England captain Owen Farrell on leadership – ‘Our sole focus is growing that group’

Ahead of retaking the captaincy this Sunday as England take on Argentina at Twickenham Stadium, Owen Farrell says his main focus is “growing” this current group of players.

Last captaining his country against Australia a year ago in a 32-15 win, the outside back was injured in the victory, making way for Courtney Lawes to take on the role. 

The Northampton Saints forward is unavailable for selection this weekend as he continues to graduate return-to-play protocols.

Farrell himself has only recently gone through the same rigmarole after failing a HIA in the midst of Saracens’ 22-20 win at Exeter Chiefs several weekends ago.

Having been unable to join up with his teammates last week in their training camp in Jersey, the 31-year-old has been back in the thick of it this week and will combine with Marcus Smith and Manu Tuilagi against Los Pumas.

In his absence from the Channel Islands, it was Jack Nowell and Ellis Genge who led the group, that duo maintaining much of that responsibility this week, and both have been named as vice-captains for this Test.

“They have been brilliant,” Farrell said. “The big thing that stood out for me over the summer and especially when we came back and having not spent a week here when the lads were in Jersey, is that we don’t need to plan for something, who is talking here, it has just become more natural.

“There’s a lot of work put into it; it has not just happened. But when we do come into that huddle, not that there has not been trust before, but there is a real trust there, an understanding of what our strengths are and how to get the best out of a team.”

Having had that time away from being England’s captain, Farrell says that little has changed in his approach, his focus now being on helping this current squad grow together.

“I think the big thing for me, this is not taking away from it is a group now, but the big thing for me in general is, not just about being a captain but hopefully a leader and a player, that from however long ago it was now when I did start captaining, I have got better,” Farrell said.

“Hopefully I’ve improved. I’ve worked hard on it, so I hope so, and I hope I’ve got better while still being me.”

Purely by looking at the numbers, no one else was as suited as 97-cap Farrell in leading England. Scrum-half Ben Youngs [117] is the only player in the squad with more caps than the playmaker, while replacement loosehead prop Mako Vunipola is his clubmates closed rival on 70.

For a long time Maro Itoje was even touted as a potential England captain, although Farrell certainly has the backing of his head coach, Eddie Jones.

“Having coached for a while at the top level, I don’t think I’ve met a player with more competitive spirit than him,” Jones said. “There’s been a few good ones and certainly he would be in the top three. He has an unbelievable desire to win, leads from the front and brings people with him.” 

With less than a year to go until the Rugby World Cup in France, there is even the potential that Farrell could hold onto the captaincy even when Courtney Lawes returns to fitness.

Captaincy is very much seen as a double-edged sword. An immense honour for the individual, outside pressure has been known to grind down players and expectation only adds to that.

However, when the question is put to the 31-year-old about keeping the responsibility, he maintains that his primary objective is to help promote further leadership from within the players.

“My sole focus at the minute and our sole focus is growing that group,” Farrell said. “And not just the group, the way that we allow space for other people to lead as well.

“The more we focus on outside of here, the more we’re not getting on with that, for me. I’ve never been too overly bothered with outside of what’s going on too much. And I don’t think I’ll start now.”

England starting XV: Freddie Steward; Jack Nowell (VC), Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (C), Joe Cokanasiga; Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge (VC), Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Alex Coles, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola

Replacements: Jack Singleton, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Jack Willis, Jack van Poortvliet, Henry Slade