Owen Farrell opens with the return of his lions, of “poison” of social media and a new perspective

Many young British travelers claim to have found themselves for a year abroad; Maybe Owen Farrell really has it. It is a Monday evening in Melbourne, and Farrell seated at the Marvel stadium as captain of the British and Irish lions, a situation which seems remarkable given his initial omission of the tour of the tour. It is perhaps only the meeting in the middle of the week with the First Nations & Pasifika XV for which Farrell was installed as a skipper, but through half an hour enlightening, the qualities that made him a late as precious addition become perfectly clear.

The accent, the winning edge, the accent put on the team – they are not a surprise. Joviality and the desire to open up for 18 delicate months? It’s a little more unexpected. It is, of course, a character known to be publicly more taciturn than talkative, as an individual kept as we will meet in rugby. But while he sets up sections of his soul and the jokes on the buffoonery of his roommate of Canberra Henry Pollock is a different farrell – one, pleasantly, in a head space much better than the player who moved away from the service of England after the Rugby World Cup 2023.

“I am asked to come on tour and I thought I would love to do it,” explains Farrell. “I went and did something different for a while, and I come back now, but it was right that I was at the time and the opportunity that was there. I wanted to take it and I am happy to be here.

Farrell was in the mood surprisingly open after responding to a call to the Lions (Getty)

“I appreciated my time in France. It obviously did not go well and I was injured for a big period, but I do not regret it. I am happy to be back. There are lots of me and I’m just determined to enjoy it. I really appreciate this visit.”

In appearance, the playmaker is there to talk about the meeting of the tour of tomorrow, but he and all the people involved are aware of the questions likely to come. This is the first time that the 33 -year -old has spoke for a long time since he was summoned after the injury to Elliot Daly, a call that a lot of rugby expected to come but has always encountered a lot of noise.

Farrell Junior presented his father’s call on the golf course celebrating the testimony of the old Saracens Chum Jackson Wray – “It was his testimony about four years ago, but he still had a golf day”, Farrell Quips. After having moved away from the partner from playing Alex Goode, the decision to accept the call came quickly, despite a sabbatical leave from England which is still in progress.

He arrived here, not responsible for winning a test shirt, but simply to do his best for the team. Naturally, the desire to be the best never sinks, but Farrell himself concedes that he turns with a state of mind different from the way in which he would have dealt with this situation five years ago. “I think the most important thing is that I come here, that I am myself, help and then I see where it goes,” he said. “And really, I’m not saying that but I don’t think so. I think. We will see what’s going on.”

Farrell intends to take advantage of the Australian tour every minute (PA)

Several times, he is in a hurry on a possible return from England; Several times it rubs it gently. A return to the Saracens after his difficulties with the 92 race will make him again available to Steve Barthwick – with three English braids on tour in Australia, but the new Centurion George Ford in a form as good as any of them, big decisions are looming.

This discussion can wait, however, because Farrell has not fully decided what comes next. What he knows, however, is that he deeply appreciates his rugby in Australia, after joining a selected group of tourists four times. Tuesday’s match in Melbourne will be his 20th in Lions Red – for a team short of those who have experienced an appropriate tour, the accumulated acuity is invaluable. Farrell is clear, however, that his goal is to get the most out of his time in Australia.

Farrell goes captain the lions against the First Nations and Pasifika XV (Getty)

How does it do it? “Take it for what it is,” he suggests. “Have a certain perspective. There are obviously a lot of external factors that can slip, but in the end, it is me of the way I am. Make sure that I take care of myself, sometimes ensuring myself to give me a break.

“I am not someone who needs to slow down too much. It is normally another way of coming back and relaxing. So having a perspective and making sure I take care of myself this way, I think, that I will lead to being more myself. ”

It is encouraging to hear Farrell speaking in such terms after having moved away from the international arena to prioritize his mental well-being in November 2023. Again, however, his call for this trip encountered a reaction beyond what would have been received by any other player. Does Farrell understand why he generates such strong opinions in each direction? “Not really.” What is praise and criticism of social media doing? “Both are a poison. Good and bad. This does not mean that everything is bad, but things that should count for me and that should import us as players are the people who count for us.

Farrell: “I think the most important thing is that I come here, be myself, help and then see where it’s okay” (Getty)

“If you are going to knock on someone’s door and ask them their opinion on how you played the weekend, you wouldn’t really experience their answer. The people I think we should listen to are rugby people. Your friends. To say that people will just type a real answer.