It’s rare indeed that Owen Farrell actively takes over for Steve Borthwick when the pair hold a press conference in England, so when he does it pays to listen. “You are dealing with people, with people. Just because you say things on your phone or behind a computer screen doesn’t make it acceptable,” Farrell said in the final week of England’s World Cup campaign, specifically addressing the online abuse Tom Curry had been subjected to. “It seems to be going this way more and more, and I don’t think it’s acceptable.”
The explanation given for why Farrell has made the decision to take a break from international rugby goes no further than “prioritizing his and his family’s well-being”, but his words on the eve of the bronze medal match his team against Argentina. It was always to Eddie Jones’ surprise that Farrell was not held in higher esteem, that the England supporters did not feel the love for him, but that the hatred he has come to receive is unimaginable.
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As always, there will not be a single reason for Farrell’s decision, but rather a combination of factors, but the treatment he has received of late is likely to have contributed at least in part to that. It can’t help but bring someone down. That includes an unrelenting schedule: England began their World Cup preparations on June 12 and concluded their campaign at the end of October. Apart from a few ankle injuries, occasional enforced rest and a few missed games due to suspension, Farrell has been pretty much full-time for England since his debut in 2012.
Similarly, he has given his all at Saracens, who have spent a year in the Championship following the salary cap scandal, as evidenced by the fact that he has made three appearances for them since the World Cup – unusually kicking up six kicks last weekend missed the target. . Farrell is not one to shy away when he is on club duty.
Indeed, it is unlikely to be a coincidence that the language used by Saracens in announcing Farrell’s decision – “prioritising mental wellbeing” – is the same as when Ben Stokes, another England captain, took an indefinite break in 2021 of cricket. are different, but it is alarming to think that two leaders of their national team, who play with such an unbreakable will, with a heart permanently attached to their sleeve, have found it necessary to say goodbye to their respective arenas.
It has never been entirely clear why Farrell doesn’t get the acclaim that those who know him well think he should. Theories range from his astuteness in dealing with referees, to the fact he comes from a competitive background, to his tackling technique and to how he doesn’t bring the razzle-dazzle that Marcus Smith does, but Farrell has never needed or craved admiration.
Ambivalence handled him well and he has often made it clear that public opinion of him counts for little compared to that of the people close to him. But what Borthwick described this summer as ‘personal attacks’, what his father Andy Farrell called ‘a disgusting circus’, would take its toll on anyone. Kevin Sinfield, the England defense coach, compared the criticism to that faced by David Beckham after his 1998 World Cup send-off.
Farrell is as tough as they come, hewn from northern granite, someone for whom taking a step back is anathema. Of course, that doesn’t make his mental well-being any less important than anyone else’s, and it is to his great credit that Farrell, regardless of his abrasive personality, has announced his decision to step back. He will have discussed the decision with Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall, who himself left the club almost a year ago before returning to guide the team to the Premiership title. That includes Borthwick, who spoke of his captain’s “courage”. The hope must be that Farrell, like Stokes, feels ready to return when the time is right.
Just last week, Farrell, now 32, strongly hinted he was keen to pursue a fourth World Cup in Australia in 2027. “I want to play as long as possible if I’m enthusiastic about what I do.” he said. “I love what I do, I’m passionate about it and I don’t see that slowing down anytime soon.” And make no mistake: Farrell loves playing for England. Despite the abuse he faced this summer during the furor surrounding his red card against Wales, despite the boos in the stadium after he usurped George Ford at fly-half.
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Ultimately, there are few divisive figures in sports. After all, Farrell is adored by teammates and coaches who cannot understand the antipathy towards him summarized by Danny Care during the World Cup. “He won’t get the recognition he deserves until he stops playing, which I still think is incredible.”
It remains to be seen whether Farrell has indeed retired from playing for England for good, but in the meantime, Borthwick will need a new captain for the Six Nations. Courtney Lawes has withdrawn from international duty, so Ellis Genge – England’s other vice-captain at the World Cup – will be the favourite. However, he lost his place in the tournament to Joe Marler, so George Ford – who is the favorite to replace Farrell at fly-half – comes into the equation. Maro Itoje is another contender for a season in which England are suddenly short of leadership, with Ben Youngs also retiring and Tom Curry sidelined for the season due to injury.
The fact that Farrell has amassed 111 caps since his debut, that Borthwick wasted no time in announcing him as captain for the Six Nations and the World Cup, and that he was straight back into the side in France when his last suspension ended means that there will be a huge void for England to fill in the coming months. Farrell will have been all too aware of that and it will have made his decision all the more difficult. That he still felt compelled to make it is sobering.