If Farrell is able to take his time over selecting his playing squad, his coaching ticket is slightly more urgent, with negotiations to be done between the Lions and the various unions or clubs to ensure release from their contracts.
In theory, Farrell has countless coaches to choose from as he looks to assemble a dream backroom team. The reality is a little different.
England boss Steve Borthwick – a key man in 2017 and wanted by Gatland again in 2021 – is not available.
Gregor Townsend, an assistant in South Africa three years ago and a Lions hero as a player, is expected to take his Scotland side on their summer tour. Ireland defence coach Simon Easterby is stepping into Farrell’s shoes.
Other big names have been touted.
Ronan O’Gara, three times a Lions tourist and a serial winner as a coach, would be a brilliant coup for Farrell, but it is inconceivable he would be released by La Rochelle for the business end of the Top 14 season.
It is even more unlikely Shaun Edwards would be released by France with Les Bleus going on tour to New Zealand next July.
Therefore Farrell’s team will predominantly come from those currently coaching at the home unions.
Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy, England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth, and exiled England coach Felix Jones – who by next summer will be a free agent – are all prime contenders.
So too is Ireland forwards coach O’Connell, a man who toured with distinction in 2005, 2009 and 2013. O’Connell was in the mix to go as a coach last time around, but lacked experience at the highest level at the time, something that is not an issue four years on.
Another man in the Ireland set-up, strength and conditioning guru Aled Walters, feels a certainty.
In January Farrell will lead a Lions delegation to Australia for a reconnaissance trip, before the start of his ultimate scouting mission, the Six Nations.
But first he will take a few weeks to get his feet under the table, aided by his Sandymount home being a stone’s throw from Lions headquarters in Ballsbridge, and says he will not rush to make the big calls.
“Obviously there is a bit of planning that needs to happen,” he said.
“I am going to give myself a little bit of space to get across all that. If you get things done too early, you can’t undo them. So a little bit of patience and now I’ll have a bit of time to be able to hopefully see the path as it should be.”
