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Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question
By Martyn Thomas reporting from London
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell kept the door ajar to a summer call-up for son Owen as he refused to rule out picking players based in France.
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Farrell senior revealed on Wednesday he had put together a 75-player long list for the tour to Australia following conversations with his coaching team in London, although he later backtracked on that precise figure suggesting he “just threw a number out there”.
Having finalised his coaching panel, Farrell enjoyed a robust selection meeting with assistants Simon Easterby, John Fogarty, Andrew Goodman, John Dalziel and Richard Wigglesworth on Tuesday.
Several players who may have come up in that discussion currently play in France, with Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell among the most noteworthy.
Kinghorn and Sinckler could be ruled out of the early part of the tour of Australia, should their clubs – Toulouse and Toulon – qualify for the Top 14 play-offs as expected. The final is scheduled to be played on June 28, the same day the Lions play Western Force in Perth.
“We’re open-minded about all of that. As we start to whittle it down, the dynamics become a little bit different,” Farrell said when asked about picking France-based players.
“But we don’t know whether we’re going to have sufficient players in certain positions where we’re able to get on a plane and somebody could join us for game three, etc.
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“We don’t know if a player that fits the bill of being interchangeable, being able to play three or four different types of positions, is that what we need? I don’t know.
“We could even have a conversation with some clubs over there and they might release them.”
Andy Farrell will name his squad on May 8, at which point he will not know how far into the Top 14 post-season some of his potential picks will play.
“I’m sure that everyone who would have been available for selection, that’s in its entirety now, at the start of pre-season this year would have an ambition to get on that plane,” Farrell said.
“But again, it’s just the dynamics of what the team needs at the time when we get to the point of pulling the trigger.”
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Owen Farrell has endured a difficult first season at Racing 92, which included the departure of former England boss Stuart Lancaster as coach, and could yet result in a relegation play-off.
Asked specifically if his son remained in contention for a fourth Lions tour, the head coach said: “Same as everyone else. [He’s] just coming back from injury.
“You keep an eye on everything like every other player as well.”
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The tour needs Owen and his tackle-height. For entertainment.
I can understand negotiations for Kinghorn, White, and Ribbans. All three are playing very, very well at the current time. Kinghorn has been a leading contended for some time now; Ribbans looks as powerful as he’s ever been; while on the evidence of the most recent Six Nations, White benches behind JGP at Scrumhalf.
However, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.
As for Farrell, not only has he been plagued by poor form and injury since moving to Racing, even the much vaunted ‘kicking record’ has long since been debunked as a USP with a percentage that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. That leaves only the intangible (desperate…) claim he would add ‘leadership’, which in a Lions squad resplendent with talent and international caps is I’m afraid, much like Farrell, a complete non-starter.
Willis is the elephant in the room…a leader and standout option for one of the best club teams in the World. Yet still a relative unknown at Test Match level. I could well see him being included on the tour - and it would prove quite the headache for the RFU if he delivers. But Back Row is so competitive across all three positions, and with genuine World Class talent there too. I’m just not sure the Lions need him.
Courtney Lawes is doing a good job for Brive, but yes it's ProD2.
Kinghorn and Willis should join after the Top14 final. O Farrell has been average all year and RC92 wants rid of him, he has no pace and is too dominant a character (like Ford) without the skills to back it up. Take the two Finns and Blair Kinghorn and all will be good.
Average is a kind understatement….
But if Farrell father is seeking for a player who will not be tired in july, it's the good choice…