Fazlet

[Oakboy]

Farrell to replace Daly!!!!

[Banquo]

Farrell to replace Daly!!!!

If true, a stupid shocker. Reeks of nepotism to both the casual observer and …anyone tbh.

I suppose it gives Jack Willis hope

[Puja]

Fuck Tom Jordan specifically, apparently. In the right time-zone, same level of versatility, in good form, apparently not needed.

Farrell to replace Daly!!!!

If true, a stupid shocker. Reeks of nepotism to both the casual observer and …anyone tbh.

I suppose it gives Jack Willis hope

100%. Makes no sense whatsoever - if he's being picked on "leadership"" and "off field influence" then surely that needed to happen from the start? If he's being picked on what he can bring on the pitch, then that's utterly risible on current form.

Puja

[Puja]

Made this it's own thread, cause I suspect there may be a few people wanting to comment on this topic.

Mod

[Cameo]

I have been laughing at the journalists for building this up over the last six months. Surely it's not true. I can't see any position where he would be in the top two (probably top three) options available outside the tour squad.

[Mr Mwenda]

Bit naughty to use this as bait. Daly isn't confirmed out yet right? All I could find was a BBC article where big faz says he is in contention for his leadership. Can't see it going down well in the squad...

[Oakboy]

Bit naughty to use this as bait. Daly isn't confirmed out yet right? All I could find was a BBC article where big faz says he is in contention for his leadership. Can't see it going down well in the squad...

It was originally headlined as 'Breaking News' on the BBC Sport website. I took a journalist quoting 'set to be named' as a genuine story but it is the BBC so maybe not?

[Oakboy]

Now on Sky Sports News too:

Breaking
Owen Farrell: Former England captain to be sensationally called up to British and Irish Lions squad
Owen Farrell is expected to be called up by Andy Farrell for the British and Irish Lions; watch the Lions' next game against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday and the entire 2025 Lions tour – including all three Tests against the Wallabies – live on Sky Sports

[Mikey Brown]

Jesus.

So I guess it’s now

10: Russell, Smith, Farrell
15: Keenan, Kinghorn, Smith

In theory I actually think he’s a good bench option to also cover 12, but him actually being fit and on form and up to speed with international rugby would help,

[Oakboy]

Jesus.

So I guess it’s now

10: Russell, Smith, Farrell
15: Keenan, Kinghorn, Smith

In theory I actually think he’s a good bench option to also cover 12, but him actually being fit and on form and up to speed with international rugby would help,

I've tried to switch back on to the Lions. If Farrell were to deny Fin Smith a test bench place at any point it would make me switch off again.

[Captainhaircut]

Was always going to happen with two of his mates on the coaching staff and his old man as head coach. The only reason he wasn’t in the original squad was because he wasn’t fit.

It’s a pathetic call up that renders Marcus Smith’s tour a total waste of time- he’s now probably mid weeking on the bench.

Seen some stuff that says we need Farrell’s lions experience and experience of winning in Australia. They are the 8th best side in the world ffs.

[Mr Mwenda]

Bit naughty to use this as bait. Daly isn't confirmed out yet right? All I could find was a BBC article where big faz says he is in contention for his leadership. Can't see it going down well in the squad...

It was originally headlined as 'Breaking News' on the BBC Sport website. I took a journalist quoting 'set to be named' as a genuine story but it is the BBC so maybe not?

Yeah, it could be there is insider info but there was nothing in the article that post-dated Daly's injury I thought. I will save my outrage for if he is named.

One thought is he is there for work experience as an aspiring coach like Sexton...

[Mikey Brown]

It’s funny as well in a way.

I have so much sympathy for the treatment he received when he was last playing in England. Sure he’s a chippy twat on the field but so are Sexton, Biggar and even the Smiths can be pretty mouthy. All the ridiculous media hype is not his fault though and sending messages or writing hateful articles (I’m still not clear on the booing situation) just sucks.

He’s said all the right things about just focusing 100% on Saracens and enjoying rugby again (also getting his groin sorted and actually being able to kick again) and then this? Leapfrogs everyone to save the day for the Lions - based on the form of when exactly?

[Mikey Brown]

I didn’t check any news sites and thought the above was confirmation he’s been selected. Maybe just clickbait speculation then. It will certainly get the comments sections going, which is obviously the most important thing.

[Puja]

It is now confirmed. What the actual fuck.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Daly's arm break and Farrell's call-up now confirmed on BBC website.

[Sandydragon]

I’m trying to work out why Farrell would select Farrell (aside from nepotism). He isn’t in form, and there are better options at both fly half and full back. If full back is now looking light, why not send for Blair Murray or someone who has actually played fullback during this years six nations? I’d get it if Farrell junior was pulling up trees domestically, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[Oakboy]

It is now confirmed. What the actual fuck.

Puja

You'd imagine that any player called up, no matter how late, had to be a genuine shirt-filling contender. That Farrell, in terms of form/fitness should be so rated is baffling. I wonder what George Ford thinks of that.

[paddy no 11]

That's some shameless shit

The farrell x 2 sexton circle jerk continues

[Puja]

I’m trying to work out why Farrell would select Farrell (aside from nepotism). He isn’t in form, and there are better options at both fly half and full back. If full back is now looking light, why not send for Blair Murray or someone who has actually played fullback during this years six nations? I’d get it if Farrell junior was pulling up trees domestically, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The only thing is "off-field impact" and "intangibles" and "leadership". We don't need another 10 (especially not one as wildly different in style as Fazlet) as we've still got 3 on tour. We could possibly do with another 15, but we've got Kinghorn, Keenan, and MSmith can play there as well (or Freeman/HJones in a pinch), so we're not desperate. We don't really need another centre, as we've got the original 4 still available. Technically speaking, we probably don't **need** to replace Daly in terms of personnel, except that it'd be good to have a versatile cover that's already on-board and up to speed if there's another injury - which screams Jordan to me.

So yeah, we're not strictly **light** anywhere, but we have got a spare spot and Farrell Snr appears to've looked at that and thought it's an ideal chance to bring m'boy back in. Risible.

Puja

[TheNomad]

I’m trying to work out why Farrell would select Farrell (aside from nepotism). He isn’t in form, and there are better options at both fly half and full back. If full back is now looking light, why not send for Blair Murray or someone who has actually played fullback during this years six nations? I’d get it if Farrell junior was pulling up trees domestically, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

This is exactly my view - beyond picking on reputation or nepotism, I don't get this whatseover. "Leadership", I suppose?

It's not a position we need, and if we wanted a FH, why not pick Ford (who has been playing substantially better than Farrell)

If it were a replacement for Daly, pick a FB.

This is as irritating as it was inevitable

[Which Tyler]

Made this it's own thread, cause I suspect there may be a few people wanting to comment on this topic.

Mod

Pretty sure we'll all be making the same comments.

Replacing a play-making outside back with a robotic inside back is... not exactly like-for-like.
Especially going from first choice starter to someone who can't even make his club's XV

I've tried to switch back on to the Lions. If Farrell were to deny Fin Smith a test bench place at any point it would make me switch off again.

Same, I was never anti-Lions, but had been becoming disillusioned with rugby as a whole over the last 5-6 years.
3 Gatland tours
Debacle of Saracens and the salaries
Debacle of Heineken Cup
Debacle of 13-team Prem => 10 team Prem complete with ramping up the war on the Championship
Debacle of Jones' last couple of years
Debacle of Borthwick's appointment and first year
Issues around head injuries

I made a conscious decision to try to get back into rugby with the RWC 2 years ago. Last 2 seasons, I've watched maybe 3-4 (club) matches as a neutral, but I'll have missed more than that of matches my club were playing.
Go back a decade and I was watching every Prem match that was broadcast and a good 80% of Heineken matches; and wouldn't miss a single Bath match, even if it meant an internet blackout for 2 days before it was put up on premrugby.tv

[paddy no 11]

Ye've all seen the sexton quote I'm sure......?

Reeks

[switchskier]

As a replacement for Daly it makes no sense unless Daly was only there because they were expecting Kinghorn to miss the first three games. Maybe they are relaxed now that Longhorn is with the squad and the plan was always to bring Farrell in when there was a backs injury. It also implies that Marcus Smith is viewed as a fullback rather than a viable option for ten for the tests.

But there were better options if that was the plan and Fazlet is a terrible fit for the current game plan.

[bruce]

The Iceman cometh

Bullshit decision