Farrell facing audition for England’s lead role
ANDY FARRELL could make life uncomfortable for Eddie Jones on Saturday — and also make a timely statement about his suitability to replace him as England head coach.
The family name has been up in lights at Twickenham for several years and that era of influence could be extended if Ireland deliver a hammer blow to the English campaign in this Six Nations.
They come to London as favourites and the sub-plot involving their head coach is intriguing.
An Irish win would leave England facing another two-win, three-loss championship tally, given that they have to go to Paris on the final weekend for what looms as a hopeless mission. So Farrell’s team could condemn Jones to another tense RFU inquest and could also help convince his former employers that they need to bring him back.
Farrell (right), 46, must be regarded as a prime candidate for the England job on the basis that he ticks two key boxes. He has amassed considerable international experience, with England, the Lions and Ireland, and he is English.
The RFU would be able to point to his pedigree and also the popular principle of home rule.
Domestic candidates such as Rob Baxter, Steve Borthwick and Alex Sanderson cannot match his c.v.. Borthwick comes closest, having worked for Jones with Japan and England but he has not been in charge of a Test team. What better way for Farrell to show he has what it takes than for Ireland to dismantle England in front of their own union hierarchy, in their own stadium.
A repeat of last year’s 32-18 Irish win in Dublin would reinforce the sense that Ireland are re-emerging as a global force, having beaten the All Blacks convincingly in the autumn, and lift them to fourth in the World Rugby rankings — pushing England down to fifth.
While there are growing doubts about Owen Farrell’s future as England captain, his father’s return to Twickenham after the 2023 World Cup would be welcomed — if he could be persuaded, that is. He was released from his post as defence coach when Jones took over, despite coming out of the brutal 2015 World Cup post-mortem with his reputation intact. His motivational qualities are the stuff of legend, as highlighted by the famous ‘hurt arena’ speech to the Lions squad in Australia in 2013, before the tourists trounced the Wallabies to clinch the series.
And, since succeeding Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach, Farrell has overseen a tactical liberation. For all the talk of ‘new England’, it is Ireland who have transformed their identity and raised their attacking horizons.
But Jones will recognise and relish this scenario. He will embrace underdog status for his team. And he will passionately believe that if Farrell Snr covets his job one day, he must move heaven and earth to earn it.