Rugby Union: Owen Farrell"s history lessons

“We’ve been doing a lot of work on the history of our country and what we are about as Englishmen”

Owen Farrell

“We are at our best when a challenge is thrown down to us and our players believe that as well.

“That’s what we’re all about and that’s where we started from as a nation.

“Us being successful through challenges over a long history means the word ‘arrogant’ has been used about us.

“We’re not arrogant whatsoever but we’ve got a proven track record as people that can deliver when our backs are against the wall.”

Under head coach Stuart Lancaster, England have frequently used history as a source of motivation to play a game that Farrell describes as a “battleground”.

“Rugby is a battleground, there’s absolutely no doubt about that,” he added.

“There’s not one coward who has ever taken to a rugby field for the simple reason there are collisions which make people wince.

“I talk to some of our football boys and they say that some of their foreign players say ‘that’s ludicrous, that’s ridiculous, surely that’s a foul’ when it’s just a tackle.

“It’s a ferocious game and while you need to be cunning in your execution, you need to be at the right emotional level to perform.” Farrell refuses to draw any parallels to last autumn’s record victory, apart from the self-belief needed to beat the world champions.

“Our guys definitely believe that they can win, no doubt about that,” he added.

“They know they have to be great together as a group but they definitely know that they can win.

“As Englishmen we’re not very good at telling our team-mates and colleagues what we actually think is good about them.

“Because of that we’ve done quite a lot of work this week on belief in each other. We know we can make this work.”

Article source: http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/metro-sexton-modern-rugby-great-2106288

Rugby Union: Owen Farrell"s history lessons