'Test match animal' Owen Farrell can add 'extraordinary amount of value' to British & Irish Lions after call-up to squad following Elliot Daly injury
Published 03/07/2025 at 15:12 GMT+1
It's the call-up that has captivated the rugby world. Owen Farrell is making his way to Australia to join up with the British & Irish Lions, after being selected by his father Andy to replace the injured Elliot Daly. TNT Sports caught up with two former Lions to go under the bonnet of this decision, and evaluate what impact Farrell can have down under.
Can Pollock 'do a Rooney' on Lions tour down under?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Owen Farrell can add "an extraordinary amount of value" to the British & Lions following his call-up to the squad, believes Ugo Monye.
Farrell has been summoned to Australia by his father Andy as a replacement for the desperately unfortunate Elliot Daly, who suffered a tour-ending fractured forearm against Queensland Reds on Wednesday.
It will be Owen's fourth Lions tour, having debuted all the way back in 2013, making 18 appearances in a red shirt across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours.
Ex-England skipper Farrell rejoined Saracens from Racing 92 this summer, but has not played a game of competitive rugby since May 4 after suffering a concussion.
"I'm delighted for Owen Farrell, absolutely delighted for him," Monye told TNT Sports.
"And from a rugby perspective, there isn't a more experienced campaigner that Andy Farrell is able to call upon.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/06/15/4128410-83705848-2560-1440.jpg)
No Filter Premiership Rugby: Unseen angles as Bath beat Leicester to end long wait for title
Video credit: TNT Sports
"This is his fourth Lions tour, he'll be able to add an extraordinary amount of value on the pitch and off the pitch; he's a Test match animal, a Test centurion and a former England captain.
"He'll be able to prepare - whether it's a Wednesday team or a Test match team - that much better, and make this squad that much more competitive.
"A good addition to the squad and in a squad that has 26 first-time Lions, he brings a wealth of experience to it."
Daly's exit continues a worrying theme of the tour from a Lions perspective, with Farrell now without three players who would have likely been in the Test matchday squads; Daly, Tomos Williams and Caelan Doris.
Ben Kay, also speaking to TNT Sports, suggested that an injury at fly-half or centre could see Farrell jump into contention for the Test squad.
"I don’t think there is much of a worse person for Andy Farrell to lose than Elliot Daly, not necessarily because of his playing prowess, but he was such a useful part of his jigsaw in terms of selection," Kay said.
"So huge loss to them, Daly is the one player than plays all his three positions to a high enough level, to a Test standard. It doesn’t seem to affect him which position he is picked in, he is just as happy.
- British and Irish Lions tour is 'most important thing in world sport' - Farrell
- Farrell declares ‘competition has started’ as Lions brush aside Reds
"In terms of replacing him, not a like-for-like but I think everyone thought that Owen Farrell was on the standby list. And actually the later you get on tour, the more useful it is to bring in someone like Owen Farrell, with all his experience of three Lions series already.
"[He is] not necessarily coming in at this point as someone seriously in contention for a Test start or a Test place, but actually to have his little boost coming into the midweek side, maybe as people start to get a little bit disappointed as they realise they’re not going to be involved in the Tests unless there’s an injury.
"His boost but also the effect that will then have on training the Test team when they go live against the midweekers. Just having his presence, his winning mentality.
"But I think if there was an injury to Finn Russell for example, he then certainly comes into contention for a Test bench place. His ability to slot straight in and it not be a big deal, and the automatic respect that his history and mentality creates within the team.
"When you’re a bit disappointed because you’ve lost a key member, being able to replace them with a name like Owen Farrell probably goes some way to softening the blow.
"[I’m] not surprised he’s been called up at all, I don’t think he’s necessarily a frontline Test option at the moment, but another injury in either the centres of the fly-half position, and he’s absolutely in contention."
In a statement announcing the team to play New South Wales Waratahs this Saturday, Andy Farrell said: "It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three tours.
"Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group."
At the Lions squad announcement back in May, Andy had been asked about Owen's prospects, leaving the door ajar for such a move to happen.
"In the conversation obviously, an experienced player like that," Andy said.
"We got to a point where, a few other players as well, we feel like Owen is still trying to find his way back to fitness.
"There's 38 picked which leaves a couple of spots open for us down the track, and Owen will be in that bracket."
So far the Lions have played three matches, losing their opener to Argentina in Dublin, but running out comfortable winners in their first two games Down Under.
After their clash with the Waratahs, they have just two matches left before the mouthwatering first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Lions fixtures
| Date | Opposition | Venue |
| 5 July | NSW Waratahs | Sydney |
| 9 July | ACT Brumbies | Canberra |
| 12 July | Invitational AU & NZ | Adelaide |
| 19 July | Australia (first Test) | Brisbane |
| 22 July | First Nations & Pasifika XV | Melbourne |
| 26 July | Australia (second Test) | Melbourne |
| 2 August | Australia (third Test) | Sydney |
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement