7msports > Rugby Video > Like Father like Son. Andy Farrell says Owen won't buckle under the pressure ahead of Wales test

Like Father like Son. Andy Farrell says Owen won't buckle under the pressure ahead of Wales test

Saturday, February 25 2012 by SNTV

  • Intro:

    England coach Andy Farrell doesn't believe that there are any expectations on his son's shoulders, as Owen Farrell gets ready for his first international start at fly-half against Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.

    England go into the game as underdogs, but Farrell said the England team had been "pretty good at meeting challenges head-on so far."

    England and Wales trained at Twickenham on Friday, as both teams prepare to put their unbeaten Six Nations records on the line.

    Script:

    Chris Robshaw will lead out England as captain at Twickenham for the first time when his team face Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.

    Seven of the England starting XV (fifteen) have never started a match at the ground before - and they got the chance to familiarise themselves by training there on Friday.

    Despite wins in their opening two matches, coach Stuart Lancaster has opted to make changes for the match against Wales with scrum-half Lee Dickson, number eight Ben Morgan and second row Geoff Parling all making their first international starts.

    Owen Farrell makes his first start at fly-half for England, in place of the injured Charlie Hodgson.

    His dad Andy Farrell, who is his coach at club and international level, believes he is ready to take on the responsibility of playing in the number 10 jersey.

    SOUNDBITE: (English)

    SUPER CAPTION: Andy Farrell, England coach:

    (Q: Owen Farrell has a lot of expectations on his shoulders, how will he deal with it?): "I don't think there is a lot of expectations on his shoulders. I think he just deals with how he deals with every single week. It's exactly the same as Chris (Robshaw), every professional wants to go out there and perform, you do that by making sure you are on the same page as your team-mates, making sure you're prepared in your preparation, know exactly how your team are going to play and if you know the detail of how you are going to impose yourself on the opposition then I think confidence comes with that."

    Wales have only won at Twickenham once since 1988, that was in 2008 when Warren Gatland's team clinched the Grand Slam - despite their record Wales are the bookies favourites to win the match, but Farrell said there was "pressure on both sides."

    SOUNDBITE (English)

    SUPER CAPTION: Andy Farrell, England coach:

    (Q:Is there pressure on Wales, a lot of people have been talking them up during the week?) "I think there's pressure on both sides, I think that's the beauty of international football. Everybody wants to win and perform and show what they are about as far as how the team can play and perform in an arena like this. So, I think the pressure is on both sides and Wales have been playing very well of late and they're a good side and it's going to be a challenge for us, you know, a new side coming home for the first time in the Six Nations, but we've been pretty good at meeting challenges head-on so far."

    Chris Robshaw is expecting a tough encounter against his opposite number Sam Warburton, whom he described as "one of the best players in the world."

    SOUNDBITE: (English)

    (Q: How big of a challenge will it be facing your opposite number Sam Warburton?) "Of course I mean he's one of the best players in the world along with the rest of the back row. You look at Alun Wyn Jones who's come in, I think he's only 25 or so and got sixty caps for Wales so they do have a lot of experience throughout the team.

    Like Andy (Farrell) said, it is a big step up, but it is one we are looking forward to. These are the games you want to play in, play in the big stadiums against the best oppositions and it's when you really test yourself as a player."

    SUPER CAPTION: Chris Robshaw, England captain

    Manu Tuilagi comes into the team at outside-centre, it's his first international game since England's World Cup quarter-final defeat to France last year.

    As for Wales, Rhys Priestland will line up at fly-half for the match, but the place-kicking duties are likely to be given to full back Leigh Halfpenny.

    The experienced Stephen Jones is on the bench for Wales after James Hook was ruled out because of chickenpox.

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