Owen Farrell faces fitness race ahead of first All Blacks Test

Owen Farrell faces a race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against New Zealand after suffering a quadriceps strain.

The England outhalf will miss Saturday’s Maori All Blacks clash with a “grade one” quad injury — and the Lions will hope he can recover in time to face New Zealand in Auckland on June 24th.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will replace Farrell on the Lions' bench for Saturday's Maori clash in Rotorua.

“Owen Farrell has suffered a grade one quadriceps strain in training and has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions match against the Maori All Blacks on Saturday evening,” read a Lions statement.

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“The England and Saracens playmaker will be replaced on the bench by Wales fly-half Dan Biggar.”

Farrell had shown imperious form in the Lions’ fine 12-3 win over much-vaunted Super Rugby leaders the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend.

Head coach Warren Gatland will want the 25-year-old to play a pivotal role in the first Test against the All Blacks on Saturday week.

So the 52-cap England star will now launch an immediate bid to ease past this setback to contest selection for the Eden Park showdown.

Gatland hailed Johnny Sexton for rediscovering his "mojo" in naming the Ireland fly-half to start against the Maori.

Should Farrell fail to recover in time for the first Test, then Sexton would be almost certain to wear the Lions’ number 10 jersey.