Andy fully in support of Owen’s France plan
ANDY FARRELL expressed his support yesterday for son Owen’s right to pursue a new career challenge in France — and will consider him and others based across the Channel for Lions selection.
After Farrell Snr was officially unveiled as head coach of the next British and Irish tour, to Australia next summer, he addressed the speculation that Owen — who recently stepped down as England captain — could be poised for a move to Racing 92 in Paris.
Asked if, as a coach, he could understand a player exploring new options, Andy said: ‘Of course, it’s their prerogative. It’s their career. It’s a short career.
‘You’ve got to do things that float your boat, that make you and your family happy. A career is all about the memories you’re going to create, not just for yourself but for others as well.
‘For some, the thought of devoting yourself to one club is extra, extra special, as Owen has done at Saracens. But if things do change — and I don’t know whether they will or they won’t — then it will be for the right reasons.’
As ever, Farrell was uncomfortable with questions about his son, but after Lions chief executive Ben Calveley confirmed that there will be no policy preventing players based overseas from being picked, Andy said of Owen: ‘It’s about form. Selection is the same as for everyone. We’ll consider everyone with regards to whether they make a difference to the touring party.’
The occasion in the City of London yesterday was all about the father rather than the son. It was all about the Lions, rather than a club transfer issue.
Farrell Snr has been on two previous tours as the defence guru and now, after such fine work in charge of Ireland, he has earned the top job. It was no shock, despite earnest claims it took six months to make the decision. Frankly, it should have taken six minutes. It was a formality.
The pride was unmistakable as the man of the moment said: ‘It means the world to me. To be chosen is magical. I love everything about the format. I love the build-up to games, how tough that is for the touring party. The three-match Test part is special, because there should be a winner, really.
‘When it goes to 1-1 and the Australians are so relieved — you saw their captain on the floor in 2013 with tears in his eyes, so you knew what it meant. Getting yourself back up that week to put in a performance like we did in the third Test is a memory that will stay with you for ever. I’m hoping for another one.’
When pressed on how he has evolved as a coach in the intervening years since his stint as defence coach on that tour, he added: ‘It’s not a magic formula. It’s about taking the time to build relationships. You learn that on any type of tour but when you’re on a tour that’s as demanding as a Lions tour, you learn that in spades.’
Farrell will be on full-time Lions duty once the autumn internationals are over in November, so he has time to prepare for Australia; choosing assistants, a squad and a captain, before going into pre-tour camp armed with helpful player-release arrangements, for a change.
Whether the Wallabies will be ready is another matter. They are currently coachless and in disarray after a pool-stage exit from the World Cup and the abrupt departure of Eddie Jones.
But the man who will be plotting their Test-series downfall is braced for a resurgence. ‘I know that Australian rugby needs a little bit of repair,’ he said. ‘But the candidates talked about (for the head coach job), and knowing the quality of player they have... We played Australia recently and it was one of the toughest games we’ve had at the Aviva in the last few years. So I know they are going to get it right. It’s a fact that they will.’