These days sport's leading coaches mostly prefer not to express their innermost private thoughts. Andy Farrell, as a former Great Britain rugby league captain, long ago earned his black belt in the art of politely disarming the media. Just occasionally, though, the time comes to ignore all that rubbish and call a spade a bloody shovel.
Which is what he did in no uncertain terms when asked about the recent chain of events surrounding his son Owen. To suggest the subsequent fall-out has left him seething would be the understatement of the rugby year. On the one hand, he is head coach of Ireland, with a big warm-up game tomorrow against England to worry about. On the other he is a proud father, whose anger at those rushing to criticise "Faz Jr" can clearly be bottled up no longer.
"Disgraceful", "circus" and "bullshit" were just some of the choice words that pinged back past the heads of his media audience, embedding themselves deep in the walls at the rear of the tiered auditorium in the depths of the Aviva Stadium. Let's just say the subtle interviewing skills of the late, great Michael Parkinson were not required to lay bare precisely how he felt.
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