Monday’s confirmation from Melbourne that Owen Farrell will skipper the British and Irish Lions in the final midweek game of their 2025 tour hasn’t gone down well with some online rugby fans.
The 33-year-old son of head coach Andy was called up earlier this month as the replacement for the injured Elliot Daly.
He made his first appearance off the bench in the second half of the comfortable July 12 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide and will now captain the team for Tuesday’s match versus the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
Farrell’s July 3 call-up was controversial, as he had zero form after missing the back end of the 2024/25 season due to injury with Racing 92.
“Pretty clear and obvious…”
He has since rejoined Saracens and despite not having played any Test rugby since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he is now part of the Lions squad in Australia and will lead the team out in Melbourne.
It’s a selection that Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby moved to defend on Monday, claiming at a media briefing: “You look at the team and the experience he has in that, it’s pretty clear and obvious why he is the skipper.”
Easterby’s perspective hasn’t mirrored the online reaction to the decision, with some fans branding the selection as “absolutely pathetic”, “insulting” and “a farce”.
The Lions, though, did have the odd backer, with one fan in particular alleging that “the usual keyboard coaches crying were their eyes out” following the team announcement. Here is a cross-section of the messages published on X:
@DelBoy80s: How to kill the magic of the Lions. Andy Farrell has done a masterclass this tour. I’ve followed the Lions since ’93, I own every Lions shirt since then (match and training), they are my treasured possessions. The elite of rugby imho, bigger than a RWC. But this tour!!!!!!
@SBuscemiFanClub: Irishman here. Dreadful decision to have Farrell as captain, especially with so many other established leaders in the team. Full backing to the team, though. Clean sweep on the tour please.
@GrahameMJones: Owen Farrell as captain does not sit well with me. Not good enough for selection to the original squad, brought in late! I’m sure there are better squad captains – Jac Morgan for example!
@ChalynRugby: Owen Farrell to captain the Lions for the first time, with his dad Andy Farrell as head coach. Nothing says “earned on merit” like a good old-fashioned family business. The Lions are becoming a parody of themselves. Absolutely pathetic.
@NervousBreadVan: Lions head coach Andy Farrell has defended his decision to name a British and Irish Lions Test side with no Welsh player for the first time since 1896. But he has no compunction about bringing his son Owen in as a replacement.
@TimAlunWilliams: To those saying this isn’t a slight on Jac Morgan, of course it’s a slight on Jac Morgan. He’s captain of his country, Owen Farrell wasn’t even called up by England this summer, never mind the Lions.
@Gwynoro: Reading Farrell has given captaincy to his son-just plain favouritism. Owen has hardly played much rugby last 18 months. Yet in the team are 3 players who either are or recent captains of their country – George. Ryan and Jac Morgan. An insulting decision as well.
@TyBryer: Owen Farrell captain. Hahahah. Farce is this.
@MarkJoh17516930: Oh dear the usual keyboard coaches crying their eyes out as Owen Farrell is captain. Pathetic.
@hobo_gilling: To be fair, the Irish seem to be pretty sound about Owen Farrell. It’s the Scots who really seem hot under the collar.
@TrueBlueFooty: As an Ireland fan, I don’t understand people’s issue with Farrell being captain; he’s captained England 48 times and is clearly very respected within the squad. Only other contender is Jac Morgan, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him come off early to be fresh for the Test.
@JohnnyPerchard: Young guys like Pollock and Morgan will learn a lot from Owen Farrell. Why are people moaning so much…
@jonallenpt: Genuinely, is the Owen Farrell thing the only interesting thing about this tour? The Aussies are so rubbish, the games are so uninteresting that you have to question the point. Tour France and you have some needle and fight.
@Callama_: Owen Farrell has captained England more times than Jac Morgan has played for Wales. Don’t be bitter about it.