Lions, legends and long shots: Farrell’s five calls that could define a tour
British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Maro Itoje or Caelan Doris? The shoulder injury suffered by Doris has probably put paid to any lingering captaincy prospects and, sadly, perhaps even the tour itself for the no.8.
The prognosis does not look too hopeful. Doris had appeared a dead cert for the captaincy but across the last few months those odds lengthened with Itoje making a strong run on the rails. Itoje may only have been England captain since January but he has impeccable Lions’ stature as a player, as certain as any player can be of being a test starter.
Even without Doris’ cruel setback, Itoje had become the prime candidate. Those who argue that Farrell would prefer his familiarity with the Irishman, overlook the fact that Itoje comes from the self-same Saracens’ family that shaped Farrell as a union talent.
Poised, assured, articulate and committed, Itoje deserves the honour.
Andy Farrell may have been reared in another code but his spirit is that of a Lion. As a player he was selfless, his first instinct being for the good of the team, an icon even amongst a team of Wigan icons, renowned for the fierceness of his play as well as for the generosity of his character.
These are the traits that translate so easily, and necessarily, into a Lions environment.
The fact that his management team is heavily Irish is an irrelevance. From Thursday’s announcement, Farrell will ensure that everyone considers themselves a red-shirted Lion first and foremost.
The coach’s personality has already come to bear in his forthright choice of staff, sure in his own mind of what he wants.
The fact that he also likes a chat, a bit of music and the occasional beer, means that the trip is destined to be a happy one, results notwithstanding.
There appears to be a remarkable degree of unanimity among pundits as to the 37 or 38 players who should get the trip. All bar for a couple of positions – out-half and flanker.
The fly-half conundrum looked to be clear-cut with Finn Russell nailed on to be the test no.10. That debate has widened as first Sam Prendergast has come into consideration and now Fin Smith. As one Smith has waxed, so another, Marcus, has waned. Factor in Jack Crowley’s claims also.
And Owen Farrell, son thereof? The nepotism factor has never, ever been an issue for me. If Andy chooses Owen, it would be a logical pick based on his son’s form. Owen doesn’t have any, so he shouldn’t go. But his schoolboy pal and former England teammate, George Ford, has every claim on a spot.
No-one should be chosen for their midweek team captain credentials alone but Ford ticks all those boxes. It’s a devilishly difficult selection. Russell’s form is scratchy, so too that of Prendergast. Saturday’s Champions Cup defeat did his cause no favours. My three: Finn Russell, Fin Smith, George Ford.
Do we even need one? It’s been a bit of a myth, well as the likes of Derek Quinnell, Jeremy Guscott, John Bentley or Will Greenwood have performed when selected as outsiders.
There is one name, however, that is ringing ever louder as the squad announcement hoves into view, that of Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old Northampton flanker who has a minute of test experience for each year of his age. Mind you, he did score two tries after coming on for England in Cardiff.
Every time the hype seems to have peaked on the rookie’s worth, Pollock’s play on the field manages to ratchet it up another level.
The prospective Lions back-row cast list is already star-studded. Pollock’s performance in the Champions Cup semi-final adds to that lustre. This bolter should get the trip.
You might think there would be little danger of that given the recent up-turn in the Wallabies’ form under Andy Farrell’s old boss, Joe Schmidt.
However, Australia is nowhere near as tough a trip as tours to New Zealand and South Africa, particularly in terms of the quality of the midweek opposition.
If the Lions were to rack up some big scores (they posted over a century in the opening game of the 2001 tour) then complacency might, just might seep into the bones of the tourists. A quick flit through the last three Lions test series in Australia, will put paid to any such lazy thinking.
1989 was a nerve-shredder, the Lions recovering from losing the opening test to take the series. 2001 was a ‘Matt Dawson critical diary’ mess, Justin ‘The Plank’ Harrison stealing a last-gasp lineout from Martin Johnson in Sydney to win the series.
And 2013, with O’Driscoll Selectiongate, was also in the balance until the Lions cut loose in the final test. Wondrously, we can expect more of the same.
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