England skipper Owen Farrell laughed while admitting he had no clue that his sons were Ireland's guests at their captain's run at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.
Owen's dad Andy is Ireland's head coach and, speaking yesterday, he revealed his plan to have Owen's two sons, Tommy and Freddie, present for the home side's run out at the Lansdowne Road venue.
The Ireland squad's families were invited to the session as a thank you for the sacrifices they have made during the successful championship campaign that could yield a Grand Slam triumph tomorrow evening.
READ MORE: Family friendly captain's run fuels sense of wellbeing around Ireland's Grand Slam bid
It made for a relaxed, fun filled session - despite the pressurised situation.
Later, Owen took on press duties after the England captain's run and was told that Tommy had been chatting to his granddad in the stadium during Ireland's session.
"I think he was trying to…I don’t know," said the bemused Owen. “I didn’t know that, I genuinely didn’t know that!
“They’re a bit young yet. They’re just doing as their granddad’s told them to.
They’re staying at their granddad’s house, so I guess it’s his rules this weekend - so far.
“I've not spoken about it (to them). They came over yesterday on the ferry. He (Andy) isn't there – they're staying with my mum.
"I assume, and I do still assume, that they will be wearing England jerseys but I see they are trying to sway them!
"Of course they have got England shirts and my brother, he has got both. I don’t think my sisters have got them both!".
Andy has also said that he will try to get Tommy to wear his Ireland jersey to the match.
"I've not spoke to them about it. They've come over yesterday on the ferry, they're staying with my mum - and I assumed they will wear England jerseys, but he's trying to sway them!".
"Of course they have got England shirts and my brother, he has got both. I don’t think my sisters have got them both!".
Andy has also said that he will try to get Tommy to wear his Ireland jersey to the match.
"I've not spoke to them about it. They've come over yesterday on the ferry, they're staying with my mum - and I assumed they will wear England jerseys, but he's trying to sway them!".
It is such a strange scenario, with Farrell senior attempting to guide Ireland to a Grand Slam for the first time and Farrell junior doing everything in his power to stop it happening.
“It’s not weird for us two," said Owen.
"It’s probably a bit more weird for the family that’s supporting - especially, probably my mum. She says she doesn’t know what she wants to happen.
"It’s probably a bit tough for her. Well, I know it is. But in terms of us, we’re just doing our job.
"He’s not out there on the field. It’s not direct competition. We’ve been doing it for a long time now, as well. Like, it’s not the first time I’ve done it.
"I seem to get asked this question every year, but we’ll keep going back to it for now!".
The Farrells came close to playing a match together for Saracens before Andy hung up his boots.
Owen recalled: "I played a pre-season game with him and we were both on the bench and he went on and he dislocated his thumb and I got subbed on for him – so I didn’t play against him, never played against him."
As for a pre-match message for his dad, Owen said he would hold fire.
“We’ll see what happens in the game first, won’t we? No, they’re playing very well," he said. "They’re obviously top of the log at the minute.
"They’re top of world rugby at the minute, and that normally doesn’t lie.
“Obviously the team’s been doing very well. So we’ll play the game first, and we’ll see where we’re at."
But the 31-year-old has so much admiration for the work his dad has done across the Irish Sea.
"Massively," he said. "Definitely, they're flying at the minute. They're not number one in the world for nothing. There's definitely a lot of pride."
Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt explained the reasoning behind the families attending the captain's run.
"A hell of a lot of sacrifice goes in from players, coaches, backroom staff, so it's always a nice little touch for families to come in and see what mum and dad does," said Catt.
"It's great to experience the opportunity, especially at the Aviva before the big noise happens tomorrow. It's great they can get here.
"St Patrick's Day helps as they're all off school so it has fallen nicely. It's brilliant having the kids here because it has been a long eight weeks, or is it 12 weeks - whatever it is now since Portugal.
"There's a lot of sacrifice that goes in there and it's great to have families in."
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