'Bulked up' Owen Farrell shines but doesn't escape criticism for trademark hit
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall was happy with Owen Farrell’s performance in what was his comeback from injury in his side’s 27-23 victory over Bristol Bears.
Sarries and England captain Farrell was making his first appearance for four months and he kicked 12 points before needing to come off for a head injury assessment in the closing stages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
McCall admitted the hosts were not at their best, with their third Gallagher Premiership win in a row only being secured after a last-minute Jack Bates try for Bristol was disallowed for a forward pass.
McCall said: “He [Farrell] was at the heart of it, he place-kicked very well, he ran the attack brilliantly and I thought he defended well during the game.
“I’m delighted with him and he’ll just get better from here. His best games will be ahead of him, but he was pretty good today.
“We’re obviously really thrilled to get four points and a win from today, but not thrilled with the performance.
“I thought it was an exciting game, but not the kind of exciting game we want it to be or part of, to be honest.
“We were poor defensively today and a lot of credit to Bristol for the problems they caused us, but I thought we did show a lot of resilience in the game to keep coming back and score two important tries either side of half-time.
“With the ball, we were pretty good but without the ball, we weren’t so good.”
Former England No.8 Lawrence Dallaglio said he believed Farrell would be drafted straight back into the England set-up.
“He’s probably worked exceptionally hard to come back,” said Dallaglio. “He looks like he’s really worked on his strength, not like that was ever an issue. His stock has risen enormously during the Six Nations as England desperately needed his leadership qualities and his overall experience.”
After four months out, Owen Farrell is back for @Saracens and he's looking strong! ?#GallagherPrem | #TheShowdown2 pic.twitter.com/7degWr8O6k
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) March 26, 2022
There was however criticism for Farrell after he appeared to get away with a shoulder shot that many felt warranted a yellow card.
“Owen Farrell looked sharp today, some lovely passing and brilliant kicking off the tee but his tackle technique continues to be appalling,” wrote journalist John Evely. “Probably should have been yellow carded today. In the modern game he is a risk to his side because of it.”
Owen Farrell looked sharp today, some lovely passing and brilliant kicking off the tee but his tackle technique continues to be appalling.
Probably should have been yellow carded today.
In the modern game he is a risk to his side because of it.
— John Evely (@JohnEvely_BPost) March 26, 2022
No card for Owen Farrell! Are you having a laugh?
If this happened in the URC, people would go mental about standards of refs (some would threaten to join the Premiership ?)
How Farrell has never seen red for these tackles is crazy pic.twitter.com/CLt3cheCfb
— Caolán (@CaolanSRugby00) March 26, 2022
Dallaglio also criticised Farrell for the tackle, which many pounced upon by many as a ‘classic Owen Farrell shoulder charge’.
“I love Owen Farrell to bits, but you have to wrap your right arm. That could easily have been a yellow card,” said Dallaglio. “He’s been out of the game for four months — you have to cut him a bit of slack. You can mistime things very easily. But is that the correct decision? The answer is ‘no, I don’t think it is’. I think they’ve got away with one there.”
What has Owen Farrell got to do to be carded for a no arm tackle?
— Rhodri Mcatee (@rodmac007) March 26, 2022
It just baffles me that Owen Farrell, who is known for having a poor tackle technique, is given more leeway, not less leeway, for no-wrap tackles than other players.
— Tim Williams (@TimAlunWilliams) March 26, 2022
Bristol hit the front through tries by Antoine Frisch, Piers O’Conor and Tiff Eden, but scores by Max Malins and Elliot Daly, plus two penalties from Farrell, levelled the match at 20-20 at half-time.
Malins’ second try then put Saracens ahead before Callum Sheedy pulled back three points for the Bears, who came so close to snatching victory.
Their director of rugby Pat Lam said: “It was a great game, a really enjoyable game.
“I had an inkling that it [Bates’ try] was forward, and it was, and I feel for Joycey (Joe Joyce) – he was distraught.
“He did an unbelievable job to get into that position anyway – for a second-rower after 80 minutes, what he did to get there and create the opportunity.
“Joe was obviously upset about it, but it would have been class; two Bristolian boys, him and Jack Bates, who I thought was outstanding.
“He justified his selection, with all the good options we have out there, and he did tremendously well.
“It would have been five points and a great way to finish the game, but I’m proud of the guys.
“We had a clear game plan on how we wanted to play this. We put a lot of work into it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments