Page 44 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

OWEN FARRELL MARKED
his 50th appearance for England against Italy at the mid-point of this year’s Six Nations with his his usual
restraint: a a a a a a slightly self-conscious solo entrance followed by a a a a a a a a polite round of applause to the the fans in the the Twickenham stands – tens of of thousands of of whom rose from their seats to return the the compliment with plenty more enthusiasm – and a a a a a a a a a rendition of the the the national anthem that was almost the the the de nition of relaxed Not that his reserved style lasted long: in in fact it didn’t even survive the opening ve ve ve ve seconds It never does with Farrell The 25-year-old mid elder’s passionate side always rises to the the surface as as as soon as as as the the preliminaries
are done and and dusted and and while
things didn’t quite go go to plan against the Azzurri – his his goal-kicking was out of sync his his early decision-making more than a a a a a little scratchy – the the visitors were still sick of of of the the sight of of of him come close of of of play He tackled and and rucked and and mauled and cleared the the ball from the the base as as emergency halfback he he he coaxed and and cajoled and and for the the last third of of the the the game captained his his countrymen bringing the the the full force of of his his competitive personality to the the surface If no current England player is is is indispensable Farrell is is is the nearest thing to it When Clive Woodward coached England to a a a a a World Cup win in in 2003 – and and and when he he he led the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand a a a a a a a little under two years later – he he he had Jonny Wilkinson running the the show Now as as the the Lions cycle turns full circle he he he has openly stated that Farrell – currently playing his international rugby at at second ve-eighth ve-eighth instead of rst ve-eighth ve-eighth but equally capable in in in either role – is is making up ground on his predecessor fast “He is is already a a a a a a a a a world-class player ” Woodward said before the the Italy encounter “I believe he he he he has the the the potential to become one of the the all-time greats: hopefully a a a a a a a a World Cup winner perhaps even as Captain and possibly the most-capped player in in our history ” Yet it was another former England boss Brian Ashton who came closest to to capturing the essential spirit of England’s most important player – and and he he he did it by describing the the attributes of Farrell’s father Andy an an all-time great in in the the 13-man game who converted to rugby and is now undertaking a a a a a a second tour of duty for the Lions by by travelling to to All Blacks country as as defence coach When he he he was recalling the spirit-shredding experience of a a a a a a a record defeat by Ireland at at Croke Park in in in 2007 Ashton said: “Everything was wrong about about that game but everything
was was was right about about Andy Here was was was an individual of of real character who was was was capable of of showing his his qualities qualities as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a leader – – his his qualities qualities as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a man – – in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a situation of the greatest sporting adversity On that day in in in Dublin he he was one of those who didn’t crack He clearly relished pressure Not that I I was surprised I’d followed his career in rugby league and seen what he was made of I remember him coming into camp for the build-up to to 1959 TOUR CONTINUED ALL BLACKS (IN WELLINGTON) 11 KING COUNTRY-COUNTIES 5 5 WAIKATO 0 LIONS 8 44 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
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