Owen Farrell has brushed off his Lions spat with Saracens teammate Schalk Brits and insists there is no bad blood between the pair.

Brits will serve a three-week ban at the start of next season after he was cited for striking Farrell during the Lions' match against the Barbarians on Saturday.

Farrell was initially penalised for his reaction to the incident but the referee reversed his decision and yellow-carded Brits after seeing television replays.

Farrell said: "Things happen in rugby. I was trying to hold him into a ruck, and he reacted to that. It all happens in rugby. There's no dramas there.

"When someone reacts to you, you try not to take a backward step, not just in this occasion but in every occasion. I just grabbed him. There was nothing nasty in it.

"It is a reminder of how vital it is to keep cool and not respond to provocation.

"These are big games, every game for the Lions is massive, and to lose someone to the bin would be massive. You can't afford to do that - everyone has to be disciplined.

"I shook Schalk's hand after the game, and he apologised when he came back on to the field."

Farrell kicked 15 points in the Lions' 59-8 win over the Ba-Baas but Warren Gatland's side were not entirely convincing as hot conditions took their toll.

"It was tough to handle the ball out there," Farrell said.

"It felt fine during the warm-up when everything was dry, but as soon as your shirt got wet and peoples' hands were wet passing the ball, which was soaking, you might have been playing in torrential rain as far as the ball was concerned.

"I have never played in humidity like that. It was tough, but it wasn't unbearable.

"I know that you are going to have to get your recovery right now. Some people will have to back up for the next game, so that's important."