Andy Farrell Is Warned Not To Count Australia Out As Lions Focus On First Test

Andy Farrell has been warned against underestimating his other number, Joe Schmidt, arsenic nan buildup to nan British & Irish Lions bid intensifies. Farrell is astir to beryllium down pinch his assistants to finalise his action plans for Saturday’s first Test against Australia, but those acquainted pinch nan wily Schmidt insist nan Lions could yet beryllium unexpectedly outflanked.

While Farrell and Schmidt cognize each different highly good from their clip moving together pinch Ireland, nan erstwhile All Black coach Ian Foster believes nan forthcoming bid is not a foregone conclusion. Foster says nan Lions’ first Test action will request to beryllium spot connected if nan touring squad are to spot disconnected nan Wallabies successful Brisbane.

“They’re a value squad pinch bully depth, but that brings complications sometimes successful selection,” suggested Foster, having seen his mixed AU & NZ squad flattened 48-0 by nan Lions successful Adelaide connected Saturday. “I deliberation nan trial of nan circuit is really they woody pinch action successful nan adjacent week and support nan remainder of nan squad happy.

“They [Australia] are going to beryllium clear underdogs but I do cognize he [Schmidt] is precocious connected building belief successful this group. That’s going to beryllium 1 of their cardinal assets. I’m judge that Wallabies squad will cognize what they want to do and judge successful it.

“The Lions will beryllium happy pinch each their wins to day ... they’ll beryllium primed,” Foster added. “But there’s thing astir nan Wallabies. If they tin beryllium reliable capable astatine nan shot transportation to get immoderate front-foot shot against nan Lions, they’ll beryllium a challenge.”

Farrell is surely not lacking for unsolicited proposal arsenic he prepares to beryllium down and finalise his champion matchday 23. The reliably crisp Ronan O’Gara, a pundit for Sky Sports, believes nan Lions should sanction their strongest front-row operation connected nan bench, connected nan grounds that astir large Tests are decided successful nan last quarter. The full of Wales, meanwhile, wants their solitary typical Jac Morgan to characteristic successful immoderate capacity.

Foster besides rates Morgan – “you can’t thief but beryllium impressed pinch him astatine nan moment” – but location remains each chance that either Josh van der Flier aliases Tom Curry will beryllium preferred astatine openside. With Garry Ringrose going done return-to-play protocols aft reporting delayed concussion symptoms, nan midfield equation besides continues to make overmuch debate. The in-form Huw Jones is now poised to commencement astatine 13, which strengthens nan lawsuit for picking his Scotland teammate Sione Tuipulotu astatine 12 alternatively of Bundee Aki.

‘There’s thing astir nan Wallabies’: Ian Foster believes Australia tin origin nan Lions problems successful Brisbane. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Then location is nan chair mix, pinch Farrell apt to want immoderate second-half turbo-thrust successful nan shape of either Ben Earl aliases Henry Pollock, pinch Tadhg Beirne arsenic second-row cover. Owen Farrell’s banal is besides rising because of his expertise to run astatine some 10 and 12. He looked instantly astatine location erstwhile he came connected against nan AU & NZ Invitational XV and, contempt a caller deficiency of rugby, is an progressively decent stake to leapfrog some Marcus and Fin Smith for a chair role.

With Ben White pushing Alex Mitchell for nan reserve scrum-half slot and impressing Farrell – “I thought he was excellent” – and Mack Hansen offering useful back-three cover, Farrell would past person each bases beautiful overmuch covered, unless he opts for a 6-2 bench. In that case, Earl’s expertise to run successful midfield if needed mightiness count successful his favour. “When we get to Brisbane we’ll person a coaches gathering for illustration we ever do and talk really nan week is going to unfold,” confirmed nan caput coach. “No uncertainty action will beryllium a large portion of that.”

On insubstantial a beardown operation should emerge, but location is nary absolute guarantee that a clutch of comfortable circuit victories successful Australia will construe into a regular bid win. According to Pollock, however, nan Lions are emotion bullish arsenic they await nan superior business conscionable up ahead. “We want to travel present and beryllium nan champion Lions squad ever,” emphasised nan 20-year-old, scorer of 1 of nan Lions’ 8 tries successful Adelaide. “We’ve been talking astir that loads and, yeah, 3-0 is decidedly connected nan array hopefully.”

Meanwhile, Ireland tight-head prop Tom Clarkson will subordinate nan Lions squad arsenic front-row cover. The 25-year-old was fixed his Ireland debut by Farrell successful November and has gone connected to triumph 8 caps.