Andy Farrell will go up against Eddie Jones for the first time this weekend, and the new Ireland head can’t wait to lock horns with the England boss.
Jones and Farrell were briefly on the same team in 2015 when Jones replaced Stuart Lancaster after England’s home World Cup campaign.
But the Australian revamped the entire national coaching team, removing Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt from their coaching posts.
Farrell moved to the Irish national team set-up, where he worked under then-head coach Joe Schmidt, before being offered the New Zealander’s job after his departure following the 2019 World Cup.
“My honest opinion on that, I don’t think it was my job anyway,” Farrell said. “I worked for Stuart and Stuart had left and I would have done exactly the same if I was Eddie.
“He’s certainly a very wise coach, he’s been through a hell of a lot. He’s had some awesome experiences and I’ve always enjoyed going for a coffee with Eddie and talking through those experiences.”
“He loves talking about rugby and so do I, and I like to try and tap into those experiences that he’s been through.”
Jones made Farrell’s son Owen a lynchpin of his new-look England side in 2016 and attempted to lure the 44-year-old back to his son’s national team after defence coach Paul Gustard’s departure in 2018.
Farrell, however, had settled well in Ireland and swiftly turned Jones’ offer down. “He asked the question and I had a good job anyway, so that was that.”
Farrell’s predecessor, Joe Schmidt, is one of Ireland’s most successful coaches, and the former Rugby League star has enlisted his former boss’s advice.
“I spoke to Joe a few times,” Farrell said. “It’s always good to get a handle, obviously he’s not been in camp or doesn’t quite know what we’ve been trying to do, but it’s great to get some feedback.”
“He’s been to a few games, he’s watched the games and will be watching in a little bit more depth than other people so it’s always nice to get a bit of feedback.”
Jones and Farrell will face off at Twickenham on Sunday, and the Ireland coach has made only one change to his team, as Leinster back rower Caelan Doris returns from injury on the bench.
As Farrell returns to the scene of his team’s 2018 Grand Slam triumph, he arranged for former U2 frontman Bono to speak to his squad.
“He absolutely loves his rugby, he’s a big fan. And his wife, Ali, she came along as well and she’s a bigger fan,” said Farrell.
“She was at the (Wales) game at the weekend with the Edge (U2 guitarist).
“Apparently Bono can’t go to the games with her because she screams very loudly in the stands, so he tends to watch at home but he’s a massive fan. It was fantastic for him to give up his time – we learnt a lot.”
