Owen Farrell reveals the 100th cap moment that was 'a bit awkward'
Inspiring England captain Owen Farrell has revealed the one moment about his milestone 100th Test cap that felt awkward this weekend. It wasn’t anything that took place on the pitch on Saturday in the bonkers 25-all draw with the All Blacks. Instead, it was the glowing tributes paid to him the previous night by his teammates that left him feeling a touch queasy.
It was February 2012 when the now 31-year-old was first capped for his country and he has now become only the third men’s player to earn 100 England caps, following in the footsteps of Jason Leonard and Ben Youngs.
Farrell, though, wasn’t getting caught up in the hype surrounding his new membership of a very exclusive England club. “It’s a special game anyway,” he said about the rare match with the All Blacks.
“The lads said a few things last night [Friday], which was really nice. I’m not used to it, felt a bit awkward but it is special. I don’t want to downplay it. I’m not taking it for granted, but there was a job to do this week in a big game and the most exciting thing for me was the performance of the lads. It was a special game and I’m glad I was part of it.”
With England having emerged with a draw that looked unattainable until the final minutes, Jones chided the media at his post-game briefing for their generally hard-nosed perception of Farrell and called on them to show some kindness for a change to the captain.
“Owen’s leadership was fantastic,” he enthused. “100 Tests, third highest point scorer in the game, he led the team, kept the composure of the team, and when there was a chance to put down the foot we did it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves so maybe today you can be kind, find some kindness in your heart and give him some credit. It might even make him smile when he picks up the paper tomorrow. Just try to find a bit of kindness in your heart.”
Let’s hear some more from Farrell about what he felt was the most exciting part of his big day, the performance of the lads. “The belief shown by the team in that second half was outstanding. I felt we were always in the game even though it didn’t reflect it, especially on the scoreboard in that first half.
“As Eddie said, some other teams, even better teams, would have dropped off and it didn’t feel like we were going to and then in the second half, we knocked on the door for a good 20 minutes at the start of it and didn’t quite get the points back that we thought we wound but we stayed at it and had proper belief. I’m proud of the team for that.”
Especially pleasing, he added, was the determination of the youthful England half-backs. “Jack van Poortvliet didn’t look flustered after he made the mistakes. There are loads of young lads that come into Test rugby and go into a big game like today and make a mistake and just don’t want to make another mistake.
“He wasn’t like that, and I thought Marcus (Smith) was brilliant. I thought he was lively. I thought he was at it the whole game and when the opportunities came he was ready for them.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
50 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
50 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
50 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
50 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
50 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
50 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments