MELBOURNE: British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has told his players to prepare for “the biggest game of our lives” as the tourists attempt to storm Australia’s sporting colosseum and clinch a series win against the Wallabies at the MCG on Saturday night.
Farrell can now turn his full attention to the second Test in Melbourne after watching his B team claw past a proud First Nations and Pasifika XV 24-19 at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Lions have lost their last two Tests in the AFL stronghold with a 35-14 rout in 2001 followed by a 16-15 thriller in 2013.
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The Wallabies beat the British & Irish Lions at Etihad Stadium in 2013 in Melbourne. Getty
Both of those games were at Marvel.
Former league champion Farrell was part of the Lions coaching team in 2013 and is choosing to embrace the enormity of the MCG experience.
“If you can’t get up for what’s coming, we’re all in the wrong place,” he said while sitting next to son Owen, who captained the Lions on Tuesday.
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Andy Farrell talks to his son and Lions centre Owen Farrell. Getty
“To me, this is the biggest game of our lives, everyone of us that’s part of our squad, so we’ll make sure that we address the week like that.”
The Lions haven’t won a series since their last trip to Australia, drawing with the All Blacks in 2017 and losing to the Springboks in 2021.
Farrell is likely to be without lock Joe McCarthy, who is managing a foot injury, with Ollie Chessum his probable replacement.
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Marcus Smith passed an HIA on Tuesday, which may shut the door on Owen Farrell earning a promotion to the Test bench.
“We’ve got a job to do regardless for the rest of this tour – whether you’re lucky enough to be involved or preparing the team for what is a massive occasion on Saturday and next week – so it’ll be great whatever it is,” Owen said.
The coach was asked how he thought his son played at No.12.
Andy initially deferred to Owen before answering the question.
“Some good things obviously, a nice little chip off the left peg. Some nice touches on the ball as well but always work‑ons, there are always work‑ons,” he said with a grin.
The coach added that Australian export Mack Hansen – who missed the first Test with a foot injury – was also touch and go for Saturday.
“Are a few changes going to freshen it up, or do we go with the same guys? All that comes into the pot and it’s whatever’s best for the team that we think that we need on a game like that at the MCG with over 90,000 people,” he said.
“So yeah, it should be like that, shouldn’t it? It should be challenging.”
The Lions and Wallabies name their teams on Thursday.
Although they weren’t playing against the Test team, the First Nations and Pasifika XV gave the Wallabies a clear blueprint on how to tackle the much ballyhooed visitors.
The curiously unwanted Lukhan Salakaia-Loto took it to the Lions for the third time on the tour and almost inspired one of rugby’s greatest upsets.
The Wallabies were outmuscled in the first half at Suncorp Stadium but hope Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Langi Gleeson will be fit to provide a much sterner physical edge.
Owen Farrell of British & Irish Lions gets involved with Charlie Gamble of First Nations & Pasifika XV. Getty
“You need to take it to them, head on,” First Nations and Pasifika XV captain Kurtley Beale said.
“There were some patches there where we had the momentum and the Lions were taking a backfoot step.
“It created opportunities for us. The boys, they love the physicality. I think playing rugby, you need physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off, and they bring that.”
Wallabies Harry Wilson and Harry Potter with Bombers Jaxon Prior and Archer May at the MCG. Getty
Wallabies Harry Wilson and Harry Potter visited the MCG on Wednesday along with Essendon Bombers Jaxon Prior and Archer May.
Potter, who spent his teenage years in Melbourne, showed some welcome fire in the belly when asked about Sir Clive Woodward’s “losing mentality” sledge.
“It’s pretty ridiculous to suggest that the 23 people who played on the weekend have a mentality of losing,” Potter said.
“We went out there to win the game, and we didn’t win the game.
“But it was our intention very much and you could tell from every player in the team we wanted to win that game.”
Josh Flook has replaced Filipo Daugunu in the Wallabies squad after he suffered a concussion on Tuesday.
