Handing out their annual awards for the 2023 Six Nations, Scotland fly-half was named the biggest troll for winding up Owen Farrell.
During the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham, Russell chased the England captain at Twickenham to laugh at his opposite number as Duhan van der Merwe surged through England’s defence to score a solo try for Scotland.
Farrell had already smashed Russell earlier in the match, forcing the fly-half to knock the ball on, so this was a bit of revenge.
Speaking to the Rugby Pass podcast, the Scotland fly-half said: “Faz [Farrell] had just banged me and I had lost the ball,” Russell told The Offload.
“Then they kicked it long and I was on the ground. I thought it was Faz but it was actually Marcus [Smith] or [Joe] Marchant that were mouthing off at me on the ground.
“As soon as Duhan went through I saw Faz and I went straight to him to give him a mouthful back.
“I just said ‘what you say now?’ kinda thing ‘anything else to say?’ cause obviously you’ve been mouthing off to me and Duhan’s run it back 60 metres. It wasn’t that much.”
The incident was seen in the replay of the try posted by ITV
Could it be anybody else to start? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him.
The England captain, also known as ‘Shoulder boy’ for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Although he’s currently serving a two-match ban, the fact he often seems to get away with it doesn’t help either.
A dejected Owen Farrell of England applauds in the direction of the England supporters at full-time following the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
Owen Farrell facts:
The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
