Owen and Andy Farrell have never been so relaxed in their game of Test match Family Fortunes.
Owen Farrell’s children Tommy and Freddie were in attendance at Ireland’s captain’s run at the Aviva Stadium on Friday morning with grandad Andy – much to England skipper Owen’s surprise later in the day.
Saracens talisman fly-half Farrell hopes his boys will be wearing England shirts for their Six Nations finale in Dublin, but conceded that will be slightly out of his control given they are staying with his mum and dad.
When told that his boys were at Ireland’s team run, Owen Farrell laughed and replied: “I didn’t know that, I genuinely didn’t know that.
“They’re a bit young for allegiances yet, they’re just doing what 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.
“Absolutely they’ve got England shirts, and my brother has one too. He has got both England and Ireland, but I don’t think my sisters have got them both. I assume they will be wearing England jerseys for the match.”
Farrells father and son have not always been so calm about either working together or squaring up to each other in rugby competition.
Owen Farrell admitted he is relaxed about facing his dad’s world number-one Ireland side, who will chase the Grand Slam at Lansdowne Road.
The Saracens playmaker revealed his great pride for dad Andy’s work, but will at the same time focus fully on England’s bid to atone for last weekend’s 53-10 thrashing at the hands of France.
“They’re playing very well, they’re obviously top of the log at the minute,” said Owen Farrell. “They’re top of world rugby at the minute, and that normally doesn’t lie.
“It’s not weird for the two of us. It’s probably a bit weirder for the family that’s supporting, especially, probably my mum.
“She says she doesn’t know what she wants to happen tomorrow. It’s probably a bit tough for her, well, I know it is. But for 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.
“I’m massively proud of what my dad’s done with Ireland. They’re flying at the minute, but even regardless of that, there’s always a lot of pride in our family for the job that he’s doing.”
