British and Irish Lions: Bench locked and loaded, Farrell to seal the series

By Aidan Leo

Andy Farrell has loaded the Lions’ bench with power, experience and versatility to seal the series against the Wallabies.

With the versatility of Ollie Chessum selected at five, as well as James Ryan and Jac Morgan, the Lions look poised to maintain their consistency of carry and dominance in the collision throughout the game.

Both Chessum and Ryan can cover in the engine room and back-row positions, with Morgan mainly doing the dirty work and hard yards across each loose-forward position. 

Additionally, with Owen Farrell selected on the bench, it’s clear that the Lions are looking to see out the game in the final quarter with little to no trouble.

Second Test’s importance

With the second Test of the series being the penultimate one, but potentially the one that matters the most, both Andy Farrell and captain Maro Itoje addressed the significance of a Lions series to the players and rugby public.

“It matters because it’s a huge, huge game. I honestly believe the biggest game we’ve all been involved in,” Farrell told Sky Sports.

“It shouldn’t be hard to prepare emotionally because that’s all in the head.

“I suppose everyone’s a human being, but if you look at it from an Australian point of view, they played the same 80 minutes in the same contest.

“It cannot be the case that they’re more up for this game because they’re in exactly the same scenario. The only contradiction to that would be they’re emotionally more up for it. That can’t be part of it for us.”

A spirited leader

Itoje echoed Farrell’s sentiments, saying: “These games are the reason you want to play rugby.

“You want to play rugby and be a part of these huge occasions, huge games with maybe a little bit of jeopardy on the line but also the opportunity to do something special. To be a part of something special.

“I try and focus on the opportunity and the process of what I need to do to get myself in the right space. Naturally, given the magnitude of the game, there’s a higher level of focus.

“As a professional athlete, not all games are equal, not all games mean the same thing.

“This game, last week, these games aren’t equal to normal games of rugby. They’re special.”

No substitute for experience and Test standards

It’s clear Farrell has approached the Test series with one main thought in mind: Experienced, Test proven players win when it counts most.

Naturally, there’s levels to this ability and mental fortitude, as Rassie Erasmus’ tenure with the Springboks has shown, as well as iconic All Blacks sides of yesteryear.

However, this Lions side comprises a high standard of experience and battle-hardened veterans that may have always been too much for the Wallabies to contend with.

Although the series isn’t over, it’s one that has presented itself as a dark cloud of the inevitable for Joe Schmidt’s side.

Schmidt and his team will have prepared the best way they could this week, but to challenge the cattle of experience and accuracy on the Lions bench in the second half, seems a step too far.

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Dynamism sidelined

As a result of the approach Farrell has taken in his selections, comes the direction of a style of play that those selections represent.

Hence, his omission of young England star, Henry Pollock, as well as Wales’ Morgan.

Although the latter has been selected for the second Test on the bench, many expected both to feature as mainstays in the starting Test team.

And yet, Farrell’s decision to back Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan has proved to be a dignified one.

Their consistency and Test-level accuracy in decision-making in the first Test is what has kept them in the side for potentially the Test-winning encounter.

Interestingly, Farrell opted to leave out former World Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier, who is evidently Test proven and has been a consistent beacon of high-level performance for Irish fans to look to for many years.

However, due to Curry’s breakdown ability and game-changing imposing presence, Farrell likely believed that his impact would earn the team a guaranteed victory over a Wallabies side that’s still in search of an identity. 

Farrell to seal the series

It almost seems poetic that the son of Andy Farrell, Owen, looks poised to end the Lions tour in dramatic triumph when he enters the field for the second Test.

With this being Owen Farrell’s fourth Lions tour, having gone through a widely scrutinised call-up in the aftermath of Elliot Daly’s tour-ending arm injury, the chance to carry the Lions to victory Down Under must be a moment of eager anticipation for a player of his quality and experience.

Whether it’s kicking the final penalty or game-managing the final 20 minutes through his subtle touches and calm decision-making from the pivot position or in midfield, it seems all but guaranteed this series will end in dominant fashion come Saturday, July 26.

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