FIRE & ICE
Captain Faz demands burning desire and cool heads when England enter the Dragons den
OWEN FARRELL will demand fire in English hearts but the coolest of heads when they enter the Dragons’ den tonight.
A fortnight of mind games has raised the emotional temperature to near boiling point ahead of this Grand Slam eliminator between the Six Nations’ two unbeaten teams.
And Farrell senses that being distracted from their game plan is the biggest threat to England’s title ambitions.
He has listened to Eddie Jones wind up the Welsh with talk of their ‘greatest ever’ team and how playing this England side represents the biggest game of their lives.
He has heard Warren Gatland fire back and been reminded of how Wales mucked England about in the tunnel before this fixture four years ago.
So on the eve of battle against a team 80 minutes from a national record 12th straight win, Farrell chose to dwell more on focus and control than fire and brimstone.
The England captain said: “Emotionally we’ve got to be spot on because you can be too tense and that causes you to do things you don’t normally do.
“Wales will be up for this game and we have to make sure we are in the right place.
“You have to make sure the pressure brings the best out of you. Games like this are usually about doing the simple things well, not trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat.”
Farrell does not hide from the fact he himself has previous when it comes to losing focus and pursuing the odd individual agenda.
“You grow, you learn how to handle things better,” he said. But both he and England have been immaculate in this championship and arrive in Cardiff totally trusting in their processes.
“In the last two games we have been emotionally spot on and that’s not by chance,” said the skipper. “It’s because the lads have built it up in the right way.
“Whatever is thrown at us, I’d expect or hope we would be calm enough to deal with it.”
Farrell’s message was reinforced by Jones instructing England to assume the role of a heavyweight boxer.
“Wait for the knockout opportunity then take it,” he said. “Don’t get involved in endless spars with which you can’t win the game. Play tough, think smart.”
The combined loss of Mako Vunipola and Maro Itoje is a blow to the visitors’ power game yet Wales still need to improve significantly to beat them.
Gatland declared that they would be champions if they beat France in their opening match. He then claimed his team had forgotten how to lose.
He has certainly created an expectation, but one which Jones warns can be wind in their sails – or a ball and chain.