Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Another Lions player admits Owen Farrell won him over on tour

(Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

Another British & Irish Lions player has admitted that marmite England player Owen Farrell had won him over on the tour of South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

Farrell, arguably English rugby’s biggest star, is revered by fans and respected by his teammates and opposition, but has become something of bete noire for opposition fans and players alike. However, the ultra-serious flyhalf appears to have won over a new fanbase during the ill-fated tour this summer.

Scotland flanker Hamish Watson revealed that Farrell defied his expectations, admitting on the RugbyPass Offload that the Saracens standoff was a ‘really refreshingly good lad’.

Video Spacer

Pre-Season & Lions debrief with Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson & Max Lahiff | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 1

Video Spacer

Pre-Season & Lions debrief with Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson & Max Lahiff | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 1

“Faz is a serious bloke but when you see the way someone like him works on the field, he’s so professional.

“That was the big difference on the Lions tour, everyone is so switched on during training.

“Let’s be honest, Faz looks like a very serious bloke on the field and people from other teams may not be his number one fan, but off the field, getting to know him particularly in the last week when he wasn’t involved in the Test match, he’s a really refreshingly good lad.

“We had some beers and it was great.”

Watson wasn’t the only player Farrell won over. Both Scotland’s Stuart Hogg and Ireland Bundee Aki admitted they harboured a newfound fondness for the 29-year-old.

ā€œI thought he was going to be intense throughout the whole time, but heā€™s one of them thatā€™s intense on a training field and he knows what he wants from it, but as soon as you finish training heā€™s proper chilled out,ā€Ā Hogg toldĀ Sean Oā€™BrienĀ and Adam Jones on theĀ House of RugbyĀ podcast.

ADVERTISEMENT

ā€œI didnā€™t get that vibe off him in the previous two tours. I think that is why we bonded so well, because heā€™s proper chilled out.”

Aki has similarly nice things to say about the Wigan born playmaker.

“But honestly Iā€™ve learnt so much off that guy,” said Aki.Ā “I didnā€™t think Iā€™d get along with him so well. Obviously you only know him from across the pitch, you only know him when youā€™re playing against him.

“But the standards heā€™s been doing when Iā€™m not selected, and the way heā€™s been approaching me as a person and as a player, heā€™s literally hanging around with us every single day.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Which is cool, because you donā€™t see that side of him. Heā€™s a great bloke to have around, Iā€™ve learnt so much off him. Like I said, I have enjoyed my time being here.ā€

 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING 'World-class finisher' offers All Blacks selection solution Mark Tele'a scores a double at Allianz Stadium
Search