Former England captain primed for stunning British and Irish Lions call after Daly’s heart-breaking injury
Owen Farrell reportedly to join the Lions as Elliot Daly replacement
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is reportedly preparing to replace Elliot Daly after the talented Saracens man was removed from the field on Wednesday with a forearm injury.
Daly had been one of the stars of the match during the Lions’ 12-52 victory over the Reds, but suffered the potentially tour-ending injury late into the second half when he attempted to tackle Reds skipper Jock Campbell.
The pain of the resulting collision left him requiring immediate treatment. Despite initially playing on, he was soon replaced by Garry Ringrose, who slotted in on the wing with Tommy Freeman reverting to full-back.
Speaking about the true extent of the injury post-match, Farrell said: “He is pretty sore in there, we’re getting him an X-ray. It looks like he has taken a knock to his forearm there, so fingers crossed for him.”
The results of the X-ray will dictate whether the 32-year-old is able to continue his tour or whether a replacement will need to be drafted in.
Elliot Daly’s replacement options
Regarding Daly’s potential replacement, there have already been plenty of names bounced around online, with Scotland’s Tom Jordan and Wales’ Blair Murray being suggested as top options due to their versatility in the backline.
Meanwhile, with the likes of Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan in the squad with plenty of added cover from the likes of Huw Jones, Marcus Smith and Freeman at full-back, head coach Farrell has plenty of options in the number 15 jersey.
English newspaper, The Telegraph, has suggested that Farrell will be looking in another direction – at his son, Owen Farrell.
Although not a direct positional replacement for Daly, his Saracens teammate Farrell does possess versatility in the playmaking positions, with other centres being used to provide back-up cover out wide if needed.
Owen’s arrival in the squad, which would be for his fourth tour, could well provide that extra bit of leadership that a side like the Lions would benefit from.
While the news is not yet confirmed, Andy Farrell did suggest last month to multiple publications that the door was still open for Owen to walk through in case of injury to others. His refusal to rule him out has indicated the very real possibility that his return is on the cards.
A call-up for the former England captain would be somewhat controversial, considering the fact that he has not played any international rugby since the 2023 Rugby World Cup and his indifferent form for Racing 92 last season, but Farrell is proven pedigree at the highest level and in a Lions jersey.
