Former Scotland scrum-half and captain Greig Laidlaw has weighed in on Owen Farrell’s potential selection for the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Farrell took a set-up away from international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup before moving to Racing 92, making him unavailable to England head coach Steve Borthwick.
However, the Lions have confirmed that his dad and head coach Andy Farrell will be allowed to select players based in France for the tour despite the Top 14 final taking place on the same day as the touring team’s first game against the Western Force.
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Still, Laidlaw who was Farrell’s Lions teammate during the 2017 tour to New Zealand says the England playmaker has plenty to offer to the side even if it is a less prominent role than he played during his first two tours where he played all six Tests.
“Well, he might do. If they didn’t have Sione Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki going so well then potentially he comes into consideration as a 10/12,” Laidlow said on Off the Ball when asked whether there is space in the British and Irish Lions squad for Farrell.
“He [Andy Farrell] might struggle to pick him but having said that, in my opinion, Owen is a Test rugby player who knows but to win and never say never.
“If he feels that Owen is the right man for the job, again I think he is a strong enough character to pick him and roll with it.
“Potentially, he might be the right man for the job at 10 and he gives you that cover elsewhere like at 12 and obviously a wonderful goal kicker as well.”
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Farrell’s role
Laidlaw has backed Scotland playmaker Finn Russell to be the Lions’ starting fly-half for the Test matches against the Wallabies and predicts Marcus Smith to be in the mix too.
However, it is the third fly-half spot that the former Scotland skipper believes Farrell could fill and thrive in. He also questions whether Ireland playmakers Sam Prendergast and Jack Crawley are far enough into their development as international players to be selected for the tour.
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In this role, he could also push the standards for the young players in the team and possibly captain the Lions in the midweek matches against the Super Rugby teams.
“It’s definitely worth taking him on the tour, he has been there and done it,” Laidlaw added with 2025 potentially being Farrell’s fourth tour.
“A lot of experience that can help the younger players and potentially if he is not selected then drive that midweek team.
“In and around that third ten spot at the minute, Sam Prendergast is just coming through, Jack Crawley as well but are they far enough down the line in terms of their development to be selected for a Lions tour – that is maybe still yet to be seen.”
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