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'They're trying to sway them' - Owen Farrell admits family loyalties still in play

By PA
Owen Farrell - PA

England captain Owen Farrell admits his mother Colleen is stuck in an unenviable position as he attempts to deny father Andy Grand Slam glory with Ireland.

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The personal circumstances of the Farrell family is a major subplot going into Saturday’s sold-out Dublin showdown, with the hosts odds-on favourites to complete a Guinness Six Nations clean sweep.

Fly-half Farrell is out to spoil the St Patrick’s weekend party at the Aviva Stadium after being recalled by Steve Borthwick, having begun last weekend’s 53-10 thrashing by France on the bench.

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The 31-year-old insists it will be business as usual for him and his dad but concedes it is a tricky situation for relatives caught in the middle.

“It’s not weird for us two,” he said. “It’s probably a bit more weird for the family that’s supporting, especially my mum.

“She says she doesn’t know what she wants to happen. It’s probably a bit tough for her – well, I know it is.

“But in terms of us, we’re just doing our job. He’s not out there on the field, it’s not direct competition.

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“We’ve been doing it for a long time now. It’s not the first time we’ve done it.”

Owen’s sons Tommy and Freddie are staying at his parents’ house in the Dublin suburb of Sandymount.

Ireland head coach Andy, who is not currently at home due to preparing his team for the mouthwatering championship finale, joked on Thursday that he would attempt to convert his grandsons into home fans and have them wearing green jerseys.

Both boys own England and Ireland shirts but Owen expects them to be sporting the former this weekend.

“They’re a bit young yet (to decide where their allegiances lie),” he said.

“They’re just doing as their grandad’s told them to, they’re staying at their grandad’s house so I guess it’s his rules this weekend so far.

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“I assumed – and I do still assume – that they will be wearing England jerseys but I see they’re trying to sway them.”

Rivalries aside, the Saracens player has been majorly impressed by what his father has achieved on the other side of the Irish Sea.

“Ireland are going really well at the minute, going for a Grand Slam which is a massive occasion for them,” he said.

“They’re flying at the minute.

“They’re not number one in the world for nothing and there’s definitely a lot of pride in our family for the job that he’s doing.”

Farrell junior believes he has ironed out the kicking issues he endured ahead of being dropped for the record-breaking humiliation at the hands of the French.

He insists England are far better than that unacceptable showing and have conducted a thorough inquest.

“Obviously we’re hurting a bit from last week,” he said.

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“We’re looking to take a step forward, we’re going to play the best we can and we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s two good teams going at it. Off the back of last week, everybody – especially from the outside – is very down about where we’re at at the minute.

“We’ve no doubt we’re better than that and we’re looking forward to the game.

“That wasn’t good enough, it never is in an England shirt.

“We’ve been looking at it closely, probably closer than everybody else, and we’re looking at what we can do better and trying to get that out on the field tomorrow.”

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JW 2 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

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