Obvious choice Farrell to captain British & Irish Lions vs Pasifika, says Easterby

Owen Farrell was the “clear and obvious” choice to captain the British and Irish Lions against a First Nations and Pasifika XV, assistant coach Simon Easterby said Monday, hailing his impact on the squad since being called up.

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The tourists have won all six games in Australia so far, including a polished 27-19 victory over the Wallabies in the first Test at Brisbane on Saturday.

But with the second Test at the cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, head coach Andy Farrell is not risking any injuries to his first-choice players.

None of the Brisbane starting side are in the matchday 23 for the clash at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Tuesday against a team spearheaded by Wallabies great Kurtley Beale.

That has opened the door to others looking to make a late case to play a part in the second Test, including former England skipper Farrell.

He came off the bench for a solid cameo against a combined Australia-New Zealand side after his surprise call-up by his father Andy to replace the injured Elliot Daly.

The 33-year-old now gets another chance to press his case to be involved in the second Test, in what will be his 20th Lions appearance on his fourth tour.