Outspoken football legend Roy Keane has revealed the details of a chat he had with England fly-half Owen Farrell about leadership.
“Owen Farrell asked if he could have a private chat,” Keane told The Times.
“He was a really interesting fellow. We talked about leadership. I gave him the advice I would give anybody who is trying to lead: be a decent human being, be on top of your own game and don’t be an arsehole.”
The England captain is in a fitness race to be ready for the Six Nations after limping off against Australia during the Autumn Nations Series.
Precise details are still to be confirmed, but the indications are that Farrell requires an operation on an ankle injury suffered against Australia and will be out for 10-12 weeks.
That means he should be returning around the time the Six Nations kicks off.
Next year, the opening fixture is against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 5 and after losing at home against the same opponents in the 2021 tournament, Jones will want to go to Edinburgh with his strongest side.
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Four players Eddie Jones should drop – and who should replace them for the Six Nations
#1. Owen Farrell
The England captain would have hoped to play a much bigger on-field role. Unstinting team man as always but England actually looked a better team with him not on the field.
Replacement: George Ford
The 28-year-old’s uplift in form since being dropped by Jones has been incredible with a number of flawless performances in the Gallagher Premiership for Leicester. He feels like a more appropriate deputy for Marcus Smith, and has plenty of experience to pass on to the 22-year-old upstart.
