Farrell

The hair of the dog is no miracle remedy. Colin Farrell knows this from experience.

The Irish actor learned the limits of the folk remedy many moons ago while filming “Minority Report,” the Steven Spielberg-directed tech noir film based on Philip K. Dick’s science fiction novella of the same name.

That fateful day on set, as Farrell told it Tuesday on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” was perhaps even more disturbing than the surveillance-state setting wherein the 2002 film unfolds.

It all started on the eve of Farrell’s birthday, he said. That night, he “got up to all sorts of nonsense” that landed him back home in the wee hours. At the time, Farrell was struggling to kick a longtime substance abuse habit.

“I remember getting into bed, and as soon as I turned off the light the phone rang,” the Academy Award winner said. He was 10 minutes late for his 6 a.m. pickup.

“I went, ‘Oh, s—.’”

Farrell said he had hardly fumbled his way out of his car when assistant director David H. Venghaus Jr. intercepted him, insisting, “You can’t go to the set like this.”

In response, the young actor requested six Pacifico beers and a pack of Marlboro Reds.

“Now listen, it’s not cool because two years later I went to rehab, right?” Farrell told Colbert. “But it worked in the moment.”

Did it, though?

In the end, Farrell said it took him 46 takes to deliver one single line, albeit a verbose one: “I’m sure you’ve all grasped the fundamental paradox of pre-crime methodology.”

“Tom wasn’t very happy with me,” Farrell said. Lucky for Cruise, he got a consolation prize in the form of a Saturn Award nomination from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Plus, “Minority Report’s” $35.6-million domestic opening didn’t hurt.

Farrell finally got sober a few years later, shortly before he filmed “In Bruges” (2008), he said at the 2021 Dublin International Film Festival.

At first, the transition was difficult to manage, Farrell said: “After 15 or 20 years of carousing the way I caroused and drinking the way I drank, the sober world is a pretty scary world.”

But “to come home and not to have the buffer support of a few drinks just to calm the nerves, it was a really amazing thing,” he said.

Jamie George, a titan of the 2017 tour in New Zealand, starts at hooker after he was drafted in from the England camp in Argentina.

Blair Kinghorn is back from injury and has been chosen in his favoured position at full-back.

Both wings are Scottish, with Darcy Graham, one of the many who have been called up as cover, on the right wing and Duhan van der Merwe on the left.

Fin Smith and Ben White are the half-backs, just as they were in the rout of AUNZ.

Pierre Schoeman and Finlay Bealham pack down either side of George in the front row, with James Ryan and Scott Cummings renewing a partnership that faced the Waratahs in game three in Australia.

Jac Morgan will start at blindside for the first time on tour, with Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock making up the back row.

Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Tom Clarkson and the latest call-up, Gregor Brown, all fill the bench as coach Andy Farrell throws a protective blanket over his first-choice players. Mack Hansen, who has been battling injury, is not included.

The relevance of this game is limited given that so many of the 23 are firmly out of Farrell’s thinking for Saturday’s second Test.

There are points of interest, however.

Kinghorn might well be playing for a starting place given that Hugo Keenan was hit-and-miss in the first Test. Kinghorn is probably favourite to take over.

Might Farrell be a bench contender on Saturday if he performs well on Tuesday, maybe at the expense of Marcus Smith?

Garry Ringrose, who is fit again, was having a storming tour before getting concussed against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

Does Farrell dare to break up the Scottish midfield by picking Ringrose ahead of Huw Jones? If not, does he bring Ringrose on to the bench for Saturday ahead of countryman Bundee Aki?

The Lions back row performed wonderfully in Brisbane so it is impossible to see a change there, but what about the back-up?

It was Earl on Saturday and it might well be Earl again, but Morgan, having played at seven throughout the tour, is now being given a shot at six. He is fighting for a place in the 23.

Tuesday’s opponents will be captained by the veteran Kurtley Beale.

The fly-half is one of six indigenous players, with the rest of the squad made up of men with Pacific Islands heritage.

It is the first game of its kind, a celebration of First Nations, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and Cook Island culture.

Tonga-born prop Taniela Tupou and Fiji-born wing Filipo Daugunu have been released from the Australia camp to play for a team coached by Australia 1999 World Cup winner Toutai Kefu.

Called up to replace Elliot Daly last week, Farrell took part in his first full training session with the Lions on Tuesday.

Itjoe – who took over from Jamie George as England captain before this year’s Six Nations – said he is excited about what the now four-time Lions tourist can bring to the table in Australia.

It is highly likely that Farrell, who can provide cover at fly-half and inside centre, will play against the AU-NZ Invitational side in Adelaide on Saturday.

It will be 10 weeks since he last played a game, having suffered a concussion with his former club Racing.

“It’s pretty exciting to see what he could potentially bring to us,” said Itoje.

“Owen and I actually went to the same school. When I was in Year 7, he was in Year 10 – so I’ve known Owen since I was literally 11.

“But he didn’t start talking to me until maybe I was 12 or so. The Year 10s didn’t really speak to the Year 7s. When I got to Year 8, he started to talk.

“I have a very good relationship with him. And he just wants the squad to do well. He’s obviously back at Saracens now, which is great.”

Itoje, who returns to the lions side for Wednesday’s game against the Brumbies, was also asked if he is bemused at the way people react to Farrell.

“It’s quite remarkable, really,” he said. “He does provoke pretty strong reactions, either way. It’s pretty crazy.

“I’m sure he’s thinking, like, ‘what did I do?’ But no, he’s fine, and I think everything will be cool.”

Maro Itoje returns to captain the British and Irish Lions against the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday as Andy Farrell’s Test team appears to take shape.

With the possible exception of one or two slots, this very much looks like the starting line-up to face the Wallabies in the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July.

Blair Kinghorn makes his first start in his favourite position at full-back with Tommy Freeman and James Lowe on the wings.

It was always likely Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki would form the Lions midfield since their direct rivals, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, both started against the Waratahs on Saturday.

The Ireland centres now look like they are in the box-seat for the first Test. Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park were the greatest of all certainties at half-back.

Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong get the nod in the front row.

Furlong is a totemic Lion but he has not been at his devastating best on tour so far.

Itoje and the Ireland enforcer Joe McCarthy are the locks, with Ollie Chessum’s power and lineout prowess getting him the blindside flanker jersey.

Tom Curry, like Furlong not at maximum impact so far on this tour, is trusted on the openside flank ahead of Josh van der Flier, who is on the bench, which means Jac Morgan does not make the 23.

Jack Conan is the only specialist number eight in the squad and starts against the Brumbies, with Henry Pollock – a late withdrawal against the Waratahs – named on the bench.

British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (capt), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen.

Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquin Moro, Simon Benitez Cruz, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero

Sin-bin: Vivas 45

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Andrea Piardi (Italy)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Saracens have held talks with Racing 92 about a possible return for former club captain Owen Farrell, Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall says.

Former England skipper Farrell moved to the French club last summer, having spent his career to that point in north London.

“I think there are some discussions with Racing as to whether or not they would release him from his contract,” McCall told TNT Sports after his side’s final day win over Bath.

Saracens are looking to recruit cover with Alex Lozowski set to be out long term due to an Achilles injury suffered at the end of March.

The club ended an inconsistent season sixth in the Premiership with their 36-26 victory over an under-strength Bath side at StoneX Stadium on Saturday.

It was just the third time Saracens have finished outside the top four since 2009.

Farrell, who has 112 England caps and has represented his country in three World Cups, was one of a number of senior players to depart the club last year including Mako and Billy Vunipola.