Latest news with #OwenFarrell
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Owen Farrell reveals why ‘Lions will learn a hell of a lot' from shock Argentina loss as Andy's son debuts on Sky Sports
OWEN Farrell believes has weighed in on the Lions defeat to Argentina. And he's sure the Advertisement 2 Sky Sports analyst Owen Farrell weighed in on the Lions defeat to Argentina 2 Andy Farrell's side jetted off to Australia today after last night's shock defeat The Despite a few attacking glimpses, the home side never found their rhythm and were punished after too many fudamental mistakes. Speaking on punditry duty for Sky Sports, ex- England captain Owen Farrell said: 'I think a lot of the game was played in the right parts of the field. "Obviously a lot of balls didn't stick and there will be a lot of images that they'll look back on the game from and learn from.' Advertisement read more on rugby He added: 'Argentina did incredibly well to counter punch when they got the opportunity, whether it be a ball on the floor or a turnover, they seemed to turn things into points pretty quickly.' 'I'm sure the Lions boys will be frustrated, but I think the main thing is that they've played this great game now, this great competitive game that they've played in, and they'll have some images to go off to see what is the standard and what's not.' 'Why some of those balls went down, why some of those decisions were good and some not so good. I think they'll learn a hell of a lot, a hell of a lot about each other, a hell of a lot as a team and it will put them in good stead for next week.' Head coach Andy Farrell slammed his side in his post-match comments before praising the Pumas' performance and the Lions' flaws. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union The Ireland boss said: 'Yeah, we made it a tough game, didn't we. 'Obviously the first and appropriate thing to say is congratulations to Argentina, they thoroughly deserved to win the Test match.' 'They capitalised very well on the back of quite a few errors from us. Congratulations to them. I'm sure that's a big moment in Argentinean history.' 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' 'You can try and throw it all around and say we had plenty of opportunities and we should have done better to convert that, but the whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors. Advertisement "In the end, we weren't able to put the pace on the game because of that.' 'We're not sugar-coating anything because we need to be honest because if we're not honest how do we gain trust with each other. "We have to say it as it is. There are certain things we said we were going to do and we need to own that and review that properly.' Advertisement British & Irish Lions full schedule The Lions will play 10 matches in total in 2025, with the first on June 20, and the final game on August 2. All the fixtures will be at 11am BST, apart from the clash against Argentina in Dublin. The fixtures are as follows: vs Argentina, June 20 (8pm BST) vs Western Force, June 28 vs Queensland Reds, July 2 vs NSW Waratahs, July 5 vs ACT Brumbies, July 9 vs Invitational Australia & New Zealand, July 12 vs First Nations & Pasifika XV, July 22
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Owen Farrell gives his verdict on The Lions' disappointing loss to Argentina
Owen Farrell believes the British and Irish Lions will learn 'a hell of a lot' from their disappointing defeat to Argentina. The touring side were playing their first game ever at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night, and in front of a jam-packed 51,700 crowd, they struggled to get into their groove and were deservedly beaten by the Pumas. While there were brief flashes in attack, The Lions were sloppy throughout with far too many balls hitting the deck, an area which must be addressed ahead of the start of the tour of Australia next week. Ex-Lions star Farrell, whose Dad Andy is the coach of the Lions this time around, thinks that despite the worrying result, the Lions still have the chance to get back on track provided they learn from their mistakes. "I think a lot of the game was played in the right parts of the field," Farrell said in his punditry role on Sky Sports last night. "Obviously a lot of balls didn't stick and there will be a lot of images that they'll look back on the game from and learn from. I think Argentina did incredibly well to counter punch when they got the opportunity, whether it be a ball on the floor or a turnover, they seemed to turn things into points pretty quickly. "I'm sure the Lions boys will be frustrated, but I think the main thing is that they've played this great game now, this great competitive game that they've played in, and they'll have some images to go off to see what is the standard and what's not. "Why some of those balls went down, why some of those decisions were good and some not so good. I think they'll learn a hell of a lot, a hell of a lot about each other, a hell of a lot as a team and it will put them in good stead for next week." Head coach Andy Farrell pulled no punches in his criticism after the game, slamming his own performance as well as the team's while celebrating some wonderful rugby from Argentina. "Yeah, we made it a tough game, didn't we," he said. "Obviously the first and appropriate thing to say is congratulations to Argentina, they thoroughly deserved to win the Test match. "They capitalised very well on the back of quite a few errors from us. Congratulations to them. I'm sure that's a big moment in Argentinean history. "You can try and throw it all around and say we had plenty of opportunities and we should have done better to convert that, but the whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors. In the end, we weren't able to put the pace on the game because of that. 'We're not sugar-coating anything because we need to be honest because if we're not honest how do we gain trust with each other. We have to say it as it is. There are certain things we said we were going to do and we need to own that and review that properly." He will also review his own performance, which he described as "obviously not good enough" for this game. "I always take full responsibility, that's my role," he said. "It doesn't matter what department or whatever, I'm in charge of the job lot so it obviously wasn't good enough and I need to be better." "There is a burden involved in playing for the Lions, given the history and tradition, but Farrell says that his players must quickly move on from that. It's something that goes through your mind but we've got to own that," he insisted. "We've got to take responsibility for that. 'We are the British and Irish Lions so we've got to own the right to take that jersey forward. It shouldn't be heavy. We've got brilliant players within our squad and they need to embrace that.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Owen Farrell could play on the Lions Tour as well as return to England action, believes Danny Care - as his former team-mate gives his Australia series prediction and reveals his starting half-back pairing for first Test
Danny Care is adamant that the door is not shut on Owen Farrell playing international rugby again as soon as this summer, citing that he could claw his way into British and Irish Lions contention. The Lions are preparing for their summer tour of Australia with a warm-up match against Argentina on Friday night at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, before flying Down Under at the weekend. Farrell's father, Andy, is the head coach for the class of 2025 and has hinted before that his son could be added to his 38-man travelling party in the future. Farrell Jr has been back in the spotlight this week after his return to Saracens was officially announced following an injury-plagued campaign at Racing 92 in France. The 33-year-old made just 17 appearances for the Top 14 outfit due to suffering several fitness setbacks in Paris. His return to Saracens makes him eligible again for England selection, but his former team-mate at that level Care believes we may see him in action for the Lions before England first, fitness-permitting. 'I've said it for a while but if a 10 or 12 gets injured and Owen's fit then I think it would be very hard to look past him with the amount experience he's got,' Care told Mail Sport exclusively after learning what it is like to train with Emirates Great Britain SailGP athletes ahead of the Portsmouth event weekend next month. 'It's quite a young and youthful Lions squad, especially in that backline. There's not many lads, barring Finn Russell and a couple of others, who have played for the Lions before and experienced it. 'I know Owen is the ultimate competitor and its brilliant to have him back in the Premiership, I just have a funny feeling that we might see him in a red shirt at some point this summer.' After leading England to third place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Farrell decided to take a step back from international duty for mental health reasons before joining Racing 92 last summer. In his absence, Fin Smith has become the pre-eminent No 1 fly-half for country - with Marcus Smith and George Ford also vying for the shirt. That three-way tussle could become a four-way battle though, according to Care. 'I saw an interview with him [Farrell] the other day saying that he hasn't retired. 'Knowing Owen as I do he's the most competitive person I've ever met, an unbelievable rugby player who drives standards better than I have ever seen. 'If England need a bit of leadership and help then why not? If he comes back, is fit and his body feels good then it'd be hard to put up a case against him. It's great to have him back for England, the Premiership and it could be great for him.' While the Farrell situation remains a hypothetical one at the moment, the Lions tour is very much upon everyone - with Care excited about what's to come over the next six weeks. The Lions are the favourites to win the best-of-three series in Australia and while Care agrees, the 38-year-old doesn't think the men in red will have it all their own way. 'It's huge and so exciting to get a first glimpse of the team on Friday night against Argentina. It's going to be tough but I think everyone's really excited to see the combinations to see how the team's going to play, how they're going to set themselves up. 'I see us going down there [Australia] and doing well. I think it'd be 2-1 to the Lions. 'I think the best thing for the series would be if it's 1-1 going into a decider and I can see that happening because I think people are underestimating the Aussies a little bit.' Andy Farrell has a plethora of talent to pick from all over the pitch, but when asked who would he select as his half-back pairing for the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19, Care was concise in his decision-making. 'Finn Russell played really, really well for Bath in the Premiership final which maybe cemented the 10 shirt. 'I'll go with him and Jamieson Gibson-Park at scrum-half. Then I'll have Marcus Smith on the bench just to carve it up at either 10 or 15.' After a decorated club and international career, Care hung up his rugby boots for good at the end of last month with his beloved Harlequins. The 38-year-old still has the competitive juices flowing inside him though as demonstrated when he participated in a crossover event with members of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team in London. Emirates Great Britain SailGP team's Nick Hutton (trimmer/grinder), Neil Hunter (grinder) and Ellie Aldridge (strategist) took on Care and former England women's rugby star Shaunagh Brown, as well as some members of the media - including Mail Sport - in pitting their explosive power and dynamism of rugby the against the precision and endurance of elite sailing. Overseeing the action was Professor Greg Whyte OBE - an Olympian, world renowned sport scientist, and human performance coach to the SailGP Emirates Great Britain team. The participants were put through their paces with various exercises that tested their upper body and lower body limits as well as their plyometrics. 'Today has been wicked, it's been really cool to test yourselves against some incredible athletes, and some members of the media that turned out to be incredible athletes as well, like yourself,' Care reflected to Mail Sport. 'I'd say it's been humbling for me as I retired three or four weeks ago and I've not done an awful lot since, but it was really cool to test yourselves against obviously the SailGP lot. There are so many parallels in the movements that they do and we do in rugby union - they're just a bit better at them all than I was! It was cool to try it though.' Asked about what was the hardest exercise to do, the former scrum-half was in no uncertain terms as to what that was. 'The arm-rower, the grinder, I have never seen before in my life and I never knew that machine existed. 'And watching those lads on it in particular, it was incredible that they managed to keep that power going full the full 30 seconds. Like, I got it into a good pace, and I was like, I must be nearly done. And he said I'd only done five seconds! 'That was tough but just to see their power output and how they could hold it was really impressive and maybe showed me that I need to work on the grinder.' While the grinder can wait for Care, he can sit back and enjoy the Lions in action this summer. With Owen Farrell as a playing member? Only time will tell. The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth will be the seventh stop for the Rolex SailGP Championship's 2025 Season, taking place July 19-20, 2025 - with tickets still available at
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell signs new contract at Bath
Scotland captain and British & Irish Lions fly-half Finn Russell has signed a new three-year contract at Bath. The 32-year-old kicked 13 points and set up Max Ojomoh's try as Bath won their first Premiership title for 29 years on Saturday, when they beat Leicester at Twickenham. Advertisement Russell has made 45 appearances since moving to the club in 2023 from French side Racing 92, scoring 420 points, including four tries. He was a key part of the side that won the European Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup earlier this year in a historic season. "I have loved my time here at Bath. It's a great team and a great club," Russell told the Bath website. "We've come a long way over the last couple of years, and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve. "The fans have been outstanding since I got here. We've had some big results at home and that's just our way of giving back to the fans and trying to represent them in the right way." 'One of the world's best 10's' Finn Russell kicked 183 points in the Premiership this season [Getty Images] Russell is one of the Premiership's star names and his continued time at Bath will give the league a boost. Advertisement It comes after Saracens re-signed Owen Farrell from Russell's former club Racing 92 earlier this week, with the likes of Marcus Smith and George Ford also staying in the league despite the lure of riches in France and Japan. "The way the club is developing and with the young players coming through, the belief and confidence that we've got week-to-week is just growing," Russell added. "There are some brilliant new signings coming in as well who will be great additions to the club, and I can't wait to get started next season." Russell is believed to be one of the league's best-paid players, reportedly earning £1m a season as Bath's non-salary cap player. Advertisement Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan says the club has secured one of the best global talents. Van Graan said: "It's amazing news. Finn is one of the world's best 10s, a player who performs in the big moments and more importantly he's an incredible team man and a family man. "He is one of the lads, his training is exceptional, and he's added so much to our group. "It's great that he'll be staying on at Bath Rugby and continuing his journey with the Blue, Black and White."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Owen Farrell could be capable of one last triumphant playing phase but it should be for club and not country - that ship has sailed for the Lions and England, writes CHRIS FOY
Owen Farrell is back where he belongs, at Saracens and in English rugby, but the big question is whether he will hit the heights again - in terms of performance peaks - and return to the international scene. Within days, the former national captain could be called up by the British and Irish Lions or England. That is a remarkable scenario, given the season he has endured at Racing 92. And it would make no sense at all. It might not even take an injury to another fly-half for the door to swing open. Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick know exactly what the 33-year-old can offer. As a Test centurion, he has been there and done it. He has the T-shirt - and the scars from so many battles over so many years as a renowned warrior. What he does not have is any recent, relevant performance momentum at all. The mantra at his official unveiling on Tuesday at StoneX Stadium was that Farrell needs to settle back into life at Saracens again to get himself 'in the best place possible' in terms of fitness and form. Both have been absent from his game over the last year. So he should be left to unpack, regroup and find his feet at the club. Beyond the 10s already chosen, the Lions have others in front of Farrell in the standby queue. George Ford is one, Sam Prendergast another. There was a telling moment on Tuesday when Farrell lauded England's current trio of 10s; Fin Smith, Marcus Smith and Ford. Borthwick has so much playmaker quality at his disposal. The England head coach has a new first-choice who has appeared authoritative and assertive from the off; an X-factor alternative who also covers 15 and is reviving after a confidence dip; and a 99-cap master conductor. England do not need to go back to Farrell, and there must be some doubt about whether Farrell needs the potential aggravation. In the 20 months since he was last involved, the national team have evolved so much. The men at the heart of that overhaul deserve to maintain their primacy. Farrell is never going to be a fringe figure. If he is brought back, he would be a dominant presence. That in turn might impact on others who have come to the fore. Maro Itoje is the captain now and he has such a long-forged bond with his returning club-mate, but having such a big name in the ranks might disturb the chain of command. For Saracens, it is a coup to bring back an icon from exile. Farrell can have a profound impact in north London, at a time of transition. He can inspire a new generation of title-winners to emerge. His body has suffered a heavy toll from all the years of aggressive, body-and-soul commitment to every cause, but he could be capable of one last triumphant playing phase. But it should be for club and not country. That ship has sailed. Others have the baton now, for the Lions and England. Farrell still polarises opinion; there appears to be an even split of joy and dismay accompanying his return to the Premiership and the faintest prospect of an England recall. Imagine if Borthwick did pick him again, putting noses out of joint, then the ploy backfired and the boos resumed. Why would a proud player expose himself and his family to the risk of such a scenario again. He is not England's future. But here is a prediction which will not cause much shock: Farrell will wear the Red Rose on his chest again. He will bring passion, experience and know-how to his new venture in coaching and it is almost impossible to envisage him not ending up in England's management team one day.
