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Owen Farrell knows all about British and Irish Lions tours. He toured in 2013, 2017 and 2021, but a fourth tour is appearing increasingly unlikely.
Farrell, who is returning from an adductor injury, put in an underwhelming showing in Racing 92’s 28-24 defeat away to Perpignan.
Scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec had place-kicking duties, but even with that responsibility elsewhere he was hooked on 56 minutes for Antoine Gilbert.
SCATHING ASSESSMENT
It led to a scathing assessment from French rugby paper Midi Olympique.
“Owen Farrell struggled to liven up Racing’s play, and they showed a serious lack of efficiency when it came to scoring,” the paper wrote.
“The man with 112 England caps clearly didn't live up to his illustrious career. He didn't make any egregious errors, certainly, but seemed completely absent at the Aimé-Giral.”
His old friend George Ford, however, had another strong showing, in Sale Sharks’ 43-29 victory away to Harlequins, which had former England and Lions centre Will Greenwood purring.
“Do you take George Ford on the Lion tour?” Greenwood asked on Instagram. “Third-choice 10? (Finn) Russell, Fin Smith? I think Ford goes on a Lions tour. He was so good today.”
Russell, Sam Prendergast, and Fin Smith ended the Six Nations as front runners for the (presumed) three flyhalf spots, leaving one of Farrell, Ford, or Marcus Smith the likely next cab off the rank.
In Farrell’s favour is his dad, Andy, being head coach, while Johnny Sexton’s inclusion in the coaching team this week adds another positive voice from their experiences in 2013 and 2017.
COOL HEAD
However, both know that including a player who is working back to full fitness on so short a tour is a risk.
That said he is considered a test match animal, so maybe Ben Kay’s thoughts on him being the first reserve bear some weight.
It is unlikely any of this will faze Ford. He may have only played a cameo in the Six Nations, but his display against Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 showed he is in superb form.
He has also shown that he keeps his head despite being shunted from first choice to the bench, and sometimes out of the squad, as has happened regularly for England under Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick.
Domestic club form – good, bad, or indifferent – is unlikely to hold huge sway in the final decision, but the pair certainly have enough credit in the bank to ensure that if injuries do hit, their names are firmly in contention.