Farrell: Lions’ Test experience will be the difference

British and Irish Lions defensive coach Andy Farrell says that the Lions collective
experience in big matches will prove to be the difference in the opening Test
match.

The Lions starting XV weighs in with a total of almost 800 Test caps headed
by Irish veterans Brian O’Driscoll and Paul Connell, who have 222 international
appearances between them.

The Wallabies in comparison have a combined 519 Test appearances, with three
players – Israel Folau, Christian Lealiifano and Ben Mowen – making their Test
debut.

And dual rugby international Farrell, whose flyhalf son Owen is on the Lions’
reserves bench, said that superior experience would be a telling factor against
the Wallabies.

“Experience in big games counts for a lot. Australia have got world-class
players and we’ve got world-class players,” Farrell told a press conference
on Friday.

“What you generally get when you come to an occasion like this is the
performance level rises another 10-15 percent and the more experience that you’ve
got (the better).

“It gives you great pleasure just to look around the team meeting this
morning and just see who’s in the room and who’s going to battle with you.”

Farrell said spending six weeks together on tour would be to the Lions’ benefit
and added that they had a couple of things up their sleeve to throw at the Wallabies
at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

“I think there’s a realisation that all we’ve worked for over the last
week is coming tomorrow. You can tell, Test week, there’s a buzz about the place,
there’s an excitement about the players,” the Englishman said.

“There’s an intensity about the way they train and the work ethic on and
off the park is at a different level. We certainly have had a great week.

“You train together for six weeks and you have a plan and you hold a few
things back and you don’t want to show everything you’ve got.

“But, at the end of the day, when it comes down to big games, everyone
knows what wins big games. It’s physicality, it’s energy, it’s a want to try
and get over your opposition and it won’t be any different whatsoever.

“We’re not stupid, there’s always going to be a plan there, we’ve got
to get our own house in order. Over the last six weeks, we’ve done a lot of
learning… You don’t want to show everything first up.”

The Bookies
have given Australia a 4 point start for this Match – with an
offer of a FREE $150 BET.

British and Irish Lions Warren Gatland on Team Selections: