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Four answers, no insight... how England skipper Owen Farrell kept mention of Ireland dad Andy under wraps ahead of Saturday's reunion
It’s the topic that is repeatedly very awkward for England skipper Owen Farrell – talk about your dad, the Ireland coach Andy Farrell, in public. Son and father used to work together at Saracens and England, but they have mostly been on different career trajectories since the disastrous 2015 World Cup.
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Unwanted by incoming England boss Eddie Jones, Farrell Snr was snapped up by Ireland as their defence coach under Joe Schmidt and his responsibilities have since taken on a different hue. Farrell took charge of the whole shooing match at the top of the year, a development that has added a new layer to the intrigue surrounding the Farrells.
Lions tour 2017 was the last time there were operating on the same side but they are due a catch-up this Saturday when England host Ireland in the Autumn Nations Cup at Twickenham, the first time they will have seen each other in nine weeks.
That September 19 day in Dublin, Owen was seen approaching the VIP seats at the Aviva Stadium for a socially distanced chat with dad prior to Saracens defeating Leinster in a Champions Cup quarter-final, a match that the London club’s out-half was suspended for following a Premiership red card.
Two months on, their paths will now cross again during Saturday’s pre-game warm-up, but getting a handle on the dynamic between the pair remains impossible to gauge, so guarded is Owen when it comes to talking about his father.
Seconds out for latest round of Stander vs Farrell https://t.co/A4WAjAaqpD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 18, 2020
There were four questions put to him at his Thursday media conference and every short answer highlighted how it’s a topic that remains off public limits. Initially asked that it must be a while since he had seen Andy, he replied: “I have to book in with him now (over Zoom). Obviously, I have not seen him for a long time but obviously still speak as anyone would do with family.”
Does Owen understand the pressure dad now faces being a head coach? “Yeah, obviously, that’s normally where the opportunity is, that’s normally where the good stuff comes. I’m excited for him.”
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Has he noticed a change in Farrell’s Ireland compared to Schmidt’s Ireland? “You’re probably better off asking someone within the (Ireland) camp. Obviously, he is putting his own stamp on it a bit with obviously a lot that has been learnt while being involved with Ireland before he took over. I guess it’s hoping that it’s a progression.”
And about dad getting that top job with the Irish? “Yeah, yeah. Obviously, it’s a step up but it’s something that he has always wanted and it’s good that he has got this opportunity now.”
Five obviouslys and little real insight… for sure, it’s remains an awkward topic for the England captain to be open about.
The attention you get when you start 3?? Kiwis and 2?? South Africans #AutumnNationsCup #Rugby #ENGvIREhttps://t.co/yglCVGkbFK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to commentsjesus - that front 5!
1 Go to commentsShould be an absolute cracker of a game! Will be great to see DuPont & Ntamack in tandem once again🔥
1 Go to comments