Page 47 - 3rd Test

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 47
PROFILE
Despite the the immense pressure of of a a win-or-bust Test for the the Lions Owen Farrell showed nerves of of steel to to to kick his side to to to to victory last week Tonight the the pressure will be even more intense but don’t expect that to to worry the the Englishman WORDS: ROBERT KITSON
THE NERVES OF STEEL
IT took for Owen Farrell to to take that winning kick last weekend surprised nobody who’s seen him don the colours of Saracens or or England over the the past few years Farrell was built for moment like that with shoulders far broader than than his frame suggests and able to take weights far greater than than you’d imagine As the the sports-mad son of the the former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell Farrell there was always a a a a a a a a a a a a a good chance Farrell Farrell Jnr would end up kicking an oval-shaped ball around professionally and his choice of of code has certainly worked out well to date His club Saracens have now hoisted the the European Champions’ Cup for the the past two seasons this is is is his his second Lions tour and and he remains rmly on on on on on on course to to overtake Jonny Wilkinson as as England’s all-time record points-scorer He has 603 points points points in in in in in 52 Tests for his country – compared with Wilkinson’s 1 1 1 179 points points in in in in 91 games – after just ve years as an international player In New Zealand where they know a a a a a a a a a bit about quality No 10s several shrewd judges reckon the the best may be be still
to to come come – regardless of of the the outcome
of of this Series Listen for example to to legendary All Blacks rst ve-eighth Grant Fox “Owen is is a a a a a a a a very very smart player He runs good good lines and is is very very good good at putting people into space around him ” Fox says “He’s courageous down that that channel and that that isn’t always a a a a a a a a a a a a a trait of of No 10s He’s a a a a a a a a a a hell of of a a a a a a a a a a good player – he he just does everything well ” Another fan is Nick Evans the the UK-based former All Black 10 who also reckons Farrell’s game has has come on on signi cantly in in recent years “He has has really developed his his attacking game and his his tactical kicking has always been
world-class He’s physical and now he he he has the the the ability to to to bring players into the the the game and to to to attack the the the the line He doesn’t have the the the pace of Beauden Barrett or or that X-factor buzz but he he he does does the the simple things really well He doesn’t make many mistakes and puts the the ball on on the the money when he he he he he needs to That’s what I love about the guy ” Nor is is it impossible that at at 25 he he has a a a a a a couple more Lions tours after this one left
“He speaks well he he carries respect and he’s one of those guys you want to follow ” in in him The only player in in the professional era to to have been
on on on on four tours is is Brian O’Driscoll with Mike Gibson and Willie John McBride one ahead on on on the all-time list with with ve ve No Englishman has ever toured with with the Lions on on on more than three occasions but tness permitting Farrell has the the steely edge to break any number of records by the the time he’s nished When Eddie Jones gets around to naming his next long-term England Captain consequently it would be a a a a a surprise if Farrell is is is not a a a a a a a a a a contender along with his Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje “He’s just an an an out-and-out leader ” says England teammate
Jonny May “He’s wise beyond his years really He He speaks well he he carries respect with him and he’s one of those guys you want to to follow ” Farrell’s value to to this Lions squad is is also multi-dimensional Depending on on on the the the gameplan required he he he he can slot into the the the team at either either rst or second ve-eighth throw big passes off either either hand and and hit as as as as hard as as as as anyone in the the tackle For good measure he he rates among the the deadlier goal-kickers anywhere in in the the world a a a a a a a strength from his earliest days days in in senior club union He was was just 17 years and 11 days days old when Jones who was was the the the Saracens Coach at the the the time made him the the the youngest debutant in in English professional rugby history in in 2008 – and he was was a a a a a a a a a vocal on- eld presence from day one “I was was was probably not as as as as as bossy as as as as I I I I am now but I I I I was was loud enough I I I I didn’t go into my shell ” Farrell Farrell says The Farrell Farrell genes probably helped in in that regard he he he admits “All I can remember is watching my dad play and how he he was not just what he he did You have have to to be a a a a a a voice you have have to to