I don’t envy Lions head coach Andy Farrell when it comes to the selection dilemma he could face over whether or not to pick his son, Owen, for the tour of Australia.
I have a better understanding than most about the complexity of such a scenario, given that my son, Bryn, plays professional rugby. On the Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017, I coached against the team he was selected for, the NZ Barbarians, in our opening game.
It was a special moment for Bryn and I was very proud of his performance, even if we were well below our best in our narrow victory because many of our players were still feeling the effects of jet-lag.
Bryn Gatland (left) played against the Lions for the Provincial Barbarians – Getty Images/David Rogers
But it was tough reading some of the media coverage by the New Zealand press. One paper before the game had the headline “Gatland to target Barbarians’ weakness – his son”. I was incensed by it.
Yet I found coping with the challenge of coaching a team against my son far more preferable than coaching him in one of my teams.
It is something I have tried to avoid throughout my career, although our careers did overlap when I was director of rugby at the Chiefs and Bryn was a player there in 2021/22.
While I never wanted to coach Bryn directly, I don’t think it has ever been a problem for Andy and Owen before.
Andy, as Ireland head coach, has had plenty of experience of coaching against Owen when he was playing for England, before his move to Racing 92 this season. And from my experience there has never been a problem of them working together in the same team environment after what I saw first-hand on two Lions tours to Australia in 2013 and to New Zealand four years later.
Andy Farrell coached his son, Owen, on the 2013 Lions tour
The only time I spoke to Andy about it was on the 2013 tour, when Owen was on the bench for our second Test defeat in Melbourne. During the review of the game, I felt we should have brought him on and encouraged Andy not to be afraid to speak up if he felt Owen should have come on.
Sitting in the coaches’ box during the game, we don’t always get every decision right and I wanted all the coaches to be looking at the players and making suggestions about who was getting tired or looked sore following a medical check.
It is going to be fascinating to see how Andy handles the situation. You want to make it as easy as possible for both parties, whether Owen is selected or not.
You don’t want it to become a big issue, which it could do. People could start talking about it, write about it or start asking questions and then it becomes a distraction for everyone. I felt like the New Zealand press had something of a personal campaign against me on the 2017 tour.
It is probably best for him to have an early conversation to see if Owen is interested in playing for the Lions, then ask about his contract situation and when he would be available to be released if Racing 92 are involved in the Top 14 finals. Then see how it unfolds from there.
Owen Farrell’s availability could depend on his club side, Racing 92 – AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat
I had to deal with a similar situation with Jonny Wilkinson ahead of the 2013 tour, when there was a clamour from some sections of the press for the England fly-half to be selected, even though he had retired from international rugby in 2011 and was playing for Toulon.
Leigh Halfpenny had also signed for Toulon, but he had a specific clause in his contract that allowed him to be released for the Lions and he didn’t play in the Top 14 final in their defeat by Castres.
So, I rang Jonny to ask if he would be available to go on the tour, even though I knew what the answer would be. He said he couldn’t because he was committed to playing for Toulon. I was just covering myself so if I was asked by the press if I had spoken to him, I could say I had phoned him. He wasn’t saying much at the time but at least I could answer the question.
I am sure Andy will want any players based in France to be available from a certain point, ideally after the Premiership and URC finals.
If Owen is available and wants to be part of the tour, he should pick him if he thinks it is right for the squad and not worry about the father-son aspect to the selection. As the Lions head coach, you have to take the emotion and relationship out of it and make the right decision. The other things can follow from there.
You know what you are getting with Owen: experience, leadership, a competitive edge, a player who is tough. If he is on the top of his game, then he is a player who you know would be Test-match ready, and he has the benefit of being able to play centre as well. I think a lot will depend on how Racing 92 get on this season.
I never picked anyone who wasn’t playing international rugby, but it has been done before. To do so would be because there is a bit of a hole somewhere in the squad that you need to fill with a former international who has a proven Test record. With a player like Owen, you know his pedigree and quality. I can see the case for bringing him.
Owen Farrell brings experience, leadership and a competitive edge – Getty Images/Stephen McCarthy
It is about trying to find that balance. You have that attacking flair of Finn Russell and Marcus Smith. Finn is a bit of a maverick, but he has reined that in a bit and his kicking game has improved. Marcus can come on and change a game, and then are you looking for that solidity Owen can bring.
Jack Crowley, George Ford and Fin Smith could also come into contention.
I have a lot of respect for Ford, even though I never picked him for my three Lions tours as head coach. For whatever reason, the timing wasn’t right previously.
But I thought he was excellent during the World Cup last year. His game control and management were outstanding, he knows how to run a game and is a very intelligent rugby player.
The other two players in France that I would consider are Jack Willis and Courtney Lawes. I know Andy has a lot of other back-row options, but I think Willis has an X-factor.
Courtney was outstanding for us on the tour of South Africa in 2021, forcing his way into the Test team despite missing half the season because of injury. Less than six months ago he was winning a Premiership title. He might be thinking he is coming to the end of his career. But with the Lions you are not picking for the future.
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