England international will be looking to lose himself in the game when New Zealand visit Twickenham on Saturday
Owen Farrell: 'The best part of the games is how engaging they are, when you’re lost in it. When you’re not thinking.' Photograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesFor all Owen Farrell’s qualities, taking compliments is not one of them. He readily admits as much and, as he prepares to win his 100th England cap against New Zealand this weekend, Farrell is that little bit more eager for Saturday to come than usual.
For Farrell is never happier than when he loses himself between the white lines. Across an international career spanning 10 years and 99 appearances for his country, Farrell has come to crave that feeling that a lot of elite sportspeople do. When his mind is clear, when everything seems to slow down around him, when he enters “the zone”. Farrell talks as if it is almost addictive; he compares it to his wedding day in the way that it just goes by in a blur.
“The best part of the games is how engaging they are, when you’re lost in it. When you’re not thinking,” says Farrell. “That’s the best, that’s where there’s nothing else going on, where there’s no worry, there’s no anything. You’re just in it. And that’s what everyone talks about when they talk about big performances. That’s what everyone talks about when they are in the zone, or the flow of the game. That’s the engagement in that side of stuff, it’s something that people end up chasing a lot.
“It feels like everything is slower. It feels like there’s a calmness to it but it’s still aggressive. It’s timeless. Everything is slow but time goes so quickly. I can only imagine it’s because you’re fully immersed in what’s happening. It’s like any big day. Say your wedding day or something like that where it goes so quickly. It’s been brilliant but you don’t know what’s almost gone on at times.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Owen Farrell ‘has changed the way English rugby has been played’'The way that he fights and shows resilience, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. And he has continued to develop his game, he’s continued to not settle.'
Read more »
Owen Doyle: Coaches and World Rugby must address blight spoiling the gameCoaches need to address players’ dangerous tackling and clearing-out techniques and World Rugby must ruthlessly apply meaningful suspensions
Read more »
Most buyers of Owen Reilly group’s €1m period homes require no mortgage fundingThe majority of buyers in Dublin’s period home market require no mortgage funding whatsoever, according to a property group (via IrishTimesBiz)
Read more »
Former Chelsea and England defender Gary Cahill retires from football aged 36Cahill won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League during his time with Chelsea.
Read more »