Seven Lions players who pressed Test claims – and how Owen Farrell rated ...Middle East

MELBOURNE — The British & Irish Lions came through the toughest examination of their non-Test matches on tour with a 24-19 win against First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium.

Andy Farrell fielded a team that was a mix of candidates for at least a bench spot in Saturday’s second Test against Australia, some tour veterans who won’t be playing in that match, and a handful of temporary makeweights who won’t be needed again on this trip.

Afterwards we had the novel sight of Andy and Owen Farrell – father and son, Lions head coach and captain for the night – for what was their first joint press conference that anyone could remember.

But the more pressing matters were which players, including the 33-year-old Farrell junior himself, might be seen again in the weekend’s main event across town at the MCG.

Blair Kinghorn

Dogged by knee injuries in recent weeks, the Scot who won the French league with Toulouse threw a couple of slack interception passes, but also made a tricky mark of a cross-kick look casually easy.

Kinghorn is a class act valuable to the Lions, especially with Mack Hansen struggling with injury, and Test full-back Hugo Keenan not impregnable.

Scotland’s Darcy Graham scored a try here then went off injured and in tears.

So while Test wings Tommy Freeman and James Lowe had ups and downs last Saturday, they should be given another go.

Marcus Smith, a possible full-back cover, went off for an HIA but passed it.

Verdict: A tight call on Kinghorn who might have been on the bench for the first Test until he damaged a knee. He can also fill in at fly-half if something happens to Finn Russell.

The hard-carrying Ireland lock has yet to train this week after going off in the first Test with acute pain for a plantar fascia injury in the foot.

Ollie Chessum could be a direct replacement if needed, and then the scrutiny here fell on starting second rows James Ryan and Scott Cummings, and trying to work out if Cummings playing 80 minutes, and Ryan coming off after 53 meant anything significant.

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Ryan really did not impress, receiving a yellow card for encroaching in a try-line tackle on the FNP XV scrum-half Kalani Thomas, and being involved in questionable clear-outs going forward, while getting cleared out himself on occasion.

Cummings has responded very well to an early iffy performance on tour.

But, on balance, it could be that neither of them gets in, with Tadhg Beirne the incumbent No 6 able to flick into the second row if required.

The focus then turns to who might fill a Chessum vacancy among the subs, and both Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier went well here, several times in tandem in doubles to halt a highly physical FNP side.

Here again the runes were being read of Morgan being substituted by Ben Earl after 50 minutes, with a working theory that the Welshman might get the nod for the bench on Saturday.

If Earl’s mixed effort from the bench in the first Test raised any concerns, he produced a big carry to give the Lions an exit from their own 22 here, and keeps offering the gainline threat in midfield off line-outs.

Henry Pollock made two turnovers in this match including a crucial one late in the piece, but the young Englishman also committed a daft offence grabbing an opponent’s scrum-cap in a maul, which could easily have been punished by a yellow card and would be viewed dimly if repeated in a tight Test match.

Verdict: Two out of three of Morgan, Van der Flier and Earl to be replacements on Saturday, if McCarthy does not make it and Chessum stokes the heart of the engine room alongside captain Maro Itoje.

Jamie George

Another former England captain on view, having been called into the Lions squad from his national side’s tour of Argentina – and showed how he can operate on a higher plane to the ordinary midweek fare of a trip like this with a cute interception in his 22 late in the first half.

Later threw a poor pass, ruining a possible try for Duhan van der Merwe, for which he apologised.

And later still shared a highly emotional moment with his dad Ian, who has arrived in Australia after initially having a flight cancelled.

Played 73 minutes and would surely not let anyone down if he benched on Saturday.

There will be no change of starting hooker in Dan Sheehan but reserve Ronan Kelleher shared in the general mish-mash produced by the eight subs as a collective last Saturday, so a new-old face could be seen in the No 16 jersey.

Verdict: Luke Cowan-Dickie is on track to be fit again after his return-to-play protocols, and is vying with George to nudge Kelleher off the pine.

Garry Ringrose

Recovered from concussion and played more minutes than expected (64) due to Graham’s injury, slotting in at No 13 with Jamie Osborne moving to the wing.

A tantalising one, this, as Ringrose was expected to start the first Test only to be unavailable and see Huw Jones fill the role with aplomb. 

Verdict: Ringrose, a magnificent defender, is a strong bench option, or could even start although that would be harsh on Jones.

Ben White

Another of the call-ups during the tour, for the unluckily injured Tomos Williams, he was praised by Andy Farrell after this match for how he “controlled the game”.

Alex Mitchell has been the go-to back-up for first-choice Jamison Gibson-Park up to now, but White is putting the pressure on.

Verdict: Oh to be a fly on the wall when the Lions coaches have their selection meeting on Wednesday morning, with Andy Farrell saying the team will be picked in the evening. Mitchell has done most of what has been required of him in a busy tour, but White has persuasive form and might get the shout.

Owen Farrell

Got through his first full 80 minutes since the last week of April, as the 112-times capped titan of English rugby, whose participation on this trip has caused so much divided opinion, made his second tour appearance against a second invitational side.

In his 21st Lions appearance across four tours, that have included six Tests, Farrell started at No 12 outside Fin Smith, then moved to fly-half when Smith was substituted after 66 minutes – so, the two positions he has occupied in his long Test career and which he could cover from the bench on Saturday.

An early scuffle in support of a team-mate getting a clout, and a couple of interventions at first receiver, with Smith lying deeper or looping round behind him, were reminders of the options Farrell offers, as was a left-footed chip that ended with an eighth-minute try for Osborne.

Possible Lions 23 for the second Test against Australia

Starting XV: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Ben White, Garry Ringrose, Blair Kinghorn.

But Farrell senior was unhappy with how loose the Lions became, trying plays they had not earned a right to, which was even more interesting than usual to hear with his skipper and playmaker sitting next to him.

Owen looked like he might have been labouring when chasing back at the end of the first half, and only he will know how his fitness held up.

Whatever happened tonight, Farrell junior as a No 12 could not be more different to the Lions’ incumbent Sione Tuipulotu, so if he is to oust Bundee Aki or Marcus Smith from the existing Test bench, it would either be to change tack during a match or act as insurance against something the Lions think is a new danger from Australia.

Verdict: The Lions really should not need Farrell to beat Australia on Saturday, unless his father thinks things will get tough in the second half and they will be in need of a renowned warrior spirit. Many observers are convinced “Little Faz” is destined for the 23.

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