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Owen Farrell in line for Lions tour debut against AUNZ XV: reports / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP
Owen Farrell in line for Lions tour debut against AUNZ XV: reports
Owen Farrell is set to play against a combined Australia-New Zealand side at the weekend, reports said Wednesday after his controversial call-up for the British and Irish Lions.
The former England captain made the dash to Australia on Friday after his father, Lions coach Andy Farrell, summoned him as cover when utility back Elliot Daly broke his arm.
It raised eyebrows with the 33-year-old earning the last of his 112 Test caps at the 2023 World Cup, and on the back of an underwhelming and injury-plagued season with French club Racing 92.
The BBC and Sky Sports said the flyhalf was in line to play against an AUNZ invitational side on Saturday after taking part in his first full training session in Canberra on Tuesday.
Former Ireland No.10 Johnny Sexton, the Lions' kicking coach, said he had fitted in seamlessly since arriving.
"As you'd expect with someone with that experience, he's fitted in. He's hit the ground running, so it's great to see," Sexton told Sky.
"He must have had the playbook on the plane on the way over because he came in and he's not missed a beat.
"He's been on top of things in training and that's exactly why you pick someone with experience who knows about a Lions tour because it might take someone else 10 days to fit in."
Farrell, who is on his fourth Lions tour, announced last month he was returning to Saracens after a single season with Racing 92.
That would again make him eligible to play for his country and Lions and England skipper Maro Itoje said he would love to see him back.
"If he wants to play for England, why not? That would be amazing if that is in his plans and in his dreams," Itoje told the BBC.
"Owen is one of the best England players that we've ever seen. A fit Owen Farrell makes any team better.
"I've had the honour and privilege of playing alongside Owen for all but one of the years I've played professional rugby," he added.
"He's a real team man. He always wants the team to do well. He's quite selfless in that respect."
The Adelaide game will be the Lions' fifth since arriving in Australia and the last for players to put their hand up to be in the matchday 23 for the first Test against the Wallabies on July 19.
S.Lapointe--SMC
