Farrell takes a break

[Margin_Walker]

Well this was unexpected

[Which Tyler]

Whilst I'm pleased that he's withdrawn himself from selection - I hope that doesn't mean that the boo.ing he received during the RWC really go to him - or that there was more than "just" boo.ing going on.

[Mellsblue]

The iceman melteth. Perhaps a couple of seasons in France would help. I jest, obvs.
I hope he and his family are ok. I can’t imagine it’s the booing but more the treadmill of international rugby, particularly when there’s a World Cup sandwiched between two seasons. He’s been an ever present, injury aside, for 10 years and a good chunk of which has been as captain.

[TheNomad]

Wow. Didn't see that coming at all.

Might take a little bit of adjusting, but that has to be good for broader team and player development.

I'd assume Ford plays in the 6N?

[FKAS]

Hopefully this isn't down to trolls and it's more a case of last season ending and going straight into camp (pretty much), causing some fatigue. Understandable he might want to spend some time with the family, especially as the Prem is taking a break during that period.

[Oakboy]

On the back of our top referee's social media-affected retirement, I wish OF and his family well, especially if any sort of public pressure has contributed to their discomfort. However, I am surprised that he has not simply announced his international retirement. Is he a special case in this scenario too?

[Mellsblue]

On the back of our top referee's social media-affected retirement, I wish OF and his family well, especially if any sort of public pressure has contributed to their discomfort. However, I am surprised that he has not simply announced his international retirement. Is he a special case in this scenario too?

It’s no different to Marler or Ben Stokes.

[Danno]

They were saying Boo-urns, because Freddie scored that DG a couple of seasons ago.

[Puja]

On the back of our top referee's social media-affected retirement, I wish OF and his family well, especially if any sort of public pressure has contributed to their discomfort. However, I am surprised that he has not simply announced his international retirement. Is he a special case in this scenario too?

Mental health is no different to any other injury - we wouldn't be saying that a 32 year old player who was missing an international window through a knee injury was asking to be "a special case" in not simply announcing his international retirement, so I don't see why we should mock him for this. I'm sure he has full intentions of rehabbing his head and coming back better than ever.

As may have come up once or twice, I'm not a huge fan of him as player or England captain (although he is better at the former than some of the opinions on this board would have you believe), but I wish him well and hope the break does him the power of good. On a positive note, it is encouraging that players now feel that they can talk about mental health and taking care of themselves, instead of feeling the pressure to "man up" and "power through".

Puja

[fivepointer]

Hopefully this isn't down to trolls and it's more a case of last season ending and going straight into camp (pretty much), causing some fatigue. Understandable he might want to spend some time with the family, especially as the Prem is taking a break during that period.

Hope its that and taking a break is perfectly understandable, though the press seem to be indicating its due to pressure hes been getting online. It will have been a factor no doubt.

I'm no fan but wouldnt want to see his career derailed due persistent trolling.

It does throw up an opportunity for England to reset with a new captain, and possibly - hopefully - a move into a more entertaining style of play.

[Banquo]

On the back of our top referee's social media-affected retirement, I wish OF and his family well, especially if any sort of public pressure has contributed to their discomfort. However, I am surprised that he has not simply announced his international retirement. Is he a special case in this scenario too?

Mental health is no different to any other injury - we wouldn't be saying that a 32 year old player who was missing an international window through a knee injury was asking to be "a special case" in not simply announcing his international retirement, so I don't see why we should mock him for this. I'm sure he has full intentions of rehabbing his head and coming back better than ever.

As may have come up once or twice, I'm not a huge fan of him as player or England captain (although he is better at the former than some of the opinions on this board would have you believe), but I wish him well and hope the break does him the power of good. On a positive note, it is encouraging that players now feel that they can talk about mental health and taking care of themselves, instead of feeling the pressure to "man up" and "power through".

Puja

Opinions may vary as may the actuality. Very good club 10, decent intl 10 with front foot ball for me.

Lets not conflate some inane trolling with legitimate criticism- frankly, I think he had a relatively easy ride as a player in the mainstream press until the last year or two. Nonetheless, the pressure on him has been pretty large for a number of years, and unsurprised he needs time out.

[pompey-zebra]

Won't play in the 2024 6n to concentrate on his mental health, according to the beeb. Will still play for Sarries.

[Banquo]

Won't play in the 2024 6n to concentrate on his mental health, according to the beeb. Will still play for Sarries.

Yep, its in another thread (EPS)

[Spiffy]

Well this was unexpected

Good decision by Owen, but his timing is a little off. He should have taken his break during the RWC.

[Mellsblue]

Hot take:

[paddy no 11]

Man I'm looking forward to watching the 6 nations without sexton and farrell and the insufferable media hagiography

[Danno]

Man I'm looking forward to watching the 6 nations without sexton and farrell and the insufferable media hagiography

And Biggar

[Oakboy]

Hot take:

https://x.com/squidgerugby/status/17298 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

That just about sums up the breadth of opinion on the player.

[Oakboy]

I am not looking forward to Farrell's name coming up every time Ford, Smith or whoever do anything less than the perfection that the absent hero managed.

[Danno]

I am not looking forward to Farrell's name coming up every time Ford, Smith or whoever do anything less than the perfection that the absent hero managed.

Fret not.












He'll be a pundit.

[p/d]

Man I'm looking forward to watching the 6 nations without sexton and farrell and the insufferable media hagiography

And Biggar

And Dupont

[Danno]

Man I'm looking forward to watching the 6 nations without sexton and farrell and the insufferable media hagiography

And Biggar

And Dupont

[Oakboy]

Various press reports indicate that fans booing his name during the stadium team announcement was a factor.

Really?

What conclusions might be drawn (not my opinions):

The fans were wrong/right in their implied assessment of his selection?
The fans were wrong to boo any player?
The head-coach was right/wrong to pick him and drop Ford?
Those close to him professionally are right to rate him so highly?
Critics are wrong?
Was it just the red card business?


What I see is that he is in danger of making his mental health situation worse by announcing a temporary break in his international career in the way that he has. A simple announcement of retirement would have been respected even if he later changed his mind on appeal from the management.

I do not think this is the same as a physical injury. Nobody carries on playing for his club with that. A full break from rugby on mental health grounds would also have been different.

If, and I stress, if, the booing upset him that badly what will he suffer when he returns to the international fold? That, for me, is the crunch. Regardless of whether he is a good/bad player/fly half/captain/tackler, he is likely to make things worse for himself with this decision in the long run.

[Mikey Brown]

Why complicate it? He’s about as mentally tough as they come, by all accounts, but he wants a break having spent several years under huge amounts of pressure. That’s it.

Of course there’s going to be a load of bullshit media spin because they’re a big part of the problem, but it seems very reasonable and may serve him very well for the last few years of his career to get a bit of time away from it.

I don’t see any reason he should say he’s retiring if he’s not intending to.

[Mellsblue]

If the booing is a major factor then he needs to have a long hard look at himself - perhaps being lauded to the heavens for 99% of your career even when playing pretty averagely has not prepared him for the backlash - but it is probably just the straw that’s broken the camel’s back.
Tbh, I feel uncomfortable commenting on it so that’ll be my last post on the subject.