British & Irish Lion Owen Farrell believes lining up against retiring fly-half Jonny Wilkinson during this weekend’s European Cup final will go down as a massive privilege.
Wilkinson, who represented the Lions in 2001 and 2005, will take to the field for the penultimate time on Saturday as he attempts to lift the European Cup for the second successive season with Toulon.
Standing in the way of a victorious send off however will be Saracen and opposite number Farrell.
The 22-year-old came off the bench in the third and decisive Test Down Under last summer, and while Wilkinson failed to taste Lions series success, Farrell was in no doubt as to the impact made by England’s World Cup winner.
"To play against him is a massive privilege. He took the fly half position to a new level and he's one of very few players who have come into the game and set his own standards," said Farrell.
"He's not lived by anybody else's expectations – he's set his own. There are very few people who have done that and there will be very few people who will do that in the future.
"When that type of player comes along it's pretty special. Obviously, everybody knows how special it is because of the career he's had."
