Lions in Australia.

Sexton has not been playing poorly — far from it — but Farrell has added a sense of adventure to a game that did not previously extend far beyond superb defence and near-perfect goal-kicking.

True, a fired-up Ireland in Dublin will present a far tougher examination than against a tiring Scotland in London, but there are whispers that Farrell could soon reach Sexton’s previously unmatched levels of performance.

And if the Saracen does so then he will have two England coaches to thank; Catt, and his father, Andy.

“Owen is such a focused individual, he is so good at blocking out all the hype and everything that goes with it,” said Catt.

“He just focuses on his own role and what is best for the team. He won’t worry if it is Dan Carter, Sexton or Ronan O’Gara opposite him.

“I don’t think it’s a head-to-head type thing from a Lions point of view, it’s about winning a Test match.

“But then I guess a lot of people are going to look at it as a head-to-head. Both Farrell and Sexton played exceptionally well last weekend and it is another game for both to put their hands up and say, ‘Right, take me on the Lions tour.’

“I certainly haven’t seen many who are as mentally tough as Farrell is at his age. Wilko was one of them, but there aren’t many like that.

“Does that come from his Dad? I suppose that has to be a factor, because what his Dad has done is what Owen has seen, and it has put him in good stead. His mental toughness is exceptional. We weren’t used to seeing 20-year-olds at international level anyway. All the young guys have coped with the experiences, stresses and strains of international level rugby very well.

“Owen is enjoying himself at the moment, he is buzzing like everyone else. What we want from our 10s is that ability to play flat, or sit back in the pocket and kick.

“It’s about getting that balance right, and that is where Sexton is so very, very good — he sees it and Ronan sees it all the time. Now it’s about making sure our young guys see it too, and that will only come with experience.”

Yet the type of game Farrell chooses to play will largely be dictated by who is outside him on Sunday. One of Billy Twelvetrees, Manu Tuilagi or Brad Barritt will be on the bench, and it is a toss-up as to which it is.

Either way, though, Catt has promised Brian O’Driscoll and friends a game based on speed and instinct — not one from a team overawed by the occasion.

“As long as they don’t get caught up in the emotion and focus on their roles, then their age won’t matter,” said Catt.

“The key is about speed and movement of the ball. The players react to what they see. We can’t dwell on Gordon D’Arcy, O’Driscoll or Sexton too much.

“To have three centres is a great headache to have. We will see how they train and go from there.”