Former British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has backed new Lions boss Andy Farrell to pick his son Owen if the circumstances are right.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, the current Wales head coach said that Farrell should block out the outside noise surrounding his dynamic with his son if Owen is playing well and available for the tour.
“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.” Gatland wrote.
“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.”
95% – Owen Farrell has a win ratio of 95% in Test rugby when starting at 12, compared to 56% when he starts at fly half. Playmaker. pic.twitter.com/bKhbV4xY43
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) June 29, 2017
Referencing his own selections, Gatland said that whilst he never picked a player who wasn’t playing test rugby that it had been done before.
“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.”
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