Owen Farrell hailed 'the best player I've played with' by 2013 series winner

Owen Farrell has been hailed as “the best player I think I’ve played with” by 2013 and 2017 British & Irish Lions tourist Jonathan Davies.

The former centre joined Off the Ball recently to discuss the Englishman’s call-up to the Lions squad, where he is set to start on the bench in the second Test against the Wallabies at the MCG.

The 96-cap Wales international played with Farrell in the 2013 series win over the Wallabies, but formed a more prominent partnership with the Saracens star four years later, forming a centre partnership together for the second and third Tests against the All Blacks.

Despite playing with some legends of the game in both the red of Wales and the Lions, the 37-year-old had no hesitation naming the former England captain the best player he played with.

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“He’s very private and doesn’t let much out into the public, but I think when you spend time with him and play with him, you understand the quality, not only of the player but the man as well,” he said.

“The best player I think I’ve played with.”

The Welshman highlighted Farrell’s leadership and the trust they built with one another in the drawn series with the All Blacks, saying: “You talk about your planning to play against certain players, such as Sonny Bill Williams. I’m not going to be able to defend him one-on-one all the time, so let’s have a bit of a strategy, and we’d be clear on that strategy. That would help us prep for those games.

“There were decisions where I would be able to put pressure on the All Blacks, and it would come from Owen just saying ‘Go, go, go, I’ve got you covered’. Then I’m able to go without hesitation. It helps you when you have that in the week leading up. It’s about spending time, building and understanding really.”