'Why would you not call up Owen Farrell for Lions?'

Owen Farrell's call-up to nan British and Irish Lions circuit of Australia could beryllium a "masterstroke", says erstwhile England scrum-half and Danny Care.

Care, a long-time half-back partner of Farrell for England, backed nan determination for Lions caput coach Andy Farrell to call up his son, contempt his wounded struggles and deficiency of world crippled time.

The erstwhile England skipper has replaced inferior backmost Elliot Daly, who was ruled retired of nan circuit aft fracturing his limb successful Wednesday's win complete Queensland Reds.

"Why would you not prime Owen Farrell?" Care told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"Whatever position he is going to play, immoderate domiciled he's going to play successful that squad, they are only a amended squad for having him there.

Care has seen first manus really Farrell sets standards some connected and disconnected nan pitch.

"If Owen turns up and delivers standards and delivers a amended capacity from nan Lions, and wide and you spot a much connected team, past you person to spell 'what a masterclass and a masterstroke from nan coaches'," he added.

Farrell, 33, has not played world rugby successful astir 2 years and precocious returned to Saracens aft a difficult play successful Paris pinch Racing 92.

The fly-half, who tin besides play wrong centre, has not played successful astir 9 weeks aft a concussion ended his play early.

Once he arrives successful Australia, Farrell will beryllium nan only subordinate successful nan squad to person gone connected 4 Lions tours, wherever he will look to adhd to his six Tests.

"Whatever squad Owen is successful he makes them better. I person nary uncertainty successful immoderate style he is, he will slot successful perfectly fine," added Care.

"I dream he hits nan crushed running, and everyone conscionable gets connected pinch it."

Care recalls really a suspended Owen Farrell played a important domiciled successful preparing England for their pivotal opening crippled of nan 2023 Rugby World Cup against Argentina.

"I spell backmost to nan World Cup wherever he goes into nan tourney pinch a ban, but nan measurement he drove nan standards of nan full group," he said.

"The measurement he drove nan midweek teams, preparing nan first squad to play against Argentina and nan masterclass that George Ford delivered there.

"Owen prepped that squad truthful good for that.

"Whatever Owen's domiciled is going to beryllium connected that circuit he is only going to adhd and beryllium a affirmative power and thrust nan standards moreover more."

Daly's acquisition arsenic a inferior backmost is simply a unsocial one. The 32-year-old has played centre, helping and full-back crossed 3 Lions tours and was playing his measurement into a Test spot.

Scotland's Tom Jordan, who is touring adjacent by successful his autochthonal New Zealand, tin play 10, 12 and 15 and was a earthy fresh to screen aggregate positions.

Ireland's Jamie Osborne, capped by Farrell past summertime successful South Africa, will complete nan group of playing world rugby astatine full-back, helping and centre against Georgia connected Saturday.

Andy Farrell made clear he had "loads of full-backs" pinch Hugo Keenan and Blair Keenan, nan apt contenders for nan Test 15 spot, group to play their first crippled connected circuit against NWS Waratahs connected Saturday.

With Marcus Smith besides capable to screen 15, this ruled retired in-form Wales full-back Blair Murray.

Scotland helping Darcy Graham helping was unlucky to miss retired connected nan first squad and offers little versatility but could person added different action successful nan backmost three.

Ireland's Mack Hansen and England's Tommy Freeman person some played for their nine astatine full-back, which Andy Farrell antecedently referenced was an important facet successful their first selection.

"I will beryllium honest; I look astir and deliberation who other could he call-up?" Care said.

"Out of everyone that is going that tin screen a mates of positions. He would beryllium apical of my list.

"Why wouldn't you return personification who has been location 3 times, worn nan garment and knows what it takes?

"There will beryllium sceptical group because he hasn't played due Test lucifer rugby for a agelong time.

"I do not deliberation that matters pinch Owen, I really don't."

Former Lions fly-half Dan Biggar toured pinch Owen Farrell successful 2017 and 2021 and wrote successful his Daily Mail column, external that nan guidance are being "quite naive" if they deliberation nan action will "blow complete quietly".

He besides wonders if Farrell will impact nan move of nan fly-halves arsenic he is "a immense personality" and will person a "big influence" connected nan squad.

"We've been praising Russell each year. He looks for illustration nan main man. It feels for illustration this is his infinitesimal and you don't cognize what benignant of effect Farrell coming successful will person connected that dynamic," Biggar added.

Stuart Barnes, a Lions tourer successful 1993, wrote successful nan Times, external that nan problem pinch Farrell's call-up was not "nepotism" but "on form, nan action is simply a joke".

And for illustration Biggar, nan erstwhile England fly-half questioned whether Russell would beryllium hindered by Farrell's presence.

"Farrell's prime is simply a disturbing decision. It could moreover go a disturbance. Let's dream not," he added.

Brian O'Driscoll, a four-time Lions tourist, believes Farrell's activity skills mean he will "accepted very, very well" and he added connected Off The Ball, external that he could spot him starting 1 of nan Tests astatine wrong centre.

"He could alteration their crippled aliases bring an other dimension," he added. "His scope of passing is phenomenal."