Wales legend Sam Warburton has praised Owen Farrell's 'unusual' leadership qualities, describing the England fly-half as an 'absolute standout' among the players he has played alongside. Speaking at an event for his SW7 Academy, Warburton highlighted Farrell's ability to portray confidence in high-pressure situations, which he believes is a vital part of leadership.
Warburton, who faced Farrell numerous times during his international career and played alongside him on two British and Irish Lions tours, said that while some players show nerves or anxiety in the dressing room, Farrell exudes an 'I'm meant to be here' attitude. This, according to Warburton, helps younger players feel more confident and feeds into the team's overall mindset.
The former Wales captain also defended Farrell against his critics, stating that those who criticise him 'have got no clue' about what he brings to the team. Warburton acknowledged that Farrell has been poorly criticised in the press, but emphasised that his mindset is 'so unusual' and something that team-mates can feed off.
Farrell stepped away from Test rugby last year to protect his and his family's mental health, having been subjected to negative headlines and abuse from fans. Warburton described the decision as 'very brave and understandable', but also suggested that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) may have overprotected Farrell during his time as England captain, preventing the public from seeing his true personality.
In a previous Times column, Warburton wrote that he considered Farrell a better captain than himself, but advised that showing more emotion in defeat and victory could have helped Farrell's public image. He noted that all players love Farrell, and if the RFU had allowed the public to get to know him better, more fans would have appreciated him too.
