Owen Farrell remains a master of composure capable of thriving in the Test match arena, according to Ronan O’Gara.
Farrell made his first appearance on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, impressing in a 30-minute cameo from the bench in the tourists’ statement 48-0 victory over an AUNZ Invitational XV.
The Saracens and England fly-half was a shock call up to the squad when head coach Andy Farrell turned to his son to replace Elliot Daly after his tour-ending arm fracture.
Farrell marked his Lions return with a performance O’Gara labelled “exceptional” that leaves him right in the equation a week out from the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
‘Farrell makes other players look good’
After appearing on his fourth Lions tour, Owen Farrell has his sights on a Test match berth
“One of the standouts was Owen Farrell, he added to the team because he did the simple things well,” three-time Lions fly-half O’Gara told Sky Sports.
“He looked like he had all the time in the world. Moving the ball quickly, he makes other players look good. That was a massive positive for the Lions, having a competitor like Farrell with them.
“He was exceptional. People underestimate his composure. So much of what happens in a Test match is about your capacity to be composed and Farrell is a master at that.
“He looked fit, he looked hungry. It will be a completely different Test next week but it’s these moments where the Test animals get excited, so watch out for him, he could take his game to another level.”
Highlights from the sixth game of the 2025 tour as the British and Irish Lions took on an Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV at Adelaide Oval.
‘Huge step up against Wallabies’
Former Lions fly-half Dan Biggar, who questioned Farrell’s initial call up to the Lions squad, believed the 33-year-old showcased his ability as a world-class operator against AUNZ XV but, with the Wallabies posing a step up in quality, he offered a cautionary note.
“I didn’t question Farrell’s ability in the squad, I questioned the timing of it, replacing Elliot Daly who plays 15, 11 and 13, with a guy who plays 10 and 12,” Biggar said.
“He looked really good tonight, Owen. He moved the ball really well. He’s a world-class operator.
“If you pick him on a 6-2 bench, you are light in the back three if you get an injury, especially with no Garry Ringrose there to cover the wing. You rely on a bit of luck whenever you go with a 6-2 or 7-1 split.
“Clearly next Saturday is going to be a huge step up compared to tonight, where The Lions were disciplined, accurate made the AUNZ team look quite ordinary considering they have some really good players.”
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell acknowledges he has some difficult decisions to make regarding team selection after they thrashed an Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV prior to the Test series.
‘I’m putting the ball in his hands’
As we await Andy Farrell’s team announcement for the first Test, two-time British and Irish Lion Anthony Watson was left in no doubt his former team-mate could still cut in the most pressurised situations.
“Owen has the exact same impact,” Watson said. “If there is a goal kick to win it with 10 minutes to go, I don’t care how much he’s kicked at goal over the last four weeks, I’m putting the ball in his hands.”
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Twins’ Byron Buxton Hits for First Cycle in Target Field History vs. Pirates
Minnesota Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton hit for the cycle Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.The cycle was the first for any player in Target Field history since the ballpark opened in 2010. It was the first cycle by a Twins player since Jorge Polanco had one in 2019.Buxton had three hits through three innings — a single in the first, a triple in the six-run second and a double in the third. After singling again in the fifth, he had one more opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.Buxton, who will participate in next week's Home Run Derby, crushed a 427-foot solo homer off Pirates reliever Andrew Heaney with two outs in the seventh to make it an 11-3 game and complete the cycle. That brought the Target Field crowd to its feet, many of whom had received a […]
Švédky na ME ovládly skupinu po jasné výhře nad Němkami
V závěrečném duelu dvou týmů, které už ve skupině neměly šanci na postup, uspělo Polsko. S turnajem se v Curychu rozloučilo vítězstvím 3:2 nad Dánskem.Němky poslala v Lucernu do vedení už v sedmé minutě Brandová. Švédky ale dokázaly skóre brankami Blacksteniusové a Holmbergové skóre otočit.Ve 34. minutě zvýšila už na 3:1 Rolfová z pokutového kopu, Němky navíc poté dohrávaly bez vyloučené Wamserové. V 80. minutě zpečetila skóre Hurtigová.Mistrovství Evropy fotbalistek:Skupina C:Polsko - Dánsko 3:2 (2:0)Švédsko - Německo 4:1 (3:1)
Tiger Woods trashes LIV format; PGA Tour’s New CEO delivers a surprising take
Golf is a deeply traditional sport, guided by a longstanding set of customs and rules that define its spirit. That's why Tiger Woods, one of the game's greatest icons, has been openly critical of LIV Golf, a tour that in his view does not meet the basic standards that define the game.Here it's very simple,"... "Some of the stuff I've seen in LIV... I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.Brooks Koepka challenges a fan during PGA ChampionshipWoods saidDiffering views between Tiger and the PGA CEOWhile Tiger Woods has expressed concern about LIV Golf's approach, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp offered a more nuanced perspective. In a recent interview with Golf Channel, Rolapp acknowledged the value of tradition in golf, but also indicated openness to change and innovation within the sport.I think the PGA Tour product is strong […]
England beat India in final-ball thriller to end T20 series on a high
England edged a final-ball thriller to end their T20 series against India on a high, pulling off a women's record run-chase at Edgbaston of 168 to win the fifth international by five wickets.Danni Wyatt-Hodge (56 off 37 balls) struck a 21st T20I fifty as she celebrated her 300th international cap, the opener - who was dropped on five - getting England off to a flier with Sophia Dunkley (46 off 30) as they shared in their second century stand as a partnership. Both departed in the space of seven balls, while Tammy Beaumont - after tonking 30 off 20 - and Amy Jones (10) fell in the final over with just six required as suddenly things became tense, but Sophie Ecclestone (4no) struck the winning run off the last ball as India missed with a run out chance that would […]
England beat India in final-ball thriller to end T20 series on a high
England edged a final-ball thriller to end their T20 series against India on a high, pulling off a women's record run-chase at Edgbaston of 168 to win the fifth international by five wickets.Danni Wyatt-Hodge (56 off 37 balls) struck a 21st T20I fifty as she celebrated her 300th international cap, the opener - who was dropped on five - getting England off to a flier with Sophia Dunkley (46 off 30) as they shared in their second century stand as a partnership. Both departed in the space of seven balls, while Tammy Beaumont - after tonking 30 off 20 - and Amy Jones (10) fell in the final over with just six required as suddenly things became tense, but Sophie Ecclestone (4no) struck the winning run off the last ball as India missed with a run out chance that would […]
Synk 275 Live Updates, Leaderboard: Top Moments From INDYCAR Race
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing is coming off his first win of the season at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio last week. Prior to Dixon's victory, his teammate Àlex Palou and Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood had split the first nine races of the season, with Palou winning six and Kirkwood taking three. Here are Saturday's highlights! <!--> [-->5:23p ET Did you blink? <!-->5:15p ET Almost time! --> <!-->4:44p ET Scott McLaughlin issues --> <!-->4:36p ET Prerace scene --> <!-->]--> Live Coverage for this began on 5:23p ET
Related
Twins’ Byron Buxton Hits for First Cycle in Target Field History vs. Pirates
Minnesota Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton hit for the cycle Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.The cycle was the first for any player in Target Field history since the ballpark opened in 2010. It was the first cycle by a Twins player since Jorge Polanco had one in 2019.Buxton had three hits through three innings — a single in the first, a triple in the six-run second and a double in the third. After singling again in the fifth, he had one more opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.Buxton, who will participate in next week's Home Run Derby, crushed a 427-foot solo homer off Pirates reliever Andrew Heaney with two outs in the seventh to make it an 11-3 game and complete the cycle. That brought the Target Field crowd to its feet, many of whom had received a […]
Švédky na ME ovládly skupinu po jasné výhře nad Němkami
V závěrečném duelu dvou týmů, které už ve skupině neměly šanci na postup, uspělo Polsko. S turnajem se v Curychu rozloučilo vítězstvím 3:2 nad Dánskem.Němky poslala v Lucernu do vedení už v sedmé minutě Brandová. Švédky ale dokázaly skóre brankami Blacksteniusové a Holmbergové skóre otočit.Ve 34. minutě zvýšila už na 3:1 Rolfová z pokutového kopu, Němky navíc poté dohrávaly bez vyloučené Wamserové. V 80. minutě zpečetila skóre Hurtigová.Mistrovství Evropy fotbalistek:Skupina C:Polsko - Dánsko 3:2 (2:0)Švédsko - Německo 4:1 (3:1)
Tiger Woods trashes LIV format; PGA Tour’s New CEO delivers a surprising take
Golf is a deeply traditional sport, guided by a longstanding set of customs and rules that define its spirit. That's why Tiger Woods, one of the game's greatest icons, has been openly critical of LIV Golf, a tour that in his view does not meet the basic standards that define the game.Here it's very simple,"... "Some of the stuff I've seen in LIV... I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.Brooks Koepka challenges a fan during PGA ChampionshipWoods saidDiffering views between Tiger and the PGA CEOWhile Tiger Woods has expressed concern about LIV Golf's approach, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp offered a more nuanced perspective. In a recent interview with Golf Channel, Rolapp acknowledged the value of tradition in golf, but also indicated openness to change and innovation within the sport.I think the PGA Tour product is strong […]
England beat India in final-ball thriller to end T20 series on a high
England edged a final-ball thriller to end their T20 series against India on a high, pulling off a women's record run-chase at Edgbaston of 168 to win the fifth international by five wickets.Danni Wyatt-Hodge (56 off 37 balls) struck a 21st T20I fifty as she celebrated her 300th international cap, the opener - who was dropped on five - getting England off to a flier with Sophia Dunkley (46 off 30) as they shared in their second century stand as a partnership. Both departed in the space of seven balls, while Tammy Beaumont - after tonking 30 off 20 - and Amy Jones (10) fell in the final over with just six required as suddenly things became tense, but Sophie Ecclestone (4no) struck the winning run off the last ball as India missed with a run out chance that would […]
England beat India in final-ball thriller to end T20 series on a high
England edged a final-ball thriller to end their T20 series against India on a high, pulling off a women's record run-chase at Edgbaston of 168 to win the fifth international by five wickets.Danni Wyatt-Hodge (56 off 37 balls) struck a 21st T20I fifty as she celebrated her 300th international cap, the opener - who was dropped on five - getting England off to a flier with Sophia Dunkley (46 off 30) as they shared in their second century stand as a partnership. Both departed in the space of seven balls, while Tammy Beaumont - after tonking 30 off 20 - and Amy Jones (10) fell in the final over with just six required as suddenly things became tense, but Sophie Ecclestone (4no) struck the winning run off the last ball as India missed with a run out chance that would […]
Synk 275 Live Updates, Leaderboard: Top Moments From INDYCAR Race
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing is coming off his first win of the season at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio last week. Prior to Dixon's victory, his teammate Àlex Palou and Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood had split the first nine races of the season, with Palou winning six and Kirkwood taking three. Here are Saturday's highlights! <!--> [-->5:23p ET Did you blink? <!-->5:15p ET Almost time! --> <!-->4:44p ET Scott McLaughlin issues --> <!-->4:36p ET Prerace scene --> <!-->]--> Live Coverage for this began on 5:23p ET
Be the first to leave a comment