Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'I never understood the vendetta against Farrell' - Saracens star lauded

By Kim Ekin
Owen Farrell - Press Association

Oft the villain on social media, England and Saracens star won rare praise on Twitter after putting in a masterful performance in the Challenge Cup against Cardiff this afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sarries eventually got over the line with a 40-33 victory over the Welsh region and the England man was front and centre, pulling the strings for Mark McCall’s side.

The flyhalf who has just regained fitness in recent weeks after months out with an ankle injury, caught the eye not least for some remarkable hand skills.

Video Spacer

Facing Goliath | A story following Italy as they take on the mighty All Blacks | A Rugby Originals Documentary

Video Spacer

Facing Goliath | A story following Italy as they take on the mighty All Blacks | A Rugby Originals Documentary

A subline try assist via an out-the-back door offload to winger Max Malins was the high point of the game for Farrell.

Popular content creator Squidge Rugby wrote: “Owen Farrell is an all-time great and it’s really boring when people pretend otherwise.”

Rugby Youtuber Andrew Forde wrote: “I still don’t think I’ll ever truly understand the vendetta against Owen Farrell. He’s absolutely class and I think the only reason he isn’t rated as highly as he is, is because of his nationality.”

The 30-year-old missed England’s Guinness Six Nations campaign, where Harlequins’ young gun Marcus Smith shone in his absence.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet in contrast to Farrell, it was a rather difficult weekend for the Quins playmaker, who missed a relatively easy conversion that would have bagged his side a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final berth.

The mixed fortunes of the pair weren’t missed on social either.

The question for Eddie Jones heading into the summer series against Australia must surely now be: does he continue developing Smith as his starting 10 on tour, or does he bring in the veteran Farrell either at flyhalf or playing 12 outside Smith.

What is abundantly clear is that Farrell still has a huge amount to offer England, wherever he is picked to play.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Fresh Starts | Episode 1 | Will Skelton

ABBIE WARD: A BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 9

James Cook | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

New Zealand victorious in TENSE final | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Men's Highlights

New Zealand crowned BACK-TO-BACK champions | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Women's Highlights

Japan Rugby League One | Bravelupus v Steelers | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

E
Ed the Duck 5 hours ago
How Leinster neutralised 'long-in-the-tooth' La Rochelle

Hey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂

5 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Leinster sign All Black Jordie Barrett Leinster sign All Black Jordie Barrett
Search