Owen Farrell (left) is no longer available for England selection, but will he be free to go on the Lions tour with his dad in as Head Coach? Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
This time Andy Farrell resisted any threats to take Australia into the «arena of grievances». This is in contrast to 2013, when his intimidating speech before the third Test in Sydney was instantly etched into the English and English languages. Irish Lions folklore, he promised as head coach to reduce the theatrics on the big screen. “There won’t be a movie star role,” he smiled. Instead, as he enjoyed what was undoubtedly the proudest day of his career, he was himself: commanding, sincere, attuned to the mystique of the role he had earned. The only times the temperature in the room dropped was when the subject turned to his son.
«You're definitely continuing Owen's story, aren't you?» he muttered, pressed for the fourth time about the prospects of selecting Pharrell Jr. for next year's tour. If he sounded irritated, it was because he never allowed family feelings to cloud his judgment about rugby. Even as he prepared for the series against the Wallabies 11 years ago, he remained resolutely impartial. When Warren Gatland suggested Farrell and Jonathan Sexton as the top two options for out-of-half play, Andy, the then defense coach, replied: «You need to talk to Jonny Wilkinson because if he says, 'Yes, I'm available,' then you have to choose it.”
But the fascination with Owen was understandable. It was the first audience with his father since the England captain made the dramatic decision to withdraw from international duty for the sake of his mental well-being, and the first since his links to a move to Racing 92 came to light. Given that Andy was the leading voice in criticizing his boy's detractors, calling the criticism «disgusting» even before the World Cup booing began, did he support Owen's likely departure to France to avoid scrutiny? “He’s 32 years old,” he sighed. “It's a short career. You should do what makes you and your family happy.”
The relationship between the two is still one of the biggest moments in the sport. This is due to the unusually narrow age difference of 16 years. As Chris Radlinski, Andy's long-time friend and rugby teammate at Wigan, once remarked: “They don't look like father and son. They look like best friends, which is really cool.» This observation is also true on the Lions stage. When Andy affectionately patted his son on the cheek during the 2013 tour, Owen reacted with distress. And when Owen scored a penalty to equalize against New Zealand in 2017, his father, watching from the coaching stand at Eden Park, refused to let his father's pride get in the way of his professional composure.
The Farrells have been side by side throughout their careers as players and coaches. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
At first glance, this equation will not change in the run-up to 2025. Farrell will assemble his team the same way he always has — based on merit and without any personal agenda. “It’s about observing the game correctly,” he said. “The choice is exactly the same as everyone else’s.” Yet the circumstances were such that Owen became the dominant plot of the election debate. He will be England's answer to the ghost of Banquo in the Six Nations, absent in the flesh but present in spirit, with George Ford and Marcus Smith destined to be constantly compared to their rival at No. 10. And if he goes to France, will he be are the Lions' chances of being at risk by not playing international rugby? “It’s all about the form,” his father objected.
There are intriguing parallels between both men's paths. In the end, it took Andy leaving the English rugby goldfish bowl to prove his true Irish pedigree, leading them to a Grand Slam and their first ever series win in New Zealand. A similar opportunity now opens up for Owen. Can he reinvent himself in Paris and make it clear to ungrateful England fans that they don't know what they've got until it's gone?
The way Farrell Snr's shares in Irish greens have soared reflects the power of this idea. When Andy was sacked by Eddie Jones in the bitter aftermath of England's 2015 World Cup defeat, he found himself at a career crossroads. “I hope I can learn from this,” he said at the time. “I hope in the future I can say that I feel better after these dark days.” He can consider this a completed task. Resplendent in the red lion, he can take great satisfaction in having gone from the darkest reckoning to the honor of a lifetime in just over eight years.
Farrell once risked being remembered as an England outcast. He now dons the Leo robe, hailed as the supreme guru. It was quite a transformation, even if he did not lose sight of the task ahead of him. While Iean Evans, the Lions chairman, waxed lyrical next to him about the meaning and spirit of these tours, Farrell stressed that he was consumed by the goal of winning.
And you can see why when Since 1997 The Lions had just one triumph on tour that year. Against Australia, still reeling from Jones' disastrous tenure, they will be clear favourites. But will the Farrells reunite again? With the departures of Sexton and Dan Biggar, Owen has rarely had a better opportunity to become a No. 1 midfielder. Under the Lion's merciless gaze, how will Andy solve this mystery? In this vast family saga, perhaps the most moving chapter has yet to be written.
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