Eddie Jones claims ‘unemotional’ Owen Farrell doesn’t get the praise he deserves because of his personality… as former Wallabies coach praises England captain as a rugby ‘colossus’

• Eddie Jones believes Owen Farrell does not get the praise he deserves
• The Australia coached Farrell for seven years while in charge of England  
• Jones resigned from his role as Wallabies head coach over the weekend 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

Eddie Jones believes England captain Owen Farrell is a ‘colossus’ in world rugby and his status within the game is underappreciated because of his personality.

The Australian, who coached the fly-half for seven years while in charge of England, suggested the 32-year-old may never get the recognition he deserves because of his perceived ‘rigid’ nature.

‘When you look at what Owen Farrell has done within the game, he’s won every trophy there is to win other than the World Cup, and he’s been to the final of that,’ Jones, who resigned as Wallabies coach following a disastrous Rugby World Cup on Sunday, told William Hill’s podcast Up Front with Simon Jordan.

‘He’s the highest point scorer in the history of England rugby and he’s been a colossus in the game.

‘Because he can be seen as quite an unemotional and rigid player, he doesn’t get the praise that he should get.’

Eddie Jones believes England captain Owen Farrell is a ‘colossus’ in world rugby and his status within the game is underappreciated

The Australian worked with Farrell for seven years while England coach 

But Jones, who coached England to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa, revealed behind the scenes Farrell is far more emotional than his public image suggests. 

‘The most emotional I have seen him was after the World Cup semi-final in 2019 when he said, “I am so proud to be English”,’ he explained.

‘You could really feel his passion and his pride and you don’t often get that with him. I think he gets a bit of a hard time for that. I 100 percent think that there is a lack of appreciation for him.’

Farrell was booed by England fans during the team announcements ahead of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji two weeks ago, prompting a scathing riposte from England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth.

‘We are lucky to have him,’ Wigglesworth, who played with Farrell at Saracens, said.

‘He has proven time and time and time again, and I don’t understand why in England we feel the need to not celebrate that.’

Farrell spoke glowingly of Jones when the Australian was sacked by the RFU last December after only five wins from 12 Tests in 2022.

‘Eddie had been a big part of England rugby for a long time and he has been one of the best coaches I have ever had so, for that, I’m massively thankful,’ he said.

Jones revealed Farrell is far more emotional behind the scenes than his controlled public persona would suggest 

‘We are disappointed it’s finished early. We owe a lot to him. I have been around for a while and not been around too many changes. It’s not pleasant.

‘I don’t think it’s come from the players. There is obviously stuff we all want to improve in terms of results and as players you look at yourself.’

In January last year, Jones endorsed Farrell as ‘the right guy’ to lead England in the Six Nations despite being sidelined for the previous two months.

But despite heaping praise on the Saracens star, Jones told Jordan that Dylan Hartley made for a better captain off the field during his England tenure. 

‘Dylan Hartley was my first England captain because he was what the team needed at that time,’ he said. 

‘They needed to come out of themselves because they’d been through a tough period and they’d turned into a very respectful and nice team. 

‘They needed Dylan to come in and give the team a bit of life, which he did.

‘Owen Farrell came in off the back of that and he was much more serious and tough. He was brilliant on the field, but off the field he wasn’t quite as good as Dylan.’

Jones, meanwhile, has been slammed for his language after resigning as Australia head coach less than 12 months into a five-year deal.

Jones quit the Wallabies on Sunday, less than 12 months into a five-year deal 

On quitting the Wallabies on Sunday, Jones told The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘I gave it a run. Sometimes you have to eat s*** for others to eat caviar further down the track.’

‘What a pathetic thing to say,’ MailSport columnist and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward said of Jones’ public comments when confirming his Australia departure. 

‘Every Australian I have spoken with is just shaking their head over the whole situation. But this outburst and especially Jones’ language has just poured oil on the flames.

‘It is really embarrassing for Rugby Australia and I would be very surprised if the Japanese Rugby Union would allow or condone this type of behaviour.’

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