Advertisement
Rattez (27'), Saginadze (50')
Tries
Escobar (35'), Labarbe (54')
Berdeu (28', 51')
Conversions
Tedder (55')
Berdeu (24', 47', 62', 67', 72')
Penalties
Tedder (22')
A meek Racing 92 rolled over in Lyon on Sunday as they crashed out of the Challenge Cup at the semi-finals with a limp and insipid performance. As the Parisian giants trophy ambitions evaporated for the 10th season in a row, so you sensed did England legend Owen Farrell’s chances of making his father’s touring party to Australia.
Farrell cannot be held culpable for the manner in which Racing folded against Lyon, having been forced off in the 18th minute after trying to tackle eventual player of the match Mickael Guillard. However, the feeling was this was his last chance to stake a claim for Lions selection, and it was a chance that slipped away.
It has been an exceptionally challenging first season for Owen Farrell in France. He played in each of the first 9 TOP14 games of the season, but lost kicking duties to fellow Englishman & coaches son Dan Lancaster. A hernia then took him out of action for November and December before a further injury then restricted him to just 113 minutes in 20 weeks. Meantime, Racing’s form took a nosedive, resulting in a shock relegation battle and the departure of head coach Stuart Lancaster.
Farrell’s season finally got going at the end of March with bench appearances in the wins against Clermont and Bordeaux, before what felt like a landmark game in the Challenge Cup round of 16 against Perpignan. He finally regained the fly-half jersey and kicked 7 points in tight victory, but only lasted 46 minutes. He was back on the bench for the quarter final against Connacht, but only managed 29 minutes before picking up a yellow card for a trademark no-arms shot - his 3rd of the season.
Since then, he started 3 games in a row, with by far his best performance coming in the Paris derby. He showed leadership and a varied kicking game whilst nailing 4 penalties and a conversion. However, the context is it was against a Stade Francais that are in disarray; fighting off relegation, player unrest, coaching departures and (rumoured) serious financial issues.
His record in Paris now reads 11 wins in 17 games, Racing demonstrably win more when he is involved with just 2 wins without him in the 23 all season. However, he has just 2 full 80s so far in 2025. At this point in time, he is clearly unable to string together successive starts and back up one good performance with another. Hence, on merit, he does not deserve to go on the Lions tour. Therefore, the question is how much does his father - and former sparring partner Sexton - value his experience and leadership. It will have to be ‘a lot’.
