Austin Healey Says Only One Player Is Guaranteed To Start For The Lions
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Former Lions scrumhalf believes Owen Farrell is “the only nailed-on selection for the Lions so far.”
The former Leicester and England star believes if you were to pick a Lions Test XV tomorrow, Farrell is the only man that would be guaranteed a spot in the team.
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Healy says a case could be made for the likes of Stuart Hogg and Maro Itoje, but for him, Farrell is the only one guaranteed to start.
Not only does he think he will start, but he believes Farrell will the Lions Test outhalf, as opposed to inside centre, where Eddie Jones has deployed him for England.
Not only is Farrell nailed on, but I think he is nailed on at fly-half. I know Jonathan Sexton, Dan Biggar, Finn Russell and George Ford will have their supporters, but Farrell is a better all-round fly-half than all of them, even if he plays with 12 on his back.
Biggar may have a kick-chase game and Ford plays closer to the line, but Farrell really has no glaring weaknesses in his game. And perhaps his greatest strength is his reliability. Pressure does not faze him and he is durable. Now Gatland has one name on his teamsheet, there are 14 others that need filling.
What do you think? Do you agree with Healey?
