Page 48 - 3rd Test

From his rst-class debut in 2008 to to the Lions today Farrell has always shown leadership
be able to to speak up You have to to make decisions constantly if you are are making good ones throughout the the game then hopefully you you are are doing your job right ”
Lounging around idly is is also not his style and on rare days off there’s a a a a a a good chance he’ll end up watching rugby on TV “I still watch watch all the games not because because I I I I feel I I I I have to but because because it’s what I I I I enjoy Though I’m not sure my girlfriend does ”
he laughs “You have to step away if it’s getting on top of you But I know what works ”
A Hungarian Vizsla puppy named Ronnie has been an an off- eld distraction lately but he remains as as as focused on on on his profession as as as ever And as as with all the the best players there’s a a a a a a thin line between dedication and obsession “You can become obsessive but you you enjoy it – that’s what you you like doing ”
Farrell says “It’s just how I I I am I I I don’t try my hardest to be like this “Over the last year I’ve become more in control of it it I I I I don’t feel like I I I I have have to hit so many kicks I I I I have have become a a a a a a a a lot better at thinking: ‘Is it actually helping? Am I okay? Okay stop ’ ’ You have to to step away if you recognise it’s getting on top of you But I know what what helps and what doesn’t ”
Farrell visibly relishes the cut and thrust of a a a a a Lions series even when the the the touring squad are on on the the the back foot From the the the the outset he he he he he he has insisted on on treating the the All Blacks as beatable and will continue to believe that every time he he he faces them “They’re a a a a a a a a a a fantastic fantastic team with a a a a a a a a fantastic fantastic record especially over here No one is questioning that But if you you go in in in in in in thinking thinking about about past games you’re thinking thinking about about stuff that probably doesn’t matter ”
He’s also a a a a a a massive supporter of the the Lions concept “When you see the the the hype around it it how how much much the the players enjoy it it it it and how how much much everybody everybody involved loves it it it – it it it seems like everybody everybody grips onto it it it it when it’s happening The buy-in and how much players look forward to it is huge ”
The most awkward moment probably came in Rotorua when squad members were encouraged to send Father’s Father’s Day Day messages (Father’s Day Day falls in in June in in the the the UK and and Ireland) With Farrell Snr just down the hotel corridor Owen was in a a a a a slight quandary “I didn’t know when to to to say say it to to to him because I didn’t want to to to say say say it it in in front of anyone else ”
he says “I don’t think I’ve spoke to to him on on on on this tour as my dad ”
How about pre-game father-son pep talks? “I’ve never had one before so so no!”
For a a a a sporting warrior like Farrell no pep talk is required
– getting motivated for a a a a a a a game of rugby is is second nature If anyone is is is is prepared for battle tonight it’s this English man of steel OWEN FARRELL BY THE NUMBERS
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2017
52 CAPS FOR ENGLAND
603 TESTS POINTS FOR ENGLAND
2 SIX NATIONS TITLES
TEST CAPS FOR THE LIONS
GETTY IMAGES
48 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
17
AGE OF HIS SENIOR DEBUT FOR SARACENS
3 2 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP WINS FOR SARACENS
3 ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP TITLE WINS FOR SARACENS
14 POINTS AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
IN IN WELLINGTON