It was the Lions’ last training session before taking on Australia’s top provincial team, but all the cameras were pointing at a player who won’t be on duty today.
Owen Farrell was out there, joining in, tuning up and striving to show he can be ready when called upon. It was the former England captain’s first on-field involvement since arriving as a replacement for Elliot Daly and it was no surprise he was the centre of attention — literally, in fact, as he had a midfield role once the prying lenses left and training ramped up.
Later, when the rest of the squad had finished their work, Farrell was doing his extras: sprint drills to top up his fitness levels. Despite an injury-wrecked season, he looked sharp — someone who is here to do much more than offer behind-the-scenes leadership. He looked like a player being prepared for a key role in the remainder of the tour.
While a potential Lions Test side are primed for a revenge mission against the Brumbies, this is the fascinating subplot. Farrell’s arrival has caused an almighty stir and plenty of criticism, but within the Lions camp they are exuding anticipation and optimism about what the 33-year-old can offer them.
He is working closely with good-friend-turned-playmaker mentor Johnny Sexton, and the Irish icon spoke passionately about the belated introduction of the head coach’s son. Firstly, he was asked how confident he is about Farrell Jnr’s ability to get up to speed before a likely appearance against the Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV in Adelaide on Saturday.
‘He’s already up to speed,’ said Sexton. ‘It might take someone else 10 days to fit in, but he’s hit the ground running. He must have had the playbook on the plane because he has come in and not missed a beat.
Owen Farrell has hit the ground running after being called up by the British & Irish Lions
The 33-year-old fly-half teamed up with the Lions as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly
Daly’s tour was cut short after he suffered an injury to his forearm against Queensland Reds
‘He has trained really well. We can see the value that he’s going to bring for the rest of the tour.’ Unprompted, Sexton then delivered such a forceful endorsement of Farrell’s call-up that you wondered why he had not been picked in the first place.
Sexton said: ‘How could you not bring him? I know he’s had a bit of injury, but so have Sione (Tuipulotu) and Huw Jones.
‘Experience is experience. He’s a world-class player. Look at what he’s won. He’s been fantastic to have in camp and I’m sure he’s going to add loads for the rest of the tour.’
There is an assumption that adding a Test centurion into such a competitive selection equation — alongside Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith — must cause a degree of tension and doubt.
Sexton argued otherwise. ‘I know from playing 10 that if he’s at 12, it’s a dream,’ he said. ‘It makes your job easier. He’s another organiser and another playmaker who can control the game. He’s a leader. I could see the excitement on the 10s’ faces when he was picked.
‘They want to learn from the best. I can see the relationship he has with Finn. They seem to get on really well.’
Lions captain Maro Itoje is similarly enthused by the arrival of someone who will be back alongside him at Saracens next season. Asked if the presence of such a senior figure in the ranks might undermine his authority, Itoje responded: ‘I’ve known Owen since I was 11, but he didn’t start talking to me until I was 12 or so! I have a very good relationship with him.
‘He just wants the squad to do well. Sport is never about ego. I want people to speak, have their voices heard, and contribute in a positive way.
Despite enduring an injury-wrecked season at Racing 92, Farrell looked sharp — someone who is with the British & Irish Lions to do much more than offer behind-the-scenes leadership
Assistant coach Johnny Sexton says Farrell is ‘already up to speed’ and ‘hasn’t missed a beat’
Andy Farrell’s Lions side are primed for a revenge mission against the Brumbies on Wednesday
‘It’s never about me having the final say or sticking my chest out. It’s about how can we, as a collective, be successful? You can’t do it by yourself. And when the team is successful, everyone wins. That’s all I care about. And I know Owen’s the same.’
The Lions need to be better today, after a stuttering 21-10 win over the Waratahs which raised doubts about their strategic approach.
They are likely to be far more direct, led by Bundee Aki at inside centre and in-form England prop Ellis Genge, as they strive to avenge a shock 14-12 defeat at the hands of the Brumbies on their last tour of Australia in 2013.
