Dublin: It was just before half-time in his first England appearance at Twickenham when Owen Farrell chipped over the top against Wales, gathered his deft kick and was promptly walloped into next week by the on-rushing George North.
The crowd had been ignited as the TV camera panned to Andy Farrell, England’s new defence coach, who was wearing a wry smile — it was hard to tell which part he had enjoyed more.
It is a moment that has stayed in the memory because it remains one of the few windows into one of the most celebrated father-son relationships in rugby.
There has been plenty of post-match back-slapping — the pair have enjoyed no little success together for Saracens, England and the Lions — but occasions when either have let their guard down have been rare.
On one hand it is not surprising, not least because Andy faced accusations of nepotism when Owen was picked ahead of George Ford during the 2015 World Cup, but on the other it only adds intrigue, already heightened as England travel to Ireland, for whom Andy now acts as defence coach, looking to clinch back-to-back Grand Slams.
After he and Ford had ripped Scotland to shreds last Saturday, Owen was asked what it would be like coming up against his dad.
“I wouldn’t say I’m coming up against him,” came the reply.
“I don’t think he’s playing is he?” So it is left to others to provide insight. Alex Sanderson was Saracens’s Under-18s coach when he first encountered Owen and, as another with northern roots, had already hit it off with Andy, educating him on the intricacies of union before he too joined the club’s coaching staff.
“Everything Owen’s gleaned has been predominantly from his old man,” says Sanderson.
“Even when he wasn’t part of the coaching staff his dad would be on the sidelines talking to him pre-game. I’m sure to this day Owen still takes guidance from his dad about some of his decisions and how he plays the game.
“He’s always kept his family very close. His mother [Colleen] is as big a driving force as his old man — and his uncle [Sean O’Loughlin] is the captain of Wigan. A lot people want to give you a lot of (expletive) after every game and it’s important that you trust your close counsel.”
Sanderson confirms that the Farrells did once line up together for Saracens’s seconds but, speaking to those who have seen both in their pomp, it becomes clear their playing styles differ. Some similarities do arise however.
“They are both outstanding goalkickers and to me Owen is probably the best goalkicker I’ve ever seen,” says Phil Larder.
High praise indeed considering he was defence coach during the 2003 World Cup.
“He puts the ball down and you don’t think he’s ever going to miss. They’ve also both got that steely determination and concentration. It doesn’t matter how intense the game is, they tend to make the right decisions. Players of that calibre are very, very rare.”
Larder speaks from a unique position. Before moving to union he was Great Britain’s league coach. In 1996 he made Andy Farrell their youngest ever captain and he played an instrumental role in convincing him to switch codes in 2004. “Unfortunately he picked up injuries and when he was fit he was in a car crash as well so he had a tough time as far as playing is concerned,” adds Larder.
“But I think union has certainly had a payback in his coaching and in his son playing union.”
If it was not for Larder’s intervention then Owen would perhaps have carved a career in league. He had, after all, spent his formative years with Wigan St Patricks, who had already produced players such as Shaun Edwards — now Wales defence coach — and the Tomkins brothers.
“There was never an issue with who his dad was. I knew his dad, I played professional myself and I watched his dad’s career and Owen never came under that pressure,” says Gary Owen, Farrell junior’s first coach at St Pats.
“Andy was just another parent. He was great, he used to stand on the touchline, have a hot-dog with the rest of us, a cup of tea. He was totally relaxed in the set-up with the parents. He came along every week and just enjoyed watching his lad play.”
To compare England’s inside centre against Scotland last Saturday with the 20-year-old lined by North five years ago is to contrast markedly different players. Farrell junior has since developed into one of the world’s leading backs and Larder believes his flourishing partnership with Ford is down to their upbringing playing league.
“Because it’s such a simplistic game they would handle the ball far more often than their counterparts who were playing rugby union,” he says.
“It’s an easy game to understand as a youngster. They handle the ball so much more and I’m sure that’s where their skills were honed.”
Sanderson, too, remarks of Farrell junior’s progress in recent years: “It’s not just his technical improvements, he’s delved quite deep into mental aspects and emotional aspects of the game. He’s very harsh on other people because he’s so harsh on himself. But he knows now that not everyone, like him, wants the stick.”
It becomes increasingly clear that chief among Farrell senior’s chief tasks on Saturday is to stop Owen performing as he did against Scotland. “Andy had a really astute football brain. He was somebody I thought would make an outstanding coach,” says Larder.
“He’s got some charisma about him. You see him when he’s moved from job to job and it’s been reported that he’s had this impact with Ireland. Because of this charisma, when he speaks people listen to him.” Sanderson is similarly pleased to see Farrell senior back doing what he does best after stinging criticism following England’s disastrous World Cup.
“I’m dead happy for him, but if I was going to put money on someone being able to bounce back, drag himself off the floor and do it again, it’s going to be someone like Andy,” he says.
“He’s an incredibly strong individual, a leader of men. He’s an alpha male, domineering in his approach and his methodology. I know they are both professional enough for it not to affect their performances [on Saturday] too much. That’s what comes first and the family, like it always does, will survive.”
