Farrell and Sexton linked well against the Crusaders. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
But the 10-12 area is one that remains up in the air, with Johnny Sexton having been given the nod at out-half a week before the opening Test against Steve Hansen’s side.
Ben Te’o starts in the 12 shirt against the Māori, while Jonathan Davies unsurprisingly returns at 13.
There is little doubt that Farrell will start the Tests for the Lions if he can recover from his quad strain – that is a huge worry for Gatland – but there remains a question around whether it will be at out-half or inside centre.
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The Englishman combined sharply with Sexton against the Crusaders last weekend after an injury to Davies, with their intuitive understanding hinting at something potentially brilliant to unleash on the All Blacks.
Asked today – before news of Farrell’s injury – why he had gone for Sexton at 10 against the Māori, Gatland pointed to the Irishman’s need for game time.
“I think Johnny needs some more rugby and we’re building on that,” said Gatland. “I thought he was really good coming off the bench and that combination between 10 and 12 [with Farrell] was pretty seamless.
Gatland plans to surprise the All Blacks. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
“Johnny himself knows that probably his last two games before that weren’t his best games of rugby for Leinster in that semi-final and the first game against the Barbarians.
“He was just down a little bit of confidence and he’s got a bit of his mojo back at the moment, so we wanted to give him a start against the Māoris.”
Gatland and his coaches had been content that Farrell had enough game time and form under his belt at this stage to take a place on the bench when naming his team earlier, and the Lions boss had hinted that we would see him come onto the pitch at inside centre.
That won’t happen now on account of Farrell’s quad injury in training, but still the All Blacks will be unsure of what’s coming their way, all the more so now given they have no idea of the severity of Farrell’s injury.
It means a headache for the All Blacks as they ponder whether Gatland is planning to use Farrell as his Test out-half with Te’o and Davies outside him, or at inside centre with Sexton in the 10 shirt and Davies in the 13 shirt – if Farrell is even fit at all.
In the back three for the Lions this weekend, Anthony Watson and George North start on the wings and it looks like those spots are theirs to lose before the first Test.
Halfpenny has to show his attacking quality. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Leigh Halfpenny is at fullback and is the probable first-choice place-kicker if he holds his spot for the Test series, but Gatland has challenged his fullback to show the Lions that he can be a genuine attacking threat.
Halfpenny’s defensive qualities are well known and important, though Gatland stressed that the 2009 and 2013 tourist must demonstrate more quality going forward.
“It’s an opportunity for him to show what experience he has got,” said Gatland. “We’ve seen some games with him in Toulon where one of the aspects of his game that has improved significantly has been bringing the ball back, counter-attack and scoring tries.
“That’s what we need from a 15. We know how strong defensively he is, positionally, how hard he works off the ball and his goal-kicking as well, but it’s the attacking threat we’re looking for him to add on Saturday.”
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Sexton has 'his mojo back' as Gatland keeps Farrell card close to chest
Murray Kinsella reports from Rotorua
WARREN GATLAND IS keen to keep the All Blacks guessing and that means he’s doing the same with the rest of us too.
With the first Test looming, the Lions head coach has named something very close to his first-choice team for Saturday’s warm-up clash with the Māori All Blacks in Rotorua.
But the 10-12 area is one that remains up in the air, with Johnny Sexton having been given the nod at out-half a week before the opening Test against Steve Hansen’s side.
Owen Farrell was initially named on the bench, but he has since dropped out injured.
Ben Te’o starts in the 12 shirt against the Māori, while Jonathan Davies unsurprisingly returns at 13.
There is little doubt that Farrell will start the Tests for the Lions if he can recover from his quad strain – that is a huge worry for Gatland – but there remains a question around whether it will be at out-half or inside centre.
The Englishman combined sharply with Sexton against the Crusaders last weekend after an injury to Davies, with their intuitive understanding hinting at something potentially brilliant to unleash on the All Blacks.
Asked today – before news of Farrell’s injury – why he had gone for Sexton at 10 against the Māori, Gatland pointed to the Irishman’s need for game time.
“I think Johnny needs some more rugby and we’re building on that,” said Gatland. “I thought he was really good coming off the bench and that combination between 10 and 12 [with Farrell] was pretty seamless.
“Johnny himself knows that probably his last two games before that weren’t his best games of rugby for Leinster in that semi-final and the first game against the Barbarians.
“He was just down a little bit of confidence and he’s got a bit of his mojo back at the moment, so we wanted to give him a start against the Māoris.”
Gatland and his coaches had been content that Farrell had enough game time and form under his belt at this stage to take a place on the bench when naming his team earlier, and the Lions boss had hinted that we would see him come onto the pitch at inside centre.
That won’t happen now on account of Farrell’s quad injury in training, but still the All Blacks will be unsure of what’s coming their way, all the more so now given they have no idea of the severity of Farrell’s injury.
It means a headache for the All Blacks as they ponder whether Gatland is planning to use Farrell as his Test out-half with Te’o and Davies outside him, or at inside centre with Sexton in the 10 shirt and Davies in the 13 shirt – if Farrell is even fit at all.
In the back three for the Lions this weekend, Anthony Watson and George North start on the wings and it looks like those spots are theirs to lose before the first Test.
Leigh Halfpenny is at fullback and is the probable first-choice place-kicker if he holds his spot for the Test series, but Gatland has challenged his fullback to show the Lions that he can be a genuine attacking threat.
Halfpenny’s defensive qualities are well known and important, though Gatland stressed that the 2009 and 2013 tourist must demonstrate more quality going forward.
“It’s an opportunity for him to show what experience he has got,” said Gatland. “We’ve seen some games with him in Toulon where one of the aspects of his game that has improved significantly has been bringing the ball back, counter-attack and scoring tries.
“That’s what we need from a 15. We know how strong defensively he is, positionally, how hard he works off the ball and his goal-kicking as well, but it’s the attacking threat we’re looking for him to add on Saturday.”
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10/12 Johnny Sexton lions 2017 Midfield Owen Farrell Warren Gatland