Appointed captain by his father, Owen Farrell acquired greater than he bargained for as he led the British & Irish Lions to a shaky win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV (FNP) in his first full match on the tour of Australia.
Like many among the many 30,000-crowd at Docklands Stadium on Tuesday, the previous England captain might have anticipated a confidence-building win was in retailer when the Lions stormed to a 14-0 lead after simply 11 minutes.
As an alternative, it grew decidedly tougher as Scotland winger Darcy Graham got here off early with a leg harm and their opponents roared again, threatening to pinch the match late earlier than shedding 24-19.
It was by no fault of Farrell, although, who threw himself into an early scuffle to set the tone for his aspect, had a hand in a few of the Lions’ 4 tries and defended like a person with inquiries to reply.
“I loved being on the market,” Farrell stated. “It has been fairly good thus far and there is much more to come back. However glad to play just a little half in it thus far.”
Although boasting loads of Lions expertise, Farrell’s call-up by his father and head coach Andy was contentious in a number of methods.
Other than changing a fullback in Elliot Daly, Farrell had not performed a Check match since 2023 and was coming off an injury-blighted season with Racing 92.
Now it nearly seems inevitable that Farrell will play a component within the Wallabies sequence regardless of loads of midfield competitors.
Sitting alongside Farrell on the post-match press convention, Andy was requested to evaluate his son’s recreation and supplied measured reward.
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He famous the neat, left-footed chip to arrange the primary of Jamie Osborne’s two tries and “some good touches on the ball”.
“However at all times work-ons, there are at all times work-ons,” he stated.
Head coach Farrell seems to have a lot of choice points forward of the second Check as Darcy Graham and winger Mack Hansen are doubts to play on the Melbourne Cricket Floor the place the Lions will hope to seal the sequence, a match after profitable the opener in Brisbane 27-19.
Lock Joe McCarthy can be scuffling with a foot harm.
There was concern about Marcus Smith who got here off the sector after a head-knock at Docklands stadium minutes after being injected from the bench — however Andy Farrell stated Smith had handed his head harm evaluation. Farrell was buoyed by the returns of fullback Blair Kinghorn and Garry Ringrose who each acquired by unscathed.
“If you cannot stand up for what’s coming, we’re all within the mistaken place,” head coach Farrell stated. “To me, that is the most important recreation of our lives, each considered one of us, that is a part of our squad.”
