Sitting in a car wash with the windows jammed open would be marginally drier than walking the streets of Sydney this week. The forecast rain stayed away for the decisive second Test in Melbourne, but the outlook for the Accor Stadium on Saturday is properly damp. Not that the Lions are overly bothered as they seek to squeeze every last drop of joy out of their tour of Australia.
From the moment they met up the mantra of this party has been based on showing the absolute best of themselves in the Test matches and winning the series 3-0. Nothing has changed in that regard, as reflected in Farrell’s largely rinse‑and-repeat final-Test selection, with the exception of Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan being elevated to the starting XV and a forward-loaded 6-2 bench split.
As anyone with knowledge of Farrell’s competitive instincts will be aware, the chances of him easing off the downcast Wallabies at this late juncture were always on the nonexistent side of slim. A final flourish is not always easily achieved at the end of a long, punishing season, but, in this case, all the most influential Lions are fit and hungry and motivation is not a problem.
Aside from enjoying each other’s company, the players have also responded well to Farrell’s management style, among the primary reasons why this large tour party has stayed fully united. “He’s been really good at getting everyone closer,” said the Scotland centre Huw Jones, set to become a member of a prestigious Lions club by starting all three Tests. “I don’t really know how he’s done it, but it’s worked.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the outside. He’s very calm and relaxed a lot of the time, [but] when he’s on, he’s pretty intense. When we’re training he’s always on and doesn’t miss a beat. He sees everything and he’s prepared to call you out in the middle of the session if something’s not good enough.
“There’s no hiding place, his standards are so high. He’s very clear about what he wants and how he wants you to do it. He’s been brilliant and it’s great to be part of the squad under that leadership.”
Jones, who will again partner Bundee Aki in midfield, was also good value on the subject of Farrell’s presence and rugby instincts. “He doesn’t need to try to be intimidating, he just is. Some people just have that presence. He’s obviously massive. Without meaning to be, he’s just an intimidating person. Not in a bad way, but in a good way that commands respect. When he speaks everyone is listening. I’m yet to hear him say something I don’t agree with, he reads the game so well.
“If you are walking, haven’t quite got into position or if you are not talking to someone he will pick it up … and you will know about it. It is about not accepting anything average or mediocre you may be able to get away with at your club. We are here because we were selected as being the best of our international teams. You have to show up and prove that every day.”
A resounding final performance, accordingly, is the objective of all concerned, Farrell included. When he says winning 3-0 “would mean the world to us” he is reiterating his belief that aiming high is vital, in sport and life.
“I never think you should shy away from shooting for the stars because you might end up on the moon,” he said. “That’s pretty good as well.
“What’s there to be shy about? Players, coaches, staff, Lions fans, everyone … they all want to win every game. You can’t be frightened of that.”
Just as telling, perhaps, is that even the 16 unlucky individuals – 12 original selections and four replacements – who have had no involvement in the Tests have felt as much a part of campaign as the 27 who have. “It touches you,” said Farrell. “The ones that were celebrating most last Saturday were the ones who hadn’t put the shirt on. That says it all.”
All that remains, then, is for the chosen few to go out and apply the coup de grace. In the first half in Brisbane and the second half in Melbourne these Lions have shown what they can do; not so much at other times. On this occasion, Farrell would settle for 70 minutes of excellence that, on the evidence to date, should be enough: “We know what we’re capable of in all sorts of areas, so getting close to eight or nine out of 10 in all of them would be somewhere close to where we want to be.”
Jones feels much the same as he prepares for his own final fling. “We’ve probably not played to our full capacity yet. That’s been the message this week: to try and have our best performance of the tour. To do it in the last game, to win 3-0 – that would be amazing. That’s where the motivation is.”
It takes more than a spot of rain to dilute the resolve of Farrell and co.
