Business time as Farrell makes tough first Test calls

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a day ago

Andy Farrell has overlooked son Owen for a British and Irish Lions berth in their Brisbane opener and resisted the temptation to blood excitement machine Henry Pollock.
The Lions coach on Thursday confirmed his side for Saturday's series opener against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.
Farrell was a late call-up to his fourth tour after Elliot Daly (arm) suffered a tour-ending injury, despite not playing international rugby for nearly two years and enduring an injury-hit season in France with Racing 92.
But he impressed off the bench in Saturday's thrashing of the AUNZ Invitational XV and looked a chance to provide cover in the centres and No.10 for the Test opener.
English flyer Marcus Smith has instead won the utility spot on the bench, able to cover flyhalf and fullback.
Pollock, the high-octane 20-year-old with just one Test under his belt, and fellow in-form back-rower Jac Morgan were other unlucky omissions.
England's Ellis Genge teams up with Leinster pair Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, two of 11 Irish players in the 23.
Irish duo Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne won back-row spots alongside England's Tom Curry, while Leinster scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Scottish gun Finn Russell in the halves.
Andy Farrell said the selection of his back row was a real challenge.
"That is the hotly contested part of the team that has been talked about for quite some time, and rightly so because of the quality we have got there," he said.
"We feel that is the right combination for the first Test ... Tadhg with his quality in the set piece, but also his ability on the floor or as a ball-playing No.6. That complements Jack in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine we all know you need in Test match football."
Morgan was stiff to miss out after he was player of the match against the Queensland Reds, and the coach was asked how close he was to being involved.
"As close as you can imagine. I am gutted for players like that ... and Henry (Pollock) as well because they could easily be in this side, but that shows the good place we are in as a group," Farrell said.
The coach said his son Owen was a hot chance of being involved in the clash against First Nations and Pasifika on Tuesday in Melbourne.
"He was in contention, but I feel like Tuesday will be good for someone like Owen," Farrell said.
Scottish pair Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will occupy the centres, while two more Leinster products - Hugo Keenan and James Lowe - join England speedster Tommy Freeman in the back three.
Lock Maro Itoje will captain the side for the first time.
Farrell played for Wigan Warriors in the 1994 World Club Challenge final win in rugby league over Brisbane. He recently said it was one of the highlights of his dual-code career, but was then asked how it would compare with getting one over the Wallabies.
"I actually met (former Broncos captain) Gorden Tallis today and was reminiscing on a few things, and '94 was a great memory," he said.
"This seems a little bit bigger. This is huge. This would mean the world to me."
LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki
Andy Farrell has overlooked son Owen for a British and Irish Lions berth in their Brisbane opener and resisted the temptation to blood excitement machine Henry Pollock.
The Lions coach on Thursday confirmed his side for Saturday's series opener against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.
Farrell was a late call-up to his fourth tour after Elliot Daly (arm) suffered a tour-ending injury, despite not playing international rugby for nearly two years and enduring an injury-hit season in France with Racing 92.
But he impressed off the bench in Saturday's thrashing of the AUNZ Invitational XV and looked a chance to provide cover in the centres and No.10 for the Test opener.
English flyer Marcus Smith has instead won the utility spot on the bench, able to cover flyhalf and fullback.
Pollock, the high-octane 20-year-old with just one Test under his belt, and fellow in-form back-rower Jac Morgan were other unlucky omissions.
England's Ellis Genge teams up with Leinster pair Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, two of 11 Irish players in the 23.
Irish duo Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne won back-row spots alongside England's Tom Curry, while Leinster scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Scottish gun Finn Russell in the halves.
Andy Farrell said the selection of his back row was a real challenge.
"That is the hotly contested part of the team that has been talked about for quite some time, and rightly so because of the quality we have got there," he said.
"We feel that is the right combination for the first Test ... Tadhg with his quality in the set piece, but also his ability on the floor or as a ball-playing No.6. That complements Jack in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine we all know you need in Test match football."
Morgan was stiff to miss out after he was player of the match against the Queensland Reds, and the coach was asked how close he was to being involved.
"As close as you can imagine. I am gutted for players like that ... and Henry (Pollock) as well because they could easily be in this side, but that shows the good place we are in as a group," Farrell said.
The coach said his son Owen was a hot chance of being involved in the clash against First Nations and Pasifika on Tuesday in Melbourne.
"He was in contention, but I feel like Tuesday will be good for someone like Owen," Farrell said.
Scottish pair Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will occupy the centres, while two more Leinster products - Hugo Keenan and James Lowe - join England speedster Tommy Freeman in the back three.
Lock Maro Itoje will captain the side for the first time.
Farrell played for Wigan Warriors in the 1994 World Club Challenge final win in rugby league over Brisbane. He recently said it was one of the highlights of his dual-code career, but was then asked how it would compare with getting one over the Wallabies.
"I actually met (former Broncos captain) Gorden Tallis today and was reminiscing on a few things, and '94 was a great memory," he said.
"This seems a little bit bigger. This is huge. This would mean the world to me."
LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki
Andy Farrell has overlooked son Owen for a British and Irish Lions berth in their Brisbane opener and resisted the temptation to blood excitement machine Henry Pollock.
The Lions coach on Thursday confirmed his side for Saturday's series opener against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.
Farrell was a late call-up to his fourth tour after Elliot Daly (arm) suffered a tour-ending injury, despite not playing international rugby for nearly two years and enduring an injury-hit season in France with Racing 92.
But he impressed off the bench in Saturday's thrashing of the AUNZ Invitational XV and looked a chance to provide cover in the centres and No.10 for the Test opener.
English flyer Marcus Smith has instead won the utility spot on the bench, able to cover flyhalf and fullback.
Pollock, the high-octane 20-year-old with just one Test under his belt, and fellow in-form back-rower Jac Morgan were other unlucky omissions.
England's Ellis Genge teams up with Leinster pair Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, two of 11 Irish players in the 23.
Irish duo Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne won back-row spots alongside England's Tom Curry, while Leinster scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Scottish gun Finn Russell in the halves.
Andy Farrell said the selection of his back row was a real challenge.
"That is the hotly contested part of the team that has been talked about for quite some time, and rightly so because of the quality we have got there," he said.
"We feel that is the right combination for the first Test ... Tadhg with his quality in the set piece, but also his ability on the floor or as a ball-playing No.6. That complements Jack in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine we all know you need in Test match football."
Morgan was stiff to miss out after he was player of the match against the Queensland Reds, and the coach was asked how close he was to being involved.
"As close as you can imagine. I am gutted for players like that ... and Henry (Pollock) as well because they could easily be in this side, but that shows the good place we are in as a group," Farrell said.
The coach said his son Owen was a hot chance of being involved in the clash against First Nations and Pasifika on Tuesday in Melbourne.
"He was in contention, but I feel like Tuesday will be good for someone like Owen," Farrell said.
Scottish pair Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will occupy the centres, while two more Leinster products - Hugo Keenan and James Lowe - join England speedster Tommy Freeman in the back three.
Lock Maro Itoje will captain the side for the first time.
Farrell played for Wigan Warriors in the 1994 World Club Challenge final win in rugby league over Brisbane. He recently said it was one of the highlights of his dual-code career, but was then asked how it would compare with getting one over the Wallabies.
"I actually met (former Broncos captain) Gorden Tallis today and was reminiscing on a few things, and '94 was a great memory," he said.
"This seems a little bit bigger. This is huge. This would mean the world to me."
LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki