1
What written judgement said about Alex Mann's role in gouging saga
4
{{item.n}}
Owen Farrell hints England career is far from over as he draws inspiration from rival
By Jon Newcombe
British and Irish Lion Owen Farrell has refused to rule out an England comeback – but admits he needs to be in the right place first before being in the reckoning for selection.
ADVERTISEMENT
Farrell stepped away from the Test arena after the 2023 World Cup, citing a need to focus on his and his family’s mental well-being.
He moved to France to join Racing 92 but the Wiganer was dogged by injuries and a loss of form and cut short his stay in Paris by agreeing to rejoin Saracens.
The move back to the Gallagher Premiership has opened the door for Farrell to potentially add to his 112 England caps, a prospect that has been ignited by his return to international rugby with the Lions.
When Elliot Daly was ruled out, Farrell answered his father Andy’s call to join the squad in Australia, where he made the first of his four tours in 2013.
The 33-year-old came off the bench in the 48-0 win against the Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV, which was the final curtain-raiser before last weekend’s first Test, and will make his first start as captain of the midweek team against the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday.
A Test match animal in the truest sense of the word, Farrell divides opinion – even amongst his own supporters, and was booed by a section of Lions supporters when he came on for his first appearance of the tour.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, his credentials have never been in doubt and England and Lions captain Maro Itoje recently endorsed his comeback claims.
Learning to deal with criticism, particularly that found in the cesspit of social media, is an unfortunate byproduct of being one of the world’s best players, who makes no apologies for how he goes about his business.
Even so, the steely-eyed Farrell says that sometimes the barbed comments can pierce the thickest of skins.
“If you go and knock on someone’s door and ask them how you played at the weekend, you wouldn’t really listen to their answer,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The thing that should matter to me and matter to us as players is what the people that matter to us think.
“So I guess the people that we should listen to are the proper rugby people, your mates. Not to say that’s people who’ll just pat you on the back, they’ll tell you how it is at the same time. But they’ll give you a real answer.
“I think if you do that and you’re in a good place, you can do that.
“It depends what place you are in at the time. There are times when people can say this, that and the other and it can just go over your head, and there are times when you’re not in the best place and you’re almost waiting for something to set you off.”
Remaining authentic and keeping things in perspective, Farrell, says, will be key to him enjoying every last minute of what remains of his career, whether that’s with England, the Lions or Saracens.
“I don’t know at this moment in time,” when asked about the prospect of pulling on the red rose jersey again.
“I am focused on what is happening now. I said it before now that I have signed back at the club at Saracens and I am determined to enjoy what I am doing; I am determined to love every minute of however long I have got left in the game that I love.
“My focus is on what is in front of me, which is here, and then when I get back to Saracens making sure I am myself. I think if I do that I’ll enjoy it and then we’ll see what happens.”
Having had 20 months away from international rugby between the last World Cup and his belated Lions call-up, Farrell has had a chance to draw breath and to try and work out what he needs to do to be in the right headspace in the face of the inevitable criticism that comes his way.
“Take it for what it is, and have some perspective,” he reasoned. “There are obviously a lot of external factors that can creep in and so on. But ultimately, it is up to me and how I am, making sure I am looking after myself, giving myself a break at times.
“I’m not someone who needs revving up too much, it is normally the other way of coming back down and relaxing, so having some perspective and looking after myself in that way will lead to being more of myself.”
Even so, Farrell doesn’t pretend to understand how social media has become what it is. “I understand that times are different and things catch fire quicker and that things grow legs and can take a life of its own. But I don’t understand it, no.”
As for being too old, Farrell points to Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton as an example of players playing at the highest level whilst the wrong side of 30. Sexton won the last of his 118 Ireland caps in the quarter-final defeat to New Zealand at RWC 2023 at the grand old age of 38.
“I am not old yet, Johnny played forever. I don’t know what age he was but he did it very, very well. I am obviously a half-back as well, and there’s loads left in us.
“You have got to keep performing and I want to make sure I am myself, and if I am myself, I’ll see what happens.
“I feel good. I’ve been over here for a while now. I’ve enjoyed getting stuck in, in training, I enjoyed playing the 30 minutes that I had chance to do, and tomorrow’s another opportunity to rip in.”