England captain ‘infuriated’ by Owen Farrell Lions call-up reaction after ‘daddy pick’ remark
Jamie George on Owen Farrell's call-up to the British and Irish Lions squad.
Jamie George insists there is no better man in Europe than Owen Farrell to help the British and Irish Lions be successful and has condemned abuse aimed at Farrell and head coach father Andy over his call-up.
David Campese, the former Australia star, branded the decision to summon England’s record points scorer as an injury replacement “a weak pick by daddy” in his column for Planet Rugby. Elsewhere, social media has been awash with criticism from supporters questioning why he was preferred to more in-form players.
George, preparing to co-captain England against Argentina today, blasted: “It infuriates me [the social media reaction]. I’ve never understood it and I never will. Owen deserves a significant amount more respect than he is getting.
A born winner
“I understand there are different circumstances around [this Lions selection] but strip it back and look at what he’s achieved. The bloke’s a winner, a born winner and what are the Lions there to do? They are there to win a Test series.
“Is there a better man in the whole of Europe to go out there and do that? No. Owen is the right man to go out there and do that, whether he plays in the Test series or not.”
Asked whether he believes the Lions could be a one-off return to the international arena for his good friend because of the reaction, George said: “Probably, if I’m honest.”
Farrell, who has 112 caps, stepped down from Test duty in November 2023 to “prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being” after being booed by some of his own fans whilst captaining England at the World Cup in France.
George said: “Owen has worked incredibly hard off the field to be in a brilliant head space, he’s in a great head space.
Much better place
“It’s like he’s taken a massive deep breath and a huge weight off his shoulders. As a mate I love seeing that and hearing that. He’s been able to go out and get perspective on all of it.
“He’s developed and matured and he is going to be in a much better place to deal with the rubbish that is said about him.
“I’m hoping he’ll be able to shrug that off and focus on what a brilliant influence he is going to have on what is going to be a very memorable Test series.”
