Why Owen Farrell doesn't get the credit he deserves

Extra.ie​

6 days ago

The final midweek game of this Lions series is taking place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. It feels far from a box office occasion, however. This isn't exactly a summer blockbuster
The Wallabies didn't make a compelling case last weekend and there is a nagging feeling that Andy Farrell's squad are going to cruise to a series win at a canter in the coming weeks.
The tourists shouldn't encounter much resistance against this First Nations and Pasifika XV either. Owen Farrell during a British & Irish Lions captain's run at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Yes, there are some interesting characters in the home ranks. Veteran out-half Kurtley Beale, who played for Australia against Ireland in a 2011 World Cup pool game in Auckland, captains a side featuring powerhouse tighthead Taniela Tupou, who was linked with Leinster last year, and flying Fiji-born wing Filipo Daugunu.
Farrell has shuffled his deck entirely for this game. The only players from last weekend's matchday 23 who have been asked to front up again are the English trio of Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith. All three came off the bench in Brisbane and all three are on bench duty again.
Farrell has bussed in a clutch of Scottish players to make up the numbers. Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland and Gregor Brown will all feature among the replacements. It's a move which has been meet with fierce criticism. Warren Gatland felt the same heat when he brought in ringers at the tail-end of the 2013 and 2017 tours. Handing out cheap Lions caps etc. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal really. People get way too caught up in all this Lions malarky. Andy Farrell. Pic:There are other interesting talking points such as Jamie Osborne and Tom Clarkson, who have gone from playing international games in Tbillisi and Georgia to running out for the Lions in Melbourne. This young Leinster duo have clocked up a lot of air miles this summer.
Farrell is unlikely to make any changes to his Test team this week. This selection is a reflection of that. The frontliners delivered in spades in Week One. They are all likely to get the nod again to finish the job on Saturday.
Blair Kinghorn, Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock and Garry Ringrose, who is named on the bench, will all feel they have a chance of forcing their way into the matchday squad, particularly after the bench failed to make an impact at Suncorp Stadium. Owen Farrell. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
But the most compelling character to watch will be Owen Farrell. On his fourth Lions tour of duty and his 20th appearance in the iconic red jersey, the 33-year-old will captain the Lions for the very first time.
It is due reward for a player of Farrell's talents and standing in the game. We've always found the criticism of the Saracens and England No10 a bit perplexing.
Farrell is one of the most decorated players in the history of the English game. He is a Test centurion. A player who spearheaded his country's charge to a World Cup final in 2019 and an unlikely semi-final four years later. He also has three Six Nations and a Grand Slam medal in his trophy cabinet. He was part of a Saracens team which secured three Champions Cup titles and six English Premiership titles as well.
And yet this was a player who was booed by his own fans at the 2023 World Cup in France. A player who has been a lightning rod for criticism.
Farrell eventually got tired of all the social media scrutiny. He decided to take an indefinite break from international rugby to focus on his mental wellbeing. More power to him. His subsequent move to Racing 92 didn't quite work out, but Farrell's qualities – on and off the field – have never been up for debate. He is just like his father: as tough as they come but decent, hardworking and genuine. A chip off the old block.
It made all the furore over his mid-tour call-up all the more mystifying. Many detractors felt it was a token selection. Shameless nepotism. A selection decision which could derail the whole tour and, gasp, Andy Farrell's Lions legacy as coach. We could go on…
No, Farrell didn't have the best season in Paris. But this is a proven competitor in the same mould as Ronan O'Gara, Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar. A narky, relentless competitor who can boss a Test match. A player who relishes the pressure of the position.
The Lions, it must said, didn't have a character with those sort of qualities in the final 30 minutes of last weekend's opening Test.
Farrell's side were 24-5 to the good early in the second half. They had the foot on Aussie throats but didn't go for the jugular. Instead, they went off the boil, dropped down a few gears and let the overpowered hosts back into the contest. It should have been a record rout. It finished 27-19. Don't be surprised to see Farrell among the replacements when Farrell Snr names his Test squad later this week.
It would be a brilliant swansong for such a seriously underrated operator. If Owen Farrell was an Ireland international, he would be an icon in this country.
In January of last year, we heard a rumour that Leinster were apparently interesting in landing Farrell's services after he had signalled his intention to quit Test rugby and seeks pastures new abroad. In the end, it proved to be a bit of idle pub chat. Pure gossip.
For a moment, it was a transfer which made perfect sense. Imagine how much adrenaline, purpose and sheer tenacity Farrell would have injected into that Leinster setup. You couldn't imagine a better mentor for Sam Prendergast either.
You would hope that Farrell Jnr eventually gets the credit he deserves back in his home country.
For now, he will focus on leading the Lions through this final midweek assignment. This game is always a notoriously tricky one. Some players have only rocked up this week. Some may have checked out, knowing their Test chances have slipped away. Some may have one eye on the next clash with the Wallabies.
Farrell will ensure those standards don't dip. He's always been that kind of player. It's about time he got the credit he deserves.