Ben Earl reveals why he 'really disliked' England captain Owen Farrell
01/01/2025 02:32 AM
Saracens and England back-row star Ben Earl has lifted the lid on his complex relationship with Owen Farrell, revealing how he initially "really disliked" the England skipper during his early days at the club.
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“Thought I Was the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread”
Reflecting on his transition from school rugby to the professional game, Earl admitted he arrived at Saracens full of youthful confidence.
"I came in from a school environment thinking I was the best thing since sliced bread," Earl confessed. "And Owen was the first person who thought I had miles to go."
Farrell's no-nonsense approach left a lasting impression on the young flanker. But at the time, it didn't sit well.
“Why Are You So Horrible to Me?”
Earl shared how Farrell's tough love was initially difficult to stomach.
"I actually really disliked him for a while," Earl said. "I thought, why are you being so horrible to me but being so nice to someone else?"
It wasn't until later that Earl came to understand Farrell's high standards.
“Earning His Respect”
The turning point in their relationship came when Earl realized Farrell's intentions.
"The penny dropped for me. He's not going to be really nice to you unless you prove why you should be playing for Saracens in the big games," Earl explained. "It takes a while, but once you get that relationship, he is an amazing guy."
“I'd Be Gutted to Never Play With Him Again”
Despite their rocky beginnings, Earl now holds Farrell in the highest regard, calling him a transformative presence both on and off the pitch.
"I would be gutted if I never played with him again," Earl admitted, underscoring how the England captain's demanding nature has helped shape his career.
For Earl, Farrell's leadership and commitment to excellence may have been tough to handle at first, but they've ultimately forged a bond that's stronger than ever.
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Owen Farrell hated England teammate, the pair never made up
England fly-half Owen Farrell is never afraid of sharing an opinion or two – especially when it's about someone he doesn't particularly like.
#1. Dave Attwood
The Bath lock won the last of his 24 caps for England back in 2016, which could have a lot to do with his relationship with the current England captain.
“He had a bit of a shout at me and went off to the toilet and I followed him.
"We all had a drink or two after the game but we didn't need to get carried away with this. I was in the urinal behind the door and he was three or four down and as I got in his dad walked in as well, he was coaching at the time. He was, 'I don't want to fuckin' hear it' or something like that and as he walked out he went to open the door and slam it into the back of me. There was like a stop on the floor so it hit the stop and almost clocked him back…
"We never really addressed it after that. That was where it started and it was like a drunken little bit of argy that went too far. He is an incredibly competitive athlete and he is also very f**kin' good, he has got high standards. He is a very competitive athlete and in order to be that good, you have to flirt on the wrong side of competitive.
"So whenever we play each other there is always some element in the game where one of us is running at the other one or we are trying to bang each other. There always seems to be an element of that to it. I am sure he is like, I don't even know that Dave is playing."
#2. Ryan Wilson
Wilson later revealed he was banned from Twickenham following the incident.
"I remember that game, I was actually injured and after tunnel-gate, after everything that happened in the tunnel against England, I'd lined up a corporate gig at Twickenham," he recalled to Rugby Pass in November.
"Had it all lined up, a little bit of cash, all excited, only to get a message back saying the RFU have banned you from Twickenham Stadium after everything that happened the year before.
#3. James Haskell
The pair have what we can only describe as a love-hate relationship. As legendary as the ‘best mates’ videos were during the 2016 tour of Australia, Farrell certainly didn’t seem to be enjoying it.
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