Andy Farrell hits out at 'disgusting' Owen Farrell coverage

Andy Farrell has called the coverage around his son Owen Farrell's disciplinary process a "disgusting" circus.

England captain Owen was given a yellow card for a high tackle on Wales' Taine Basham on Saturday, with the card ungraded to red after a bunker review.

Basham failed a head injury assessment at the time but has been included in the Wales squad to face South Africa on Saturday.

Upon review, an independent disciplinary panel overturned the red card leaving the 31-year-old Saracens out-half free to play, just three weeks out from the World Cup.

But earlier today World Rugby announced that it is to appeal the decision, which will be held early next week with the exact date and time to be confirmed.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s warm-up game against England, for whom Farrell is not in the match-day squad, Andy Farrell told RTÉ Sport that the whole episode disgusted him.

"Well, whatever I say anyway is probably flawed anyway because I know what you are talking about and when you’re talking about somebody’s son and you are asking me the question it’s always going to be flawed anyway so what does that really matter, you know," said the Ireland head coach.

"You know, I don’t normally say too much because of that reason about my son but what I probably would say is at this moment in time is that the circus that gone around all of this is absolutely disgusting, in my opinion, disgusting and I suppose those people who have loved their time in the sun get a few more days to keep going at that."

Speaking as he announced a strong team to visit Dublin, England head coach Steve Borthwick (above) said: "In my original planning for the Summer Nations Series and as part of our World Cup preparation, Owen Farrell was due to be selected to