Owen on the bench as coach resists temptation

OWEN Farrell is among the replacements for tomorrow's British and Irish Lions clash with an Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV after being drafted into the squad.

- By DAMIAN SPELLMAN

The 33-year-old Saracens and England fly-half only arrived in the southern hemisphere last Friday following the arm fracture which ended Elliot Daly’s tour prematurely.

He has quickly had to get up to pace with his teammates, who are unbeaten in four outings Down Under with one remaining before the first Test in Brisbane.

Head coach Andy Farrell has resisted the temptation to throw his son, who has been drafted in as cover at inside centre, into his starting lineup at the earliest opportunity, but is confident he is ready to make a 19th Lions appearance if and when required tomorrow in Adelaide.

He said: “He's the same as everyone else who's had to get up to speed pretty quickly. Everyone had to at the start, obviously, and then a few have come in since.