After being named British and Irish Lions captain for Tuesday’s match against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, Owen Farrell offered a candid reflection on the intense public debate that surrounds his career. Speaking at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, the fly-half moved beyond the honour of his appointment to address his status as one of rugby’s most polarizing figures.
His selection for this fourth Lions tour, made by his father, head coach Andy Farrell, had already ignited fierce online debate. The call-up came after a nine-week absence from all rugby and 20 months away from the international Test arena following a self-imposed break from England duty.
When asked if he understood the passionate reactions he elicits from fans, the 33-year-old admitted he did not. “Not really, no,” he stated. “But I understand that it’s different now. I understand times are different and things catch fire quicker. Things grow legs, take a life of their own, go wherever they go and there’s momentum behind them. But no, I don’t always understand it.”
In a moment of striking honesty, Farrell labelled both the praise and criticism he receives online as “a poison.” He elaborated, “The things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us. If you go and knock on someone’s door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn’t really listen to their answer.”
Farrell stressed the importance of relying on a trusted inner circle. “I guess the people I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people—your mates,” he explained. “Not that those people will just pat you on the back. You have people who will tell you where it is at the same time, but they’ll give you a real answer.”
The former England captain, long defined by his indomitable spirit, also acknowledged that his resilience is not absolute. He conceded that his ability to ignore the intense negativity depends on his own state of mind. “There are times where people can say this, that and the other and it just goes over your head,” Farrell said. “And there are times where you’re not in the best place… and you’re almost waiting for something to set you off.”
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