Owen Farrell answers dad's call and can Waratahs test British & Irish Lions?

After walkover wins over Force and Reds, touring side will hope for a sterner challenge in NSW

Owen Farrell has been called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly for what will be his fourth British & Irish Lions. AP

The British & Irish Lions are just over two weeks out from their Test opener against Australia.

They have shaken off the disappointment of defeat to Argentina in Dublin with two breezy wins since arriving in Australia.

Not everything has run smoothly, though, particularly with two tour-ending injuries leading to some intriguing subplots to the series.

Farrell fated

It always felt destined, even if Andy Farrell tried his best not to go there.

His son, Owen, has built up such a fine body of work during his glittering career that he would have been well within his rights to hope for selection for a fourth Lions tour.

There was mitigation. He had a poor spell playing club rugby in France. He had suffered injuries and concussion. All of which meant his absence from the initial squad was understandable.

It has taken a broken forearm for Elliot Daly for it to happen, but Farrell Jr is set to be a Lion again.

The originals in the squad have had a head start of three matches in staking a claim for a Test starting place. Farrell will be playing catch up, but he can be assured of one thing: no one will have a better grasp of his qualities than his dad.

British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje was back to his rampaging best against Queensland Red. Getty Images

Itoje revived

Owen Farrell is only 33, but he might feel like an old stager walking back into the Lions team room.

He has been retired from international rugby for a couple of years, and the game in Europe has marched on without him.

Dan Sheehan, who captained the Lions in their first game on tour, is 26. Joe McCarthy, the standout player in that game against Western Force, is 24. And Henry Pollock, the much-talked-about back-rower, is only 20.

But there will be many who are glad to see a familiar face. Maro Itoje, for one, will be happy about the idea of getting the old band back together with his long-time Saracens and England colleague.

The tour captain looked revived himself in the win over the Queensland Reds. He is under pressure to show his worth given the excellence of the others pushing for a place in the second row. Itoje did so with a try, 10 carries and 18 tackles in what ended up a sound win.

Jac Morgan of the British & Irish Lions scores a try against Queensland Reds. Getty Images

Welsh influence

All the great Lions touring sides have had a strong Welsh backbone. To pick one famous example, the lone series win over New Zealand, back in 1971, involved such legendary names as Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, and Gerald Davies.

Even in more modern times, the likes of Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies have been central to touring triumphs.

The stock of tourists from Wales this time is historically low, and one fewer after the unfortunate injury suffered by Tomos Williams in the first match on tour.

But a Welshman might still have an influence in Australia. Jac Morgan was excellent in the win over the Reds and nosed ahead in the traffic for a back-row starting berth.

Lions wing Tommy Freeman of the British & Irish Lions goes over for a try against Queensland Reds. Getty Images

Flying Freeman

From the fringe of the scrum to the fringe of the field, the selections are not yet cut and dried for the tourists.

Andy Farrell namechecked Mack Hansen after the win in Perth. Despite the fact the Ireland wing actually had a mixed time against the Force, his coach said his work rate was something all Lions should aspire to.

It makes sense that Farrell would have faith in the players he knows so well from his day job with Ireland, making Hansen and James Lowe favourites to start on the wings in the Test side.

But Tommy Freeman scored two tries against the Reds so will certainly be pushing for consideration for the first Test in Brisbane on July 19.

Testing opposition

Upon arrival in Australia, the Lions management made a point of demanding testing warm up matches. Ben Calveley, the Lions chief executive, pointed out the small print of the tour conditions that Test players be released for tour matches.

Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies coach, countered that the conditions are subjective. Either way, the two tour matches have been heavily one-sided so far.

The tourists scored eight tries in each of the games against the Force and the Reds, without looking perfectly synced themselves.

Whether that shows underpowered opposition, or points to lower standards overall in Australian rugby union at present, will only be shown once the Test series starts.

Saturday’s opponents, the NSW Waratahs, could provide more of the same. They finished eighth in the Super Rugby season, which is just one better than the Force.