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One theme dominates reaction to England chariot grinding to halt
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Andy Farrell has urged his British and Irish Lions to rise to the occasion knowing they enter Saturday’s first Test against Australia as heavy favourites – but there was also a nod to one of the squad’s unluckiest players.
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While the Lions look forward to the Suncorp Stadium showdown, Welsh rugby is left facing another bleak reality check. For the first time since 1896, there is no Welshman in a Lions Test squad against one of the southern hemisphere’s traditional big three – Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.
Jac Morgan is the only Welsh player left in Farrell’s 44-man squad following Tomos Williams’ tour-ending hamstring injury, and while the openside has impressed, the head coach admitted it wasn’t quite enough.
“Honestly, as far as selection is concerned, we can’t get involved in that. It’s who deserves to get picked.
“Jac was unbelievably close and in great form,” Farrell said. “There’s not much more he could have done.”
Farrell has picked a powerful pack featuring Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne, with Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones forming an all-Scotland midfield. Ireland dominate the starting XV with eight players, while England provide four and Scotland three.
Curry’s selection at openside raised eyebrows given his patchy form on tour, but Farrell pointed to the England flanker’s CV.
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Farrell insists his team will not shy away from their billing as favourites – especially with Australia losing bulldozing forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton to injury.
“One hundred per cent we want to embrace being favourites. Why wouldn’t you?” he said. “There’s no overconfidence at all. It’s having an inner confidence within our group that we are going to execute the plan when it matters.”
Maro Itoje leads the Lions on Saturday, but it will be Farrell’s final words in the changing room that linger longest.
“Make sure you don’t have regrets and you don’t get in your own way. You don’t want to come off the pitch and think ‘I wish I had another chance’. You’ve got to make it happen when it matters.”
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Farrell also had a word for on his centre combination of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, insisting it wasn’t “just the combination” that saw them get the nod.
“It’s what’s happening off the bench and the impact they can have at any given time… There’s obviously no doubt that Bundee can play with Huw and he’s obviously played with Sione as well .
“It’s just making sure that we get the right balance of the impact that we need at any given time.
“Those three starting, they do know each other but they also know the way that this team wants to play.”
