Andy Farrell has left the door open for his son Owen to join the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and called on Henry Pollock to showcase his “cocky” streak after Northampton’s rising star was the standout selection in his squad.
Farrell Jr was among the headline omissions from the 38-man group that will be captained by Maro Itoje, with Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith preferred as the fly-half options. Pollock’s selection caps a stunning rise for the 20-year-old who made his Test debut against Wales in March as part of a remarkable breakthrough season with Northampton. Marcus Smith benefits from his ability to play full-back despite falling down the England pecking order.
The former England captain Jamie George, the Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast and the in-form Toulouse flanker Jack Willis are among the other notable absentees from a squad featuring 12 Leinster players. Farrell revealed his final selection meeting with his assistants took six hours more than he expected.
Farrell Sr was expected to name a 40-strong squad, but revealed he intentionally left “wiggle room” for players on their way back from injuries, including Owen. With the Lions facing a midweek match between the first and second Tests, the head coach is all the more likely to make additional call-ups, again raising the chances of Owen – who has struggled this season at Racing 92 – making the tour. For the equivalent match during the 2017 tour of New Zealand, Warren Gatland added a clutch of players who became known as the “Geography Six”.
“He was in the conversation,” said Andy Farrell of his son. “An experienced player like that who is going for his fourth tour. You cover all bases, that’s for sure, with the leadership qualities and all of that.
“We feel that Owen’s still trying to find his way a little bit back to fitness, like others. There are 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us during the track if and when needed. And Owen, like a few other guys as well, would be in that type of bracket.
“We’ve left ourselves some wiggle room to be able to see how people progress because there are a few guys that are trying to play back into fitness and form, so we’ll see what we’ve got and if or when that’s needed, we’d like to call them.”
Having turned 20 in January, Pollock will be the youngest player on the tour and, as is tradition, he will be responsible for looking after the Lions mascot.
The squad was announced at a live event at the O2 in London front of around 2,000 spectators and Pollock’s inclusion was met by what was comfortably the loudest cheer. The Saints back-rower has attracted attention for his abundant talents – he has two tries from 31 minutes of Test rugby – as well as his unwavering self-belief and Farrell does not want Pollock to change his ways on tour.
Backs B Aki (Connacht & Ireland), E Daly (Saracens & England), T Freeman (Northampton & England), J Gibson-Park (Leinster & Ireland), M Hansen (Connacht & Ireland), H Jones (Glasgow & Scotland), H Keenan (Leinster & Ireland), B Kinghorn (Stade Toulousain & Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster & Ireland), A Mitchell (Northampton & England), G Ringrose (Leinster & Ireland), F Russell (Bath & Scotland), F Smith (Northampton & England), M Smith (Harlequins & England), S Tuipulotu (Glagow & Scotland), D van der Merwe (Edinburgh & Scotland), T Williams (Gloucester & Wales).
Forwards T Beirne (Munster & Ireland), O Chessum (Leicester & England), J Conan (Leinster & Ireland), L Cowan-Dickie (Sale & England), S Cummings (Glasgow & Scotland), T Curry (Sale & England), B Earl (Saracens & England), Z Fagerson (Glasgow & Scotland), T Furlong (Leinster & Ireland), E Genge (Bristol & England), M Itoje (Saracens & England, capt), R Kelleher (Leinster & Ireland), J McCarthy (Leinster & Ireland), J Morgan (Ospreys & Wales), H Pollock (Northampton & England), A Porter (Leinster & Ireland), J Ryan (Leinster & Ireland), P Schoeman (Edinburgh & Scotland), D Sheehan (Leinster & Ireland), W Stuart (Bath & England), J Van der Flier (Leinster & Ireland).
“I’ve heard a lot of stuff that is constant about young kids that are coming through – he’s confident, he’s cocky,” said Farrell. “This is not just about Henry, this is about youngsters in general.
“But what do we want? Do we want a kid to show his confidence as a 23-year-old, 24-year-old instead of 20? It’s just about the here and now, isn’t it? If he’s performing against the type of quality that he has been doing, then he’s ready. He’s ready to compete. I think you’ll see the fight in him. Everyone can see that anyway. I’m sure he’ll push all the others that didn’t realise that he was coming. I’m sure that he’ll relish that.
“I’ve watched him a couple of times live and I like what I see. He’s always trying to make a difference. There’s an energy and bounce about him. That’s how you tend to have big moments in the game because you’re searching for them.”
George’s omission was a surprise given he has found form since he was stripped of the England captaincy and would have provided valuable leadership to a squad that features 26 first-time Lions. The absence of Caelan Doris – struck down by a shoulder injury last Saturday – means Farrell is also without his Ireland captain and the head coach conceded the decision to leave George out was a difficult one. It is understood George was informed of his omission before the squad was announced.
“As much as we are all delighted for the lads who are in, it’s tough to shatter people’s dreams, just for the time being,” said Farrell. “For Jamie and a few others they’ve got to stay with it, stay positive and stay strong, stay fit, because anything can happen.”
Itoje, who said he was “deeply honoured and humbled” to have been named captain after taking a phone call from Farrell on Tuesday, said Pollock is “a young player who wants to make things happen”.
The 30-year-old Saracens lock added: “I often find with these tours that the unexpected happens and there might be a player who had not necessarily come in with cult status but they have it by the end.”
